I just bought this a few weeks ago and it has performed like a champ! the Ontario Raider Bowie leaves my Ka-Bar U.S.M.C in the dust i used this knife for every thing from skinning rabbits to building fires with ease i also put a fire steel on the sheath. I find the sheath interesting as it is half leather and half codura and also the shape of the sheath is cool looking and functional I highly recommend one of these. cheers!
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Best survival knife ever!!!!!
- Thread starter commanche
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2004
- Messages
- 95
I was given one for christmas this past year and can say that along with my cold steel srk and sog feild pup this is one great knife and is on my belt when in the woods, made a osage bow with it over a fue weeks time for a buddy and it it did it all,I just had to see if I could do it all with it and it worked pretty good but a smaller one would have been better for some parts.If you want a good knife it is a good one.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
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- 3,318
I am a fan of the large Bowie. I don't have the MRB but I do have their 8" bladed fighter. It is a great knife for the money IMO.
However, for all practical purposes, the Cold Steel SRK is probably a better choice. Or for a few dollars more... the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp if you want a high quality chopper in a portable package.
Some would say that all of the above knives are far larger than necessary for a survival knife. To my way of thinking, you can get by with a smaller knife but I would prefer at least the 6" x 3/16" blade of the SRK and ideally, the slightly larger CT is my new favorite survival knife.
I must confess that I would like the MRB though - just to have one if for no other reason.
However, for all practical purposes, the Cold Steel SRK is probably a better choice. Or for a few dollars more... the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp if you want a high quality chopper in a portable package.
Some would say that all of the above knives are far larger than necessary for a survival knife. To my way of thinking, you can get by with a smaller knife but I would prefer at least the 6" x 3/16" blade of the SRK and ideally, the slightly larger CT is my new favorite survival knife.
I must confess that I would like the MRB though - just to have one if for no other reason.
Hmm... well...
I bought this knife years ago. I was taken by it's look and a fair price. When I got it I was so impressed with the way it looked and felt that I couldn't put it down. (keep in mind that at the time I knew a lot less about blades and their proper handling). This knife was sharp out of the box. Sharper than any knife I had at the time. I showed it to my friends as we planned an outing and they were all impressed and wanted one. Of course on that outing it was with me. We did some hiking and took turns in the lead. When it was my turn, I pulled out the new beauty and began clearing the way for me and my comrads. In a sudden moment of stupidity I brought the bowie up to my chest and then gently returned it point down to my side. On the way down I barely, and I mean barely, double bumped my left hand with the blade. I didn't realize it until I felt the blood trickle down my index finger. We spend the next 45 minutes switching out bandage clothes. Such a clean and deep cut, with so little effort, further impressed us. I still have the scars from the incident. One an 1 1/2 inch long above my index knuckle and one an inch long between the knuckle and first bend.
I kept the blade until recently which is really what compelled me to post on the topic. Last summer she got stuck in my landscaping box to be used. I was limbing up a small oak (I now have better tools). The spriggs on this tree were less than the diameter of a dime. All was well and she was cutting fine until one time she failed to cut on a stroke. I figured I just hit a small knot and swung again. That's when I noticed I was now missing two chunks out of the blade.
I know I was not using it the way it was designed to be used, but up to that point I thought a lot of that knife. I would have carried it and used it like I would use a k-bar in the field. It is a fine knife but a little limited for my liking. If I'm gonna carry something that big then it has to be versitile and definately worth the weight. The Ontario did not live up to my expectations or perhaps my ill use. I hope things fair better in your hands.
I bought this knife years ago. I was taken by it's look and a fair price. When I got it I was so impressed with the way it looked and felt that I couldn't put it down. (keep in mind that at the time I knew a lot less about blades and their proper handling). This knife was sharp out of the box. Sharper than any knife I had at the time. I showed it to my friends as we planned an outing and they were all impressed and wanted one. Of course on that outing it was with me. We did some hiking and took turns in the lead. When it was my turn, I pulled out the new beauty and began clearing the way for me and my comrads. In a sudden moment of stupidity I brought the bowie up to my chest and then gently returned it point down to my side. On the way down I barely, and I mean barely, double bumped my left hand with the blade. I didn't realize it until I felt the blood trickle down my index finger. We spend the next 45 minutes switching out bandage clothes. Such a clean and deep cut, with so little effort, further impressed us. I still have the scars from the incident. One an 1 1/2 inch long above my index knuckle and one an inch long between the knuckle and first bend.
I kept the blade until recently which is really what compelled me to post on the topic. Last summer she got stuck in my landscaping box to be used. I was limbing up a small oak (I now have better tools). The spriggs on this tree were less than the diameter of a dime. All was well and she was cutting fine until one time she failed to cut on a stroke. I figured I just hit a small knot and swung again. That's when I noticed I was now missing two chunks out of the blade.
I know I was not using it the way it was designed to be used, but up to that point I thought a lot of that knife. I would have carried it and used it like I would use a k-bar in the field. It is a fine knife but a little limited for my liking. If I'm gonna carry something that big then it has to be versitile and definately worth the weight. The Ontario did not live up to my expectations or perhaps my ill use. I hope things fair better in your hands.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2004
- Messages
- 9,438
I wouldn't blame it on Ontario. They make an excellent product for the price. The problem with using knives for heavy duty cutting, splitting and chopping is the type of grind and edge thickness. I swear by the convex grind as the best for heavy duty chopping tools. Flat grinds are good so long as they are not thinly ground. Thinly ground knives are best suited for food prep and cooking where a thin delicate edge is needed. Alot of the Ontario knives I've seen in this catagory have edges that are to thin for heavy use. Just my 2 cents worth. 
scott
scott
. I am living proof. Just sharing my own folly and misconception of the blade.
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2004
- Messages
- 9,438
I understand your point. I was just trying to clarify why this can happen with different types of grinds. I don't claim to be an expert, just going by my own experience with Ontario's products. Their machetes are great for very light chopping, and the large RTAK is a sound piece but didn't chop as effectively as I would have hoped. The edge also chipped when i chopped aggressively. Their products are good but their uses are limited.
Scott
I was just trying to clarify why this can happen with different types of grinds. I don't claim to be an expert, just going by my own experience with Ontario's products. Their machetes are great for very light chopping, and the large RTAK is a sound piece but didn't chop as effectively as I would have hoped. The edge also chipped when i chopped aggressively. Their products are good but their uses are limited.Scott
Brian Jones
Moderator
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- Jan 17, 1999
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- 7,560
An item I looked at a few months ago at the local B.P. shop was called Alaska Fire Starter. It was of roll gauze and strike anywhere matches.
The matches were inserted in the gauze, 1 per layer in the roll and the heads covered by the gauze. The roll was then soaked completely thru with wax.
To use you stripped a layer of gauze with a match enclosed, removed the match and lite the waxed gauze. The whole package was compact and waterproof.
Short version for me would be to make the same wax gauze using a one inch size gauze roll, leave out the matches.
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The matches were inserted in the gauze, 1 per layer in the roll and the heads covered by the gauze. The roll was then soaked completely thru with wax.
To use you stripped a layer of gauze with a match enclosed, removed the match and lite the waxed gauze. The whole package was compact and waterproof.
Short version for me would be to make the same wax gauze using a one inch size gauze roll, leave out the matches.
<><
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,318
Just saw it on cable again last night but did you know that Starship Troopers II features your Ontario Raider Bowie in a couple of scenes? Some other Spec Plus knives too methinks...