Big knife in the ..... Garage??

tarmix101

tarmix101

Joined
Jun 14, 2005
Messages
2,962
I have long been the proponent of axe, a small fixed blade, and a good folder. since my Scout days I thought a good folder was the way to go along with other cutting tools and a big blade was just... well "Rambo". I read a review of Scott Gossman's (Razorback Knives) knives a while ago that was IIRC written in TKM. I figured I would try a big knife for myself. I didn't have a chance to get out, but I tried to put the "Tusker" I purchased this month through it's paces. So out to the garage I went.

I started by mutilating some 2x4 end pieces I had left from finishing my basement. They never stood a chance. I noticed the angle I used was different than my GB SFA, but worked very well none the less. Next I whittle up some fuzz sticks from the left overs. It was a little clumsy, but did the job. After that I cut some nylon rope with great success. To finish up, my Wife had cooked up a great Barron of Beef and the Tusker was used to slice it up. It wouldn't be the first knife I would pull out of the butcher block to to the job, but again it worked well. BTW I didn't even touch up the blade until the beef carving was done. All that was required after that was a charged leather strop and I was back to shaving sharp.

Big knives have there place IMHO and I'm glad I bought it. It was clumsy going for the small stuff but did the job and thats all that matters when you need it. Weighs a little less that my GB SFA and can handle the small stuff if you're patient. I apologize that I don't have any action pics. But here is the tusker cleaned up after the test:

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Comments welcome.
 
Wow, nice knife and great info...

I personally think I have more dexterity with a small knife (<4"), but I believe that's a function of my own motor skills, not the knife... My grandpa could do amazing stuff from yard chores to cleaning fish and small game with a 12" machete, and he was comfortable with it, just like I think I do my best 'work,' whether it's dressing game or building a lean-to, with smaller knife.

The best size knife is the one you can use for what you need to do! :D
 
Thanks for the review. I ordered one of Scott's PSK knives a little while ago, and should be receiving it soon. I think he makes a very nice knife for the money.
 
Glad to see a fine knife getting the treatment it deserves! I'm not a fan of closet queens or drawer-dwellers.
 
wow:eek: what an awesome looking knife....

great work scott...:thumbup: :thumbup:

skunk-- i highly recommend getting a psk knife... those little knives are so handy, not too mention rediculously sharp.... i made a neck sheath for mine, and also had a kydex sheath made for it... it lives in my psk.. along with a SAK camper.....:D

mike
 
tarmix101 glad to see it's working out for you. I'm with you on the smaller blade being a better choice for smaller work. A big knife will work in a pinch it's just alittle more awkward. BTW, what do you think of the contoured handles?
Scott
 
That is a nice knife:thumbup:. The overall shape of it looks very user friendly. What steel is it made of: 01 or, A2?
BTW, what are its dimensions (blade length, width, thickness, handle and OA length)? What is the wood used for the handle slabs?
 
Razorback - Knives said:
tarmix101 glad to see it's working out for you. I'm with you on the smaller blade being a better choice for smaller work. A big knife will work in a pinch it's just alittle more awkward. BTW, what do you think of the contoured handles?
Scott
Click to expand...

Probably my favorite part of the knife. Feels very good in the hand and lends to a secure grip. All that and the dessert ironwood looks great. I don't care for the "tactical" look on some large blades today.
 
I do all my wood and micarta handles that way. Less chance of the knife flying out of your hand. :D
Scott
 
g_moutafis said:
That is a nice knife:thumbup:. The overall shape of it looks very user friendly. What steel is it made of: 01 or, A2?
BTW, what are its dimensions (blade length, width, thickness, handle and OA length)? What is the wood used for the handle slabs?
Click to expand...

I don't have the knife with me at the moment but the handle is at least 4 1/2 " with the blade between 7"-8" long. I believe it is between 3/16"-1/4" thick.

The steel is convex ground A2.

Dessert Ironwood slabs.
 
The handle is 5" long and the blade is 3/16" thick, 1 1/2" wide, 8" blade with a 1" choil. 13" overall.
Scott
 
I am mystified by people who say that big knives are "Rambo". The movie Rambo popularized buying crappy sawback hollowhandle knives of flea market quality, but many traditional knives dating back centuries dwarf rambo knives, and all bowie knives in general.

Maybe saying a knife is rambo is a sheeple thing, since they really only have knowledge of large knives from what they see on tv? I have had people refer to my Spyderco Manix as a "Boo-ee" knife.

In any case, that looks like a great knife.

Another thing I have noticed is: the more you use a larger knife, the lighter and more nimble it becomes in your hand.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
I am mystified by people who say that big knives are "Rambo". The movie Rambo popularized buying crappy sawback hollowhandle knives of flea market quality, but many traditional knives dating back centuries dwarf rambo knives, and all bowie knives in general.

Maybe saying a knife is rambo is a sheeple thing, since they really only have knowledge of large knives from what they see on tv? I have had people refer to my Spyderco Manix as a "Boo-ee" knife.

In any case, that looks like a great knife.

Another thing I have noticed is: the more you use a larger knife, the lighter and more nimble it becomes in your hand.
Click to expand...

I don't see any reason for you to be "mystified". The term Rambo in my experience can be used for more that just an example of a knife. I have seen examples of calling someone that is extremely "Gung Ho" about any particular subject, or object being called "Rambo".

I understand the the internet doesn't always convey a persons thoughts correctly. What I meant by the term was "way overboard".

Most of my early opinions regarding large blades came from my experiences with my Grandfather, not TV, movies, or Sheeple?? He never carried anything more than a folder and a axe. He was a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and he read the Hobbit to my Brother and I. I can just here him now. If I brought a blade like the Tusker with me he would reply, "what in the hell are you going to use the Hobbit sword for"?

At any rate, I thought I would try a large blade for myself and I'm very glad I did. My point was not to categorize large blades as "Rambo knives", rather how well Scott's knife performed IMHO.
 
Sorry, I was not talking about how you used the word, just speculating about it's use in general. I usually only hear it used as a negative term. Kind of like saying "mall ninja" in reference to coated blades. I did not mean that you are a sheeple, that was a little off topic. I now see how my post might have come off that way. :o
 
I like the Hobbit thing. I wouldn't mind being called a hobbit for having a big knife. . .


Unless they were saying I had big hairy feet. ;)

Sorry for the thread drift.

What is the blade length on the Tusker?
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Sorry, I was not talking about how you used the word, just speculating about it's use in general. I usually only hear it used as a negative term. Kind of like saying "mall ninja" in reference to coated blades. I did not mean that you are a sheeple, that was a little off topic. I now see how my post might have come off that way. :o
Click to expand...

No reason to be sorry. I could have been a little clearer myself:o ;)
 
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