Blackjack 1-7 or Swamp Rat Ratweiler? Can't decide.

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brewthunda

Joined
Apr 20, 2004
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I've been on the lookout for a good camp knife. This will be my first real fixed blade (other than a tiny Arno Bernard custom). My normal camping blade setup is a mini griptillian, a Henkels 8" chef knife stored in a cardboard sheath and a small axe. I'd like to consolidate. I'd like something big enough to hack through small branches or to be batoned through kindling. It should also be handy enough for smaller projects and cooking duties.

I've been looking at the Swamp Rat Ratweiler and the Blackjack 1-7 as two slightly different semifinalists in my search. I like the brutally strong no-nonsense reputation of the Ratweiler . . but I also like the traditional leather handle and sheath of the Blackjack. I'm a bit concerned, however, that the uncoated 1095 of the Blackjack may be a pain to keep sharp and rust free.

Help me decide. What would you choose between these two and why? Is there another blade that jumps to your mind when you think of "big camp blade"?

I'm looking to keep this under $200.

Thanks in advance!
 
If you're going for durability and performance, I'd go for the Ratweiler. I just don't see a leather handle lasting in the long haul.
 
I second the Ratweiler. Another to consider for half the price is a Ranger Knives RD7 or 9. Great blades, great warranty, and a great guy behind them (Justin Gingrich).
 
RW because its a great blade, but it is going off the market soon to make way for the lines. and you can always sell it, if you dont like it.
 
Is the Blackjack 1-7 the new Blackjack advertised by New Graham? It looks like a beautiful knife in the picture, but the price seems steep for a knife made from 1095.

I think the two knives are also quite different designs. The 1-7 is a copy of the Randall No. 1, a fighting knife. Most Swamp Rat knives are designed to be utility knives rather than fighting knives.
 
Go for the Ratweiler. If you don't like it you will have NO problem selling it and may even be able to sell it for more than you paid.
 
As has been said, they're two very different animals---the 1-7's design is a classic and makes a nice knife, but it is, by design, more a fighter than anything else, so its usefulness in the applications that most people would carry a large knife for will be somewhat limited when compared to the RW, which is designed for general utility use. 1095 can be a great performer, but what you're really paying for on this knife is the amount of hand fitting/finishing that goes into it. The money spent on a Ratweiler is not going into finishing work--it's going into the most affordable (by far), differentially-tempered heavy duty camp knife currently available. The Camp Tramp was less money but has been phased out, and the new versions are not available yet. If you look elsewhere for differentially tempered 52100 steel in a knife this size, you're looking at custom. Don't get me wrong, I have many custom knives and I very much like them but you'll pay a whole lot more, and most makers are not anywhere near as unconditional in guaranteeing their product as the Swamp is.

The Rat will outwork the Blackjack, while the Blackjack will outfight the Rat. Both can do either, but there are tradeoffs.
 
Brewthunda, I've also been looking for a good camping/hiking, do it all kind of knife for the last couple of months. I bought an Ontario RAT-7 (similar in size to the ratweiler your looking at, 3/16" thick instead of 1/4)and am comparing it to an older Blackjack 1-7 I've had for a while. I really expected to say there is a huge difference in weight and handling, but I find that they are pretty similar in the hand. Balance is the major difference, with the 1-7 actually being slightly more blade-heavy. I'm sure that would change with the thicker steel of the Ratweiler, but not much.
Since I'm also a fan of the classic look of the Blackjack, the only thing that would make me lean toward the Ratweiler would be that I find a double guard like the 1-7's to be a hindrance in basic utility. However, if the security of that guard is something you like, I think you'll be very pleased with the Blackjack. I really like size and feel of my 1-7, and while not as brutally tough and maintenance free as the Swamp Rat, I don't think you'll ever find anything the Blackjack won't handle well, and I don't think you'll find that it requires anything extraordinary to keep it looking good. If the 1-7 had been available when I bought my Ontario, I would have gone for that instead.
 
brewthunda said:
I've been on the lookout for a good camp knife.

My normal camping blade setup is a mini griptillian, a Henkels 8" chef knife stored in a cardboard sheath and a small axe. I'd like to consolidate.

I'd like something big enough to hack through small branches or to be batoned through kindling.

It should also be handy enough for smaller projects and cooking duties.

I like the brutally strong no-nonsense reputation of the Ratweiler .

Is there another blade that jumps to your mind when you think of "big camp blade"?

I'm looking to keep this under $200.

Thanks in advance!
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So Camp knife, Hacking, Batoning and general camp choresm brutally strong. All this means Rattweiler.

However, here are some other knives you can add to the list in order of preference:

Falkniven A-1
Becker Campanion
CS Recon Scout
Becker BK7
and many more

The Rattweiler beats them all, but will cost much more as these will be in the $100 class. Of course the Rattweiler will resell for what you paid unlike all the others.
 
No question - Ratweiler!

But order soon, as it usually takes awhile for them to fill orders.
 
So yesterday after posting my question I got a call from my boss out of the blue with the news that I got a raise. Totally unexpected. I figured I should treat myself and just go ahead and pull the trigger on one of these. No more pissing around trying to decide.

I ordered the Ratweiler. I realized that I would need to handle the Blackjack before I knew if it was right for me. I got to play with the Ratweiler at Blade West last fall, so I know what I'm getting myself into. I figure I have the rest of my life to look for the perfect pretty camp knife and might as well get the workhorse now.

Thanks for all the help! It was very helpful to hear your opionions.

By the way, anyone know what the lead time is on a Armorall sheath?

Thanks and best regards,

Brew
 
Good choice on the Blade!:thumbup:
I don't know how long the wait for Dwaynes sheaths is right now, but I know I have been waiting for one.:D
 
brewthunda said:
I've been on the lookout for a good camp knife. This will be my first real fixed blade
Click to expand...

Might check out the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp.... If you haven't already....

They are off the order list right now, But should be back soon in a new configuration.
 
The thing that I cannot figure is why buy a Blackjack 1-7 when you can buy the real thing, a Randall Model 1 w/a 7" blade? Yes, I know that there is a difference in price and a long wait, but you get a real Randall and not a copy.
 
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