Busse, Fehrman, Swamp Rat?

S

Survivalboy

Joined
Aug 9, 2004
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73
These knives are all heavy duty users, but I really dont hear many people talk much about them on the survival forums? :confused: Is there any reason?
 
everybody has an opinion about the knives, but any one of them would make a great knife for outdoors. i have a trace rinaldi armageddon, and i just love the thing, handles well, and holds an edge. has taken all the abuse i can dish out and just laughed at me "that all you got boy"'. there are a lot of great knife makers some that visit us here so you can buy something from a manufacturer or have some thing custom made, try out some of the less expensive knives first so you can decide what features, blade length, handle material and style you like, then decide if you want to go whole hog on a custom.

so take your pick.

alex
 
I like these blades but started making my own since there so costly. Shoot me an email, I may be able to cook you up a nice knife ;).

Each of the brands you mentioned have had good things said about them. Its really up to you to decide what type of knife you are looking for. Ask yourself, what features made those brands stand out to you....
 
When I went for hiking I realised that I would not even take Spyderco because Victorinox was much better knife for that purpose :D
I confess, I like to take Busse with myself sometimes, but it is mainly to show off :D even though I bought it for serious job. This is because Busse is a heavy fixed blade knife, but I still have never needed to chop anything, except for fun, and would prefer lightweight and easy to hide knife. Busse is also a bit expensive to lose. But it looks much better on a stand :D .
 
Well I've got a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp and it's a GREAT knife. I do talk about it sometimes.

Cheers,

David
 
I can never seem to justify anything larger than a Badger Attack when backpacking. A stout knife in the apx. 4-4.5" range will do all the tasks I have in the Midwest Maple/Beech forrests, when combined with a folding saw and a SAK or multitool. Others in that class include the INFICoot; Bark River North Star, Forager, or Gameskeeper; Fallkniver S-1; SOG Field Knife; Siegle Utility. The big choppers go along when "car camping."
 
I too have a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp, it's a great work horse knife. I have a small review on my web site. I used the Camp Tramp during a survival course I took with Simply Survival.
 
Myakka said:
I too have a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp, it's a great work horse knife. I have a small review on my web site. I used the Camp Tramp during a survival course I took with Simply Survival.
Click to expand...

Was that the course with Cody that you posted about? If so, what did he think of your Camp Tramp? In his book, he endorses carbon steel Mora-type knives and comes across as a true survival expert -- but with minimal knife knowledge (example, his statement that stainless knives are to be avoided because they are always harder to sharpen than non stainless knives).
 
I have a few Busse knives. Mostly they are too big for me to carry hiking. I usually carry a small 5-6" blade like a Ron Leuschen Cadet or a Himalayan Imports Kumar Karda, they are lighter. If I go someplace lightly travelled where if I twist my ankle I am likely to need to make shelter, I'll carry a bigger knife like a Mr.Mojo or Battle Mistress.
 
Thomas Linton,

I took my Camp Tramp on a Simply Survival Course with Greg Davenport. I just posted the link to the Cody Ludin trip, I didnt go on it. :(
 
I,m not so sure about Heavy Duty Chores but my Fehrman PeaceMaker is a wonderful knife - not to big or to small.
Has done everything I have asked from it-If I need to chop I use my Axe.
A Big knife not needed gets in the way .
 
boness said:
I,m not so sure about Heavy Duty Chores but my Fehrman PeaceMaker is a wonderful knife - not to big or to small.
Has done everything I have asked from it-If I need to chop I use my Axe.
A Big knife not needed gets in the way .
Click to expand...
True that a big knife not needed gets in the way... But a knife as the Camp Tramp can do most of what a small hatchet can do, while still being able to do finer things. It's about the only knife I know of with which I can carve a bow drill set (including the notch, and every minute detail needed), and yet be able to chop down fire wood as well. An incredibly versatile and tough knife. The edge retention is great, too... and I'm not babying it, trust me ;)

Cheers,

David
 
Add one of mine to the same description David mentioned. I too like knives that can handle themselves yet not hold you down. These are a few in progress for the bush. All high carbon steel and will be differentally heat treated. I am liking this thread!!
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Moine posted-

True that a big knife not needed gets in the way... But a knife as the Camp Tramp can do most of what a small hatchet can do, while still being able to do finer things. It's about the only knife I know of with which I can carve a bow drill set (including the notch, and every minute detail needed), and yet be able to chop down fire wood as well. An incredibly versatile and tough knife. The edge retention is great, too... and I'm not babying it, trust me



- Thats GREAT ! :cool:
 
Survivalboy said:
These knives are all heavy duty users, but I really dont hear many people talk much about them on the survival forums? :confused: Is there any reason?
Click to expand...


since no ones answered your question yet, they do mention them when making suggestions, but your right that there isnt much indepth discussion of the blades. that may just be because no one has done it yet or no one who uses them is the reviewer type. as far as discussing the companies, those names along with a few others are prone to flame wars. its nice to see a thread that doesnt contain any such material, but it has happened a lot in the past.

they are also on the upper end of the price range as far as user knives go, so you'll find less people owning them then other knives like saks and other cheaper easier to obtain knives.
 
I really feel like each of the companies mentioned put out nice blades. I think each probrably have similar production methods and would put out blades that will do what you ask of them. I like the fact that swamp rat is afordable and still has a nice hand made feel. The Busse will cost more and the Fehrman has a different style alltogther. You may want to look into the steels used and if that has anything to do with cost. I personally like carbon steels but an older carbon Busse or a Swamp Rat fits the style I like best so the Fehrman would be last for my choice. Id gladly use one anyday....of either brand.

As to why these arent mentioned in the forums more I am not sure... I think I babbled enough ;)
 
i have used a busse bm-e almost extensively for my survival use and have been pleased.
as far as fehrman knives go i heard from them first by Ron Hood on his desert survival video (final judgment) plus he has designed the hood hunter knife also, which is the best big blade i have seen.
you can find reviews of these blades at survival.com
 
I see lots of posts from people camping that take these large knives, sometimes several, and wonder where they go camping! When I camp I backpack and large parks frown upon wood chopping, plus who would pack all that wt?!? I take a small light folder and a large folder or smallish fixed blade at most.

But then I usually smuggle a peashooter (small handgun) with me also so I guess that cancels out my wt savings with small knives. Never mind.
 
One survival expert who does talk about these large knives is Dr. Ron Hood. He used to favour Busses but he has designed his own Fehrman which he calls the Hood Hunter. I was lucky enough to get one. It's about as long as a BM but much lighter. I haven't taken it on a trip yet but i certainly wouldn't hesitate to do so. The large vs big knife is an old discussion, still certainly worth having. I always have a smaller blade, but I need one larger knife too, especially whereever there will be woodcraft, bushwhacking or ice. Many people frown on big knives, except for those who know how and when to use them ;)
 
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