Chris Reeves, Swamp Rat or .......

C

chrisjgilmore

Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
19
Folks,
I have been considering a Chris Reeves knife for some time now. (Project II or The Yarborough 7") I have recently spoke to some folks online that have worned me to some excessive issues when doing light chopping and heavy use with the Chris Reeves knives. During these conversations they suggested going with the Swamp Rat brand instead. Can you contrast the 2 brands or suggest another in the similar price range?

Thanks
CG
 
If you can afford them I would recommend Busse for chopping/hard use. Swamp Rat (and Scrap Yard) are less expensive offshoots of Busse using less expensive steels in order to make more affordable knives.

There is NOTHING wrong with Swamp Rats (some of my favorite knives come from the swamp) or Scrap Yard knives and they also make excellent choppers that will stand up to anything you want to do with them.

Let me say there are many other good knives in this class (before someone accuses me of drinking the Kool-aid), but the fact that you started with CR made me think you were looking for high quality.
 
I have no ecperience with CR knives. However, I have only ever heard awesome reviews of his folders so I would guess his fixed knives are great.

(1) Busse: One of the best all-around camp/survival knives. (More expensive)

(2) Swamp Rat: Perhaps one notch down from Busse, at least in the corrosion resistance area, but I bet difference would only be apparent in controlled testing. (Mid priced)

(3) Scrap Yard: Tough as nails. Just like the above brands. But have res-c handles. Which to many is a plus. (less expensive. Perhaps most bang for the buck)

(4) Ranger Knives: Also tough as nails.

All the above knives have excellent warranties.

I have wondered about Fehrman, Trident, and Extrema Ration knives. All look great too.

What size knive are you looking for and for what kind of work?
 
The Busse/Swamprat/Scrapyard fans are legion, but there are many that love CR knives too, though their followers may be less numerous and/or less vocal than the former. But the knives are very different, mostly CR makes hollow handled survival knives, and the Sebenza folder, the B/S/S companies are more known for fighters and choppers, not many folders.

As far as hollow handled knives go CR is about the most respected brand there is, though many are not fond of the overall concept.

As far as choppers and fighters go, and knives with incredible toughness--well, the B/S/S axis may take the cake.

But the knives are different, all these manufacturers produce great stuff you could be proud of, but what is it *you* are looking for?
 
i have owned several crk fixed blades, including the large green beret and the neil roberts.

i never chopped with either, but i can say they were very well made, fit/finish were exactly what i would expect from a top notch company like crk.

the complaints you heard were likely the result of the s30v "controversy". many believe the steel to be prone to chipping. i have a couple folders in s30v, and have never experienced any chipping.

there are far more users and makers who find s30v to be an outstanding steel for either fixed or folders, even larger folders like the green beret. i doubt you would experience any problems as a result of the steel.
 
As for what I intend to use it for..... I do a lot of camping and rough country hunting. (I have a skinner already) I have on a few occasions got an animal and had to rough it over night and had to cut/chop limbs for a fire with my skinner as well as conducting normal tasks. (I have to say doing this with my skinner pissed me off a bit.) With that said I want to start carrying a multi-purpose sheath knife, I previosly had a SOG Seal Pup Elite but found it to be a little lite for my use. When camping and hunting as I also once fell when I got seperated from my pack and could have really used to have had my knife available. I previously lashed my knife to my pack strap but recently purchased s Spec Ops sheath for my new purchase.

As for size I'm looking at teh 6+ inch blade.

Please no judgement on my mountainering skills I slipped on a shale shelf and slid down a mountain and off a cliff. But managed to not get even a scratch on my rifle. :D

So far I am looking at teh following:

http://www.knifeart.com/yargreenbers.html

http://www.knifeart.com/chrepriitafi.html
 
chrisjgilmore said:
As for what I intend to use it for..... I do a lot of camping and rough country hunting. (I have a skinner already) I have on a few occasions got an animal and had to rough it over night and had to cut/chop limbs for a fire with my skinner as well as conducting normal tasks. (I have to say doing this with my skinner pissed me off a bit.) With that said I want to start carrying a multi-purpose sheath knife, I previosly had a SOG Seal Pup Elite but found it to be a little lite for my use. When camping and hunting as I also once fell when I got seperated from my pack and could have really used to have had my knife available. I previously lashed my knife to my pack strap but recently purchased s Spec Ops sheath for my new purchase.

As for size I'm looking at teh 6+ inch blade.

Please no judgement on my mountainering skills I slipped on a shale shelf and slid down a mountain and off a cliff. But managed to not get even a scratch on my rifle. :D

So far I am looking at teh following:

http://www.knifeart.com/yargreenbers.html

http://www.knifeart.com/chrepriitafi.html
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Well, with the general purpose field knife idea in mind, I'd definitely recommend Busse / Swamp Rat / Scrapyard if you can find something that fits the kind of size you're looking for. Great knives. I'd also strongly recommend Ranger Knives: very tough knives, great warranty, very good availability and extremely reasonable prices. And if you'd like some custom tweaks of your own on the knife, Justin at Ranger Knives will do that for you, again, at a very reasonable price.

Those CRKs you linked to have partial serrations, something that I wouldn't recommend on a field knife of that size (or any size for that matter). They won't do anything except make cutting rope and such a little easier, at the cost of losing the best part of the edge in precise cutting.
 
OK, so I have looked at all of the recommendations and the Busse is defintly more expensive. Feel free to call me ignorant or tell me i don't deserve a Busse but with that said, what do I really get for the extra $100+?
 
Tyrkon Lawson said:
I have no ecperience with CR knives. However, I have only ever heard awesome reviews of his folders so I would guess his fixed knives are great.

(1) Busse: One of the best all-around camp/survival knives. (More expensive)

(2) Swamp Rat: Perhaps one notch down from Busse, at least in the corrosion resistance area, but I bet difference would only be apparent in controlled testing. (Mid priced)

(3) Scrap Yard: Tough as nails. Just like the above brands. But have res-c handles. Which to many is a plus. (less expensive. Perhaps most bang for the buck)

(4) Ranger Knives: Also tough as nails.

All the above knives have excellent warranties.

I have wondered about Fehrman, Trident, and Extrema Ration knives. All look great too.

What size knive are you looking for and for what kind of work?
Click to expand...

Busse is awesome, but pricey! I love Swamp Rat (right now at the company store, the Ratweiler is available, but not for long so decide quick) and Scrap Yard knives (none available at the store at this current time)..but check the exchange.

I just received a Ranger RD9 knife for a pass around and the knife is a built like a tank! I just got it today so I haven't messed with it much yet, but it chops great!!

5-1.jpg

There it is on the top, below that is my Ontario RAT-3, Kershaw Scallion, and Ultrafire flashlight.

6-1.jpg

My first swing with it! I'm used to using smaller blades so I didn't swing as hard, but later I started whacking harder.

7-1.jpg


8.jpg


9-1.jpg


I'll be doing a review on it later when I get to really test it out, but so far I love it.
 
chrisjgilmore said:
OK, so I have looked at all of the recommendations and the Busse is defintly more expensive. Feel free to call me ignorant or tell me i don't deserve a Busse but with that said, what do I really get for the extra $100+?
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whether you get more for the extra money is entirely subjective.

personally, i have very few fixed blades that are not busse, currently. i have sold or traded my other brands for busses.

i can tell you why i feel they are a great value, but it is just my opinion, although to a large degree the kool aid drinkers are in agreement.

1. warranty is second to none. basically, you break it, they repair/replace it, free of charge.

2. more variety of models than any other company, though availability is often frustrating for some.

3. customer service is better than any other company in my experience. crk, emerson, benchmade, etc, are all top notch in the cs department. but busse combat is head and shoulders above.

4. buying busses is just fun. ganzas, the store, other special offerings, choosing your options, etc.

5. amy-o. nuff said.

6. infi steel. easy to sharpen, holds an edge, doesnt chip, the best combination of steel characteristics i have found.

7. the busse forum has some of the best guys here.


and a bunch more reasons i cant think of right now. good luck in your search. with either crk or a busse family knife, you will be satisfied.
 
chrisjgilmore said:
OK, so I have looked at all of the recommendations and the Busse is defintly more expensive. Feel free to call me ignorant or tell me i don't deserve a Busse but with that said, what do I really get for the extra $100+?
Click to expand...

I can't speak about the same for other knife companies because I don't know... But in addition to what MORIMOTOM said... If you bought a Busse, used it some and discovered that you don't like it for whatever reason, usually you can sell it on the Exchange here and most likely get most or all of your money back for it... They tend to keep their value. Plus the Busse guarantee stays with the knife no matter HOW many time it changes hands. Cool, huh? :thumbup:
 
well crap, after reading this i have nothing to say, it's all fact.
happy new year! :thumbup:

ps: chrisjgilmore, come on over to the busse forum and hang out for a few days, there's plenty of guys who would be ready to answer your every busse question.

.
 
OldPhysics said:
Careful.

I 'dropped by' in late September 2006.

Most of my CCs have burst into fire (spontaneously) and melted. :o

Oh ... and my postal carrier fears my name. :eek:
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Take this warning seriously, very seriously!!!

I was warned after buying my first Busse and shrugged it off. Now my brain is swimming in acronyms and I prowl the exchange at all hours of the night, waiting to score my next piece of INFI. :eek::eek::eek:
 
OK i will heed the warning. I went to the Busse site and viewed the knives they have online but there are only 2 on the site (that i can find). Can you point me to a site where I might see their other offerings.

Thanks
CG
 
chrisjgilmore said:
OK, so I have looked at all of the recommendations and the Busse is defintly more expensive. Feel free to call me ignorant or tell me i don't deserve a Busse but with that said, what do I really get for the extra $100+?
Click to expand...

2 things specifically by compairison - you get a harder rc knife - busse is 58-60rc, and chris reeves is (s30v green beret) 55-57rc.

and, quite importantly, you get a knife that will never chip. he who shall not be named used a green beret in a manner that many call insane - but it did show actual physical fractures and chipping. disregarding everything else in that review - it shows proof of one of the primary differences between infi and s30v (as heat treated by chris reeves).

INFI will never chip on you. it is so malleable at rc 60 that it will always mash, roll or dent at the edge.

I don't know about chris reeves a2. a2 can be an extremely tough steel if heat treated properly.


with swamp rat and scrap yard, you get a variety of steels that are all heat treated for maximum hardness while maintaining as much malleability/toughness as possible. A few have been shown to chip out, but generally that is chocked up to bad heat treatment, and it is always under extreme abuse (as apposed to infi wich to my knowledge has never been photographed or shown to have physically chipped). scrap yard especially is noticeably cheaper then the other two companies. you can probably get a scrap yard dog father on the boards for less money then a yarborough/green beret.

If you need something for knock down drag out abuse, or the possibility there of and you want a chris reeves - I'd say try for one of chris's a2 knives. pretty much anything from the three busse companies will suit that purpose well.

if you need something for just edge holding and light chopping, I'd still personally try for swamp rat or (if you have the money) busse.


also - the busse family of companies is used to and prepared for wild stories about knives being broken in retarded ways. so if you break your knife using it as a stepladder up a rock face (even though you didn't have too), busse/swamprat/scrapyard will replace it gaurenteed. chris reeves might be a touch bit more hesistant given how it was broken.
 
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