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

good suggestions overall, here. I have owned all of these knives including CRK. I am mainly a Busse knife owner, but the other brands are good as well and I would not have any problem owning any of the others if Busse knives did not exist. CRK makes a solid knife out of one of my favorite steels - A2. Stay away from their S30V on a hard use knife.

No stainless steel belongs on a large hard use knife, it will chip and break fairly quickly on extended use. Asw long as you stick to good tool or carbon steels you will be fine. Although I consider CRK better than tops overall, I would pick a Tops 1095 blade over a S30V blade any day of the week. But CRK's A2 is excellent and definitely HT'd well. The CRK will be easier to get.

As I mentioned Tops, I have owned their knives and consider them of good quality as well.
 
After hearing your proposed use for the knife I must say you are in luck. The main problem with Busses is availability- you want a nice small EDC and they're selling big choppers or vice versa.

The ASH1 that is featured for sale right now could be just what you're looking for. For myself, I would get the Limited version because I prefer thinner blades. If the price sounds high, as has been mentioned, if you're not happy with it once you get it, it can always be sold for at least what you paid for it- in fact, if you are in any doubt & can afford it, I would get both and sell the one I didn't like- if you didn't end up liking them both for different reasons!

Alternatively, I would suggest a Camp Tramp as also being perfect for what you want to do with it, but you'll have to catch one on the exchange. There are plenty of Busses in your size range if you take the time to become familiar with them, you may find some that you like even better. Have fun!
 
Ontario's RAT 7 is also a good option. I got mine in 1095, there's also a D2 version. 115 or so. Kershaw's Outcast is D2 and sub 100 bucks.
I've got zero big Busse knife knowledge but the forum has good people and the company does have great customer service.
 
I don't have any Chris Reeve knives but own a few Swamprat and Busses. For a great general outdoor/survival knife at a reasonable price it is hard to beat the Ratmandu. Although they don't currently have them at the swamprat store they have been showing up frequently on the exchange. I hear rumours that the store might bring them back in the (near?) future. The RMD is tough, holds an edge well and is suitable for both light chopping and slicing. The other brand you might want to look into is Fallniven.
 
I don't have a CR one-piece (although I do have a sebenza). Due to the reputation and my experience with his folders I am positive the workmanship will be exemplary and an excellent knife.
With that said I just purchased a Swamp Rat Ratweiler Chopper (amazingly there are still some available on their website Rat Store ) and I am unbelievably impressed with this monster. With the weather we're having I haven't had a chance to really put it through its paces but am sure that it will live up to my expectations.
I think that it is just about the perfect size chopper to me. Big and heavy enough to be effective as a chopper and yet just under being to big and unwieldy for other finer tasks. I know that they make larger offerings but as a guy who grew up in the woods I honestly wouldn't want to be lugging anything bigger than what I need if I were tracking or hiking long distances. The Ratweiler looks to be about perfect for my needs. Your distance may vary.
As far as Fallkniven I have an F1 (I can't recommend it highly enough) and it is perfect for what it is but it is not a chopper. Their larger knives may be more effective but I have not handled them. My F1 is my ideal bushcraft knife and is also my primary skinner and dresser. It will be a great companion for my Rat.
Knowing that Ratweilers are available at the store right now I would tell you to jump on one as the opportunity won't be around much longer at normal prices. As someone else said the great thing about Busse related knives is that if you don't like it you should not lose money on it selling it later.
 
i have a ranger4, and 9. cant imagine either failing under most circumstances. and under$200 for both.
 
I had a CRK Project II. Really nice, but I traded it off since I had more than a few Busse's and Swamp Rats in that size and didn't need another. I traded it for a Lg Classic Sebenza also from CRK and that has been on my belt ever since. 4 or 5 years at least. CRK is top notch stuff.

My favs are the Busse Straight Handle Steelheart and the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp, both with ~7' blades. Both are discontiued and get big $$$$ on the secondary market.

The Ratweiller that IS available right now is pretty much the latest incarnation of the Camp Tramp. Basicly just different handle material (micarta rather than Res-C),

I would snag this in a heartbeat if I didn't have the others. Wait, I forgot I do have one!

Anyway, they usually sell out in hours if not minutes, so you had better jump if you are interested.

I have never taken a loss on any Busse or Swamp Rat I sold, used or not. So, it's not like taking a big risk if you don't care for it.

I'm just suprised it's still available.

Rob
 
Rangers get my vote. Affordable, 5160 is a great tough steel, holds a really good edge with Justins heat treat at 58 RC, and is easy to sharpen. Also you can get any embellishment added you want for usually less than 30.00 (satin, mirrored, swedge, handle choice, etc), if fact you can (and I have many times) actually draw your own custom design and Justin will have it to you in less that 2 weeks!! What other other knife company does that??Not to mention a no excuses warranty policy, you break it, he will replace it, no cost.
 
Rangers are top notch to be sure and would never hesitate to buy or use one.

I was suggesting the Ratweiller mainly because they are available from the shop for such a limited time. It's an opportunity that doesn't happen too often and I would jump there first.

However, if you took my Camp Tramp or Battle Rat and subsutited a RD7 or RD9, I would have no qualms about carrying those. Justin makes good stuff, but it's a lot easier to get than Swamp Rat.

Rob
 
busse kin 100%
I'm a loyal scrap yard junk yard dog but each company is great
they can outclass all the others in any fight
they are indistructable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
This is a good thread. Thanks for starting it.

I have been a Busse fan for going on 8 years. I think a Busse would be a better choice over the CRK fixed blades. Not to say there is anything at all wrong with the CRK fixed blades. They just don't chop anywhere near as well as a Busse. I do appreciate CR knives for their precision and attention to detail, and would love to own a few more of his fixed blades simply for that.
 
Thanks for all of the feedback I'm going to figure out how much longer it will take me to save up the extra funds for the Busse. If it's too long then I will take a look at the others again.

Thanks for all of the feedback!
 
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