Cold steel voyager vs Phat Bob: Recommendation

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Forester33

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Jan 8, 2013
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Which one would you buy?
http://www.bing.com/shopping/voyage...teel+voyager&lpq=cold steel voyager&FORM=HURE
http://www.agrussell.com/ka-bar-phat-bob-folder/p/KA4082/

Plus and minus to me: Voyager: + The Grivory handles, Cold steel's rep., better looking, sounds like nice tough working folder. - Never handled one
Phat Bob: + I like Ka-Bar products, my current fixed blade field knife is a kabar, a friend has one and claims it's indestructable. also looks like a nice tough working folder. - It's kinda fugly, and i like a bit more of a point for some jobs.

My need is an EDC folder that could stick in my pocket for some field work. I value grip, sturdy functionality, good edge holding, nice clean design and toughness.
 
I really like my Voyagers, but I would choose the Phat Bob, due to it's Micarta grip and the blade profile. But that is just me.
 
Voyager all the way. The lock is just crazy strong and Cold Steels 8A holds a great edge compared to others 8A. The grivory handles on the Voyager offer great traction but to me the handles on the Phat Bob look slippery. And this is just purely an opinion but the Phat Bob is just, well,,,,UGLY!
 
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I can only speak to the Phat Bob. I have production (AUS8) and limited edition (D2, in my pocket as I type) models and have used them extensively. Random thoughts to follow:

* I have many KA-BAR knives, most of which I would classify as indestructible. I wouldn't call the PB indestructible, for one reason: it has a hollow grind, which I believe is non-ideal when it comes to blade and edge strength. Everything else is rock solid, and in fact quite heavy and beefy.
* The hollow grind makes this thing slightly terrifying in its sliciness. If you are thinking about cutting things with your knife, this is an excellent feature.
* I think micarta is an excellent, sturdy, and very durable handle material especially considering that it's backed up by the PB's thick steel liners. The production PB has smooth micarta: I've suggested to KA-BAR that the satin finish on the LE one is actually a much better choice due to improved grippiness. Polished micarta is not going to be as grippy as the Voyager's textured plastic.
* Flicking the PB blade open makes that liner lock click into place like the thundering of an angry Zeus, and I have no concerns about it failing. But my understanding that the tri-ad lock on the Voyager is generally considered the best in the business.
* As far as looks, that's entirely subjective. I love the PB profile and consider the Voyager an aesthetic mess.
* Both companies have an excellent reputation, and I own and love folders from both companies. I tend to mostly buy KA-BAR knives though.

It sounds like you need a beater, and as to me at least Dozier designed the PB to be more of a hunting knife you're probably going to want to go with the Voyager.
 
Voyager, better blade profile in my opinion, and thinner build for easier carry. I had a Phat Bob, but did not care for the slippery finish on the handle. I suppose that you could roughen up the Micarta handle if you wish.

Tom
 
Excellent advice. Thank you all. I wouldn't exactly say that I want a beater, more like sturdy and reliable. The slipperiness is probably the deciding factor. I've had a field knife slip on me beefore resulting in stiches and such. Part of the reason I like the short kabar as a field knife is the gaurd which prevents slippage.
 
Forester33 said:
Excellent advice. Thank you all. I wouldn't exactly say that I want a beater, more like sturdy and reliable. The slipperiness is probably the deciding factor. I've had a field knife slip on me beefore resulting in stiches and such. Part of the reason I like the short kabar as a field knife is the gaurd which prevents slippage.
Click to expand...

One thing you'll want to do with the Voyager is take off the pocket clip and bend it out a little bit, it comes absurdly tight but once it's adjusted it works just fine.
 
Goosey said:
One thing you'll want to do with the Voyager is take off the pocket clip and bend it out a little bit, it comes absurdly tight but once it's adjusted it works just fine.
Click to expand...

100% agreed. I do this to all my Cold Steel clip knives. If you don't you will shred a pair of jeans in no time.
 
BRL said:
I can only speak to the Phat Bob. I have production (AUS8) and limited edition (D2, in my pocket as I type) models and have used them extensively. Random thoughts to follow:

* I have many KA-BAR knives, most of which I would classify as indestructible. I wouldn't call the PB indestructible, for one reason: it has a hollow grind, which I believe is non-ideal when it comes to blade and edge strength. Everything else is rock solid, and in fact quite heavy and beefy.
* The hollow grind makes this thing slightly terrifying in its sliciness. If you are thinking about cutting things with your knife, this is an excellent feature.
* I think micarta is an excellent, sturdy, and very durable handle material especially considering that it's backed up by the PB's thick steel liners. The production PB has smooth micarta: I've suggested to KA-BAR that the satin finish on the LE one is actually a much better choice due to improved grippiness. Polished micarta is not going to be as grippy as the Voyager's textured plastic.
* Flicking the PB blade open makes that liner lock click into place like the thundering of an angry Zeus, and I have no concerns about it failing. But my understanding that the tri-ad lock on the Voyager is generally considered the best in the business.
* As far as looks, that's entirely subjective. I love the PB profile and consider the Voyager an aesthetic mess.
* Both companies have an excellent reputation, and I own and love folders from both companies. I tend to mostly buy KA-BAR knives though.

It sounds like you need a beater, and as to me at least Dozier designed the PB to be more of a hunting knife you're probably going to want to go with the Voyager.
Click to expand...
But just might buy a phat bob just to hear it lock closed like angry zues :D
 
Forester33 said:
But just might buy a phat bob just to hear it lock closed like angry zues :D
Click to expand...

That would be one of many excellent reasons for buying a Phat Bob :)

Have you considered the KA-BAR Mule? I just got one and holy hell is it ever beefy and sweet. It's also hollow ground, so I'm really curious how it'll hold up to the ridiculous abuse ima put it through.
 
I'd go with the Phat Bob although the Voyager isn't that far behind.

The Bob has great ergo's and the grind on it is pretty thin making it a cool slicer, while making the best out of the steel's edge retention.
 
I've had several Cold Steel knives with their Triad lock, and IMHO, it's the toughest lock out there. I have a small Voyager and a large American Lawman right now, and the tolerances on both are the best I've seen on production knives. Both lock up with the same authority.

However . . .

I like linerlocks too. I have a Spyderco Tenacious, and it's been a workhorse since I got it. The only problem is that the scales are now smoothed over from carry & use, and it doesn't give me the confidence I used to have in it's grip. For that reason alone, I won't buy a Phat Bob. Smooth-handled knives are not to my liking (unless they're Traditional patterns).

I have to agree with BRL too, in his comment about the Voyagers being an aesthetic mess. Some of the early versions were okay, but in my opinion the new Voyagers look like something a committee would design.

~Chris
 
I just traded a voyager and it may have been the sharpest factory edge I've ever received. Ti lite was dull, dull, dull but you aren't asking about that knife. :)
 
do a large voyager tanto or clip point the phat bob is very phat like the name states so that means anything else thats in that pocket is going to be very hard to get out
 
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