O.K. I have been wanting to put my concept ideas in visual effects for a while, I just haven't had time. But, here we go.
I want to outline a little about "why" I have come up with my two concepts.
First of all, I strongly feel that the Ratmandu and HRLM are both awesome knives and absolute classic hits in the knife world!!! :thumbup:
Unfortunately, I am honestly not too fond of the M6. Sorry everybody.
To me the M6 is way too heavy for what it can do..... all that weight (16.5 ounces) and it really isn't a good chopper. And it is too heavy and bulky to be good at most anything else. ----- I should rephrase that and say: Heavier and bulkier than "I" prefer....
I am personally very good with the two knife concept. One knife to do most tasks and one larger knife.
The RMD and the HRLM are both darn near perfect for most tasks short of chopping and battoning.
But, if I want to batton or chop, I would much rather have a larger knife than the M6 and I feel the M6 isn't ideal for most utility type tasks - too big, heavy and bulky (IMO).
The Camp Tramp actually weighs 2.0 ounces less than the M6 and will chop circles around the M6.
The S6 is the Scrap Yard Res-C handled version of the M6. The S6 has a thicker blade and a full height grind. It weighs 4.0 ounces less than the M6 and feels much better and much more balanced in "my" hand. Because of the more forward weight, even though the S6 weighs less, I feel the S6 is a slightly better chopper and much more nimble for most other tasks.
The Yard Guard is a much larger knife and way better chopper than the M6 and still weighs 0.5 ounces less than the M6. I think a lot of people are missing out on the Yard Guard as almost being a comparable replacement for the Camp Tramp!
I don't mean to sound like I am bashing the M6. It is a nice knife. But, to me, the M6 just falls in no-mans land.
Another knife that I have that is actually similar in length, but much better balanced, much nicer feel and much more usable - unfortunately much more expensive...... - Is my Busse SJTAC!
My SJTAC weighs about 13.0 ounces and is slightly longer.
M6..........................= 16.5 ounces; .234" thick; 6" blade; 11.68" oal
SJTAC .(stripped) .. = 13.0 ounces; .194 thick; 6.375 blade; 11.875 oal
The SJTAC has probably my FAVORITE blade shape for this sized knife and a great shape for many other sizes as well. But, the SJTAC handle is a little too slender and not as comfortable as the Ratmandu/HRLM handle design.
So, my concept is to come up with a M6 sized blade that is lighter and more suited for mid-sized general tasks. I don't feel a knife with a 6" - 6.5" blade is ever going to be a great chopper. But, there are many good uses for a blade this size if it is balanced right. (IMO).
So, I will combine my favorite details of certain knives...:
- SJTAC blade shape - Full height grind (or nearly) AND Convex!!!
- Ratmandu handle shape, but slightly taller and a tad longer for a slightly larger knife. Not as bulky as the M6, but more scale thickness than the SJTAC.
- Pull the choil in closer for better comfort when choked up and more blade edge.
- *** Skeletonize the handle under the micarta scales!!! - Since the Swamp can obviously skeletonize the tangs, I consider this an option that would greatly improve the balance, feel, and weight of a knife this size and STILL be plenty strong enough!
- I don't feel that a knife this size needs to be as thick as the M6, but that is a personal preference and subject to debate and intended use. Since I don't feel this would be a good chopper and I do consider it to be more of a larger general use knife, I would prefer less than the M6's .234" thickness, but maybe a tad thicker than the SJTAC's .194" - So, somewhere between .2" and .21" (???) - Since I propose skeletonizing the handle, the handle of the concept knife should be considerably lighter than the M6's and the blade would probably be similar to just slightly lighter than the M6's blade. I would think the concept knife could net out pretty close to the 13.0 ounces of the SJTAC. The slight weight increase by increasing the steel thickness and scale thickness would be offset by the skeletonized handle and net out about the same. The SJTAC balances well.
- I humbly request a satin LE option....
Rat Jack Concept:
.
.
.
Next to Ratmandu:
.
.
.
Between HRLM and Ratmandu:
.
.
.
With concept sketch of skeletonized tang:
... notice the cut-out areas have rounded inside corners to help reduce weak-spots! ...... I assume Busse has the blanks laser cut (????).
:thumbup:
-------------------
Bog Dog II - Concept
(.... my submission for a Swamp Rat - Bush Knife!)
Everybody loved and wants a Bog Dog or Dog Skinner and there has been discussion of a Bush knife.
I personally think the HRLM and Ratmandu are both awesome utility/multi-function knives, etc.. (.... I am probably repeating myself )
But, for a Bush knife, I think the Bog Dog has certain advantages. Mainly in weight and blade-shape.
The Bog Dog had a blade shape similar to the SJTAC, but smaller.
My concept for a great Bush knife would combine some of the Bog Dog characteristics and the HRLM/Ratmandu handle, but a little slimmer and lighter in the handle.
Ironically, this would be a smaller version of my Rat Jack Concept....
Here are the dimensions of the HRLM and the Bog Dog:
HRLM.....= 9.0 ounces; .190" thick; 4.13" blade; 9.3" oal
Bog Dog = 5.0 ounces; .140" thick ; 4.75" blade; 9.56" oal
I propose the Bog Dog II have dimesions close to:
Bog Dog II = 7.5 ounces (?); .175" thick; 4.375" - 4.5" blade; 9.4 - 9.5" oal
Feature details - See Rat Jack above! But, key features include:
- Skeletonized tang
- Similar handle to HRLM/Ratmandu, but slightly slimmer handle proportions - height and thickness
- Blade shape similar to Bog Dog, but with slightly less drop than older Bog Dog and slightly more belly, but still pointy - see comparison pick of Concept Bog Dog II vs. older Bog Dog - or basically a smaller version of SJTAC blade
- Choil in closer for better comfort when choked up and more blade edge.
Concept Bog Dog II
.
.
.
Under HRLM and above old Bog Dog and Ratmandu:
:thumbup:
--------------------
I would also like to mention:
I am really looking forward to the some of the smaller upcoming Swamp Knives:
- Rat Hunter LM
- Bandicoot LM
- Baby Coot LM
All of these look like great designs, but I feel all three of these would likely benefit from skeletonized tangs as well to help keep weight down.
One of the great things about Res-C is the lighter handles. But, I do love micarta and if the tang is skeletonized, you get some of the best of both worlds!!!
Further, I would love to see some skeletonized LE-light versions of the HRLM and Ratmandu!!!
I think the weight savings would be subtle but nice improvement.
Just some thoughts....
.
I want to outline a little about "why" I have come up with my two concepts.
First of all, I strongly feel that the Ratmandu and HRLM are both awesome knives and absolute classic hits in the knife world!!! :thumbup:
Unfortunately, I am honestly not too fond of the M6. Sorry everybody.
To me the M6 is way too heavy for what it can do..... all that weight (16.5 ounces) and it really isn't a good chopper. And it is too heavy and bulky to be good at most anything else. ----- I should rephrase that and say: Heavier and bulkier than "I" prefer....
I am personally very good with the two knife concept. One knife to do most tasks and one larger knife.
The RMD and the HRLM are both darn near perfect for most tasks short of chopping and battoning.
But, if I want to batton or chop, I would much rather have a larger knife than the M6 and I feel the M6 isn't ideal for most utility type tasks - too big, heavy and bulky (IMO).
The Camp Tramp actually weighs 2.0 ounces less than the M6 and will chop circles around the M6.
The S6 is the Scrap Yard Res-C handled version of the M6. The S6 has a thicker blade and a full height grind. It weighs 4.0 ounces less than the M6 and feels much better and much more balanced in "my" hand. Because of the more forward weight, even though the S6 weighs less, I feel the S6 is a slightly better chopper and much more nimble for most other tasks.
The Yard Guard is a much larger knife and way better chopper than the M6 and still weighs 0.5 ounces less than the M6. I think a lot of people are missing out on the Yard Guard as almost being a comparable replacement for the Camp Tramp!
I don't mean to sound like I am bashing the M6. It is a nice knife. But, to me, the M6 just falls in no-mans land.
Another knife that I have that is actually similar in length, but much better balanced, much nicer feel and much more usable - unfortunately much more expensive...... - Is my Busse SJTAC!
My SJTAC weighs about 13.0 ounces and is slightly longer.
M6..........................= 16.5 ounces; .234" thick; 6" blade; 11.68" oal
SJTAC .(stripped) .. = 13.0 ounces; .194 thick; 6.375 blade; 11.875 oal
The SJTAC has probably my FAVORITE blade shape for this sized knife and a great shape for many other sizes as well. But, the SJTAC handle is a little too slender and not as comfortable as the Ratmandu/HRLM handle design.
So, my concept is to come up with a M6 sized blade that is lighter and more suited for mid-sized general tasks. I don't feel a knife with a 6" - 6.5" blade is ever going to be a great chopper. But, there are many good uses for a blade this size if it is balanced right. (IMO).
So, I will combine my favorite details of certain knives...:
- SJTAC blade shape - Full height grind (or nearly) AND Convex!!!
- Ratmandu handle shape, but slightly taller and a tad longer for a slightly larger knife. Not as bulky as the M6, but more scale thickness than the SJTAC.
- Pull the choil in closer for better comfort when choked up and more blade edge.
- *** Skeletonize the handle under the micarta scales!!! - Since the Swamp can obviously skeletonize the tangs, I consider this an option that would greatly improve the balance, feel, and weight of a knife this size and STILL be plenty strong enough!
- I don't feel that a knife this size needs to be as thick as the M6, but that is a personal preference and subject to debate and intended use. Since I don't feel this would be a good chopper and I do consider it to be more of a larger general use knife, I would prefer less than the M6's .234" thickness, but maybe a tad thicker than the SJTAC's .194" - So, somewhere between .2" and .21" (???) - Since I propose skeletonizing the handle, the handle of the concept knife should be considerably lighter than the M6's and the blade would probably be similar to just slightly lighter than the M6's blade. I would think the concept knife could net out pretty close to the 13.0 ounces of the SJTAC. The slight weight increase by increasing the steel thickness and scale thickness would be offset by the skeletonized handle and net out about the same. The SJTAC balances well.
- I humbly request a satin LE option....
Rat Jack Concept:
.
.
.
Next to Ratmandu:
.
.
.
Between HRLM and Ratmandu:
.
.
.
With concept sketch of skeletonized tang:
... notice the cut-out areas have rounded inside corners to help reduce weak-spots! ...... I assume Busse has the blanks laser cut (????).
:thumbup:
-------------------
Bog Dog II - Concept
(.... my submission for a Swamp Rat - Bush Knife!)
Everybody loved and wants a Bog Dog or Dog Skinner and there has been discussion of a Bush knife.
I personally think the HRLM and Ratmandu are both awesome utility/multi-function knives, etc.. (.... I am probably repeating myself )
But, for a Bush knife, I think the Bog Dog has certain advantages. Mainly in weight and blade-shape.
The Bog Dog had a blade shape similar to the SJTAC, but smaller.
My concept for a great Bush knife would combine some of the Bog Dog characteristics and the HRLM/Ratmandu handle, but a little slimmer and lighter in the handle.
Ironically, this would be a smaller version of my Rat Jack Concept....
Here are the dimensions of the HRLM and the Bog Dog:
HRLM.....= 9.0 ounces; .190" thick; 4.13" blade; 9.3" oal
Bog Dog = 5.0 ounces; .140" thick ; 4.75" blade; 9.56" oal
I propose the Bog Dog II have dimesions close to:
Bog Dog II = 7.5 ounces (?); .175" thick; 4.375" - 4.5" blade; 9.4 - 9.5" oal
Feature details - See Rat Jack above! But, key features include:
- Skeletonized tang
- Similar handle to HRLM/Ratmandu, but slightly slimmer handle proportions - height and thickness
- Blade shape similar to Bog Dog, but with slightly less drop than older Bog Dog and slightly more belly, but still pointy - see comparison pick of Concept Bog Dog II vs. older Bog Dog - or basically a smaller version of SJTAC blade
- Choil in closer for better comfort when choked up and more blade edge.
Concept Bog Dog II
.
.
.
Under HRLM and above old Bog Dog and Ratmandu:
:thumbup:
--------------------
I would also like to mention:
I am really looking forward to the some of the smaller upcoming Swamp Knives:
- Rat Hunter LM
- Bandicoot LM
- Baby Coot LM
All of these look like great designs, but I feel all three of these would likely benefit from skeletonized tangs as well to help keep weight down.
One of the great things about Res-C is the lighter handles. But, I do love micarta and if the tang is skeletonized, you get some of the best of both worlds!!!
Further, I would love to see some skeletonized LE-light versions of the HRLM and Ratmandu!!!
I think the weight savings would be subtle but nice improvement.
Just some thoughts....
.
