Crash Rat for survival use?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
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I was wondering if some of the owners could chime in and tell us if there is any thing special about the Crash Rat that would make it good in a survival situation. Specifically the attributes that are different then a standard hatchet like the spike, prybar end and the fact that it's a solid piece of steel and not a wood/plastic handle. I may get one but the only thing that's really stopping me is the weight. It's 1.5 times heavier than my hatchet.:eek:
 
My statement would be all on what kind of "survival" one is doing... urban, jungle, desert, etc.

Urban? IMHO, that is where the CR excels. If it is a Katrina situation, I would want the solid prybar end and spike for getting myself (and others) into and out of wreckage. For real survival. under any condition I'm likely to experience, that is the situation. Urban to suburban.

If we're talking an outing in the woods that has an unexpected turn of events, I would rather have a camp knife like a Camp Tramp or Ratweiler. Incredibly effective choppers, compact (compared to a hatchet) size, and able to perform functions other than pure chopping.

In my view, the CR is more of a survival tool like a Leatherman multitool. Not for the woods. A tool when the day-to-day turns disastrous.

Hope that helps...
 
I was looking for woods survival but your answer does help. I'm currently carrying a pocket knife, Howler LM, and hatchet. I was thinking of the CR to replace the hatchet for 2 reasons.
1st, it's frickin' cool.
2nd, I can see some instances where it would excel, like harvesting pitchwood for example. I'm just wondering if there is enough benefit to cancel out the extra weight.
 
Shotgun said:
I was looking for woods survival but your answer does help. I'm currently carrying a pocket knife, Howler LM, and hatchet. I was thinking of the CR to replace the hatchet for 2 reasons.
1st, it's frickin' cool.
2nd, I can see some instances where it would excel, like harvesting pitchwood for example. I'm just wondering if there is enough benefit to cancel out the extra weight.
Click to expand...

I have the same question. For me, the combination of a mid-sized knife like a howler and a small axe like the Granfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet, which is lightweight and easily outchops my battlerat (which I love, but then the hatchet is designed to excel at chopping wood!!) is hard to beat.

To me the appeal of the crash rat is its indestructability / hard use/abuse ability. I want one!
 
I've been thinking about the Gransfors mini a lot too. The one smaller than the Wildlife. Even though it weighs about 12oz, I'm sure it could out chop my Gerber that weighs a half a pound more.
 
Shotgun said, "...a pocket knife, Howler LM, and hatchet." If you know what you are doing in the woods you have everything, as far as edged tools, that you need. Keep the GB Wildlife, not the toy one.
 
Shotgun said:
I was looking for woods survival but your answer does help. I'm currently carrying a pocket knife, Howler LM, and hatchet. I was thinking of the CR to replace the hatchet for 2 reasons.
1st, it's frickin' cool.
2nd, I can see some instances where it would excel, like harvesting pitchwood for example. I'm just wondering if there is enough benefit to cancel out the extra weight.
Click to expand...

Short answer YES:thumbup:

For woods the prybar at the end is great for digging. It is great for throwing. The spike end is great for breaking bone. Only thing I would change is the distance between the main blade and the shaft. (another inch would be good, and yes I know it sounds bad:p)

As for urban I finally decided to add it in to my turnout gear for work (fire fighter). Last weak I used it in a mvc and a house fire. And let me tell you it met and surpased all expectations!!
 
I'd enjoy the crash rat if it had a hammer end rather than that spike. I truly feel that is all that is missing from it. that hammer is essential imo. if swamprat made one like that I would most CERTAINLY buyit.




1. chopping bit
2. Pry Bar
3. Hammer
4. Full tang


what's not to like?
 
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