CS Trail Master VS. SR Battle Rat - Which one?

Swamp rat. Someone should be along shortly to provide a link, hopefully, but Swamp Rat has proven with pics how tough their knives truly are. :cool:

http://www.ip-australia.com/swamp/index.htm

Check out the videos in the bottom. Granted they aren't as detailed as some may desire, there are other pics that show the toughness of the rats. Hope this helps
 
The Swamp Rat has much better handles, and doesn't suffer from a double guard.
The TrailMaster is cheaper, and you can order from a dealer without playing stupid games about when you'll get your knife.
You could keep your eyes open for a Battle Rat on the Exchange forum...
 
TrailMaster fits my hand better and I like the fact that it has a handguard. All hype aside, these two knives perform similarly so you will have to choose based upon aesthetics and personal preference.
 
I have a TM and think it is one of the best big knives out there for the buck spent. Don't know what all the prejiduce is against it. It is 5/16" thick and razor sharp to boot. This thing is just plain big. Ergo's aren't bad either. Granted the handle is pretty generic but then again with a wrist loop it chops pretty darned well.

Now with all that being said if you want to get a very good camp/survival knife that is rugged with great ergos try the UC SEAL machete. I have one in ATS34,the early version that is hands down wonderful for a chopper, survival style blade. I don't understand how this didn't catch on with campers and survivalists. This thing is rugged, great steel heat treated to perfection for this type of knife( about 58 Rc) and the blade shape is great for doing the mundane tasks one would have to do either in a set up camp or a in a true survival situation. Handle ergos are second to none for comfort and extened use. Just my two cents. Keepem sharp
 
The Trailmaster is a good knife for the money but the handle is a bit small for it. The Swamprat line seems to be the way to go. Besides that double gaurd is a pain in the ass.
 
In a similar series of tests Turber also found that the UC Seal Machete ats34 performed very well - these were made by Camillus. The results of these tests never made it into his online magazine.
 
bishop85gt said:
Besides that double gaurd is a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

I'm curious as to why people dislike handguards...
I for one, can't stand knives that lack a good pronounced handguard...
 
Heavy dual guards reduce grip versatility.

As for Swamp Rat vs Cold Steel :

Swamp Rat has a differential temper, more consistent steel and heat treatment, much better QC, much more durable handle and much more ergonomic, high point penetration with much greater point strength and much better coating, and a tremendously better warrenty. Its not much of a decision.

-Cliff
 
I have a stainless (AUS-6) Trailmaster that I like...ALOT.

THAT'S the one to get!.:).
 
I have both knives, and I think the choice would depend on the intended use. Cliff is correct about the quality of the Swamp Rat being better. However, out of several large bowies I own the Swamp Rat is by far the heaviest, and seems intended strictly for chopping. For a self-defense knife, I would rather have the more balanced Trailmaster.
 
The Camp Tramp and Battle Rat are somewhat forward balanced however you can shift the grip forward readily. As a side issue is the wrist strain actually significant here for fighting, is this supposted to be a factor? I can see with swords and extended fencing (like 15 minute long point fights), but is this how knife fighting is actually practiced now?

My brother teaches several forms of grappling and at times I have sparred with him. The level of physical exertion is massive, I have used knives far heavier than the Battle Rat for *long* periods of time and have not come close to the level of exhaustion as even minutes of close quarters wrestling/throws. Not to mention something like working a heavy bag for awhile, or wind sprints etc. . Try 500 hindu quats.

If its some sort of manipulation issue ok I can see that like you can't flip one around as fast or whatever, but even then we are not talking about huge strains. Ok with my 22"+ Ang Khola and the other 3+ lbs khukuris you can take your wrist down in a hurry. But the Battle Rat? I could swing that around all day and not get tired. Would you not exert far more strain in any grappling contact.

Plus khukuris are fighting knives and *way* heavier and more forward balanced than the BR. Which someone awhile ago would make a decent karda (small knife) for one of the larger khukuris.

Anyway, what can't you do in a "fighting" context with the BR which you can do with the Trailmaster, outside of practicing katas or something repetative for a long period of time. Of course the Trailmaster has that nice long easily sharpened clip for backcuts and the handle is not grip specific where as the BR is more biased to one particular hand position though is not so baised (like heavy finger grooves) that it can be used reversed.

-Cliff
 
Per the above referenced review of the Busse Basic #9 vs. the Trail Master:

"...So if you are looking for a great chopper and an all around utility knife, get the Busse. If you want a very good utility knife and a 9" fighter/bowie, get the Trail Master. Either way you will be getting a great buy!"

I think a similar conclusion could be drawn with the Swamp Rat based upon its design. It may have an edge in utility but the TM has the edge as a fighter due to the tip shape & balance point.

OwenM wrote: "...The TrailMaster is cheaper, and you can order from a dealer without playing stupid games about when you'll get your knife" in reference to the Swamp Rat.

LOL. My wife (God love her!) got me a SR Camp Tramp for Christmas (in addition to other things sharp & pointy) - she said that SR claimed it was in stock & ready to be shipped... I have checked my mailbox every day & still no Swamp Rat! We'll see if it get's here before New Years!!!

If you are say, deploying to Iraq next week, I would go with the Trail Master; as stated above, its a very good utility knife, a better fighter and more importantly, you will take delivery before you deploy!
 
Mutt, have you ever done much chopping with a Trailmaster? I did. Once. Blisters on my hand from the rubber handle and the semi sharp inside edge of that oval guard. I love the Trailmaster, but I would modify it some if I ever planned on doing heavy chopping again.
 
As stated previously I own the TM and UC machete style knife. I forgot to mention that I also own a Leuku from Ragnar. Not a Roselli but the one from Finland. Here is the deal for me at least, for a longterm survival situation the UC machete would be the do all end all knife to have. Not to underrate either of the other knives in anyway what so ever. If I had to fight with any of the 3 the TM would get the call. I think it balances much better in the hand than the Recon scout I own and the bit of extra weight over the Leuku doesn't seem to be a problem. Truth be told if I had any one of the 3 in a survival situation I don't think I would suffer to much.

I think people get caught up in the hype surrounding a knife to begin with. If the tool works for you then it works for you. All of these big knives I have work very well for there intended purpose. If I wanted the be all end all knife for the ultimate cutting tool I would order a Shiva Ki and be done with it. But the 3 I have will have to suffice and I am happy with all 3. I kind of figure it is like the .45acp. You can get higher capacity fire arms in a hand gun, more exotic styled handguns, you can get custom etc.etc. But you can also get that type of ammo just about any where in the world if need be. So being able to get the knife promptly from a dealer is of paramout importance and having that knife easy to maintain in the field, ie)sharpening for one is also of paramount importance. Hey just my two cents. Keepem sharp
 
Here's a point I'm surprised no one has brought up: If you have your heart set on the CS, why not just buy a becker BK9? same steel SUPPOSEDLY, better sheath, I for one like the handles better, full tang, i like the geometry of the blade better, and LESS money! In any case I'd take my becker over a CS in a heartbeat, and a swamprat is on my to-buy list.
 
I have both, and like both. My nod would go to the TM, especially for a factory 2nd for $100.

The handles on the TM are more comfortable, IMO, and mine have held up well over the last 5-6 years I've had one. The BR handles are uncomfortable for me when chopping. They are a tad too thin and dig into my palms. The TM is one seriously sturdy blade. As for edge holding, mine are the same. They have both indented and rippled on the same swings into the same material. The BR does seem to steel back better, though.

I think it comes down to personal preference and aesthetics. For performance, to me, they are equal. Both handles are great in cold weather.

As for the Becker, it's a *great* knife, for many tasks, except for wood chopping. It's just thin enough that it really binds when you chop. For pulpy chopping, bushes, etc., it is great! It also seems to steel back very quickly.

Good luck with your choice, either way you won't go wrong.
 
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