Decisons, decisions: SRKW Howling Rat or BK&T Companion?

A

Albin

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Aug 31, 2001
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I'm in the market for another higher-end knife (for me), less than $100. I'm looking for a medium size hunting, general purpose knife. I already have a Gerber 6" (forget the model #), a Katz SS, a CS Master Hunter 2nd and a CS SRK on order.

I've narrowed it down due to size, shape, steel, price and reputation to the SRKW Howling Rat at $88 or the Becker K&T Companion at around $65. The Companion is slightly larger but I've heard awfully good things about SRKW.

SRKW Howling Rat: http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/knives.html

Becker K&T Companion: http://www.camillusknives.com/1mainframe.htm?bkt/index.shtml~main

Which one and why?

Is there another, competitive model that I'm missing? Help me decide, but don't tell my wife I'm buying another knife!!! :)

Thanks all for the advice and suggestions.

Albin
 
I have a HR, great knife for your intended use. You may also look at a Fallkniven F1. I have I use for hunting chores also.
 
I have a feeling that you mean the (BK-2) Campanion...Unless Camillus/Becker has come out with a NEW knife that they are calling the Companion.

Anyhow, I'd choose the Campanion/Companion, or maybe even the BK-7 or smaller BK-10...Why?...Because they feel sooooo good "in-hand".
 
Glockman99, You got it right, I completely missed the name. It's "Campanion" BK-2.

I looked at the Kalkniven site and got turned off since they are not made in the USA. I want a USA made knife, period. I don't remember the Swedes being any particularly friendly to the USA in the last 6 months or so. My .02.

Any other thoughts, suggestions or comments?

Thanks,

Albin
 
Fallknivens are made in Japan.

Of the two that you mentioned I would go with the SRKW. I've never owned a Rat but I didn't find the Campanion to be to my liking, as it is simply too thick for my tastes and the handle didn't really feel right. It just didn't seem to be a good general purpose knife. I would highly recommend that you handle one before buying.

You may also want to take a look at Juhn Greco's knives. These are very nice extremely well-built working blades that are handmade rather than mass produced. Despite this, they are generally available for around the same price range you are considering.

I have a Greco MST and I find it to be better suited to my needs than any fixed blade that I have yet encountered. It's not as fancy or well finished as some of the competing factory fixed blades but I've found it to work much better.
 
I believe the grind is flat on that knife, and it should help a bit more than the Campanion's sabre grind.
 
Another vote for the HR here too.

I received one yesterday in a trade, and I can already say it is only my FIRST, not last, Swamp Rat.

The balance and feel of the knife in hand are great. The grip is just the right size for my hand, and it feels tacky enough that it would never let go. I immediately set to on some cardboard boxes that had to be broken down and some work in the kitchen, and it handled both with ease. I can't wait to give it a real workout. Seems like a no-brainer for a utility blade.

I also agree with Fishbulb that the blade of the Campanion seemed a bit thick for my tastes. As well, the handle was a bit too thick and the material a bit too slippery feeling for my personal comfort level.
 
Tough to beat Swamp Rat's warranty... I really appreciate the attitude of the company overall. When i got in on the axe pass-around, it was the first time i heard of them. I checked out their site and was pretty impressed. Definitely seems like they stand behind their stuff.
 
Steve,

How does the Ontario TAK 1095 steel compare to the Swamp Rat or Campanion steel?

Thanks for the suggestions!

Albin
 
Of the two you listed, and only those two..., I would grudgingly give the Rat the nod. The Campanion is just too damn chunky. It's probably as indestructable as a knife can get....I'll give it that, but it's got too thick of a blade to really cut efficiently. ( said grudgingly cuz I'm biased towards Beckers...hey, at least I admit it)

Now if'n ya' wanted the same fantastic steel, and handles as the Campanion in a package that handles everything from kitchen duty to hacking limbs and brush WAY more efficiently than a knife it's size has any right to, I'd highly suggest taking a gander at the BK 10 Crewman. Oh, and it's about half the price of a Rat, and a good bit cheaper than the Campanion as well.


As far as design goes, I don't think the TAK could offer much that the Rat wouldn't, unless you like the shorter blade. While 1095 is NEVER EVER a bad choice in steels....I believe the Becker and the Swamprat have uhmmm...definitely got the edge.
:D

If ya' aint tried a Becker yet, ya' oughta. Might be just up yer alley, and easy on the wallet as well.
 
Albin: I don't know how 1095 steel measures up to the proprietary steels & the claims made about them by some of the custom knife makers. I only know that 1095 steel works well for me in a used-frequently 3/16 inch x 10 inch blade "chopper" in clearing vines, brush, saplings, roots, etc. in my woods/pasture. My blade does not have a fancy name and did not cost me $80 or $100. If it ever breaks or wears out, I will buy a replacement. I tend to stick to the "K.I.S.S." principle. I suspect that there is some exageration in the claims of superiority for certain steels by some of the custom makers. Here is a site where a man has done some comparative reviews of a number of blades and a number of steels. I think his analyses are probably as unbiased as you are going to find. As you read thru his reviews, you might get a better idea of what works and what does not. http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/reviews.html
 
Originally posted by Blop
Fallknivens are made in Japan.


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Click to expand...
Blop:
They are designed in Sweden by Peter Hjortberger and made out of VG-10 steel by - if if i remember correctly - Moki in Japan.
Great knives!
You can find a lot more info on the Fällkniven Forum at www.knifeforums.com - including a very good explanation by Peter Hjortberger why they have chosen to get the knives made in Japan.

As to the original question by Albin: I don't own a Swamprat knife, but I do own a BK&T (Magnum Camp, but I know the Campanion well).
You get a lot of knife for very little money in BK&T!
I have used my Magnum Camp for all sorts of things (from kitchen work to chopping wood) and the it just keeps cutting!
I haven't heard any negative comments on SWRK and it would suprise me if I did!
But if it's at all possible for you, I would say see both knives "live" before you decide!
 
Rats. They gnaw through whatever you want and keep on' gnawin.

SR-101 is some really tough stuff, and you won't mess it up.

For general purpose camping etc, I'd probably pony up a few extra dollars (around $20) and get SRKW's Camp Tramp, but then again, I'm of the bigger the better mentality. The Howling Rat will do plenty and keep on howlin' for more abuse.
 
Albin, you might look at the BK10 Crewman instead of the Campanion. The designer, Ethan Becker, states it is an improved evolution of the Campanion, and about $25 cheaper. 5.5" of good solid hunting/camping knife. I have the BK7 and 9 and they are perfect high value low budget knives. Shop around on the net and you can get it in the low $40's. I've taken 1/16" off each scale on the BK7, and it fits my thick stumpy mitts better. I'm going to go another 1/16" and that's it. Then sandblasting the scales for about $5 and I have optimized them to my needs. BTW, my BK7 & 9 totaled about $100 delivered. Both Becker and SRKW have VERY happy customers.
 
Stich,

You may onto something:

While on the B&KT site, I found the "Crewman, Desert Series", a BK-10 in desert tan. I think I've found the knife I'm looking for.

The BK&T Crewman, Desert Series will be the first I get, with the Howling Rat, the second. Pic and specs for the BK-101 here: http://www.camillusknives.com/bkt/bk101.shtml#knife . Best of all, its about $51 at 1 Stop Knife Store. I love almost anything in desert tan.

I just spend last weekend at Sevierville, TN, home of Smoky Mtn Knife Works. They didn't have either one of these knives as far as I could tell. I was very disappointed, because I would have really liked to handle each of these knives first. Oh, well, the web is second best.

Thanks for the help!

Albin
 
Out of the two knives you're considering, I'd definitely go with the rat. A lot of other great suggestions have been made though - John Greco's knives work GREAT for about the same price range and they are handmade (got a Greco Companion in A2 steel strapped to my belt right now!). Fallknivens are also a good choice - great materials, great construction. The Ontario TAK looks like a very good design - I have been considering one myself. The Beckers are made from good materials and are a best bet for the "bang for the buck" category. I only give the howling rat the edge because it has the best warranty, they hold an edge a very long time, and they have VERY comfortable handles.

No matter which knife you choose, you won't be disappointed. All the knives mentioned are great knives for the money. Good luck, and remember - sometimes the search is the best part!
 
I have a howling rat and can attest to it being a great knife. If you can have only one a camptramp is hard to beat. The HR is smaller and more portable though.
 
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