ESEE, Becker, Ranger, RAT Series, Others......Is One Better than All the Rest?

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all,

I'm curious about something and hope that you all can clear it up for me or at least provide some guidance.

Been looking at some fixed blades that can be used for hunting, camp chores, field dressing hogs and all that might come up in these situations. One that caught my eye not long ago is the Ranger RD-6. I started looking at other brands just to see what all was out there and I started seeing lots of knives that look similar to one another. The ones that come to memory are ESEE, RAT Series, Becker Knife and Tool, Ranger and prolly several others that I am not familiar with or able to recall at this moment. All of these brands have knives that look good, built using good steels and materials, nice Thick blades, similar blade shapes, and able to put up with a lot of use. I haven't read the specs of all these knives, but I would guess that most of these knives likely have similar thicknesses of steel in their blades.

What I am wondering is whether any one of these brands is better than the others. Does one have a better reputation for quality? If you know of others that should be in the group, please post them.

What do you all think? Is one of these better than the others? If you were given the choice for your next knife for use like what I listed, what brand would you choose and why?

Thank you for your help and time.
Larry
 
all are good enough for what you decribed. i prefer becker for reasons that may not apply to you. own all of them but the ontarios you mentioned.
 
They are all better then each other depending on who you ask. All are quality knives, reputable company's, and as goes with any production line, a lemon may slip through here or there, but outside of a lemon, you really can't go wrong with any. I like KaBar's cro-van variant of 1095 steel myself personally, but that's not to say normal 1095 is a bad steel by any means. ESEE gets a lot of credit for their no questions asked lifetime warranty, but that's not to say the others don't have good warranty's or that they don't respect their warranty conditions. Sometimes one gets a nod over another just for a better feel in hand which differs from one person to the next, or love/hate from sheer sentimental reasons, (ie. My uncle JoeJoe worked at that company vs. My uncle billybob got fired from there!)
 
These are some good quality names for sure and I wouldn't worry too much if I preferred one over another, generically speaking. More than likely should the knife ever fail, it wasn't the knife that did you in...if ya know what I mean. Anyways, like those above me have said, we all have our opinions. I generally prefer Becker knives myself although I enjoy all that's edged :D

zfOrsQ5.jpg
 
All are great brands, so it's down to the feel, look, weight, basically what your tastes are. Asking us is no replacement for picking them up and holding them in your hands. Enjoy the selection process! 😉
 
Nalapombu said:
Hey all,

I'm curious about something and hope that you all can clear it up for me or at least provide some guidance.

Been looking at some fixed blades that can be used for hunting, camp chores, field dressing hogs and all that might come up in these situations. One that caught my eye not long ago is the Ranger RD-6. I started looking at other brands just to see what all was out there and I started seeing lots of knives that look similar to one another. The ones that come to memory are ESEE, RAT Series, Becker Knife and Tool, Ranger and prolly several others that I am not familiar with or able to recall at this moment. All of these brands have knives that look good, built using good steels and materials, nice Thick blades, similar blade shapes, and able to put up with a lot of use. I haven't read the specs of all these knives, but I would guess that most of these knives likely have similar thicknesses of steel in their blades.

What I am wondering is whether any one of these brands is better than the others. Does one have a better reputation for quality? If you know of others that should be in the group, please post them.

What do you all think? Is one of these better than the others? If you were given the choice for your next knife for use like what I listed, what brand would you choose and why?

Thank you for your help and time.
Larry
Click to expand...

I am curious what about this model appeals to you with regard to the applications (intended use for the tool) you have mentioned)?

The reason I ask is that the specifications of this model do not seem particularly suited to your described tasks. 11.75" long would in my mind present handling issues skinning (too long), and .26" wide is a very thick spine resulting in a heavy knife (fatigue over long intriquet work periods). Generally knives used for skinning will have firstly thin geometry allowing much greater ease of use and cut MUCH better, and excellent balance in hand for controlled cutting.

The spec's of this model seem much more appropriate to tasks related to heavy brute force (prising, chopping, using as a lever). 5160 @ 53 -56 is in my mind more taylored for brute-force usage, and ease of sharpening. Additionally, most likely the knife will have very steep cutting geometry, not what I would choose (for applications mentioned).

Personally, I would recommend you consider the geometry of the knife as it relates to the tasks you most intend to do. Choose a tools (or tools) specifically developed to perform those tasks. Then look for a knife that combines those features.

Optionally, just buy what stimulates you most (makes you feel good) and adapt you usage to it.
 
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If you want 5160 as soft as 53Rc, then go with Ranger. (insert official BFC sarcasm warning here ;))
 
Sorry, forgot to answer the subject line of the OP.

I prefer the 1095 and the heat treatment results by ESSE. I have had good history here and for my uses find it superior to Becker steel. Oh, am I gonna get the heat now ... :-o

Please, just my opinion after comparison, based on only my personal applications.

All the manufactures mentioned provide excellent products. We must work to truly understand our own personal applications, try comparitively for ourselves to determine what's best for ourselves.
 
Spey said:
5160 @ 53 -56 is in my mind more taylored for brute-force usage, ...
Click to expand...

jdm61 said:
Or for a new leaf spring on your Jeep. :D
Click to expand...

jdm61,

HEY, you took that out of context AND potentially mischaracterized what I was saying there !!

... pause reply ..., wait ..., wait ..., wait ...,

Hmmm ..., just went outside and measured the leaf springs on my '68 Bronco to be .26"

Picture, or it didn't happen (picture of one leaf thickness b4 the taper):
IMG_20170402_142820794.jpg


I think I'll be needing one of those Rangers (in case I break a leaf spring on my '68 Bronco, a Ranger RD-6 would be an identical thickness replacement).
Hmmm ..., on second thought based on historic data (50 years worth as of next year) my money might be better spent on a different knife ;-)
 
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