Fixed blade comparison

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Jan 21, 2003
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I've been looking into acquiring a hard-use fixed blade. Not for concealed carry, just for camping/hunting etc.. Anyway I've found two main possibilities. I'm looking at an Extrema Ratio T2000 or a Busse (not sure of model). Has anyone had the ability to compare products? I find prices to be similar and steels to be comparable, though styles are different. What would you recommend?
 
Don't even think about it.
Busse all the way.
Infi is probably the best steel out there for hard use.
I have a Steel Heart E and the thing is absolutely amazing.
Just over the weekend, I had to cut up some branches from an old
Dogwood. I had a hatchet and pruning saw, but I chose the Steel Heart instead. Realize that I reprofiled it to a V-Edge. The thing whacked out huge chunks of wood with each chop. Some of the branches were 4" thick. Took a while, but it was easier than using either the saw or axe (admittedly the axe was much duller than the Busse). Anyway, I chopped for about an hour.
The Busse was still "almost shaving sharp" with no rolled over edges or chips.
Couple passes on the white stones of my Sharpmaker and it would shave no problem again.
Busse knives are absolutely amazing.
Lenny
 
Get a Camillus/Becker BK-7. With the money that you'll save between the Becker and the Busse you'll be able to buy a nice tent and a sleeping bag to sleep in.
 
A Becker or a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp...concur with our friend from Aberdeen re what you could do with all that extra money. (However, if you are planning a camping trip to Iraq or Lebanon, you may want to go ahead and spend the extra money for the INFI.)
 
Let me second the Camp Tramp suggestion. If you are determined to either get an ER or a Busse, go with the latter.
 
What exactly do you plan to do with them? The T2000 isn't going to be much of a skinner. :D
 
I can't compare the two, but I can say I spent several hours chopping wood with a Busse Paul's Hatchet made of INFI steel, and it still shaved hair afterwards.
The Becker is indeed a fine knife, especially for the money, but I will suggest that you base your knife purchase on your values, not somebody else's.
The same dedicated people that make Busse knives what they are make SwampRat knives what they are, and offer the same unconditional warranty. These knives make it very difficult for many people to rationalize paying over twice as much for a Busse, but again, Your Values, not mine.

Does anybody have REAL LIFE info on how much longer a SRKW will hold an edge than a Becker for similar/same task??
 
Becker or Fallkniven. You can't go wrong if it<s going to be a beater knife.

But will stand up to the rigers of camping abuse.

If you are like me your knife becomes a pry bar, a cutting tool, a choping tool, a spatula, a hammer...

I have put the Fallkniven trough some abuse and still trying to get it to buck has not given in yet.
 
I have several skinners and am looking for a large do-it-all camp knife. One that'll chop branches, quarter a deer ;) , or anything else a 6+" blade should be able to do. It just seems that an ER or Busse have the durability that will last me years of use.
 
I have a BK7 that is great for an all-around camp knife. My BK9 is looking for a new owner. Not that it is a bad knife at all, just that for that size and the abuse it would take to justify its' use, I want a lifetime warranty and better steel. Ergo Battle Rat or Busse, and an extra $100. For the money, can't beat the Beckers, a best buy.
 
I have a BK7 that is great for an all-around camp knife. My BK9 is looking for a new owner. Not that it is a bad knife at all, just that for that size and the abuse it would take to justify its' use, I want a lifetime warranty and better steel. Ergo Battle Rat or Busse, and an extra $100. For the money, can't beat the Beckers, a best buy.
 
I would agree with some of those here about the BK7 or BK9. For that price range, it is one tool that's hard to beat. Afterall, you are not going to test the knife to the limits, are you?
 
There is currently a nice review of the BK9 here; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=258147

Same steel as the other Becker's, which is to say, very good. Just because of the low price, don't think you aren't getting a real knife. My biggest problem with them is the handle shape, especially that damned hook that is murder on my little finger when chopping. Then again, I find the handle on my Battle Rat to be a little on the small side.

I actually prefer the Ontario RTAK to both the BK9 or the Battle Rat for overall usability. While it will not chop quite as well as my reground (ground to a thinner convex edge) Battle Rat in the larger stuff, it will run circles around either of them when used for limbing, brush clearing or as a small machete for weeds, briars and grass. Easily has the most flexible handle design of these 3 knives and makes an excellent all purpose big blade.

BTW, I wouldn't be too concerned with edge holding when chopping wood. When chopping clear, standing wood you will tire long before your blade will dull. Dirty, muddy wood will knock the edge off ANY blade in very short time. Just remember that old woodsmen worked their axes for hours a day doing a lot of chopping and weren't forced to stop and sharpen them after a few minutes work. Wood itself is not very wear inducing to a knife blade, it's what is in, on or around the wood that you have to worry about. BTW, lopping off small (1/2"-1"), well seasoned limbs is perhaps one of the most brutal thing you can do to your knife's edge.
 
Stich, you already have a knife with an unconditional warranty. BTW, that only applies to the Becker line, not to other Camillus knives.
 
Becker for those of us who are still going through college (well university for me, but poor nonetheless), and Swamp Rat / Busse for those of us with more cash to spare.
For regular camp work the Becker is good for the money.
 
at least for the time being... ;)

I decided to not drop the big $$$ quite yet. Instead, I opted to aquire a BK9 tan model and a Swamp Rat Battle Rat. I plan on giving them a lot of use/abuse as I could have bought one of my initial choices for the two combined. I'm sure that they will perform well, but I'm not sure which should go on my left leg, and which on the right. :D

I appreciate everyone's input in helping me find my perfect camper. The more input you guys gave, the more I realized that I didn't need that heavy duty of a knife. The folders I have in that $$$ range sit in my displays and that is not what I was looking for.

Thanks everyone, I'll post as soon as I have my inexperienced comparison.
 
...Sorry to draw your attention again, but have you thought about BOTH a (Camillus/Becker) BK-9, AND a BK-10 Crewman? Those two make an EXCELLENT "big knife, little knife" pair.:).
 
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