Fixed Blade: Opinion

supercoup

supercoup

Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
366
After searching and searching I have narrowed it down to three or four fixed blades.

I would like this to be a multi-purpose all around survival knife - anything you could imagine you would need a knife for in a survival situation - hunting/food prep, wood work, fighting, the whole nine yards.

Anyways.

ESSE - Laser Strike

ESSE - 5

Scrapyard 511


SwampRat Rodent 4 or 6

I'm open to other suggestions.. but if you are offering one please choose one of the above and then add your own if so desired.

Yes, I know a BUSSE would be nice but the funds for that are nowhere to be seen.

Thanks for all your help guys&gals.

Edit: Please, no references to the BK2. Far to thick and heavy for what ya get IMO, although it is a great blade and deal. IMO.
 
supercoup said:
I would like this to be a multi-purpose all around survival knife - anything you could imagine you would need a knife for in a survival situation - hunting/food prep, wood work, fighting, the whole nine yards.
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Well. Since no knife does everything well, and any knife is just as effective as any other knife when it comes to knife fighting (unless you are trained in a specific type of knife fighting), then, in all seriousness, I'm going to say get whichever one you thinks look coolest.

All of them will do some things well and other things poorly. They will all disappoint to some extent. The coolest looking one will make you happy. And that's all that really matters. :thumbup:

(Just out of curiosity, are you planning on carrying your "multi-purpose all around survival knife" 24/7? If not consider getting something pocketable like a multitool to get you back to where your survival knife is. :thumbup:)
 
If I had that list to pick from I'd go with the EESE 5. The geometry is about perfect for what I like. Plus, it's not too big.


Ontario RD4 over the BK2. My opinion. I like the FFG better.
 
The Laser Strike out of the ones listed, but I would go look at the Swamp Rat Ratmandu its right in between the Rodent 4 and 6 as far as its size. I would take it over any of the ones you listed.
 
Thanks for your opinions everybody. Definitely leaning towards the 5 or LS
But I'm gonna check out the Ratmandu, as well
 
have you considered an Esee 6. This knife has "retired" more 5's with Esee owners than about any knife. I have both and like the 6 way more. If you combine it with an Esee 3 you will have the perfect combo.
 
Bmurray might be right. I had both and should never had let them go.
 
supercoup said:
Thanks for your opinions everybody. Definitely leaning towards the 5 or LS
But I'm gonna check out the Ratmandu, as well
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The '5 is super thick, it's like a sharpened prybar.

I would look at the LS or Ratmandu. The LS is a much better value, as it comes with a top shelf kydex sheath that would cost $60 bought seperately. The RMD is more expensive, doesn't come with a sheath, and will take weeks or months to arrive once ordered. The RMD is probably a better investment, because you can sell it for what you paid, or more, to someone who doesn't want to wait.
 
If the BK2 is out then the esee 5 should probably also be out. I'd go laser strike from what you listed. Or esee 6.
 
The Scrapyard 511 won't come with a sheath either but you can find a kydex maker on here who will sell them for $40 or so? I can't remember the price off the top of my head so don't quote me on it. AZWelke on here does good work. I have a SY511 and like it, but the grind is thicker than I'd like. I sharpen it at 20 dps and it holds its edge pretty well. It's lighter than an ESEE 4 because it isn't a slab of metal with handle scales screwed on. I love my ESEE-4 but it's heavier and shorter than a SY511, and with the MOLLE sheath is only about $20 or so cheaper than a 511 with kydex. The main complaints people have with the ESEE-4 and SY11 are that the handles are a little short, maybe by 1/2 inch.

The ESEE-5 is basically a BK2 in size and dimensions. They are very similar. I have a BK2 and for me it's too big, thick and heavy. If I wanted to bash out of a downed airplane it would be great, though.

Look at an ESEE-4, ESEE-6, BK 16 or BK 17. Beckers are great and you can always get something more expensive down the line once you get a better sense of exactly what you're looking for in a knife.
 
Since others have brought up the Ratmandu I'm going to agree as well. It almost is the perfect knife as far as size and usefullness IMHO. Besides that it just looks cool. :)

Good luck on whichever you choose.
 
Out of those the Laser Strike would be my pick.

My personal go to blade though is a Bark River Aurora in 3V.
 
Okay! I've got it narrowed down to the Laser Strike and the Ratmandu.

My only question- will the Ratmandu outperform the Laser Strike in any way? Or is it just because its nicer looking and uses that SR101?
 
supercoup said:
Okay! I've got it narrowed down to the Laser Strike and the Ratmandu.

My only question- will the Ratmandu outperform the Laser Strike in any way? Or is it just because its nicer looking and uses that SR101?
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SR101 is glorified spring steel, just like 1095, if I understand correctly.

The RMD is a superior knife because of the convex edge, you can sharpen it with sandpaper, or just a leather strop if you keep up on it.
 
MatthewSB said:
SR101 is glorified spring steel, just like 1095, if I understand correctly.
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Not quite. SR101 is 52100 with a Jerry Busse heat treat. 52100 is the alloy used in the manufacture of ball-bearings. And yes, the RatManDu is the best of the knives the OP is considering IMO. In fact, I like them well enough to stake my life on them. I've got two of them . . . one in each of my vehicle Bug-out Bags.
 
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MatthewSB said:
The RMD is a superior knife because of the convex edge, you can sharpen it with sandpaper, or just a leather strop if you keep up on it.
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Any knife can be sharpened this way regardless of how it was ground at the factory. Every knife I own gets sharpened on sand paper with a strop back. That being said if you want the best performance from any of the knives listed you should send them to a custom maker to have the edge thinned. I recommend Scott Gossman because he's quick(approx. week turnaround), priced well(I think the work he did for me was about 25 including shipping), and he knows what he's doing. I sent him my 711 and told him to put the edge on it that he would want to use and to my surprise it not only came thin but had a nice compound grind to it. The knife is now completely different. In a good way. ;)

All that said a mora and a good pruning saw will take you farther and with less weight then any of the knvies listed. :D
 
supercoup said:
Okay! I've got it narrowed down to the Laser Strike and the Ratmandu.

My only question- will the Ratmandu outperform the Laser Strike in any way? Or is it just because its nicer looking and uses that SR101?
Click to expand...

In my experience the Swamp Rat knives will hold a better edge and keep it longer then those made from 1095. I have also found the edge more resistant to accidental bumps against pebbles, nails, or whatever else you might come across.

Keep in mind I'm bias so take what I said with a grain of salt. After I got some actual use on my first Swamprat I sold most of my ESEE and Becker knives, they are still fantastic knives and I would trust my life to them, but I just think the steel on Swamp Rats are better. However, I kept my Izulas, I would never part with those!
 
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