Hard use knives

I will be checking in on the Ranger Knives. I have a CS Bushman. I like it fine. I just picked up the CS GI Tanto after watching the destruction test done on it. I have a Buck Nighthawk but it's seen it's best days. I have really beat the hell out of that one. I like the Busse and Swamp Rat knives but they are like a needle in a haystack to find. When you do you need a co-signer to buy it.:D Thanks for the replies. I might see what Stomper can make as well. I got two knives from him last week and was very well pleased.
 
Yet another +1 on the Ranger. Fit and finish kinda sucks, but despite that I consider my RD-7 to be my favorite knife in my collection. Warranty is great, although I can't really see having to use it ever.

As to whoever suggested the Busses because they're "easily replaceable".... ha. ha. You made a funny. Lose your SFNO and then have fun either a.) paying someone a 300-percent markup on the secondary market to get another one or b.) waiting another 15 years for Busse to make another run of them for all of 15 seconds before production switches back to the "Scotch Dispenser" or some such.
 
Eight Trigrams said:
Yet another +1 on the Ranger. Fit and finish kinda sucks, but despite that I consider my RD-7 to be my favorite knife in my collection. Warranty is great, although I can't really see having to use it ever.

As to whoever suggested the Busses because they're "easily replaceable".... ha. ha. You made a funny. Lose your SFNO and then have fun either a.) paying someone a 300-percent markup on the secondary market to get another one or b.) waiting another 15 years for Busse to make another run of them for all of 15 seconds before production switches back to the "Scotch Dispenser" or some such.
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I think, although I may be misinformed, but Busse Combat has even older knives at ready for replacement/warranty needs. Or they'll make one for you.
 
Elen said:
is no such thing as a folding "hard use" knife. Sure, one may advertise a folder as tough, one may call it a hard use knife, and slap a 1/2" thick spine on it, but it will still be a folder, and inherently prone to failure and weakness. Anyone thinking that a folder will actually consistently stand up to really hard use (in the sense that might be called abusive) is kidding themselves.
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You havent seen the Extrema Ratio RAO folder then.
 
vpsaline said:
You havent seen the Extrema Ratio RAO folder then.
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Oh, I have seen it. In spite of all the tricks, including that funny extra locking pin thing, it's still a folding knife, and still of much weaker construction than a decent hard use fixed blade. That, and it's about four times more expensive, too.
 
The hardest use knives are fixed blades. For hard uses up to the point you should be using a fixed blade I'd personally prefer a good frame lock folder like a CQC12, SnG or ZT301 maybe. Also, even though its not sold as a tactical per say the Tyrade by Kershaw seems to be up there also in both toughness and edge keeping but again its not sold to do that. But if there is a weakness its probably in that D2 part of the blade and perhaps the join where the two steels meet. It has not given me trouble testing it though and I laid into it pretty good since it was in fact sent to me to test. I'm glad now it took it because I like this Tyrade a lot and hope to see Kershaw offer this in other blade steels since its a very nice frame lock.

It depends on the environment as to which one I would say is best for a fixed blade.

Generally speaking anything Busse, and the off shoot companies like SwampRat, or ScrapYard, knives are going to be top shelf and tough as nails ready to get after it hard users. I have personally handled some of Ted Frizzell's knives over at Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works and I feel his knives are probably toughest of all. With 5160 steel, and 1/4" or 7/32 thick stock on most of his knives you can't hardly expect much less than a super duty fixed blade. His Karambits and the M.M. Combat Bowie as well as the farm and ranch and skull crusher are among the ones I'd look at personally. I know I'll eventually own the small karambit he makes. It was awesome to my hand.

Ranger is up there also, as well.

In a harsh rainforest environment or maybe even a fighting and combat environment I would think something like that new H1 blade from Spyderco they have named the 'RockSalt' would be a good choice also. I would imagine it will out last many others in certain climates if you were there long term and if nothing else it would be far less mainenance..

STR
 
alexanderkbaker said:
Cold Steel Bushman
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I've gotta second this one. When I think "hard use", I want something that I'm not afraid to abuse, and that means it has to be tough, and it can't be expensive. The Cold Steel Bushman is perfect for that. Simple as it gets, tough as nails, and cheap enough that you never worry about what you're going to do with them.

I just really wish they still had the Mini-Bushman, as I thought the slightly smaller size was more convenient. Still, the standard Bushman is a very underrated knife.
 
If the Manix was still in production I'd have listed it. If you can still find one or the Mini Manix they'd be fine choices. So would the Fulcrum II by Extreme Ratio.

The Sebenza is a fine fine folder. I never considered it to be tactical or oriented toward hard use because of the ergonomics of the grip and the style of the folder in general. Its kind of like the same ilk as my own Ouparator in my eyes. Sure the frame and blade can take it and would hold up I'm sure but the grip is not tactical or made to give the kind of superb ergos of a true tactical folder designed from the ground up with that in mind. I did not invision hard stabs or combat when building my folder and I don't think Chris did either. We pictured normal everyday carry civilian needs for the average working man not the soldier or spec ops crowd. I am not saying you won't see knives by either of us in that area but what I am saying is the intent was not there for them to do that.

Now this of course can open a whole can of worms for other issues because many are designed to lure you in thinking they were intended from the ground up for these uses. The ergos will be there, the grippy textured pattern handle scales, and you'll even see the warrior hard use points and blades. You expect when you see all this that the lock will also be commensurate with that use and many times what we find is that the lock is indeed the weak link in the chain so you have to look at the knives, particularly the folders as a system and note how well or how not so well they come together.

To some extent this is also true of tactical fixed blades and any fixed blade too for that matter. I have seen some really great fixed blades for extreme use but the one weakness they have is the sheath or carry system which negates the whole issue of whether you can use it or not. If the carry system sucks its not going to matter much how good the knife is if its left in your tent when you are out in the field now is it?

STR
 
STR said:
Now this of course can open a whole can of worms for other issues because many are designed to lure you in thinking they were intended from the ground up for these uses. The ergos will be there, the grippy textured pattern handle scales, and you'll even see the warrior hard use points and blades. You expect when you see all this that the lock will also be commensurate with that use and many times what we find is that the lock is indeed the weak link in the chain so you have to look at the knives, particularly the folders as a system and note how well or how not so well they come together.

To some extent this is also true of tactical fixed blades and any fixed blade too for that matter. I have seen some really great fixed blades for extreme use but the one weakness they have is the sheath or carry system which negates the whole issue of whether you can use it or not. If the carry system sucks its not going to matter much how good the knife is if its left in your tent when you are out in the field now is it?
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I'm not sure how lock strength in folders has anything to do with fixed blades, considering that fixed blades aren't folders and don't have locks. ;)

You are very much correct that an effective, comfortable sheath is an important thing to have, as a tool isn't much use if you won't carry it because it's uncomfortable to do so. But it's quite different from folders and their locks. Folders have locks in them, but fixed blades don't have sheaths in them (not any more than folders have pockets in them, assuming you carry folders in your pockets). A weak lock may be considered a weakness in a folder. A weak sheath has nothing to do with the strength or lack thereof of a fixed blade - the sheath isn't part of the blade, and it can be replaced or discarded at will without doing anything at all to the fixed blade itself. The sheath does not at all affect the performance of a fixed blade in hard use, while the lock mechanism does very much affect the performance of a folder in hard use.

So, a poor sheath is hardly a weakness for a fixed blade. The fixed blade itself is the issue - if it's good, then it's good no matter how the sheath is like. You can buy any kind of sheath you would like for a fixed blade from a sheath maker of your choice, and the problem is then solved. You can't buy a better lock construction to a folder, not without changing the folder itself. Some fixed blades don't even come with sheaths. The lack or poor quality of a sheath can be considered a weakness in the kind of a marketing "bundle" or "carry and use system" that contains the fixed blade and a sheath for it, but it's not a weakness inherent to the blade itself - exactly the opposite of locks in folders. What I'm saying is that if you like the blade, but dislike the sheath, then buy a better sheath, and your problem is solved.

Nitpicking? Yes. Important? Possibly. Offense intended? None whatsoever. :)
 
Falkniven A-1 the Swedish survival knife with the laminated VG-10 steel is my choice. Nothing against the others, they are great knives and I have a few myself. They will all do the job, but the a-1 is available and at a reasonable cost, tough & well balanced. The knife comes real sharp and stays that way because of the convex grind. I will never loose, sell or trade mine
 
If you need it to be readily replaceable and able to handle anything you can dream up Ranger RD-6 is the way to go.
 
Elen said:
I'm not sure how lock strength in folders has anything to do with fixed blades, considering that fixed blades aren't folders and don't have locks. ;)

You are very much correct that an effective, comfortable sheath is an important thing to have, as a tool isn't much use if you won't carry it because it's uncomfortable to do so. But it's quite different from folders and their locks. Folders have locks in them, but fixed blades don't have sheaths in them (not any more than folders have pockets in them, assuming you carry folders in your pockets). A weak lock may be considered a weakness in a folder. A weak sheath has nothing to do with the strength or lack thereof of a fixed blade - the sheath isn't part of the blade, and it can be replaced or discarded at will without doing anything at all to the fixed blade itself. The sheath does not at all affect the performance of a fixed blade in hard use, while the lock mechanism does very much affect the performance of a folder in hard use.

So, a poor sheath is hardly a weakness for a fixed blade. The fixed blade itself is the issue - if it's good, then it's good no matter how the sheath is like. You can buy any kind of sheath you would like for a fixed blade from a sheath maker of your choice, and the problem is then solved. You can't buy a better lock construction to a folder, not without changing the folder itself. Some fixed blades don't even come with sheaths. The lack or poor quality of a sheath can be considered a weakness in the kind of a marketing "bundle" or "carry and use system" that contains the fixed blade and a sheath for it, but it's not a weakness inherent to the blade itself - exactly the opposite of locks in folders. What I'm saying is that if you like the blade, but dislike the sheath, then buy a better sheath, and your problem is solved.

Nitpicking? Yes. Important? Possibly. Offense intended? None whatsoever. :)
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My skin is pretty thick. I'm not easily insulted unless its apparent and repeated overtime by someone in which case I'll then consider it such but you make good points. However, my thoughts were on soldiers moving out or people in need for what they need yesterday. Many times the sheath is more important than is thought just as it was with my son as he was being sent to Iraq. I had about one month warning when this occurred and limited time to get him a fixed blade to take with him and he asked me to do so knowing what I know and do in knives. I did get him one after much research and questions of many others I know. Actually I did this twice. I'll spare the names of the company for this public discussion but will gladly share it privately.

I think its a fine fixed blade but the sheath is (was) crap. Hopefully they fixed it. Both sheaths for two separate knives broke inside of hours of getting them. I didn't have time to go through a lot of waiting as many don't in my situation, and to wait on a custom sheath better suited for his knife was simply out of the question. So, in my line of thought the sheath did in fact negate any of the strengths of the blade I got him and in my case it was indeed a big weakness seen in the fixed blade as a system. Was the blade fine? Sure but again what good is it regardless of how great it is if you don't have it on you when you need it? I think its fine if you know in advance that many will have need for a good knife and a good or even a great sheath carry system. It may be that some places out there had a better carry system for this knife but if that was the case it also weighs in with price and what you actually can afford to spend.

It may well have been the best blade on earth for his needs but we'll never know because it was sent back to the manufacturer. The replacement was mailed right out by the company I dealt with and actually before they even got the one I had to return mailed to them but it was returned as well and for the same issue. I finally got him a fixed blade he could live with in a pinch that worked and worked so well that he loves it a lot to this day. At the time it was readily available, it was mine, it was easily replaced also and at the time considered a fine fixed blade by many I know and is still hard used by my son even now. That was a Cold Steel Recon Scout. It wasn't the one I wanted to get him but it worked out well enough for him that he now likes it a whole lot and refused the Camp Tramp I actually ordered before he left but got too late after I tracked one down for him. But, since he preferred the one he had with him in Iraq I still have that one. Sentiment probably has a lot to do with his decision though but I understand that. That Cold Steel fixed blade was with him when he needed it most the Camp Tramp wasn't.

I'm not sure how lock strength in folders has anything to do with fixed blades, considering that fixed blades aren't folders and don't have locks.
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I never said the lock strength had anything to do with fixed blades.;) They are separate issues. Its very possible to simply beef up a liner lock if that is what someone wants and this changes only the lock of the knife and nothing other than this and really the same goes for the frame lock conversions. Only the beefy lock is different. The way it works to release and close as well. It still works the same. Again though I covered folders and locks because I was asked specifically about folders in a previous post.

STR
 
Ontario "RAT" and "RTAC" knives are great for the price.

Bark River's big knives are hard to beat, but not cheap.
 
A hard-use folder that I have not seen mentioned is the pro-hunter by Blade-Tech (Tim Wegner). He is an avid hunter and loves to test his own stuff in the field. I talked to him once and came away impressed w/ how he goes out of his way to beat up his own knives. He's located near Fort Lewis and I think sells a lot to the snake eater types there.

Wegner's folders are not overly bulky, but they will hold up.
 
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