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Has anyone put the roach belly to the test?
- Thread starter tincan
- Start date
Well not much experience with moras but everyone reccomends them highly! However I have a roachbelly and have used it alot and I happen to love it! However if you use the carbon moras then I have no doubt they are stronger blades with better edge retention which on the roach belly isn't the best ever! Both would be great blades for light weight hiking blades no doubt!
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
- Messages
- 615
Someone over in the Wss section did a pretty good review on it. Might be worth looking for.
Edit: found it http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672284&highlight=roach
Edit: found it http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672284&highlight=roach
Last edited:
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 15
I use mine to skin squirrels and other small game.. It works great. No batonning or really heavy use. For the price, a roach belly is hard to beat. Don't care for the sheath very much though.
The roach belly style of knife, or a specific maker's Roach Belly?
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
- Messages
- 615
If you scroll down to the bottom of the page there is a rather long and favorable review of the Cold Steel Roach Belly that goes into the next page. Even though I'm not a big fan of Cold Steel, the review has tempted to get one.
Silly question....why don't you just buy one and test it yourself? They are only about 12 to 15 bucks. If it utterly sucks...throw it in a kitchen drawer. You will still get use out of it.
If its decent, you got more than your moneys worth.
Its not like you are sinking 200 bucks or something....you probably spend more on beer on Friday night!
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
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- Feb 2, 2005
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- 20,039
The spine on the roach belly that I had bit into my thumb when I used it. Lots of custom roach bellies out there.
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2010
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- 2,129
I'd take my Mora over the Cold Steel Roach Belly for outdoor use any day of the week.
I think that for general camp work, food prep, cleaning game, it will excel.
For serious woodwork or hard use, I don't have a lot of faith in the thin tip or the blades' ability to really hold an edge all that well.
I think that the handle is ok, but pales in comparison to the handles of the modern styled Mora knives.
If you want a cheap Cold Steel for bushcraft type work, I'd get the Canadian Belt Knife over the Roach Belly.
I think that for general camp work, food prep, cleaning game, it will excel.
For serious woodwork or hard use, I don't have a lot of faith in the thin tip or the blades' ability to really hold an edge all that well.
I think that the handle is ok, but pales in comparison to the handles of the modern styled Mora knives.
If you want a cheap Cold Steel for bushcraft type work, I'd get the Canadian Belt Knife over the Roach Belly.
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2008
- Messages
- 210
I love the CS RB -- but I don't think I'd seriously consider using it over a carbon steel Mora. Personally I think the blade is less good at woodcrafting than a Mora; the RB probably has some edge in skinning and food prep though. If I were on a fishing trip I think the Roach Belly would be more at home.