Hey again Silas,
I've been eyeing a RAT-7 myself for a while, and the only reason I haven't bought one yet is because I recently picked up a CRK Project I, and a Swamp Rat Battle Rat...both from forum members I might add.
edited to add: in my opinion, the RAT-7 and the CRK Green Beret are two different animals. You may want to consider their functions and uses when you compare them. Also, don't count out the Swamp Rat Knifeworks line (http://www.swamprat.com). They make some _very_ nice blades within your price range as well!
You may also want to have a look at the Becker Knife & Tool line as well. The BK-7 may be right up your alley, and they're a hell of a knife for the money. I've had a BK-9 Combat Bowie for a while now, and I've been surprised more than once at the performance of it. The CRK knives are
very nice in my opinion, and worth the money, but if you're starting out and wanting to save a bit of money, the RAT-7 or BK-7 would be good choices as well.
I've been in your position quite a few times myself, debating over whether to get just one high-end production or custom knife, or instead get a few 'budget' priced production knives. I've done both, and been happy with my decisions most times. There's really no hard and fast answer to that question...which is why you just
need to buy all of them!
Seriously though, you may want to get a few cheaper knives this round, and then get one high-end knife when you make your next purchase. However, if this is the
only purchase you're going to make, and really want to get the best that you can, you can't go wrong with picking the more expensive single knife. I've said this before, and I'll say it again:
Quality only hurts ONCE.
Since quite a few of us buy knives on a regular basis, I find that the trend will be to pick up a few 'cheaper' production units on one occasion, and then on another, pick up one nice custom or high-end blade. Of course, this really applies to people who like to try out a lot of different things, and are always looking to get something new or different. This again is the beauty of being involved in a place like this; there's always a chance to trade up, down, or sideways with other members...or just getting a super deal on something you really want.
Choosing the 'perfect' knife will never happen for most of us, but when you look at what you purchase, temper that decision with your buying habits. If you tend to only buy one knife, use it to the bitter end, and then look for a replacement, you'll want to get the most your money can buy. If you tend to pick up knives on a regular basis for collecting, trading, or even various everyday uses, sometimes it's a better choice to make cheaper purchases of a wider variety.
That's the best advice I can give, based upon my limited experience. It's taken me quite some time to figure out what 'value' really is, and what the _real_ differences are between
quality,
quantity, and specialty. Don't forget to look over what custom knife makers have available either...you'd be pleasantly surprised what you can buy for what you're looking to spend. Investing your
time, more than anything else, can really pay off huge dividends in the end.
