Help/Opinions on giving knives to my sons.

mymindisamob

mymindisamob

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I have a 21 year old that is a free spirit. Accomplished artist and musician, working construction as he travels between Washington, Louisiana and Mexico. I'd like to set him up with a good worker blade before the end of the year, when he is headed back down to Mexico.
I also have a 19 year old son in the USCG. He is finishing up school in Virginia in the next week and is going to be stationed on a Bouy Tender out of Port Huron, MI. I'd like to set him up with an all around good work knife that he could use outdoors also.
Both boys lived on Kenai peninsula for several years and the twenty one year old is about as good an outdoorsman as they come, as the 19 year old is an avid hiker and tracker.
They have eyeballed my Busse and Swamp Rat blades for awhile and maybe you folks can give me some good input on what might suit each best. Then my search will be on for the end of the year. All my kids are familiar with knives and their care and safety. And I could easily pick one blade myself, but I get a lot of good feedback here and perspectives I wouldn't find elsewhere. Thanks, Mike
 
Just curious what kind of flack one would get trying to carry a combat or any type blade into Mexico?
 
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Badger sized knives.
They all make excellent EDC knives.
Just a piglet's 2 cents worth.

dave
 
Pack Rat said:
Just curious what kind of flack one would get trying to carry a combat or any type blade into Mexico?
Click to expand...

Good question. He has a CS Recon Tanto that has seen amazing abuse. He hasn't had trouble with getting it back and forth, but it is a CS and has been sharpened enough to look like an Arkansas Toothpick.:D
 
Most of my friends that do construction carry a 3" - 4" blade so I would say maybe a GW or Howling Rat for the "free spirit". For your other son, maybe something a little bit larger. Say an SJ, Hell Razor, or M6. Wish I had a dad like you. He's of the mindset a $10 Wallyworld folder is plenty :o
 
I would go ahead and give them both the same knife. If I was the their dad, I would go to the Scrap Yard and buy two brand new Scrappy-6's.

That is a good all around knife for both sons. Plus it is alot easier logistically and monetarily. And it will avoid any competition as to who has the nicer blade.

rjd
 
I have to go with aaronjayl on this one. Scrapyard is fine, but is not nearly as stain resistant as Busse. For your son in the USCG, the stain resistance of the Scrapyard may be enough, but it may not. If you want to get him something that has the best chance to last for a long time, Busse is the way to go. I would try to get a user blade in the for sale forum here at BF, or a mint one at a reasonable price. I think a 4"-6" blade is about right.

As for the free spirit, I agree 100% with aaronjl. Both excellent knives that he will find to be "uber-useful". Also, with a little looking, you should be able to get one at a reasonable price. I LOVE (strictly in a platonic way :D ) my Howling Rats, and hopefully Swamp Rat will have the new ones out very soon. You will pay anywhere from $50-$125 more for a Game Warden over a Howling Rat.

Hope this helps.
 
I'm a big Game Warden fan myself, but I think you first need to define are your boys the type of people that appreciate a good blade. If yes, I'd go Busse, if not, Scrap Yard knives might be a better option. I personally love Busse knives, but I just got my first Scrap Yard Knife - Scrapper 6, I think this will be one of my user blades. Actually I got 2 more after I held the first (two for me, and one as gift for a good friend).

My lesson learned:
I once bought my brother a custom fillet knife…he proceeded to used it to carve a lure from a broomstick, then ended up loosing the knife. He bought a replacement $12, and continues to tell me how great it is…..(I should have kept the custom and bought him a $12 knife). That’s my lesson learned, hope it helps.

If you’re not sure how to tell if they would appreciate a good blade….determin how long they would they look for there knife if they lost it while hunting?

0-10 minutes = $12 knife
1-5 days = Scrap Yard Knife
“…not leaving till I find it” = Busse

Good luck, let us know what you decide.
I'm going to be a dad in a few months, so I'm getting ready now.
 
I would say split the difference between the Scrapyard and the Busse.. Go for the Swamp Rat Mischief 6.. I love mine!
 
I have a Rat Mischief 6 and it is a very nice knife. But it is heavy, and if it was my only "good" user it would be too heavy. What is nice about it is that you can chop with it if you need to.

I think the beter all around knife is one of the "Jacks" (Mole Jack, etc) as they are lighter. I don't know what is similar in the Rat line. If you had to chop somethig big you could always pick up a hunk of wood and pound the knife through.

And I don't have one :grumpy:, but from what I can see the Badgers are perfect.
 
I would also consider giving the USCG son a knife with serrations. My son in in the Marine Patrol and that is all that he will take with him on the boat. You need the serrations for rope, line, etc. I would not go smaller than a 4" blade. Good luck with your search, Ron.....
 
The Mole Jack and the Mischief (to me) looked very similar. I handled both at the Blade West show, but settled on the Mischief because it has a little thicker blade.. And because somebody had just bought the Mole Jack out from under me. :(
 
SYK Scrapper 6 would be nice. Rugged, comfortable res-c. Heavy enough blade to chop with but not huge. The LE for the great convex edge unless you are concerned about the maintenance with either of them. They feel much like a rec-c, clip point NO-e at an affordable price.

If these are too large and corrosion resistance is important, get them each a Game Warden when they pass thru the company store next time.

Alternately, equip them with a Scrapper 6 (LE :thumbup:) and a Manix folder. Sturdy, S30V and grippy G10. At least until we get our Busse folder!!
 
For what it is worth, I've got a Mole Jack and a Mischief 6. While they are very similiar in line profile, they feel like VERY different knives when handling them.

The M6 feels like a sturdy utility while the Mole Jack feels like pure fighter. Of course, the only knife fighting I do is opening children's toy packages!
 
I agree with trying to get 2 of roughly the same knife and think that a SJ or SJ Tac would fit the bill for both sons. Either way, mighty fine of you to hook your boys up with tools that they can use everyday and for the rest of their lives.
 
If you were my Dad, I would want you to buy me a FBMLE. . . or two.

but seriously, if one of the kids is in the USCG, then corrosion resistance is going to be a factor, and INFI is the ticket.

Since you can't give one kid INFI, and let the other twist in the wind with a lesser steel, I would say give them both Busses.

I think my choice also would be SJtacs. You could probably get the Busse shop to provide you with some wicked serrations for the one going to the USCG.

One factor might be possible Blade length restrictions in the Coast Guard? If so then I might suggest a Badger or Anorexic Badger.
 
I have many Busse knives, most because I want them, and a few, that I absolutely need.

Maybe have them pick their top three to hem and haw over, then give them a day or so to come up with an articulate argument as to exactly which one they want and specifically why.

Good on ya for giving them the best.
 
i recomend smog wardens. i live just outside of Port Huron if you want to send him by to look at one, or other Busse's for that matter!
 
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