Howling Rat First Impressions

bigbcustom

bigbcustom

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
1,523
Just received my Howling rat today after a long wait, and thought I would share my first impressions. This is my second Swamp Rat knife, my first was a battle Rat that I truly love.

Pros:

I really like the blade shape, the coating, the Res-C handle is outstanding (if a little bit small for my hands), the finger choil is well executed, and the knife feels wonderful in the hand. I can't speak to toughness as I haven't used it yet, but I will.

Cons:

The Sheath (but I had planned on an aftermarket sheath anyway)It is a good, utilitarian, well built design that I can't really fault except that I don't like it, the spine of the blade sticks up nearly 1/16" above the Res-c handle making for a somewhat irritating thumb placement when not gripped using the choil, and finally, I think whoever ground the bevel on my particular knife was having a bad day or was in a god awful hurry since if you look down on the knife from above, the edge looks a little like a snake as the edge shifts from right to left and back to right again.

Overall:

I really like the look, and feel of this knife. It feels good in the hand, and is just the right size and shape to my mind. I am not too happy with a couple of things, but I will correct the bevel in a few days when I get some time, and will probably leave the spine alone and just get used to it. I look forward to using this knife as I have had good experiences with my Battle Rat, and have heard good things about the Howling Rat. $88.95 plus shipping seems a little steep for this knife until you take into account the extensive heat treat regimine that they talk about on their website, and the rock solid guarantee of a company that stands behind their product (I don't have any personal experience with this, but there is more than ample evidence out there to support this statement) Overall, I am happy with my purchase, and I feel that I got a good overall value for my money. I will post again after I abuse this knife in the woods next week.
 
#%$#$#&$!! $88.95 a little steep!!???

Boy I thought I got a deal at $150. True that one was in new condition. And I was happy to pay $100 for my beater version.

Darn good knife at either price. :)
 
I understand about the sheath. I ended up with the BADASS from Armoralleather. I found this little blade to be one of my favorites, but I wish they would come out with micarta slabs. Well, Congrats and Enjoy!
 
Congrats on your new knife. You will enjoy it.

Believe me, it is well worth the 90 bucks.
 
I'd send it back.. Sounds like a "second" to me....well... ya might have to wait 6 months for a replacemnt :rolleyes:
 
TurnerIII said:
#%$#$#&$!! $88.95 a little steep!!???

Boy I thought I got a deal at $150. True that one was in new condition. And I was happy to pay $100 for my beater version.

Darn good knife at either price. :)
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If you read my whole post, you would see that I stated that I am happy with my purchase overall, I was just giving my impressions.
 
Gringogunsmith said:
I'd send it back.. Sounds like a "second" to me....well... ya might have to wait 6 months for a replacemnt :rolleyes:
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I can fix the bevel myself, I might be willing to send it back for replacement, but I don't want to have to wait forever to get the said replacement. I will fix the bevel, and learn to live with the spine issue.
 
bigB

Just a little funning. :) That is an enviable, excellent, supurb price for an excellent knife. Congrats and I am sure you will continue to like her. As I said - a Darn good knife regardless of the price. - Way to go!

T
 
Howling Rat's Rule. :cool:

holyhowlers01.jpg


holyhowlers02.jpg


holyhowlers03.jpg


:D
 
Is that some sort of sick joke? How can you sit there with your plethora of HRs while I dream of owning just ONE? I'm disgusted.
 
the spine of the blade sticks up nearly 1/16" above the Res-c handle making for a somewhat irritating thumb placement when not gripped using the choil,
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Mine is the same way. What it is odd (at least to me), is that the spine on my Swamprat Ratchet is perfectly flush with the handle. I wonder why they couldn't have done the same thing with these? :confused:

My other little quibble is with the choil. Or better yet, that little bump (whatever you call it) behind the choil. On my A2T Ratchet it is nice and rounded, which means that it doesn't tend to dig into your index finger when choking up on the blade, as compared to the non-rounded version on my HR, which does. (Of course, in the future I can always just take some sandpaper to it and knock off that little edge; which would fix it right up. ;) )
 
Snow said:
Is that some sort of sick joke? How can you sit there with your plethora of HRs while I dream of owning just ONE? I'm disgusted.
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Well, good luck in your search.
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Snow said:
Is that some sort of sick joke? How can you sit there with your plethora of HRs while I dream of owning just ONE? I'm disgusted.
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I wouldn't be surprised one bit if those HR's (the new, unused ones) weren't inventory for a knife show; whether that show be in the past, the present, or sometime in the future. ;)
 
Schuey2002 said:
I wouldn't be surprised one on bit if those HR's (the new, unused ones) weren't inventory for a knife show; whether that show be in the past, the present, or sometime in the future. ;)
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Yeah I figured something like that.
 
360joules posted on the Swamp Rat Rat Chat forum that he was having fun with Photoshop. Sorry to burst your bubble! :eek: ;)
 
Deadhead Archer said:
360joules posted on the Swamp Rat Rat Chat forum that he was having fun with Photoshop. Sorry to burst your bubble! :eek: ;)
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You fool. That HOG would tell you something like that just to throw you off.

Shane and I are are infiltrating that place as dusk. Who is with us? :eek:



:D
 
I hope if I have enough cheese to bait the traps. :D
 
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