Info on small fixed blades

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
I started this over on the Busse site and have learned quite a bit. I'm not interested in a gigantic fixed blade, I want around a 4 in or so fixed blade, incredible slicing ability, willing to trade overall toughness for slicing, cutting ability, but still want a tough knife. I have narrowed it down to either a Busse Leaner or Meaner St. or a Swamp Rat Safari Skinner or maybe even a Bog Dog if anyone has any reviews, ideas, opinions i would like to hear them, I'd love to see a comparision of the 4 knives used for cutting, slicing, and utility work. Any input is appreciated. :)
 
i read some of the post at the busse section, but not all of it so sorry if i repeat something or if i missed something. I would have to say that what youre looking for would probably be the bog dog. The safari skinner will slice but the blade is more shaped such to well be a skinner. The bog dog would seem to be more suited at doing a wide varity of tasks well. The D2 both of them are made out of is still extremly durable and should hold up to pretty much anything you would use a knife for and then a whole lot more.(see related thread) As to if you want the Busse or the Rat thats up to you. You cant go wrong with either. Just my thoughts as i dont own either of the knives, i do intend to buy a bog dog soon though.
 
I think I'm narrowing down to Bog Dog, Howling Rat, and Lean Mean Street. Any ideas comments, opinions. How do these knives compare blade steels, thicknesses, grinds, etc?

Also what kind of sheath system, I think I'd want a tek-lok/kydex style, any opinions on that?
 
Hey SpydieFan,
We chatted over at the Busse Forum last night and it was a pleasure talking blades with you. You are asking smart questions and have remained focused on the uses you plan on using it for. Admirable considering the Busse/Swamp Rat lines are a virtual candy store of blades :) . All of the options you have on your new and shortened list are winners. Considering you will always have a bomber folder on you as well...I would go with the Howling Rat. It is an amazing little utility blade. It will provide you way more "complimentary" benefits than the other two which will provide much of the same capability to what you have in your folders. The HR is good for small chores and is so tough, I have heard of people driving it into a tree and standing on it :eek: . Plus, you would save enough money on it that you could affort to justify getting a Rat Trap on the same order :D
 
Thanks Dunner, I've been looking at the Howling rat price, It looks very similar to the lean mean street, but at a much more swingable price. I do like my carbon steel Ka-bars and Camillus knives. How is the edge retention of the SR-101, and how difficult is it to sharpen the convex grind, all I have to sharpen knives is a sharpmaker 204 and I cannot freehand sharpen whatsoever, I have tried and managed to only make a mess that I had to use the sharpmaker to fix. Also, what are the resipreneC handles like, are they fairly hard like a Pachmayr pistol grip or softer like a Hogue, and are they tacky or slick feeling at all? Also, how does the sheath system work? Sorry about all of the questions, but I can't learn nuthin' if I don't ask. :)
 
Edge Retention is very good. I have a Ratweiler and it is still scary sharp after tearing down some heavily pitch laden stumps and carving up tinder and stuff. Not as good as D2. You know, they have been threatening to release a new and limited offering in D2 (only about 50 units). Now that may be a winner. Keep an eye on this and the Rat Chat forums for a release. They will probably only last a couple hours online. The respirine C is between skateboard wheels and Pachmyer grips. It is guaranteed for the life of the knife as well so it is really tough stuff. It is not tacky but provides a very nice no-slip grip.

Convex is easy to sharpen and I am not long on sharpening skills!
 
How does the Howling Rat compare to the Bandicoot? I've pretty much decided to buy Swamp Rat due to lower cost for a knife I probably will use a lot. They appear Identical except for the width of the blade. Someone mentioned that the bandicoot was not a good slicer on another forum. Also, is either one available with a kydex/tek-lok sheath? Appreciate all the help, also the more pics of the rat trap I see, the more I want one, they look way cool, not a bad folder from a co. known for fixed blades.
 
The HR and BC are the same steel/heat treat. The reason he stated the BC was not as good a slicer was that the narrower blade required a steeper primary grind I believe. Does that make sense? That dude knows a lot more than I do about that type of thing and I believe him. A friend has the HR and I really like that blade. I beleive the Swamp Rat knives in general are by far the best deal in knives anywhere. The HR is and an outstanding example. And get the RT too. If you decide not to keep it, you will have NO trouble selling it for what you paid in the Exchange.

I am in Oregon. If you were close by I would meet with you so you could see the Busse SFNO, Swamp Rat Ratweiler and Rat Trap.

Leather sheaths are options for both. Kydex is available at additionl cost from makers sort of affiliated with SRKW.
 
I think I'm going to get a howling rat for starters, thanks for all the help. I'll let you guys know how I like it after I get one. :)
 
as far as kydex and tek locks check out the listing from busse and SR those guys will hook you up and if you want leather theres plenty of options for that too.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I think I'm going to get a howling rat for starters, thanks for all the help. I'll let you guys know how I like it after I get one. :)
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great choice! that was my first rat and has served me better than any other knife in the thirty years i've been a knife nut.
jody
 
I have a Bandicoot. I was looking for a HR when a Coot came up on the For Sale forums. The HR would probably be a better skinner with the belly, but consider this. For an all around camp knife, the "less wide" blade of the Coot is **far** more comfortable for wood tasks such as whittling, fine cutting, etc. When you are holding the blade, your index finger and thumb are much closer together, which (for me, at least) gives me less hand fatigue and more control. This was a side benefit that I didn't expect, and you don't see many people comment on.

Having said that, I'm so impressed with this knife that I'm ordering a HR in a couple of weeks. I didn't initially like the looks of the Coot, but it's sooooo useful, it now looks good to me. Kind of like many Spyderco knives.... ;) They're great knives, too!

Also, for fine cutting, I greatly thinned out the edge. I probably gave up some durability by doing that, but I'm using the Coot for fine stuff, and have other knives for hard cutting. You might or might not want to do that for your HR. I have found the factory grind too obtuse for my liking, but to each his own. The SR101 holds an edge as good as any other high carbon steel I have, but not as good as D2. I would still rate the edge holding as excellent, and it sharpens **very** easily.

Sorry for the long rant, but I hope this gave you a different perspective. If you really want the HR, you won't go wrong. I just want both now.....

It's not my fault, I think I picked something up on this forum. Some virus???

Edited:

I thought I should quantify the above comment on the edge. I used a Mora #1 to set the angle on my edgepro, and ground the Coot down to that. I know have a Coot with a primary edge around 3/8 of an inch or more. I have posted in other threads (and probably ruffled feathers without meaning to) that my Coot will outcut my Moras, and it's true. Same angle, better steel, super, super easy to sharpen. This thing will take your breath away, believe me. It's a lot of fun to use!
 
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