I just got my hands on my new Swamp Rat Knife Works Battle Rat. Swamp Rat Knife Works is located in the same shop as Busse Combat Knives, and is run by Jennifer Busse (Jerry Busse's wife and business partner). Swamp Rat Knife Works was apparently started so that the Busses could get back to their roots of supplying reliable and affordable knives to those who need them, at the lowest prices possible. While Busse Combat apparently strives to offer the best knife and customer service it can at whatever price that must cost, Swamp Rat apparently tries to make the compromises which least hurt the quality, but decrease the cost the most. (For example: If you call Busse Combat to place an order or resolve an issue, you'll get to talk to a live person, and probably Jerry himself; conversely, Swamp Rat handles all customer communication through email.)
The Swamp Rat cutlery bears many similarities to the offerings of Busse Combat: black ceramic crinkle coatings, unconditional lifetime warranties, finger choils, similar blade designs, and so forth. Someone looking for a hard-use knife might be torn between the offerings of Busse Combat Knives and the offerings of Swamp Rat; while someone who already owns the Busse Combat blades may wonder which meaningful ways the Swamp Rats differ, and whether they are worth getting in addition.
Thus, I'll now compare and contrast the major differences of related blades.
The BR is made out of SR101, a modified version of the steel generally known as 52100; the BM is made out of INFI. SR101 should have lesser corrosion resistance than INFI. How great this difference is remains to be seen; how much it matters depends on your usage and maintenance habits. The blade coatings should alleviate corrosion issues somewhat. The SR101 should also have lesser toughness and strength. How much less is not yet known. The SR101 blades did perform quite impressively (chopping through a concrete block, jacking a large old pick-up truck, being bent in a vise, etc.) in live demonstrations at the BLADE show; they are unconditionally warranteed for life; and I suspect they are probably quite strong and tough in their own right.
The BR has a clip point versus the BM's drop point. The clip point should provide much better penetration, while the drop point should offer maximum tip strength and toughness.
The BR has a slightly wider aspect ratio, just a hair over 1/16 inch wider than the BM.
The BR has a high sabre grind, while the BM is flat ground. I haven't carefully measured this, but I think that this means that the BR has a slightly more obtuse primary grind than the BM. All other things being equal (which they are not--keep reading), I think the more obtuse primary grind is less efficient in terms of chopping penetration.
The BR is shorter than the BM--something I didn't expect. The cutting edge is 1 inch shorter, and the handle is about 1/3 inch shorter.
The finger choil immediately behind the cutting edge is a little wider on the BR than the BM. I know some were very pleased about this; I'd rather have 1/3 inch more cutting edge. I don't need the extra width, though I'd have appreciated if the choil was slightly deeper. How you'll feel about this will depend a lot on your hands. I have the an extraordinarily light bone structure.
The edge grind is much wider on the BR than on the BM, about 1.5 times as wide as on the BM's flat ground side, and mucher wider still as on the BM's convex ground side. In other words, the edge geometry on the BR is much more acute than on the BM. I think that this will greatly increase the BR's slicing and push cutting abilities over the BM's. Also, all other things being equal (which they aren't--read on), this should give the BR a big advantage over the BM in chopping penetration.
The BR is a much lighter knife than the BM: 5.2 ounces lighter (16.6 ounces vs. 21.8). This makes a huge increase in carrying comfort. It also decreases chopping power.
The BR has no hole at the front of the guard, while the BM. does. That hole has tremendous utility for braiding a D-Guard onto your handle, or for tying the handle onto other things. For me, this loss of the front guard hole would be a significant drawback; however, I expect it will be very simple to drill such a hole myself. (I'll just have to take it slowly, avoiding overheating the knife and damaging the temper.)
The handle is the area of most significant difference between the two knives. The BR has a slighly smaller handle, with a narrower tang (but still very sturdy full tang), completely enclosed in a rubber-like substance called Resiprene C (as opposed to partially enclosed by micarta), with a much more contoured and 3D shape, and only a single lanyard hole in the butt.
The shorter handle initially disappointed me slightly, but I can't honestly speak about how well it serves until I use it more.
The Resiprene C is much harder than I expected. For those skateboarders among you readers: the handle material feels almost identical to the "80 durometer" Sims Street Wheels from the 'eighties. It even smells like it is the same material. I think it's the same stuff.
I have only chopped a few times yet, but I can tell you I was startled by how effectively these handles absorb shock. The BM transfers shock to my hands at least several hundred percent more than the BR. This is a huge comfort advantage in the BR's favor. I have experienced in the past that (for prolonged chopping) I tend to go lighter than optimal, to minimize shock to my hands. I may be able to do prolonged chopping harder with the BR. I expect I will be much less prone to fatigue, bruising, and callousing, when using the BR. This could lead to faster chopping, even if the BR is less effiecient per chop. (Unknown.)
The rubberized handles are also clearly superior in terms of protecting your hand from freezing or scorching bare metal (significant, if you play in the woods in the snow, or in the hot Southern deserts).
Make no mistake, the BR has VERY sturdy handle, despite the narrower tang and the rubberized handle. Nevertheless, in terms of ultimate durability and reliability, I would have to guess that the BR handle doesn't even come close to the BM handle.
Note that, in the BR handle, the tang does not extend out of the handle butt, as it does on the BM. The extended tang on the BM is a very useful feature for pounding and hammering, and can also be useful defensively. This is a strong mark in favor of the BM.
I can't really comment on the fit of the handle contours, yet. I need to use it, first. Besides, my hand is confused by how different this feels to the handles I've grown used to over the last several months. It does seem very comfortable, so far.
Along with the BR having two fewer handle holes than the BM, there is some loss in options and utility. Nor do I think I could just drill those holes in without adversely affecting the knives. Nevertheless, I don't think the loss of those two handle holes matters too much.
The BR handle is less canted down from the blade than the BM handle. I think that this will make the BR quicker in the hand, more powerful in penetration, and less powerful in chopping.
The overall quality of the finsh is lesser with the BR than with the BM. Nevertheless, the difference is minor, and purely cosmetic.
The clip point, shorter, wider, and lighter blade, more acute edges, and shock absorbing handle do add up to an entirely different feel than any of the knives currently offered by Busse Combat. The more acute edge and the pointier tip seem like they will give the BR greater versatility. The lighter weight will be more comfortable to carry, and the shock-absorbing handle will be more comfortable to use. The more acute edge, and the decreased fatigue from both lighter weight and less shock, will probably make the BR more efficient in use.
The Swamp Rat cutlery bears many similarities to the offerings of Busse Combat: black ceramic crinkle coatings, unconditional lifetime warranties, finger choils, similar blade designs, and so forth. Someone looking for a hard-use knife might be torn between the offerings of Busse Combat Knives and the offerings of Swamp Rat; while someone who already owns the Busse Combat blades may wonder which meaningful ways the Swamp Rats differ, and whether they are worth getting in addition.
Thus, I'll now compare and contrast the major differences of related blades.
The BR is made out of SR101, a modified version of the steel generally known as 52100; the BM is made out of INFI. SR101 should have lesser corrosion resistance than INFI. How great this difference is remains to be seen; how much it matters depends on your usage and maintenance habits. The blade coatings should alleviate corrosion issues somewhat. The SR101 should also have lesser toughness and strength. How much less is not yet known. The SR101 blades did perform quite impressively (chopping through a concrete block, jacking a large old pick-up truck, being bent in a vise, etc.) in live demonstrations at the BLADE show; they are unconditionally warranteed for life; and I suspect they are probably quite strong and tough in their own right.
The BR has a clip point versus the BM's drop point. The clip point should provide much better penetration, while the drop point should offer maximum tip strength and toughness.
The BR has a slightly wider aspect ratio, just a hair over 1/16 inch wider than the BM.
The BR has a high sabre grind, while the BM is flat ground. I haven't carefully measured this, but I think that this means that the BR has a slightly more obtuse primary grind than the BM. All other things being equal (which they are not--keep reading), I think the more obtuse primary grind is less efficient in terms of chopping penetration.
The BR is shorter than the BM--something I didn't expect. The cutting edge is 1 inch shorter, and the handle is about 1/3 inch shorter.
The finger choil immediately behind the cutting edge is a little wider on the BR than the BM. I know some were very pleased about this; I'd rather have 1/3 inch more cutting edge. I don't need the extra width, though I'd have appreciated if the choil was slightly deeper. How you'll feel about this will depend a lot on your hands. I have the an extraordinarily light bone structure.
The edge grind is much wider on the BR than on the BM, about 1.5 times as wide as on the BM's flat ground side, and mucher wider still as on the BM's convex ground side. In other words, the edge geometry on the BR is much more acute than on the BM. I think that this will greatly increase the BR's slicing and push cutting abilities over the BM's. Also, all other things being equal (which they aren't--read on), this should give the BR a big advantage over the BM in chopping penetration.
The BR is a much lighter knife than the BM: 5.2 ounces lighter (16.6 ounces vs. 21.8). This makes a huge increase in carrying comfort. It also decreases chopping power.
The BR has no hole at the front of the guard, while the BM. does. That hole has tremendous utility for braiding a D-Guard onto your handle, or for tying the handle onto other things. For me, this loss of the front guard hole would be a significant drawback; however, I expect it will be very simple to drill such a hole myself. (I'll just have to take it slowly, avoiding overheating the knife and damaging the temper.)
The handle is the area of most significant difference between the two knives. The BR has a slighly smaller handle, with a narrower tang (but still very sturdy full tang), completely enclosed in a rubber-like substance called Resiprene C (as opposed to partially enclosed by micarta), with a much more contoured and 3D shape, and only a single lanyard hole in the butt.
The shorter handle initially disappointed me slightly, but I can't honestly speak about how well it serves until I use it more.
The Resiprene C is much harder than I expected. For those skateboarders among you readers: the handle material feels almost identical to the "80 durometer" Sims Street Wheels from the 'eighties. It even smells like it is the same material. I think it's the same stuff.
I have only chopped a few times yet, but I can tell you I was startled by how effectively these handles absorb shock. The BM transfers shock to my hands at least several hundred percent more than the BR. This is a huge comfort advantage in the BR's favor. I have experienced in the past that (for prolonged chopping) I tend to go lighter than optimal, to minimize shock to my hands. I may be able to do prolonged chopping harder with the BR. I expect I will be much less prone to fatigue, bruising, and callousing, when using the BR. This could lead to faster chopping, even if the BR is less effiecient per chop. (Unknown.)
The rubberized handles are also clearly superior in terms of protecting your hand from freezing or scorching bare metal (significant, if you play in the woods in the snow, or in the hot Southern deserts).
Make no mistake, the BR has VERY sturdy handle, despite the narrower tang and the rubberized handle. Nevertheless, in terms of ultimate durability and reliability, I would have to guess that the BR handle doesn't even come close to the BM handle.
Note that, in the BR handle, the tang does not extend out of the handle butt, as it does on the BM. The extended tang on the BM is a very useful feature for pounding and hammering, and can also be useful defensively. This is a strong mark in favor of the BM.
I can't really comment on the fit of the handle contours, yet. I need to use it, first. Besides, my hand is confused by how different this feels to the handles I've grown used to over the last several months. It does seem very comfortable, so far.
Along with the BR having two fewer handle holes than the BM, there is some loss in options and utility. Nor do I think I could just drill those holes in without adversely affecting the knives. Nevertheless, I don't think the loss of those two handle holes matters too much.
The BR handle is less canted down from the blade than the BM handle. I think that this will make the BR quicker in the hand, more powerful in penetration, and less powerful in chopping.
The overall quality of the finsh is lesser with the BR than with the BM. Nevertheless, the difference is minor, and purely cosmetic.
The clip point, shorter, wider, and lighter blade, more acute edges, and shock absorbing handle do add up to an entirely different feel than any of the knives currently offered by Busse Combat. The more acute edge and the pointier tip seem like they will give the BR greater versatility. The lighter weight will be more comfortable to carry, and the shock-absorbing handle will be more comfortable to use. The more acute edge, and the decreased fatigue from both lighter weight and less shock, will probably make the BR more efficient in use.
