Knife comparison I'd like to see

R

rossab

Joined
Jan 8, 2004
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A Becker BK vs. a high dollar equivalent (i.e. BK vs. Swamp Rat or similar) in a torture test. Do you get twice as much if you spend twice as much? A $50K car isn't twice as good as a $25K car and a $1000 rifle isn't twice as good as a $500 rifle - while the high dollar products are better, part of the extra cost is just for ego - bragging rights. Is it the same with knives?
 
I think sometimes you will get to a point where this item will work OK. Then you will want it to work a little better, be a little easier to use, better finish on parts, better metal, or maybe just look better.

It will cost a certain amount to get that "works Ok" item. To add the refinements, (better fit, material, looks, etc) are a added cost but not in relationship to the overall cost. It cost more for refinements then it takes to just make the item. Rather it be more expensive materials, more labor cost for hand fitted parts, etc.

The final product will be up to you as to what you want. Being in the construction trade, I can do with cheaper tools then I buy. But I will pay more for a tool that is easier to use all day and will make my job easier and more efficient. I will pay more for a pair of pliers that has been better fitted and polished metal because I use that tool all day. I want the easiest tool to use. I will pay more for better grade metal in wire strippers and a more polished finish because I use them all day and they are easier to use. Can I get by with cheaper tools? Yes, but I would not want too. I want the best tool I can afford to do my job as effortless and efficient as I can. That little bit of different can cost twice as much.

Hairdressers spend a few hundred dollars for the shears they use to cut hair. They could cut your hair with shears that cost half as much. But the finish and ease of use would not be there. They want the easiest to use that they can get, just because at the end of the day it will tell.

The final decision will be up to you, just how good a tool do you want for the job you are doing? If you like fine tools and just like the best is one thing. And that is Ok. But if it is something you use often or daily, would you not want something a little better made or easier to use?

Those cheap china made wire cutter will cut wire, but at the end of the day I am very glad I paid over twice as much for my Klein's.
 
rossab said:
Do you get twice as much if you spend twice as much?
Click to expand...
No.

With knives, as with most things, you must spend a lot more to get a little more. This is more and more true the more you spend.
 
I think its unfair to say that with swamp rat…. I do think swamp rat and busse are the exception…. I think you get triple the performance for just double the money….imho
 
I have used both of these, as cutting tools they are similar, however in regards to chopping on thick wood, heavy prying and severe impacts, the Camp Tramp will vastly outperform the CU/7, similar if not more than the price ratio.

-Cliff
 
I think it would be very interesting to see a side by side comparison between, say a bk&t and a higher end knife. It would seem to me that there is probably a point where you're paying for fit and finish and reputation which may or may not enhance cutting performance. This is not a slam at the higher end makers but just a fact of the market that not everybody can afford a $200 truck knife. However it's only fair to mention you do probably get better quality control and better fit and finish for the higher end product. well enough of that somebody get on this a make a huge post with pictures. thanks ahgar
 
The only correct answer is, "It depends." It depends on you and what you value and how much you are willing to pay for it.
 
With a Swamp Rat or Busse, you get a convex edge vs. the Becker flat grind. For severe chopping performance, the Swamp Rat or Busse will outperform the Becker on any given Sunday. A Becker, with the flat grind, has a thinner edge and is good for slicing and general cutting.

Just go over to the Manufacturers>Swamp Rat or Busse forum; or to their company's forums for plenty of comparison of hard use. In fact, here is a post by Rat Finkenstein from yesterday which is located in the BFC Swamp Rat forum where he drove a Swamp Rat Ice Pick through 1/4" slab of steel with a sledge hammer - the end result was a slightly bent edge that didn't affect the overall performance. You'd roll the edge on a Becker doing that in a hearbeat.

There is another recent thread with some Ratweiler testing vs a BK&T Khukri at the Swamp Rat website's forum, however out of respect to the mods here I won't cross forum link to that thread.

So it really depends on what you want to use the knife for. BTW, Swamp Rat and Busse knives have a much higher resell rate than any production knife - with good reason!
 
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