Looking for a fixed blade

A

ar0maticdecay

Joined
Jun 1, 2009
Messages
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Since my other thread didn't go as i planned. i don't think i was clear in what i was saying and confused a lot of you. so i just going to make a new thread.

i'm looking for a knife for camping, hiking. something that would take abuse in a bad situation if need be.

price- i will go up to around 300

blade length i will ask your opinions. i was thinking around a 6inch give or take but have not carried a knife that large b4. didn't know if it would be too big. i'm not a small guy though.

steel- looking for opinions. i see a lot people mention infi, 1095, 3v etc. 1095 looks like it's very high maint. from rust issues .

brand- busse, rat, scrapyard, zt i have seen talked about a lot. not sure which brands or models u guys prefer.

sorry for making another thread but i thought it was better to start fresh and be more clear.
 
You can get a Busse Tank Buster for under $300 order it from Busse.

Personally I like Big Blades and I have a Busse FBM CG along with my CS Trail Masters that I use in the field. For those other outings that I won't be needing a big blade I ordered the Busse TB for those.

Now Scrap Yard, Swamp Rat, Busse and Cold Steel are my top choices for a field blade, I have used others over the years though.

Big Blade would be 9-10", smaller one would be 6-8".
 
Ankerson said:
You can get a Busse Tank Buster for under $300 order it from Busse.

Personally I like Big Blades and I have a Busse FBM CG along with my CS Trail Masters that I use in the field. For those other outings that I won't be needing a big blade I ordered the Busse TB for those.

Now Scrap Yard, Swamp Rat, Busse and Cold Steel are my top choices for a field blade, I have used others over the years though.

Big Blade would be 9-10", smaller one would be 6-8".
Click to expand...

ok tank buster it is.. the rat rc5 was a close second but sometimes i go close to the shore don't want to worry about corrosion.

black g10 handle
urban shadow camo
swedge
no choil
round butt
plain edge
 
ar0maticdecay said:
ok tank buster it is.. the rat rc5 was a close second but sometimes i go close to the shore don't want to worry about corrosion.

black g10 handle
urban shadow camo
swedge
no choil
round butt
plain edge
Click to expand...


Good choice. :D

That gonna be a nice looking knife. :thumbup:
 
There is also the Scrap Yard Scrapper 5 LE which is also INFI and under $200 5" blade and comfy res-c mudder handles.
 
LifeSaver said:
There is also the Scrap Yard Scrapper 5 LE which is also INFI and under $200 5" blade and comfy res-c mudder handles.
Click to expand...

the handle dosn't look it would fit the hand well. the bump on that back looks out of place. starts as a big bump goes into a ditch then back to normal. if u have a different opinon of it let me know because i have no first hand experience with them.


Jake Bauer said:
RAT Cutlery RC4 or 6
Click to expand...
the rc-5 was my second choice but from what i read 1095 is a high Maintenance and infi out performs it. if u think otherwise plz voice your opinion
 
Narrow down your options, don't worrie about 1095 and rust most of the other knives you are looking at will rust just as easily. If your spending up to $300 on a fixed blade just get the one you like or ask us about it before you buy, either way you will be getting a good knife if your spending that much.
 
Personally I love the grip on my Scrapper 5. It doesn't feel uncomfortable at all but this is a very subjective thing.
 
on the used market, you could score a ratweiler or camp tramp. they are a smidge bigger, but they are knife perfection! I prefer res c for comfort- you can chop and chop without gloves with no problem. Also the SOD for less...

the ratweiler just looks awesome as well!
 
just an added thought, I like knives a smidge bigger than the 5" b/c for shelter, fire prep etc...I like the chopping power. That size was HUGE for me until I stumbled across this website and the bussekin blade- now, not so much! I just got a Battle Rat that has about a 9" blade and it rocks. Opinions differ on the best size, but I took my cue from some of the SAR folks and after getting different blade sizes, my Camp Tramp with a folder would be all I really need- the rest is for fun! :)

Another couple great blades in your size range/price are he ratmandu (awesome!! Knife perfection) and the Busse SAR5... both inside your budget...
 
Camp Tramp
IMG_1835.jpg


S5 with SS4- I like the handles just fine!
IMG_1945.jpg


My big bad boy- the Battle Rat
IMG_1828.jpg
 
ar0maticdecay said:
the handle dosn't look it would fit the hand well. the bump on that back looks out of place. starts as a big bump goes into a ditch then back to normal. if u have a different opinon of it let me know because i have no first hand experience with them.
Click to expand...

The handle on my Scrapper 5 fits my hand very well. But I agree that the thumbramp is out of place. That's a quick fix, however. Anyone with a grinder can remove it. They just have to do it a little bit at a time so the blade doesn't heat up too much.

I had Horn Dog remove the thumbramp on my Scrapper 5 CG. Here's how it turned out:

http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=306408

:)
 
Hey rpn,I dig your Battle Rat.I really like mine,wish I would have bought the Tramp too.
 
I think you're making a good choice with the INFI. I have to respectfully disagree that it will rust just as easily as 1095. In my experience, INFI is NOT completely rust resistant or stainless, but it will take quite a bit more time to rust under the same conditions. Yes, this is a real world observation.

I would have a RAT RC-5 myself if it were something like A2 or D2 - honestly it would probably be my favorite knife in that case, but I just don't dig the 1095 anymore for the rust reason. In theory, some oxidation/rust spots on the edge won't hurt the knife if you nip it in the bud. Personally, I don't like having to be that careful with maintenance.

Good choice with the Tankbuster. If I could make a friendly suggestion, I would bypass the Urban Shadow Camo coating because if you're going to be putting the knife through camping abuses like chopping, batoning, etc., the coating will just start wearing away and won't look as pretty as it did new. I would either save the $35 and go with standard coating, or drop a little more money on double cut or satin. I know this would be out of the $300 range, but it's just a suggestion.
 
ar0maticdecay said:
the rc-5 was my second choice but from what i read 1095 is a high Maintenance and infi out performs it. if u think otherwise plz voice your opinion
Click to expand...

alright then I will :). 1095 in no more maintenance required than Infi. I have several 1095 knives and only one of them have developed rust. It is very easy to keep them corrosion free. gun oil/mineral oil every few weeks or after lots of hard use or storage and rust is not a problem. And actually as little rust as any of mine have developed, it comes right off with use or a sharpening.

If by maintenance required you mean edge retention.. I love 1095s E.R. It has constantly stayed sharp through lots of beating and when the edge does get dull its very easy to resharpen.

As far as out performance, I have no experience with infi what so ever. But through my extensive experience with 1095, I dont see how much holier this steel can be. I just dont buy into the hype. If I'm going to pay at least $200 for a knife (especially since most infi knives are more expensive than that) It better resharpen itself and make water bounce right off it.
 
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I have a 1095 kabar that I have barely touched in 2 years (as far as maintenance) I have carried it through the salty dust in Government Canyon, Tx, through the sand on the Emerald Coast, up and down Palo Duro Canyon in Amarillo, all over in Colorado, and now Boise. For a long time it was my carry knife for hiking and camping, and other than the occasional sharpening and an oiling about once every two months did not maintain it. There is still not a speck of rust on it. Only if you neglect it will your 1095 knife fail you.
 
1095 must be somewhat spotty then, b/c it has rusted quite easily on me despite the regular use of Tuf-Glide...just putting that out there.
 
yea i decided i'm going to hold back right now. there is just something about the tankbuster that i don't like. i looked at other busse and the ash-1, satin jak, natural outlaw and badger attack(?) looked much more appealing to me. i think it's the waves in the spine of the tank buster that doesn't do it for me. those are way too much on the second hand market to buy for a beater so i will just hold and hope busse comes out with something i like soon.

thx for the feedback guys
 
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