Looking to buy 5"-7" hard use fixed blade $150 & under

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

Hi,For some time now I've been researching different fixed blades.I'd love to get a Busse or even a Fehrman,but both are way out of my budget.I have it narrowed down to a RAT RC6,Scrap Yard Scrapper 6,or a Fallkniven A2(I think).I don't want to spend over $150 & a comfortable sheath is very important to me.I'd be using it primarily as a camp/hunting knife...light chopping(carry a small hatchet for heavy chopping),skinning/cleaning deer,rabbits,etc,batoning..etc.So far,I'm leaning towards the scrapper 6.I'd like to buy the RAT to support their current dilema,but "I need what I need" & I'm looking for the best my money can buy.I simply love the Fallkniven,but HATE those cheesy plastic sheaths.
I have no real preference in carbon or stainless in a camp knife,because I always thoroughly clean & oil after contact with blood,water & any other corosive substances.
Any personal experience with any or all of these,for the said applications?
As always,Thank you all in advance for your input.

P.S. Just realised this should probably be in WSS..Mods please move is this is the case.Thank You

jlfletcher83 · Apr 2, 2008

RAT Cutlery RC 6 all the way. The RC knives are incredible. And do not forget they have an excellent warranty.

CaptInsano · Apr 2, 2008

Swamp Rat makes the Mischief 6 (M6). Scrap Yard makes the Scrapper 6 (S6).

Both are awesome blades and both should be in your price range. These will without doubt be the toughest knives in your range. The sheaths Scrap Yard supplies are ok, but not very durable. I would look into getting a Spec Ops sheath to go with it.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

CaptInsano said:
Swamp Rat makes the Mischief 6 (M6). Scrap Yard makes the Scrapper 6 (S6). Both are awesome blades and both should be in your price range. These will without doubt be the toughest knives in your range. The sheaths Scrap Yard supplies are ok, but not very durable. I would look into getting a Spec Ops sheath to go with it.

Thanks for the correction:thumbup: I wasn't sure cause the names are so similar.The scrapper is the one that uses the S-7 right?That's the one I'm kinda leaning towards.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

jlfletcher83 said:
RAT Cutlery RC 6 all the way. The RC knives are incredible. And do not forget they have an excellent warranty.

Thanks for the input:thumbup: How would you compare the S-7(scrap yard) & VG-10 laminate(fallkniven) to the 1095 of RAT,as far as edge retention & toughness.I have NO experience in any of these steels,that's why I'm asking.

P.S. I know the steel makes no difference unless it has a good heat treament.I'm assuming all these knives have an excellent HT.

rickppoole · Apr 2, 2008

For the price range you mentioned Justin at Ranger Knives can probably make you EXACTLY what you want. His 5160 Afghans are incredible bargans and excellent hard use knives. I purchased one modified to all of my preferences and it is my absolute favorite utility knife (and I own Fallknivens, Swamprats, Beckers, Busses, and Scrapyards). I've heard good things about Rat as well but I'm convinced there is no better value for the money than Ranger.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

rickppoole said:
For the price range you mentioned Justin at Ranger Knives can probably make you EXACTLY what you want. His 5160 Afghans are incredible bargans and excellent hard use knives. I purchased one modified to all of my preferences and it is my absolute favorite utility knife (and I own Fallknivens, Swamprats, Beckers, Busses, and Scrapyards). I've heard good things about Rat as well but I'm convinced there is no better value for the money than Ranger.

Thanks:thumbup:I'm gonna look into that.Busse is still my dream knife.I just don't have a month's rent to put down on a camp knife.

I hear that S-7 tool steel toughness is off the charts.It's still my top pick,but I'm gonna check out the Ranger knives as well.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

WOW!I just checked out Ranger's website.RD6 a 6" 5160 .25" thick blade for $89!!
I really like their sheaths too!!So far Rangers in the lead,with Scrap Yard at a close second place.Thanks for the tip:thumbup:

T.K.C. · Apr 2, 2008

I am also going suggest Ranger Knives as well!! They are awesome knives, and Justin IS fantastic to deal with.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

So Far the two to choose from

Ranger RD6-

Scrap Yard-Scrapper 6

I really like the Ranger & really like their sheath too,however I like the the fact that Scrap Yard is an affiliation of Busse(notorious reputation for hard use knives)& they use S-7.

Still up in the air on this one.What kind of sheath comes with the Scrap Yard.Does it even come with a sheath?

oh yea..I forgot to mention I HATE corded handles

JackBauer24 · Apr 2, 2008

I vote for the RD6. That sheath is the same one that came with my RAT5. It's not all that great.

Torm · Apr 2, 2008

Here's another vote for the Ranger RD knives.

texastonydobbs · Apr 2, 2008

By reading your first post I would suggest a RC6...but all the brand you named will work , 1/4" blade is not needed for what you described + the added weight.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

texastonydobbs said:
By reading your first post I would suggest a RC6...but all the brand you named will work , 1/4" blade is not needed for what you described + the added weight.

You're right about the 1/4" blade.I was refering to more of the chopping/batoning factor I mentioned...plus I like thick blades.For skinning & cleaning game I use a 2"-3" thinner blade.

Thanks for all the helpfull advice everyone

:thumbup:

How would you compare the toughness factor between the Rangers 5160 compared to the Scrapyard's S-7?Any personal experiences comparing the two?I think my opinion may be slightly influenced by Busse's reputation

thombrogan · Apr 2, 2008

Call Justin on the phone and ask him to make you an RD-6 with S7 tool steel. It'll have that super RD-6 design and sheath and the added toughness of S7 shock steel (which is no S5, but not completely brittle

). Heck, go with the 5160 and see if you overpower 5160 with Justin's heat treatment.

My only experience with S7 is my RD-9 in S7. Superbly, fascinatingly tough (I do dumb things), but so was my 5160 RD-9 with Justin's heat-treatment. I begged a swordmaker to redo the 5160 RD-9 with a bainite/martensite heat treatment which supposedly makes it tougher than S7, but I can't the difference and I do dumb things like wail on galvanized iron fenceposts and the like. For what it's worth, my S7 RD-9 was my only knife to chop into my old scratching post without getting a chipped or rolled edge. It also had a thicker edge than most, so that was also a factor.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

thombrogan said:
Call Justin on the phone and ask him to make you an RD-6 with S7 tool steel. It'll have that super RD-6 design and sheath and the added toughness of S7 shock steel (which is no S5, but not completely brittle ). Heck, go with the 5160 and see if you overpower 5160 with Justin's heat treatment.

Thanks for that suggestion,but to ask him to make me a blade in S-7 will most likely go over my $150 limit.I think I'll take my chances with the 5160.

As always you guys have been extremely helpfull.Thank you all very much!!:thumbup:

CaptInsano · Apr 2, 2008

JTR357 said:
Thanks for the correction:thumbup: I wasn't sure cause the names are so similar.The scrapper is the one that uses the S-7 right?That's the one I'm kinda leaning towards.

Yep. The Scrapper uses SR77 and the M6 uses SR101.

JTR357 · Apr 2, 2008

I'm going with the Ranger RD6.Partly because of all the great feedback from you guys,I really like the sheath,I like the hard extended pommel & the thick blade.I just hope the 5160 holds up to my camping chores.I've been known to be pretty hard on my knives

.

Thanks again:thumbup:You guys are great

din · Apr 2, 2008

yo JTR, you said 5-7". if you're okay with a 5" blade, check out the scrapyard dumpster mutt. I have four, use two, and love them. the double-cut one can be had for 99 bucks, and they're getting ready to release another batch now that they've moved shop up to wauseon from texas. you can get one with a nice custom sheath for right around 140-150 bucks. I know you said you already decided, but if you're willing to think about it for another day or two...you never know.

go to the scrap yard forums and talk to the guys there, most of them are really great and a bunch of them own both ranger and scrap yard knives and can give you some comparison pics and reviews.

thombrogan · Apr 2, 2008

JTR357 said:
Thanks for that suggestion,but to ask him to make me a blade in S-7 will most likely go over my $150 limit.I think I'll take my chances with the 5160.

While I think you're making a great choice with the stock 5160 RD-6 and may be right about the S7 custom version, I can't imagine that it would hurt to ask.