New Tracker Blade

[whitedragon_48]

In the end all of the guys that have wanted one have gotten 'em and seem real pleased, so I guess that's what counts...I'm truly happy for those who got what they wanted.

That being said....I just can not see how a knife maker can appear outta nowhere making a design that complex. No first knives, no other models,not even a simple statement of experience...blade hardness is top secret, philosohies behind blade making are top secret....
Just a mass appearance of a very complex but trendy blade design.

I'm not calling the guy a scammer, but I can't help but to be curious about the progression and transpiration of all this.

I will continue to call him a grade A a$$hole though.

I agree. It just raises too many "red flags". I'll wait for:
1- A good torture test.
2- A better steel than 440C.

Besides his claims, nobody seems to know this guy. C'mon RS6, tell us a bit more about you!

 

[ishiyumisan]

Glad you enjoy the knife ishiyumisan.

I know and I will :jerkit:

 

[blgoode]

:thumbup: oh I am sure you will.......

 

[ishiyumisan]

:thumbup: oh I am sure you will.......

I love you man
Cool my friend:thumbup:
Respect:thumbup:

 

[bartman2]

I agree. It just raises too many "red flags". I'll wait for:
1- A good torture test.
2- A better steel than 440C.

Besides his claims, nobody seems to know this guy. C'mon RS6, tell us a bit more about you!

I don't think anyone should know the guy. He wasn't a knifemaker. He was in engineering or something. Looks like he just put together the right folks. I have beat the hell of mine already and put it to stone. Looks like the hippie has too by his photos. What kind of torture did you have in mind? I will test it out as hard as I can. what would be good test be?

 

[robertmegar]

I think 440C is a good steel... unless you are a steel snob that is.


I agree with what was said above, this guy most likely is commissioning a run of knives and he is really the seller.

 

[bartman2]

Well I know he was involved with design these are different from the original prototype pics. But I am really pleased that he got it done and made it affordable. He said that he got email from Dave Beck saying he was glad to see someone keeping style out here for us without deep pockets. guy is a winner no matter what his role. He seems to be taking the heat and has delivered.
It really is a good knife.

 

[ishiyumisan]

I agree. It just raises too many "red flags". I'll wait for:
1- A good torture test.

YES in two way....
The RS6 and Linger too:thumbup: :thumbdn:
Start with Rockwell hardness ecc.....
The names is not a serious matter fellas
Any disagree: Goodfellas let me see the torture on the Linger WSK

 

[t1mpani]

The first thing that popped into my head as I looked at these shots was that there doesn't seem to be ANY difference in the bevels for the front "chopping" edge and the "draw knife" section. They both look to be the same height, same depth of grind---which kind of defeats the purpose of the whole split edge design, for me. The Beck/Linger version is a stout convex front edge with a thin flat grind in the rear section, so you have two different types of cutting available. Don't get me wrong, this looks like it was well executed in fit/finish and made to a high overall degree of quality, but--if I'm seeing it right (and I may not be)--I think the point was kind of missed.

Edit: Definitely nice job on those teeth!

Guess the implied question wasn't implied strongly enough. ARE both grinds the same?

 

[demoteamone]

hey guys. new poster here.
Please if someone helps me out here?
Reading another thread, I came across the Beck Survival knife and Rlinger Is it just me, or is this an exquisite survival knife? Anybody has any comments on it? I personally believe that it is a litle overpriced.
The knife was made famous by the movie "the Hunted" with Benicio del Toro and Tomy Lee Jones (the movie was a big disappointment..).
I am wondering if anyone out there in knifeland has had the chance
to try out one of Dave Becks or Linger wilderness survival knives in actual wilderness settings.
I am thinking about getting one and would like to know if this knife
is a good cutter. Is it hard to sharpen? How does it chop?
How sharp will it get?

Any info would be appreciated.
thanks Mark

 

[RedEdge77]

Well i still have my doubts about this knife. 440C is a good steel but not great. I would like to see this knife tested by some more experienced members here to get the real info.

I have another question. How do you use a draw knife? And how do you baton with those serrations on there>?

 

[ishiyumisan]

hey guys. new poster here.
Please if someone helps me out here?
Reading another thread, I came across the Beck Survival knife and Rlinger Is it just me, or is this an exquisite survival knife? Anybody has any comments on it? I personally believe that it is a litle overpriced.
The knife was made famous by the movie "the Hunted" with Benicio del Toro and Tomy Lee Jones (the movie was a big disappointment..).
I am wondering if anyone out there in knifeland has had the chance
to try out one of Dave Becks or Linger wilderness survival knives in actual wilderness settings.
I am thinking about getting one and would like to know if this knife
is a good cutter. Is it hard to sharpen? How does it chop?
How sharp will it get?

Any info would be appreciated.
thanks Mark

Hi Demo Welcome aboard on this forum enjoy and good luck

 

[greens]

If he only put a tough carbon steel in this knife, it could have been a winner. 440C is not something I would want to depend on in a 'survival' knife. Also, the price tag is not your friend either.

 

[t1mpani]

Welcome to Bladeforums, demoteamone. David Beck's WSK knife (has also been called the Tracker) has been around for a good while--long before the movie. It is designed to have a thicker, tougher edge up front to handle chopping and more heavy duty cutting, with a thinner, higher-ground edge behind to do finer cutting chores. Beck's knives have a tremendous reputation for toughness. Roger Linger is a newer maker, and has only started doing WSKs in the last year or a little more (if I'm remembering right) but his skills as a knife maker are well respected and he has been very faithful to Beck's design. I should have one of Roger's WSKs shortly, and will put up some in-use impressions shortly after. There was a very good review of one done a while back, I'll see if I can find it...

Anyway, either are very well made. They are expensive---Roger's waiting time for one is several months right now, and Dave is no longer making them, so Beck WSKs have climbed into the thousands of dollars on the secondary market.

Good luck,
t1

 

[bartman2]

Hey,
Hippiesmurf69 and All predator owners talked with RS6 just now. He is sending his knife to Rawhide to make the multi-carry sheaths. You can see his Tracker sheaths on eBay. Don't buy the Tom Brown Tracker Sheath it will not fit the Predator. FYI.
Richard is the guy's name and he is sending him a knife so he can start making sheaths for the Predator. He has some cool sheaths should probably be around same price as the Hedgehog sheath. RS6 said he did not get any word from Hedgehog yet I don't want to send my knife out so I am going to get in touch with RAWHIDE Leather from eBAY.
Knife is working great!!

 

[whitedragon_48]

I agree with the above. Why not "sacrifice" one knife to one of the more senior posters for a couple of tests. As the saying goes: "True steel does not fear trial by fire." Pun intended.

Steel snob? If that means I like quality on things that my life might depend on, then yes. Or how many of us carry S30V knives, because is trendy? No, maybe because is a great stainless stell for a folder.

Better steel for WSK than 440C? Try D2 for example, even O1 or 5160, better yet 52100... Hell! Even 1095 with a good heat treatment sounds better. I mean, dont get me wrong folks, 440C is a good steel, but it is just that, "good". There are better steels out there. Also, we know next to nothing about the QC of RS6 knives. For all I care it could be great, but how do we know? The guy was very reluctant to talk about his operation when we "grilled him" with questions. How would you react if you go to buy a new car and the salesman avoids your questions or doesn't want to answer on account of not giving out "trade secrets". You don't have to be all "Secret Squirrell" about things like Rockwell now, do you?

 

[Danbo]

I think this style of knife would be great in L6. Then, you'd REALLY have a steel that you could depend on.

But, I still think this is one of the silliest looking knives ever designed.

 

[bartman2]

lol you guys crack me up. Guess I am not qualified to test the knife out for you. get someone more experienced who would you like? Maybe we could get Aaron Hallum from the movie "the hunted", LOL.
Buy one and you will see for yourself. He has 2 out on the ebay that are going for 220 price range. Less than what I paid.
But Danbo I Guess it is ugly as the BECK or Linger wsk's. The handle scales are the only major visual appearances other than the grind on draw and it is not blued. I am probably changing out my handle scales with a hard wood. I want more weight and thicker scales. pretty easy to do it. just unscrew and they are bonded so once you break that loose. The the hidden screws are pretty standard knife supply catalog stuff. I like this because if you do lose them they are easy to replace. The flat head is not the good to look at but I have trouble finding hexagon tool in the field, if it would need maintenance. There could be better steels available but I don't have problem with the 440C I believe Beck even used it on early models. I have not broken mine yet. But the guy is talking about other types of steel in another series if the demand is there. From my conversations and emails he has been very open to answering my questions. I think everyone overwhelmed him when he came on to the forum. He did get short but he had a lot going on and he said he would get back in touch to do the testing, that is until everyone kept at him and he left. I asked him if he would come back on in an email. I don't think he will though not now. He said he is working on a new series of designs and did not have time. I am keeping close contact, he has asked me for open critisism without holding any punches and I told him what I liked and didn't like. I think he is maintaining contact with a number of the guys he has sold too. They probably have his mobile number as well. I would be interested in what other types of feedback he has gotten from other buyers. I will talk with him tomorrow about coming back to forums and posting more information.

 

[ralph.merlino]

Dave made a little over 600 Trackers. Most were made of 01 and 440C and ATS34 and a very few (5 to 7) from D-2

 

[demoteamone]

Thanks for the Welcome ishiyumisan,t1mpani...
I will search more and send few e mail.

Thank you again
Mark