Ontario SP5 Big Bowie v RTAKII

L

Loves2stabU

Joined
Feb 22, 2008
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I am looking for a big bowie type knife, for fighting. Something w/ 10-12" blade w /a nice upswept bottom edge. Something that is got enough heft and forward bias to execute an inertial slash, but not so heavy as to be slow to bring back to center. Something w/ thick spine and a flat ground blade. Something w/o a top guard to I can hold it w/ a saber grip. Something that also can serve to as a decent woods knife. Something cheaper than a battle mistress :(

So far the only thing I see are the TOPS Armageddon, the Ontario SP5, and the Ontario RTAK II.

Can you all comment on the handling characteristics, cutting characteristics, durability, ergonomics of the knives etc.
 
Nope. 10" is Minimum blade length. Thanks for the links though.

what do you know about Eight Dollar Mountain Forge. I mean are they any good?
 
How do you subscribe to a thread so you have a link to it ready when you log back to the site so you don't have to go searching for your threads on the boards?
 
Its under thread tools near the top. Sorry, don't know about Eight Dollar Mountain Forge
 
The only thing KBar has =/> 10" is the Cutlas Machete. With a little relief on the top edge it might work. Anyone have any reviews on these?
 
How thick is the spine of that KBAR. It is probably less than 1/4"??? This is probably more of a machete than a knife?
 
The RTAKII needs handle work. It did not fit in my hands well . I found it to flat, wide and uncomfortable to hold and work with. I would not be too much of a problem to do this with a file or drum sander.
 
Yeah, but the cutlass machete has a saber grind while the bowies have flat grind. Usually a saber grind makes for better chopping b/c of mass but worse cutting.
 
10+
Fallknive Tor
Ontario RTAK
TOPS Armageddon
TOPS Steel Eagle 111A Hunter's Point
Wilson Tactical Kukri

A few favorites that you may need to dig a tad harder for...
Camillus-Becker Brute (9.5") & Patrol Machete (14" Blade)
Blackjack Anaconda II (10" Blade)

There are also many Kukri manufacturers out there, with HI being one of the better known...
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/ (http://yhst-7333098713883.stores.yahoo.net/)
http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/
https://torablades.com/
http://www.valiantco.com/

Warning. If you go down this large knife path (as I did), you will eventually end up with a Battle Mistress. I had a hard time passing up a Fat FBM (0.32" thick, 10" Blade - Wow).

If you are willing to go to a 9.0" or 9.5" Blade the options open up....
Fehrman Knives - Final or Extreme Judgment (9.5" Blade)
Chris Reeve Jereboam Mk II (9.0" Blade)
Fallkniven MC1 Mine Clearance Knife (9.5" Blade)
Fallkniven A2 (8.0" Blade)
ROS Arms Baby (9.0" Blade)
Ranger RD9 (9.5" Blade)
FOX Golok (9.0" Blade)
Wilson Tactical Camp Knife (9.0" Blade)
Entrek Destroyer (8 7/8" Blade)
Mercworx Proeliator (9.25" Blade)

Personally, I would go with either the Ontario RTAK, the Fehrman Final Judgment or a Ranger RD9. Good luck.
 
Loves2stabU said:
I am looking for a big bowie type knife, for fighting. Something w/ 10-12" blade w /a nice upswept bottom edge. Something that is got enough heft and forward bias to execute an inertial slash, but not so heavy as to be slow to bring back to center. Something w/ thick spine and a flat ground blade. Something w/o a top guard to I can hold it w/ a saber grip. Something that also can serve to as a decent woods knife. Something cheaper than a battle mistress :(

So far the only thing I see are the TOPS Armageddon, the Ontario SP5, and the Ontario RTAK II.

Can you all comment on the handling characteristics, cutting characteristics, durability, ergonomics of the knives etc.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of Buisse BMs and while they are fine choppers they are, IMHO, a little heavy for the slashing you mention.
 
Loves2stabU said:
How thick is the spine of that KBAR. It is probably less than 1/4"??? This is probably more of a machete than a knife?
Click to expand...

I have the 2007 Ka-Bar catalog (free to order online).

#1248 Cutlass
Weight: 1.12 lbs (knife only)
Steel: 1085
Grind: Hollow

Nothing on the thickness :(
 
I just picked up a Swamp Rat Battle Rat. would highly recommend it if you can find one- they do pop up from time to time in the for sale area. It has a 9.3 inch blade, not quite a full flat grind but with this knife that just doesn't seem to matter much- blade geometry is excellent. It is amazingly light weight for such a large knife, 14.5 inches overall and just over 16 ounces. It would certainly handle the tasks you described, close enough to give it a hard look.
 
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