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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
PAB or Mineral Mountain
- Thread starter Miketm
- Start date
averageguy
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Wow, a funky looking cord wrapped blade for $500.00. Sounds like a bargain.
Take a look at a Greco Xplorer for $75.00 - exceeds your criteria.
Take a look at a Greco Xplorer for $75.00 - exceeds your criteria.
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I don't have a lot to offer you in the way of info. But I do know that PABs aren't often made, and when they are made they go pretty fast. The design is influenced by bolos as far as I know. KnifeBomber (not sure if you know who that is) took a PAB with him this go around to the sandbox. I know I'd sure love a PAB for a large fighter/chopper blade. It comes with one hell of a warrantee (brak it, send it in for replacement.) You'd also be getting a great sheath, and if the knife ever didn't satisfy you I bet you could get darned near, if not more, of what you paid for the knife.
I think it is a tough decision you have ahead. If money were no object, I'd say the PAB. But hey, the MMHW big blades will do a fine job against wood too. Good luck with your decision.
I think it is a tough decision you have ahead. If money were no object, I'd say the PAB. But hey, the MMHW big blades will do a fine job against wood too. Good luck with your decision.
I have never heard of a PAB or handled any Strider knife, so I can't comment on them. MMHW will do anything that you have mentioned, have a lifetime warranty, are fairly inexpensive, and as far as I know, Ted will do any kind of cutom work you or modifications you wish. I have used several of his big blades for over ten years with no problems or failures of any kind. Ted is honest, honerabl, and a very good person to do business with. He is equal to any maker.
PAB stainless and light but expensive.
MMHW knives are carbon and probably better suited to the task and relatively heavy (also better for chopping).
So you would have to ask you, would you prefer a lighter knife and lighter wallet or a heavier knife and heavier wallet.
MMHW knives are carbon and probably better suited to the task and relatively heavy (also better for chopping).
So you would have to ask you, would you prefer a lighter knife and lighter wallet or a heavier knife and heavier wallet.
Cliff Stamp
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Miketm :
Mineral Mountain easily with the flat grind, stay away from stainless steels for such blades, and the Mineral Mountain handles look to be much more ergonomic than the Strider grips, assuming their G10 handles are similar to the Buck/Strider, and based on what Mick has said about handle ergonomics in the past. Plus it is much cheaper. Widening the viewpoint beyond those two blades, I would recommend the Battle Rat from Swamp Rat Knifeworks, or a khukuri from Himalayan Imports (an Ang Khola specifically) depending on exactly what you want.
-Cliff
Mineral Mountain easily with the flat grind, stay away from stainless steels for such blades, and the Mineral Mountain handles look to be much more ergonomic than the Strider grips, assuming their G10 handles are similar to the Buck/Strider, and based on what Mick has said about handle ergonomics in the past. Plus it is much cheaper. Widening the viewpoint beyond those two blades, I would recommend the Battle Rat from Swamp Rat Knifeworks, or a khukuri from Himalayan Imports (an Ang Khola specifically) depending on exactly what you want.
-Cliff
averageguy
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Cliff - Are any of these superior to the Greco? Keep in mind also the Strider in this case, is just cord wrapped. If it at least had the G10 scales (what is that - another $100.00), that would be a point to consider. I like the feel of G10.
Cliff Stamp
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The Greco X-Plorer would look to be a solid choice as well, I would readily pick it over the PAB and a Mineral Mountain blade, the prices were always low on Greco's knives, the closeouts going on now are even more so.
I would pick a Battle Rat over the X-Plorer just because of the known abilities of the steel as I have used it extensively, and the warrenty, But then again it is twice the price of the Greco. Assuming the steel heat treatment is sound, you are getting a decent tool steel blade for a near retarded price on the X-Plorer.
Assuming the edge geometry and balance are similar, the Battle Rat and the X-Plorer should be similar in cutting and chopping ability. The grip on the Greco looks a little squarish and the talons could be uncomfortable similar as they were on the old Busse Combat blades (pre ergo). The Swamp Rat grips are very nice with a few minor ergonomic issues.
Anyone have any specifics on the edge geometry of the X-Plorer (thickness and angle), and balance point and mass. But yes I would agree it would look to be a solid choice for the asked about type of knife.
-Cliff
I would pick a Battle Rat over the X-Plorer just because of the known abilities of the steel as I have used it extensively, and the warrenty, But then again it is twice the price of the Greco. Assuming the steel heat treatment is sound, you are getting a decent tool steel blade for a near retarded price on the X-Plorer.
Assuming the edge geometry and balance are similar, the Battle Rat and the X-Plorer should be similar in cutting and chopping ability. The grip on the Greco looks a little squarish and the talons could be uncomfortable similar as they were on the old Busse Combat blades (pre ergo). The Swamp Rat grips are very nice with a few minor ergonomic issues.
Anyone have any specifics on the edge geometry of the X-Plorer (thickness and angle), and balance point and mass. But yes I would agree it would look to be a solid choice for the asked about type of knife.
-Cliff