Ranger RD7, Ontario Rat 7 D2 & 1095, Becker BK7 Help Please

Tolly

Tolly

Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
555
Okay guys, I'm a gun guy but I am trying to educate myself a little better about knives before I purchase them than I have in the past. The only high end knife I own is a Busse Battle Mistress that I got on a trade deal on a 1911(I am a 1911 collector), all of the rest of my knives are the usual Bucks, Schrades, Cases and a couple of Spyderco folders. I am in need of a good 7" or so length knife for some hard general use that can take a beating if it has to but will hold an edge and cut well if I decide to do general camp duties with it. I don't mind spending money on good tools but I really want to keep this purchase to no more than $120 or less. The Becker BK7, Ranger RD7, and the Ontario Rat7 in D2 & 1095 are all well within that price range and I like the looks of them all, however, I don't know what differences the different types of steel in these knives make. Take the Ontario Rat7 for example, it is available in both D2 and 1095. What would be the difference in that knife if it was made with D2 versus 1095?? pros & cons?? Then there is the Ranger knife with 5160, again, all things being equal everywhere else as far as me liking the design of the knife, what is the blade steel going to be better or worse at than say the D2, 1095 or 0170-6C?? Lastly the Becker BK7, it is the most affordable of the lot and is made of an alltogether different steel
0170-6C, I am hopelessly lost here guys and I could really use a little help. The Becker BK7 is the only knife of this bunch I have actually handled when I went to buy a BK9HH on the suggestion of the board members here for my "hog hunting won't hurt the wallet too bad if I lose it knife" and it feels like a tank, which is good, but I also wouldn't mind if one of the others were a little thinner in the handle dept. I am not neccessarily trying to pick out the best knife for the money here, but more so the best knife of the group for the job at hand. Thanks
 
check out scrap yard knives you said you have a busse same family they have a scrap 6 that has a 6.5 inch blade for 89.00 plus the sheath is around 25.00 ithink has a neapream handle it looks pretty sweet good luck. i have a older becker campanion its hollowground i just blued it i like it and i like the rtak to there allprettygood as far as im concered have fun in your purchase
 
I stand behind becker all the way. Get a bk7 I bought 5 since it looks like camillus will never make them again.
 
I've had a BK7 and a RAT 7 and I'd take the RAT if I had to choose between the two.
 
Can anyone comment on the differences and pros and cons of the different blade steels these models use?

As for the Scrapper recommendation, I am all for it, heck I even started out trying to find a Swamp Rat in this size range. The problem with those knives is that you must have to know some secret handshake and have nothing better to do than set in front of your computer waiting for an E-mail saying there are some available....It really erks me that it is so hard to obtain on of their knives and I must say that I just don't get it, but that's the way they choose to do business and this is America after all.
 
Ranger knives are EXCELLENT knives!! Justin, who owns Ranger knives. You get a fantastic knife, and a great price. Justin will also make you a custom Ranger at a really good price. I do suggest you contact him, and discuss your needs with him.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
Ranger knives are EXCELLENT knives!! Justin, who owns Ranger knives. You get a fantastic knife, and a great price. Justin will also make you a custom Ranger at a really good price. I do suggest you contact him, and discuss your needs with him.
Click to expand...

I Love my RAT7 but TKC is righ on with Ranger knives. BK's seem a bit brittle to me in use imo. The Rat7 has held up well to chopping and a number of camp chores, and I have used my bro's Ranger9 and its a heck of a chopper and is a great knife for the price, I am sure the R7 is no different.
 
Check out the Joe Talmadge "sticky" at the top of the Maintenance forum. May answer some of your questions regarding steels.

I have recently come into posession of the Ranger RD7, and can say it's everything I hoped for in a larger 'working' blade. I've beat it around the yard a bit, and it is one tough S.O.B.. It has held it's edge (which I touched up a little prior to it's christening) through numerous little chores. I'm still breaking it in, but thus far I'm thoroughly impressed. I have no experience with either the Becker or the Ontario, so I couldn't offer a comparison. I will say though that my decision to go with the Ranger was based on research I did on reviews and attributes of all three of the blades you mentioned.
 
Tolly,

Their online ordering link is down. You can still place an order....Go to the "Contact Us" page on the Ranger website. You'll need to contact Justin directly via phone or email. He's a great guy to deal with, and he'll hook you up with what you need.

Good luck.
 
A belated welcome to Blade Forums Tolly! About all I can do here is give my .02 about the Beckers. I have two, a BK-9 and a BK-5. I like the steel, and don't have a problem with the handles. I find the steel easy to resharpen, and my 9 has taken quite a bit of work with only cosmetic dirt enhancement as a negative. I had the 5's edge convexed and it is WICKED sharp, but it sees limited duty cause I worship it too much.:rolleyes: Any of the blades you mentioned should do the job well.
 
I've heard lots about the Busse but have never touched one....

I've fondled a Becker BK7 but not a Ranger.

I've fondled the Ontario Rat7 in D2 AND 1095 (not there's any fondle difference between the two steels ):) many times. I own a RAT-3 in D2. For me and my purposes, the RAT-7 is too large a blade... a RAT-5 would suit my needs.

So....between the Becker and Ontario? ......Ontario RAT-7. Very nice grip with that rough weave Micarta (much better than RAT3!). Pretty good belly to the blade. Wonderful price. Nice sheath.

In the end I have to agree..... any would do just fine. Remember: "We buy what we like and, even when we don;t, we like what we buy"
 
Justin's RD series is in the middle of a revamp. so he may not have anymore of the old style and he may not have enough of the new style either. the best thing really is to contact him. awesome guy to deal with.
 
Thanks madfast. Do you know what the differences between the old and new styles will be?
 
Here's the comparison of the "new" (top) profile vs. "old" (bottom) profile. These are RD6's, but the 7's are the same.

Just click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

 
jav200dc said:
Here's the comparison of the "new" (top) profile vs. "old" (bottom) profile. These are RD6's, but the 7's are the same.

Just click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

Click to expand...

nice pic! if you can't tell there are 3 major changes. 1.) clip point for better penetration 2.) thumb serrations/jimping on the thumb ramp 3.) pommel does away with the semi-skull crusher and has an oval lanyard hole with jimping on the bottom.

hope that helps
 
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