Ranger RD9 v SY Dogfather

I have both

I tend to prefer the Ranger Rd9 as I can get it whenever I want and it doesnt cost as much

BUT

The res-c of the DF really does help with the choppin impact

both are great but Justin is one of my droogs ;)
 
both are very good and can handle the "tough" jobs with relative ease but like Leatherface says, the Ranger would be way easier to get.

Resprene-C (Scrapyard) is a rubber like material only tougher, and waaay more comfortable than Micarta and G-10 in your hand when your chopping and doing higher impact things. It's not as pretty as the rest but if your going to use it you'll be glad you have it!
 
I wouldn't mind nabbing a Ranger, it just I never see them in the exchange before they get purchased. I could get one elsewhere but I more often than not buy here... I do have a SY Dogfather and a Busse FBM. For real heavy chopping I use the FBM only because it's heavier. As for all round woods-keeping here in Michigan, it's hard to beat a Dogfather. The right size right weight and the Res-C grip is Awesome!!!! I'll luck into a RD9 soon... ~Have a Great holiday!!!~
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Question, has Ontario started releasing the Ranger line again. Most places have been out of stock since before Justin sold the business.
 
I like my DFCG and I would pic that over a RD9. Awesome chopper, can take the abuse easily.
 
I have a Dumpster Mutt LE and would love a Dogfather LE.

That would be an awesome pair of heavy duty knives IMO.
 
Both are a little difficult to acquire today, due to the Dogfathers being out of production and the RD9s not yet back in production because of the Ranger Knives & Ontario deal. I understand that the Ontario Knife Company Ranger Knives line should start being available sometime in September or October.

The RD9 is a bit shorter and a lot lighter than the Dogfather, so it is faster in hand. The Dogfather also has a stouter tip - stronger, but doesn't penetrate as well. Both chop certainly well enough for my purposes, although being larger and heavier, the Dogfather does chop better. It seems to me that the Dogfather is somewhat tougher, especially in lateral stress, but the RD9 is plenty tough enough for even abusive use. On the other hand, the RD9 seems to have an edge more resistant to damage, tearing in particular, than the Dogfather - this is something you would notice only in extremely abusive use. The handles are different, too: Dogfathers have Resiprene-C handles that are pretty good at absorbing impact shock from chopping, but then, they aren't quite as tough as the RD9's Micarta scales, although they are more than tough enough.

Either one will do fine. :thumbup: Get whichever you can get easier and cheaper, or get both.
 
I have both knives and even did a comparison some time ago on the SYK forum. Both are very good camp/bush knives. The DFLE and the RD9 are very close in chopping. The heavier original Dog Father will out chop the RD9, but is slow in the hand and not as good for machete type use.
The RD9 seems to hold an edge just a bit better. The Respirene C handle of the DF offers more comfort in extended chopping than the micarta of the RD. You might check Brigade Quartermasters to see if they still have any RD9s left in stock. You can sometimes find Dog Fathers on the exchange. Both knives are among the best in that type, and will serve you well.
 
Livebythesword said:
Should I expect to see a drop in quality when Ranger knives enter production with Ontario?
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Not according to Justin, the owner of Ranger Knives, and I trust his word. He's a great guy.

It's worth mention that to begin with, neither Scrapyard or Ranger Knives has stellar fit and finish. They're hard use knives, made for work, and they can look rather rough. You can expect to see such things as uneven grinds, scratches in the Res-C handles, handles not being perfectly flush with the tang and such, but as long as it doesn't affect performance... These are knives made to use, so the emphasis is on raw performance instead of prettiness. And in any case, the warranty for both knives is great: if there's a flaw, they'll fix it up for you. And Justin has stated that his Ontario line will carry that same old "no questions asked" warranty. :thumbup:
 
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