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- May 20, 2009
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- 528
RangerGrip Vs OHT
I wanted to write this up a while ago but my camera was MIA, plus, it offers an interesting take on the Vic vs Wenger debate.
I have had both knives for almost an equal amount of time and will try to keep this review bias free. So, lets get started!
Presentation
Perhaps not really the most important category, but a good first impression is quite important. The first thing you will notice is the box. The wenger comes in a presentation tin while the vic comes in a small cardboard box. The Ranger's box is very nicely done and the inside of the lid is lined and has the wenger logo. The fit and finish on the knives is excellent and I found the wenger's tools to have a much smoother opening action, while the vic was a bit stiff. I tested out a couple of other OHT and Rangers at the shop and all the wengers were slightly smoother as well. Both blades came shaving sharp out of the box which is what I expect on all my SAK's.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 8/10
The Blade
Now the real showdown starts! I don't have my ruler on me right now, so I'm using an Endura and a Military as a size comparison. The OHT's blade is just slightly shorter than that of the Endura (probably around 3.25 inches), while the Ranger's blade is the same length as that of the Military (4 inches). The OHT uses an oval hole while the ranger's hole is sort of triangular. I prefer the OHT's hole since it's much more comfortable to use and I can get it open quicker than the ranger (when both of the pivots are oiled up). The Ranger's hole is jimped on the back however and provides more purchase than the OHT, but is a farcry from the Military and endura.
The blade's themselves are similar to 440A, but I havn't been able to test edge holding, although if other SAK's are anything to go by, the OHT will hold a slightly better edge.
What really annoys me about the OHT's blade is that it's a chisel grind, while the Ranger uses a convential V grind (which gives it more points in my book). The ranger actually has a tip on that can be used for piercing and other things that involve using the tip.
I prefer the shield lock on the ranger to the reverse liner lock on the OHT. The wengers lock is butressed against the steel liner of the handle and has a small cutout so it actually touches the tang along two parts. I think the Ranger's lock is more secure than the OHT, but both should work fine.
RangerGrip 79: 9/10
OHT: 7/10
The Saw
Ranger kills the OHT in this category. Everything about the Ranger's saw is better than the OHT's. It's longer, bigger, and is in the middle as opposed to the end of the knife. My OHT's saw has taken a chunk out of the liner since it has a bit of side to side play when you close it. Not much else to say here.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 9/10
Bottle opener
The bottle openers are pretty much identical except for the lock. The Ranger uses a preassure lock which I havn't really tested out, while the OHT's lock is more standard. I much prefer the bottle opener on the OHT than the Ranger.
RangerGrip 79: 7/10
OHT: 10/10
Can opener
Ahhhhh, this is where the wenger vs victorinox debate usually goes. Most people (including myself) prefer the Vic can openers to their wenger counterparts. It allows you to zip forward along the can, doesn't get stuck and has a small screwdriver to top it all off. The Wenger can openers do have quite a sharp tip and can be used for other purposes if you get creative. It does let you take a bigger chunk out of the can with each sweep though.
RangerGrip 79: 8/10
OHT: 10/10
Awl
The OHT has caught up and we are now tied! The awl on the OHT is sharper and penetrates easier, while the awl on the Ranger has makes a cleaner hole. It also has the sewing eye although I don't use it and probably never will. It does add an extra function which cannot really be ruled out (like the hook
).
RangerGrip 79: 8/10
OHT: 8/10
Ergonomics/Overall feel
I think you can see how this is going to end at this point. There is no competition in this area. The EvoGrip inserts are excelent and provide great traction especially if you are wearing gloves. The handle is also bigger and provides more real estate. The scales are also wider and the knife fills your hand nicely. The OHT is no slouch though. The curves on the handle are quite helpful and help you get a better grip on the knife.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 8/10
Final thougts
Although in my opinion, the ranger has beat out the OHT, it's not perfect. It is quite bulky and is very long which may make pocket carry a bit of an issue. It's interesting to note that the OHT is (sort of) the standard issue for the Swiss army. Personally, I think that the rangergrip would make a much better knife for a soldier since it can be carried on a pouch or strapped to a vest, while the smaller size of the OHT makes it far better for pocket carry.
Sorry about the lack of pics, I will post them up as soon as I can.
Hope you enjoyed this.
I wanted to write this up a while ago but my camera was MIA, plus, it offers an interesting take on the Vic vs Wenger debate.
I have had both knives for almost an equal amount of time and will try to keep this review bias free. So, lets get started!
Presentation
Perhaps not really the most important category, but a good first impression is quite important. The first thing you will notice is the box. The wenger comes in a presentation tin while the vic comes in a small cardboard box. The Ranger's box is very nicely done and the inside of the lid is lined and has the wenger logo. The fit and finish on the knives is excellent and I found the wenger's tools to have a much smoother opening action, while the vic was a bit stiff. I tested out a couple of other OHT and Rangers at the shop and all the wengers were slightly smoother as well. Both blades came shaving sharp out of the box which is what I expect on all my SAK's.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 8/10
The Blade
Now the real showdown starts! I don't have my ruler on me right now, so I'm using an Endura and a Military as a size comparison. The OHT's blade is just slightly shorter than that of the Endura (probably around 3.25 inches), while the Ranger's blade is the same length as that of the Military (4 inches). The OHT uses an oval hole while the ranger's hole is sort of triangular. I prefer the OHT's hole since it's much more comfortable to use and I can get it open quicker than the ranger (when both of the pivots are oiled up). The Ranger's hole is jimped on the back however and provides more purchase than the OHT, but is a farcry from the Military and endura.
The blade's themselves are similar to 440A, but I havn't been able to test edge holding, although if other SAK's are anything to go by, the OHT will hold a slightly better edge.
What really annoys me about the OHT's blade is that it's a chisel grind, while the Ranger uses a convential V grind (which gives it more points in my book). The ranger actually has a tip on that can be used for piercing and other things that involve using the tip.
I prefer the shield lock on the ranger to the reverse liner lock on the OHT. The wengers lock is butressed against the steel liner of the handle and has a small cutout so it actually touches the tang along two parts. I think the Ranger's lock is more secure than the OHT, but both should work fine.
RangerGrip 79: 9/10
OHT: 7/10
The Saw
Ranger kills the OHT in this category. Everything about the Ranger's saw is better than the OHT's. It's longer, bigger, and is in the middle as opposed to the end of the knife. My OHT's saw has taken a chunk out of the liner since it has a bit of side to side play when you close it. Not much else to say here.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 9/10
Bottle opener
The bottle openers are pretty much identical except for the lock. The Ranger uses a preassure lock which I havn't really tested out, while the OHT's lock is more standard. I much prefer the bottle opener on the OHT than the Ranger.
RangerGrip 79: 7/10
OHT: 10/10
Can opener
Ahhhhh, this is where the wenger vs victorinox debate usually goes. Most people (including myself) prefer the Vic can openers to their wenger counterparts. It allows you to zip forward along the can, doesn't get stuck and has a small screwdriver to top it all off. The Wenger can openers do have quite a sharp tip and can be used for other purposes if you get creative. It does let you take a bigger chunk out of the can with each sweep though.
RangerGrip 79: 8/10
OHT: 10/10
Awl
The OHT has caught up and we are now tied! The awl on the OHT is sharper and penetrates easier, while the awl on the Ranger has makes a cleaner hole. It also has the sewing eye although I don't use it and probably never will. It does add an extra function which cannot really be ruled out (like the hook
).RangerGrip 79: 8/10
OHT: 8/10
Ergonomics/Overall feel
I think you can see how this is going to end at this point. There is no competition in this area. The EvoGrip inserts are excelent and provide great traction especially if you are wearing gloves. The handle is also bigger and provides more real estate. The scales are also wider and the knife fills your hand nicely. The OHT is no slouch though. The curves on the handle are quite helpful and help you get a better grip on the knife.
RangerGrip 79: 10/10
OHT: 8/10
Final thougts
Although in my opinion, the ranger has beat out the OHT, it's not perfect. It is quite bulky and is very long which may make pocket carry a bit of an issue. It's interesting to note that the OHT is (sort of) the standard issue for the Swiss army. Personally, I think that the rangergrip would make a much better knife for a soldier since it can be carried on a pouch or strapped to a vest, while the smaller size of the OHT makes it far better for pocket carry.
Sorry about the lack of pics, I will post them up as soon as I can.
Hope you enjoyed this.