- Joined
- Dec 19, 2011
- Messages
- 766
Ok I had been lookiong for a bit for a Gen 1 Rat Daddy and Ratweiler. I had a slightly used Rat Daddy lined up and paid for but the deal fell through. I totally understood the situation and there are no hard feelings. I was refunded my money and my Rat Daddy search began anew. I remembered a Rat Daddy that I had been considering and had decided not to get from earlier in my searches because of some mods by the owner. However I had no other leads so I decided to look into maybe getting that Rat Daddy. I contacted the owner again, XAMAN and he still had the knife and was still willing to let it go to a new home.
The condition of the blade in the sellers own words:
Robert,
The knife is in fair shape. Here's what's wrong:
1.) the grind marks on the ricasso (when I stripped the coating I Was bummed to see how deep they were, it would have been near impossible to remove them all by hand... (see pic)
2. The Tip needs to be reworked, as it blunted with all the hand sanding. (see pic)
3. There's a few discoloration marks here and there, nothing like pitting, just needs some touch up.
4. The edge needs some work. If you're handy, no big deal.
Other thoughts: the handle scales are African Blackwood. They look pretty. They are thin, roughly the same as the factory grips. I pretty certain I have the original micarta grips laying around somewhere, in case you want to go back to stock, but the Blackwood handles are epoxied, not just rivited. The sheath is functional, but not stellar. It's one of my first, and the leather is mid grade from Tandy (I've since learned to use high grade form a real tannery). But it's definitely useable.
I'm not sure if you want a user? If so, this one is ready to roll. If you want a collector piece, I'd grind off the Blackwood scales, and send it in to Garth with a note to recoat it in Black, and attach the original scales. (Assuming they still do that kind of stuff, it's been so long since I've been in touch with the shop). Just thinking out loud.
Here are the threads on her from the last owner, XAMAN... a before thread and some makeover threads:
Before
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/533468-Swamp-Rat-Rat-Daddy
Creative process
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/534182-Hollow-Tube-Fasteners
Work pt 1
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/538487-Rat-Daddy-Makeover
Work pt 2
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Rat-Daddy-Makeover-part-2?highlight=rat+daddy
My thoughts so far. The sheath is in great shape and well done. IF he considers this functional and isnt impressed with it as it is one of his early works, then his up do date stuff must be spectacular.
As for the knife itself, it is as he described. There are snail trails / grind marks in the ricasso area and the edge itself needs to be sharpened. All that being said, this baby has user written all over it. One plus is he scrounged up the origional Gen 1 scales an tossed them in. The Ratweiler I have on the way to me soon is a slightly used unmodified Gen 1.
Now I am wondering If I should make them both satin and have the origional scales put on the Rat Daddy. Or should I have the Rat Daddys handles removed and have the blade satined and then coated...and have two coated with gen 1 handles.
If I go the coated route, should I have it sent out and satined before the coating application or will the custom shop do that there. Im not sure how things work with Swamp Rat knives. Do they have their own custom shop or Is the custom shop shared between all the Busse and Kin? I would like to think that it is a shared shop so I can Harass Garth some more. Its the little things in life that make me happy lol ( BTW Garth, happy anniversary and I wish you many more...)
Ill shut up now. Here is what you have all been waiting for. MY 30000000 pictures. At the end is a few family shots, the only Busse / Swamprats I own atm with my ZT0560 tossed in for good measure. In addition to these blades I have a Gladius that I am paying off, 2 Kill devils coming from Ganzaa, The Ratweiler on the way as well as a slightly used Skinny Ash with Armorall pants that I got in conjuncture with the Ratweiler in a nice deal. The Ash I will take in hand and get a feel for it. If I like it , she will remain in the line-up, If not expect her on the exchange soon to help pay off my other knives. Lastly I have a Knifemaker in France custom building a 10 inch monster chopper, a design I came up with and he helped shape along with a necker he made, little butter knife for my daughter and a 8" butcher knife with purplewood scales that might very well be the murder weapon if my wife ever finds out what Im doing with all these knives and the money Im spending lol.
You heard it here first. If I end up dead, particularly via stabbing, MY WIFE DID IT WITH THE PURPLEHEART WOOD BUTCHER KNIFE.
Some of the closeup shots of the Ricasso area have a greenish looking power. I had used a scotchbrite pat to clean up the blade a little before taking the pictures and didnt get the green shavings out of all the nooks and crannies.
The condition of the blade in the sellers own words:
Robert,
The knife is in fair shape. Here's what's wrong:
1.) the grind marks on the ricasso (when I stripped the coating I Was bummed to see how deep they were, it would have been near impossible to remove them all by hand... (see pic)
2. The Tip needs to be reworked, as it blunted with all the hand sanding. (see pic)
3. There's a few discoloration marks here and there, nothing like pitting, just needs some touch up.
4. The edge needs some work. If you're handy, no big deal.
Other thoughts: the handle scales are African Blackwood. They look pretty. They are thin, roughly the same as the factory grips. I pretty certain I have the original micarta grips laying around somewhere, in case you want to go back to stock, but the Blackwood handles are epoxied, not just rivited. The sheath is functional, but not stellar. It's one of my first, and the leather is mid grade from Tandy (I've since learned to use high grade form a real tannery). But it's definitely useable.
I'm not sure if you want a user? If so, this one is ready to roll. If you want a collector piece, I'd grind off the Blackwood scales, and send it in to Garth with a note to recoat it in Black, and attach the original scales. (Assuming they still do that kind of stuff, it's been so long since I've been in touch with the shop). Just thinking out loud.
Here are the threads on her from the last owner, XAMAN... a before thread and some makeover threads:
Before
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/533468-Swamp-Rat-Rat-Daddy
Creative process
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/534182-Hollow-Tube-Fasteners
Work pt 1
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/538487-Rat-Daddy-Makeover
Work pt 2
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Rat-Daddy-Makeover-part-2?highlight=rat+daddy
My thoughts so far. The sheath is in great shape and well done. IF he considers this functional and isnt impressed with it as it is one of his early works, then his up do date stuff must be spectacular.
As for the knife itself, it is as he described. There are snail trails / grind marks in the ricasso area and the edge itself needs to be sharpened. All that being said, this baby has user written all over it. One plus is he scrounged up the origional Gen 1 scales an tossed them in. The Ratweiler I have on the way to me soon is a slightly used unmodified Gen 1.
Now I am wondering If I should make them both satin and have the origional scales put on the Rat Daddy. Or should I have the Rat Daddys handles removed and have the blade satined and then coated...and have two coated with gen 1 handles.
If I go the coated route, should I have it sent out and satined before the coating application or will the custom shop do that there. Im not sure how things work with Swamp Rat knives. Do they have their own custom shop or Is the custom shop shared between all the Busse and Kin? I would like to think that it is a shared shop so I can Harass Garth some more. Its the little things in life that make me happy lol ( BTW Garth, happy anniversary and I wish you many more...)
Ill shut up now. Here is what you have all been waiting for. MY 30000000 pictures. At the end is a few family shots, the only Busse / Swamprats I own atm with my ZT0560 tossed in for good measure. In addition to these blades I have a Gladius that I am paying off, 2 Kill devils coming from Ganzaa, The Ratweiler on the way as well as a slightly used Skinny Ash with Armorall pants that I got in conjuncture with the Ratweiler in a nice deal. The Ash I will take in hand and get a feel for it. If I like it , she will remain in the line-up, If not expect her on the exchange soon to help pay off my other knives. Lastly I have a Knifemaker in France custom building a 10 inch monster chopper, a design I came up with and he helped shape along with a necker he made, little butter knife for my daughter and a 8" butcher knife with purplewood scales that might very well be the murder weapon if my wife ever finds out what Im doing with all these knives and the money Im spending lol.
You heard it here first. If I end up dead, particularly via stabbing, MY WIFE DID IT WITH THE PURPLEHEART WOOD BUTCHER KNIFE.
Some of the closeup shots of the Ricasso area have a greenish looking power. I had used a scotchbrite pat to clean up the blade a little before taking the pictures and didnt get the green shavings out of all the nooks and crannies.
