RatWeiler V's Ranger RD7 ?

[pitdog]

Seeing as my Mora thread has already been done here is another comparison I have been thinking about, which of these two beasts would you choose and why ?

 

[Noshtero]

RD7
I would think the performance is going to be very close, and the RD7 is cheaper.

Plus, I like Justin.

 

[Horn Dog]

I compared the Ratweiler with the RD7 on another forum. The Ratweiler will out chop the RD, but the RD7 is no slouch. I found the Ratweiler handle better suited to chopping.

 

[mneedham]

Pitdog,

I love Busse products, but the Lone Ranger goes into the woods with me these days:

 

[Elen]

Seeing as my Mora thread has already been done here is another comparison I have been thinking about, which of these two beasts would you choose and why ?

I would go with the RD7. Although, after comparing it rather extensively to an RD9, I'd get the RD9 instead of the RD7 if I had to have just one. Why? The RDs aren't really "small" knives for delicate work, they're more geared towards rough use, batoning, chopping, that sort of thing, all of which are easier to do with a heavier, longer blade like the RD9.

As for the RatWeiler comparison, the reason why I wouldn't choose the RatWeiler is that it's much harder to get, much harder to get customized, and much more expensive than Justin's RDs. Sure, they're in the Busse family, but if I wanted a Busse, I'd get a Busse - which is to say, one of the Busses instead of the SwampRats or the ScrapYards. If you're going to pay a lot of money for a Busse family knife, then get one that comes in INFI, because that stuff is amazing steel indeed. With the RD, I could get it customized just the way I like it by Justin for less money, and the RDs are some tough knives even if they're not Busses.

Now, if the question was whether I would get the FFBM or the RD9, the answer would be both.

 

[sketchbag]

I just got my RD7 today. I'm planing on doing a little comparison between the RD7, RAT-7 and Busse Basic7.

I've never handled a Ratweiler, but the RD7 is hard to beat, it's a lot of knife for $100. The Ratweiler is twice as much, but is it it anywhere near twice as good?

52100 has a tiny bit more chrome than 5160, but both will rust very easily if not looked after.
Both are notoriously tough steels, you can see the results of the swamp rat concrete block chop on their web page/forum, and someone posted pictures of the RD7 vs a concrete block on the ranger knives forum, both knives held up very nicely (if you dig up the RD7 concrete chop pics, post them! I'd like to see them again).
I doubt either would have a clear advantage in lateral strength.
Wear resistance/edge retention would probably go to the 52100, but by what margin i do not know.

 

[Bwilson]

I have never used or handled a RD7 but I cannot imagine that it could be better than my original ratweiler.

 

[Joe C]

Sketchbag:
Can you do that comparison as quickly as possible? Hint, hint; nudge, nudge;
wink, wink?

 

[Horn Dog]

I have never used or handled a RD7 but I cannot imagine that it could be better than my original ratweiler.

The RD7 is a fine knife, but it will not outchop the heavier new Ratweiler Chopper. The RD9 barely will.

It will out chop the Entrek Destroyer, the RAT-7, and the Becker BK-7.

I really like the Ranger Knives. I have an older hollow saber ground RD7 that chops really well.

I have six RDs and like them all.

 

[Rescue Mike]

I like my Ratweiler. However, I do not owe a RD-7. I have heard great things about them, and wouldn't hesitate to include one in my go-bag. I'm interested to see the results of the comparison..

And when is Noss gonna do a destructive test on the RD7??

I saw the field test where it was paired up against a Battle Mistress (mis-match!) and a Granfors Buk Hunters Axe, but no destructo!!

Come on NossHog! Lets see that test!

 

[Horn Dog]

I like my Ratweiler. However, I do not owe a RD-7. I have heard great things about them, and wouldn't hesitate to include one in my go-bag. I'm interested to see the results of the comparison..

And when is Noss gonna do a destructive test on the RD7??

I saw the field test where it was paired up against a Battle Mistress (mis-match!) and a Granfors Buk Hunters Axe, but no destructo!!

Come on NossHog! Lets see that test!

I compared the RD7 to the Ratweiler last year over on Rat Chat forum. The Ratweiler is an amazing chopper for it's size. It's just a bit better than the RD7 as a chopper. For all-around use, some might prefer the RD. Considering the price difference, the RD is a better value, IMO.

 

[on_the_edge]

Ratweiler, because I like Kool-Aid! :foot:

 

[noss4]

And when is Noss gonna do a destructive test on the RD7??

I saw the field test where it was paired up against a Battle Mistress (mis-match!) and a Granfors Buk Hunters Axe, but no destructo!!

Come on NossHog! Lets see that test!

The Ranger RD7 D-test is coming soon. I wanted to take it outside first.

 

[sodak]

I have both. The Ratweiler wins hands down. The fit and finish is much, much better, and the steel holds a much better edge also. The RD 7 became my (beater) truck knife, the Ratweiler for camping and backpacking.

 

[hara-kiri-yogi]

I also have both, and several RD7s. Gimmie my RD7 any day. You can get them in S7, M4, 3/8" thick, bowie-style, double-edged like a dagger, tanto, high-hollow ground with a convex tip, bead-blasted -- pretty much anything you can imagine. That makes it an easy decision for me...

 

[texastonydobbs]

I own the newer version, the Chopweiler and that is a beast of a chopper....not knocking the RD it is a good blade/company but that blade left my collection of blades long ago...