Safetyman's Ratweiler Passaround Part 2

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rpn

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Mar 17, 2008
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She landed today! 'Scuse the blur in the photos- figured out a little late my 4 year old has been playing with the camera.

I've always loved the look of this blade and want to see what it's like next to my favorite blade...the Camp Tramp. I was totally surprised how much bigger the RW is! Gotta look up the specs later...
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In hand...
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Of course, I had to run to the woods for a little chop chop- here they are after 15
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Next to each other...the RW has it clearly
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Just for fun...a couplefuzz sticks and stakes...the CT is sharp! I'll touch the RW up a little...:thumbup:
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For awhile I had thought about including my Battle Rat in with some testing- after seeing the size difference with the CT, I am sure I will now. First impressions are nice. Great looking blade, I like the ergos a lot, I wondered about the forefinger getting a little burn chopping- but no problem! I like the handle size too. I had a Skinny Ash for minute and like this handle size more- it's more slender than the Skinny Ash.

Most of what I have is Res C, so the RW is a little more jarring on impact, but not bad! Liked the grip options, nice to grip it farther back and blast it!

Thanks for the chance Safetyman! Gonna be a nice week playing with this sweet hunk of 101! :D:thumbup:

More to come!
 
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Forgot to say, I chopped the rest of that branch...the RW was crushing.

Also on the little stick I feathered...I chopped off the ends to start fresh..the RW smashed and broke the log I braced it on...cracked me up!
 
rpn said:
Trust me when I say...Not a problem! :thumbup::D

Hah!
Click to expand...

I'm glad you're already posting a review...it seems that the others who have already had a chance to test the blade are taking their time posting those reviews! :D;):D

Did you sharpen it before hacking away at those trees again? Perhaps you evened out the edge??? That would be awesome!
 
Nope...I was out the door literally 5 minutes after opening the box. My Tramp is sharper at this point, but the RW isn't bad.

Saw you sell the RW's big brother the other day- you have no idea how close I was to selling my waki for that beautiful blade!
 
rpn said:
Nope...I was out the door literally 5 minutes after opening the box. My Tramp is sharper at this point, but the RW isn't bad.

Saw you sell the RW's big brother the other day- you have no idea how close I was to selling my waki for that beautiful blade!
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If you were that close you shouldv'e let me know...I would've held it for you ;). The Rat Daddy was a good blade but I've got other Busses that I reach for before it.
 
So when are y'all going to start using the RW? That thing looks new! :D:thumbup:
 
Got out for a little this morning with more company. I got the Condor a week or so ago and brought it along with the Rats. :thumbup:

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I checked the specs that are posted which has the RW a smidge bigger than the CT- I don't see that...seems to me the RW has an inch or more more blade than my CT. I'll measure later- easier tofind time for that than going out!

Here they are after 15 again. I was all over the place with the RW for some reason- so it's really not accurate. I did a bunch of chopping and the RW was just a step behind the Battle Rat! Impressive! The Condor was surprising. It's quite light and thinner stock. At first it bites shallow and you think it will get smoked by the others, but it did very well! I did have it out last week with some other Res C knives and could feel the handle transmit more shock. With the RW today- I didn't notice it. Res C is still king for comfort though! ;)

Don't know if it was my imagination, thought the RW might have binded up a little more when chopping compared to the CT and BR. :confused:

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Did a little batoning just to see. The CT and BR are always great and the RW did just fine. A brute of course. This is where the Condor lagged. It made it through, but needed a beating to do it.

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They processed wood nicely, no? The RW is impressive. Seems to compare power-wise better with my BR than my Tramp and I see it size-wise between the BR and CT. It balances right on the edge of the handle while the BR is in front of the choil, the CT in the center of it's choil and the Condor is blade heavy too. Personally, I like the forward weight better of the BR. BUT, easy to see why SAR types (and others) like to tote the RW around. It's a brute, right up there with the BR for performance and much easier to carry. The BR is super cool- but size keeps it home a lot. That's a long blade for carry (for me) and when it does go out, is usually in my pack.

Gotta like the Condor for price too! $40+ with a nice sheath? Puh-lease!

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More to come! :thumbup::D
 
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I had posted some of this over on the Scrap Yard and thought about something with the size difference between the CT and RW. I was liking the CT for a little more subtle work. So I went out with both again just to do 4 small stakes each and see how it goes.

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Gathering the branches- the RW is just effortless. With the shaving the stakes- it was the CT all the way. I did work on the RW edge a bit and the CT is still sharper, but choking up on the choil, the smaller blade of the CT is just easy schmeezy.

Another thing...after yesturday my hand was sore..especially just below the web between the thumb and index finger.I've chopped a lot with the CT and BR- so I'm blaming the RW and Condor. But, in the name of science (:)) I blasted away at a log again for a bit.

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Nothing new here- res c is far more comfortable. I have a good bruise going on my hand- didn't come out with my photo- but that's new for me. It's 80+ here and humid- I just don't like wearing gloves this time of year!

Next- my specs...
 
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From the old website/archive at http://216.69.138.190/

I got:

RW: blade length 7.5" and overall 13"
CT: 7.5" 12.5"

I measured from the choil end and got:
RW 6.5"+
CT 5.75"

(from handles I got RW 7.5"+ and CT 7.25" for total blade length)

And when i lined up the choil and measured the difference, it was kissing an inch difference. Looking at the handle size difference plus the longer blade- no wonder the RW is a bigger knife to me.

I had always figured they were the same size and have been surprised to see a more substantial knife with the RW. Cool to know though! Plus, I'm feeling the difference with some finer work.

The the thing is a work horse though. It amazes me that is hangs with my Battle Rat...and with the size difference between these two- more amazing still.

I'm not sure how much more I'm going to do with the Ratweiler. We have a C Section scheduled for Wednesday- so the clock is against me! Safetyman, thanks sooooo much for the opportunity with this bad boy. It's always been a knife I've toyed with the idea of buying and had questions about. Always thought the trigger area could be a hot spot for the finger and it's not at all. Serious knife for a life time of abuse for sure!!! :)
 
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With the rerelease of the RW- thought I would be an attention whore :p and bump my own thread.

Was real news to me when I did this passaround that the RW was a bit bigger than the Camp Tramp and chopped more like the Battle Rat. Thought some of the newer members here might benefit from having a little bit of info...
 
I hate myself for not knowing about these knives back then and missing my chance at trying out an original Ratweiler.

That thing would look so sexy next to my chopweiler.
 
Based on what you've posted in the past, you would prefer the Choppy anyway, so don't loose too much sleep over it. I miss my old RW, but don't really regret selling it.
 
They are still out there if you ever decide to try one. I think the easier lines of the Chopweiler are not as polarizing as the RW.
 
rpn said:
From the old website/archive at http://216.69.138.190/

I got:

RW: blade length 7.5" and overall 13"
CT: 7.5" 12.5"

I measured from the choil end and got:
RW 6.5"+
CT 5.75"

(from handles I got RW 7.5"+ and CT 7.25" for total blade length)

And when i lined up the choil and measured the difference, it was kissing an inch difference. Looking at the handle size difference plus the longer blade- no wonder the RW is a bigger knife to me.

I had always figured they were the same size and have been surprised to see a more substantial knife with the RW. Cool to know though! Plus, I'm feeling the difference with some finer work.

The the thing is a work horse though. It amazes me that is hangs with my Battle Rat...and with the size difference between these two- more amazing still.

I'm not sure how much more I'm going to do with the Ratweiler. We have a C Section scheduled for Wednesday- so the clock is against me! Safetyman, thanks sooooo much for the opportunity with this bad boy. It's always been a knife I've toyed with the idea of buying and had questions about. Always thought the trigger area could be a hot spot for the finger and it's not at all. Serious knife for a life time of abuse for sure!!! :)
Click to expand...

The link is dead. Anyone have one that works? Thanks.
 
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