SAR8 vs Rodent 9

RoyalM

RoyalM

Joined
Dec 10, 2007
Messages
2,150
I'm at the point of tipping as to buying a Rodent 9. I already have a SAR8 which is a cracking knife and my TM DSSF is there to for the lighter days. I just wonder 'Can I justify the Rodent 9 also?'. (I know I should just buy it and eat noodles for a couple of months but Xmas is coming and noodles don't do for Xmas dinner ;))

To that end does anyone have pics of these two side by side or even better if someone has used both and their thoughts on the two?

Thanks in advance.
 
I just bought a SAR 8 and it should be here today - although I'll miss the mailman so I might be able to pick it up at the PO tomorrow - Saturday at the latest.

And, I have a Rodent 9 already - if no one else posts I'll post a few pix this weekend.
 
I have my new (to me) SAR 8 and I will try to get to those pictures comparing it to the Rodent 9.

They are quite different.

The Rodent 9 is longer, thicker, heavier and has that hump in the handle. It is also 2/5's the price of my SAR 8.

Plus, it is black vs. satin and has a different grind.

I really like the SAR 8 and much as I hate to admit it I will probably upgrade my membership to Gold so I can list the Rodent 9 for sale - the hump in the handle is just plain umcomfortable to me. If not for that I would keep it.

For my hand the hump fits between my middle finger and ring finger and is too thick.

Anyway, I promise to get those pictures up in the next day or two.
 
I own a Rodent 9 and also have unpleasant issues with the handle hump. The handle on the SAR8 is much more comfortable to me. I have played with paracord wrap patterns on the 9, but cannot find the right fit for me. Just wind up with a much thicker handle. Love the darn thing aside from that handle hump. I should add that some may find it comfortable or user friendly for various grips. I cannot speak to that. I generally wear large gloves for a point of reference.
 
Thanks for the reply guys. I was wondering about the hump and how it would effect my grip. I was thinking I could just grind it off with a little patience and a few minute son my belt sander. DOn't know if this would make the handle too small though.

Looking forward to the pics DRodent
 
K I have the pictures (lousy but I can take more). I upgraded to Gold membership now I have to try and get the pix in this post.
sar8rodent9a.jpgsar8rodent9b.jpgsar8rodent9c.jpgsar8rodent9d.jpgsar8roent9e.jpg

I think it worked. Let me know if you want another type of picture that I didn't take.
 
Grips are funny in terms of personal preference. Some folks think mag grips are like having a golf ball in your hand, for some folks (me) it feels like that center hump/bump nestles right into that center concave of the palm... the part of my palm where the thumb extends down is kinda meaty. I was skeptical of the TazRat but it actually fits in the hand REALLY well. The original Ratweiler works best for my grip but the small Basic grips always felt like crap to me - I know I'm in the minority. The full size original Basics weren't bad but the Rat/Dog/New-Basic res-c grips are great.

I would suggest that to find out if the Rodent 9 grip works for you, you've almost got to feel it. (I hate the standard Glock double-stack 45 grip like the G30.)

Based on looking at the pictures, the R9 would certainly have a meatier chop to it but I'm not going to suggest that it would necessarily outperform the SAR8 if it has a keen convex.

What's all that mean? Heck, just rambling but still trying to make the point that what works for one person, doesn't work for the other. Use the comparison pics to get an idea of size but approach grip compatibility skeptically until you feel a particular blade yourself.

Solution? Buy both and resell the R9 if it doesn't work for you. :) I've done that with many, many blades. So much so that I used to have trade fodder but now mostly the "keepers" are left. It takes a lot for a new blade to push one of the keepers out of their spot.
 
MoreSR1 006.jpgSR1 007.jpgSR1 008.jpgSR1 009.jpgSR1 010.jpg

The SAR 8 has the satin finish and the spine edges are rounded and it has the thumb grooves cut into the top edge plus its INFI.
Also the SAR 8 blade seems to be thinner than the metal in the handle.
The Rodent 9 is SR101, coated blade edges are not rounded but it is longer and heavier.

I think the handle hump is uncomfortable - It would be great if instead it had a sub-hilt.

Personnally, I think when people use the choil to choke up they are just using the hilt as a sub-hilt because it feels so good.

For actual use they seem pretty much interchangeable to me. Maybe not 100% but very close.

Enjoy.
 
It looks to me that the big lump in the handle could be ground out and would give you a grip very much like the SAR 8.

That's if you intend to have them as users, anyway.
 
Thanks for the pics they really show the differences. I'm at that point when knives are being sold off to fund either more knives or other shiny things. It's kind of a one in one out policy for now.

I do enjoy using the SAR8 and when I need a bigger knife I go to the CGFBM. It looks like the Rodent 9 is the knife that fits between these two (maybe similar to a Dogfather?). If I get one it'll be beaten for all it's worth before I end up keeping or moving it on.

Looking at the Rodent 9 handle next to the SAR8 it looks like if you took the 'hump' out it would be very similar in feel to the SAR8, a good thing in my opinion. Wil be interesting to see if anyone does this mod before I have the chance to buy one.
 
I thought the same thing about removing the Rodent 9 hump - and since i have a few Basic 10 LE's on order I figured I'd sell my Rodent 9.

So while I was uploading the pix a few hours ago my brother in law came over and asked what i was doing.

I showed him the knives and he asked if I was going to sell the Rodent 9 - He LIKES the hump - go figure.

Anyway I let him have it with a 10 inch sheath I bought off the Scrap Yard Knife Company website - btw that sheath fits the Rodent 9 great the hook and loop is off but it works.

He came by to give my wife (his sister) a brand new white Apple I phone 4s so I figured what the heck if he likes the knife its his.

I also agree with Paddling Man buy em while you can you can usually recoup your costs if you don't like it.
 
DRodent said:
I showed him the knives and he asked if I was going to sell the Rodent 9 - He LIKES the hump - go figure.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm talking about... ;) Folks taste in cars, guns, knives and women - they just can't be counted on to be consistent and there is seldom a "wrong" answer.
 
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