SARQ lovers and haters - advantage/disadvantage of swedge?

Dennis in MA

Dennis in MA

Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
6,860
I keep hearing people praise or complain about the SARQ swedge.

I guess I'm a lightweight b/c I've never used the spine that close to the tip for anything but some batoning mid-way thru a split.

What's the advantage (for a SAR person or anyone) and disadvantage of one? And please dont' tell me it changes the balance point THAT much. I just can't see that. It can't be that significant.

Thanks in advance. I'll be curious why people like em and don't. Personal opinions are DEFINITELY welcome. Even if it's just "I do/don't like the looks of it."
 
Advantage would appear to be in stabbing. Since I don't stab much wood, I'd prefer that the thicker spine continue to the tip for batoning.
 
Guyon said:
Advantage would appear to be in stabbing. Since I don't stab much wood, I'd prefer that the thicker spine continue to the tip for batoning.
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Ditto.

The thiner swedge could be good to pry with in a smaller crack I guess.
 
Advantage is definitely in the stabbing role.
I don't see one as a disadvantage, even in batoning -- unless you sharpen it.
 
It does help with piercing while cutting softer materials and doesn't hinder battoning in the slightest. Besides, it looks cool, at least a lot cooler than a clip point.:barf:
 
I view the Sarsquatch as a compromise knife. It is at the large end of the all-rounder class. It is absolutely the largest Busse I would actually wear on my person when hiking or hunting. If one wants a dedicated chopper, there are much better choices, therefore I don't see the need to design it specifically for the chopper/batoning purpose. To me the swedge makes it just a tad more handy for non-chopping/batoning purposes.

Plus it looks cool!
 
non-chopping battoning purposes such as. . .

I'm thinking average camp chores. Realistically, short of skinning a bear or stabbing a chipmunk (or vice versa), how much is the tip-of-the-blade really used?
 
I actually use my bigger blades as fire pokers and for turning meat on the grill. The tip of the Squatch is great for skewering meat and is wide enough for flipping fish. I also keep a block of wood next to me while camp cooking to be my knife holder. The thinner tip makes it all the easier to stick it and pull it out in between chores.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Advantage is definitely in the stabbing role.
I don't see one as a disadvantage, even in batoning -- unless you sharpen it.
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+1... I agree:thumbup:, its still plenty thick at the swedge for batoning. It reduces overall weight, improves penetration and balance probably had something to do with it being there as well. I don't mind it.
 
I recall that at least one of the SAR guys here does not like the swedge, I wonder what the rest of the SAR community thinks of it. Does anybody know what Jerry had in mind as the design purpose for the swedge?
 
I really like my skinny ash. Benefits of squatch over ash? My skinny ash seems like the perfect camp knife to me. Does anyone own both and prefer one to the other?
 
Myself and most of the SAR guys I know have sold or traded ours away. The knife is a good all around design but it seems to be trying to do to many things at once. Not heavy enough to be a truely effective chopper, not thick enough and from my experience the swedge does have an affect on batoning. I found my Satin Jack batoned better and the guys I know with HHFSHs found that it does a much better job.

The general impression I have gotten from my collugues is disappointment. The FBM and FSH and their respective versions are the perferred knife. There are also several SFNOs in use and they do well. There is hope that the NMSFNO will also do well for what we need. Very few of use can afford the secondary prices on FBM and FSH so several of us have NMSFNOs on order.
 
Dangit James, posts like yours make me regret selling off all my HHFSH's. Once I got the MOASH, I thought it was pretty much over as far as the FSH's go. But now, I sort of wish I'd hung onto at least one of the HHFSH's. :p I think the NMSFNO LE may be where it's at though. :thumbup:
 
Guyon said:
Dangit James, posts like yours make me regret selling off all my HHFSH's. Once I got the MOASH, I thought it was pretty much over as far as the FSH's go. But now, I sort of wish I'd hung onto at least one of the HHFSH's. :p I think the NMSFNO LE may be where it's at though. :thumbup:
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Sorry Guyon. I wish I had a HHFSH. I came into the Busse camp to late to get one at a price I'm willing to spend.
I'm hoping the NMSFNO does the trick. I'm also hoping it sticks around a bit longer so I can get one. I can't use credit cards and so I have to hold off on ordering until I have the cash in hand.
 
I'm not a big fan of the swedge either. Other than having an effect on batoning, it gives the whole tip a sort of up-turned look.
 
I like the SARsquatch. It is not the "perfect" Busse for me but I still like it :) Yes I agree with the others that the swedge should not be applied to the design of this one. Just doesn't fit the role of the blade IMHO. The SQ is a compromise design(not a bad thing really). It is easy too carry and yet still big enough to use for large cutting tasks. To achieve this, yes it has to give in some areas. As a general purpose blade I think it works great. I would still like to seee the other design offered though. It may be very close to the SQ but the design really appeals to me :) I keep telling myself that once I find "Excalibur" I will be done but the truth is I dought I will ever stop searching :D
 
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