Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat

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alittle_edgy

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Sep 2, 2006
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Ok, this may go in a different section but I'm going to ask anyway. I'm looking very hard at Scrap Yard Knives and Swamp Rat Knives. I don't think I want to spend quite that much money on a Busse yet. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. Swamp Rat is a subsidiary of Busse Combat, and Scrap Yard Knives is an entirely different company even though someone in the Busse family owns it, is that right? Well regardless of that, I went to the Scrap Yard Knives website and wanted to by a Dumpster Mutt right this very minute, but it looks like only one model is available on the site. Do they just produce one model at a time?
Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat, at least some models in pictures, look so similar that I can't tell the difference. In turn, a lot of the Swamp Rats in photos look just like the Busse line. Anyone familiar with this set up feel like clearing it up for me?
 
They all make knives that are tough as hell and covered by a warranty that's just about as good as a warranty can possibly be.

The problem is the availability. They sell at most a couple of models a time, and run out of stock faster than you can put on your boots. You can hunt after them from the secondary market, where people are often trying to sell new and never used knives in hopes of making a nice profit or just breaking even. ;) Sometimes you'll find great deals, but most often you'll have to pay extra. Many people consider it absolutely worth it, though - for heavy use knives that you want to beat on like there's no tomorrow, there arguably isn't anything better on the market.

Now, if you don't want to wait possibly years for the model you want to get back into production, if it ever even happens, and don't want to deal with finding the model you want from the secondary market, there are other manufacturers who offer good knives of the same type, which is knives meant to take a lot of punishment without ever failing.
 
Basically, they are three family businesses. All three use excellent steels.

The most bang for your buck is without a doubt Scrapyard, which uses SR77, a derivative of S7 steel with slightly more carbon and chrome, I think, for better edge holding and wear resistance which S7 is not known for.

how a knife thru-hardenned to around 58 can do this is beyond me:

DogFatherTothefloor2.jpg

DogFatherTothefloor.jpg


you normally only see this kind of performance on differentially tempered knives.
 
Haha, I love that pic, Cobalt. It looks to me like someone was trying to break a knife, and instead ended up breaking their vise! :D
 
I believe Swamp Rat Knives has quite a few knives available on their site right now. Take a look.

Also, this seems to be one of those periodic occasions when Busse knives are re-selling for a reasonable price. You might want to look into that.
 
For a big chopper I love the Scrappers my HookGuard is my favourite big knife I own.
For a fixed EDC I would suggest a used Busse Game warden. If you are not picky about colour you can find them here on the exchange for around retail. I think for a knife you use daily it is worthwhile having the best you can get and a small knife like the GW with a pocket sheath with clip wears just like a folder. I love the res C handles on the Scrappers but they are best on a big knife where they absorb some shock. Another good infi EDC is the Skelly assault shakers and Scotch dispensers. The skeleton handles make them nice and slim and infi really does live up to the hype.

Other companies worth considering are Fallkniven and Bark River.
 
There are several game warden models available for sale at the busse company store. That's the best price you'll get on one. I've got one. Rock solid and stupid sharp.
 
Sit back, have a look around the Swamp, and find out what you really really want to get. At first, I really wanted a Camp Tramp. Bought a Bog Dog right away. Then I got a Battle Rat. Then I got a Camp Tramp. Then I got a Howling Rat. That was over a very long period of time, years. Now I am getting my first Busse in a trade, a Meaner. I've always wanted a Leaner Meaner Street after seeing one advertised in Blade, looked like a great EDC, which the Bog Dog and HR rotate as. These knives are great users. You will very easily get caught up in getting all of them. I have not tried the Scrap Yards, but if they're anything like Swamp Rats, then have no worries. Like I said, I just dove into Busses, and still want a Rat M6.
 
Also when visiting Busse company store site, don't forget to flip thru pages - knifes (if there are any) are listed on the last page!
 
Good advice all. Of all the Busse knives I've seen I think the Game Warden would be the most useful to me. I'm almost convinced I need a Dumpster Mutt...and that was before I saw the price. I couldn't believe it.
 
I also looked very hard at the Swamp Rats and Busses before purchasing my first- a Swamp Rat HRLM; I have no doubt a Busse will be next, probably an Active Duty. Swamp Rat delivers a lot of bang for the buck, but I do want to grab a piece of INFI and try it for myself. So far, the HRLM is everything I expected, very rugged and relatively compact. I did thin the edge out a bit, on a knife this size it seemed to make sense. Am looking forward to giving it a workout over the next few weeks.
 
ironballs just posted some rats and dogs for sale @ exchange, really good deals!!!
 
hlee said:
There are several game warden models available for sale at the busse company store. That's the best price you'll get on one. I've got one. Rock solid and stupid sharp.
Click to expand...

Actually... I was selling one for a bit cheaper and was told that the person would wait a month or two and get one at the company store. For a little bit more than what I was selling my mint one for.

I also recently had a guy asking about buying a SS4 but he still saw them at the store for 69.99 and he wanted to know why I was asking so much for it. Which I completely understand as it is confusing. Here's what I sent him as an explanation:

With Busse, Scrap Yard, and Swamp Rat they will announce/show a lineup of knives for a particular period, like the page you directed me to, but only produce one or two models from that lineup at any given time. Which makes them highly collectible. The SS4 was sold a while ago so it's going to be a long time before they make more. (Right now they seem to be selling the Yard Guards and Yard Hooks so you'll be able to get them at factory prices. The Dumpster Mutts there are listed for $70, look up what they are going for now. It's part of the sickness. )

I'm new to the Busse world too so hopefully I didn't steer that person wrong.

oil
 
OilMan said:
Actually... I was selling one for a bit cheaper and was told that the person would wait a month or two and get one at the company store. For a little bit more than what I was selling my mint one for.

I also recently had a guy asking about buying a SS4 but he still saw them at the store for 69.99 and he wanted to know why I was asking so much for it. Which I completely understand as it is confusing. Here's what I sent him as an explanation:

With Busse, Scrap Yard, and Swamp Rat they will announce/show a lineup of knives for a particular period, like the page you directed me to, but only produce one or two models from that lineup at any given time. Which makes them highly collectible. The SS4 was sold a while ago so it's going to be a long time before they make more. (Right now they seem to be selling the Yard Guards and Yard Hooks so you'll be able to get them at factory prices. The Dumpster Mutts there are listed for $70, look up what they are going for now. It's part of the sickness. )

I'm new to the Busse world too so hopefully I didn't steer that person wrong.

oil
Click to expand...


You did NOT steer him wrong. I think you've picked up most of the nuances of the addiction pretty darn well.

That fellow should have bought your generously low-priced GW. No telling if that particular model will ever be up again. Skunk seems to be plotting some DC and Satin GWs -- and those will be significantly more expensive! You might want to warn the fellow who thinks he's waiting on another relatively inexpensive GW...

Hope this helps.
 
I still find it odd myself, I can sell a user knife for more than what I originally paid for it new? But, after you get one or two, you can figure out why fairly easily.:)
 
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