SpecPlus or Kabar.. Which large blade?

S

StrangestMan

Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
28
Hey guys

Your knowledge saw me right with my Gerber LMF now I need your help again..

I want to add a large blade to my collection and I'm stuck:confused:

I've narrowed it down to the SpecPlus Marine Raider Bowie and the Kabar Cutlass Machete

Which do you reckon would be better for brush clearing/wood splitting etc?

Any thoughts or info appreciated

Regards

SM

P.Ss I think I'm addicted to collecting knives now and I blame you lot!:p :D
 
Ontario has sort of a black eye around here lately, (not entirely undeserved).
I have a Marine Raider Bowie and love it. I did spend some time working on the edge, but it takes a crisp edge, and holds it well. I do DISLIKE the gravy boat sized guard, and have plans for modding mine, but the knife overall is just fine.
 
you wont wrong either way but i perfer the spec plus and thats what i have. its a great chopper, takes and holds a great edge.,,,VWB.
 
I love my Marine Raider which has been modified somewhat by hand filing. Holds an edge really well and is a great chopper



 
Last edited:
Look at a the Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie
I got one when they first came out, and now I have 4!!
Its a Great Bowie/Big Chopper for the $$
 
Thanks for that fdd19

I'm actually on of his 'Friends' on youtube.. Gota love nutnfancy!!

In the end I went for an SP5.. Cheaper than the bowie but just as long a blade, without the guard to get in the way
 
I didn't like the Marine Raider that I had.I broke the tip fairly easily and don't like the saber grind.I'm not sure I trust Ontarios heattreating either.
 
StrangestMan said:
Thanks for that fdd19

I'm actually on of his 'Friends' on youtube.. Gota love nutnfancy!!

In the end I went for an SP5.. Cheaper than the bowie but just as long a blade, without the guard to get in the way
Click to expand...

Np, I love his vids I just happened to stumble across one just the other day! Love his vids, Definately subscribe!
 
StrangestMan said:
Thanks for that.. By black eye, I take that as meaning a less than perfect reputation?
Click to expand...

Mostly to do with their heat treat, they have a reputation for inconsistency. When you get a good one they're great, but reading around there's like a 1 in 3 chance of it not being so great :barf:
 
StrangestMan said:
Thanks for that.. By black eye, I take that as meaning a less than perfect reputation?
Click to expand...
They are in a big lawsuit suing Rat knives. A real David (RAT) and Goliath (Ontario) battle.
From what i can ascertain Rat created the Rat design line of knives and had a deal with Ontario for some manufacture and distribution, but now Ontario is claiming they own/created the designs and are suing Rat knives.
A lot of people were/are boycotting Ontario.
Theres a looooong thread on this here somewhere.
I haven't checked it lately, maybe its been resolved.
 
fdd19 said:
Np, I love his vids I just happened to stumble across one just the other day! Love his vids, Definately subscribe!
Click to expand...
I generally like his videos,
but i just recently watched his CS laredo video.
He raves about it but unfortunately he thinks its full tang (its not).
Actually someone here (chromechicken) posted a pic of the tang
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...cken/knife.jpg
That tang does not inspire confidence!
Sad thing is because of the Nutn's recommendation many people will go out and buy one.
I think he'd be less impressed with the Laredo if he saw the pic above.
I think if someone commented under the laredo video he might address it in a part 2.
I'd do it but my youtube account is totally SNAFU'ed lately.

Edit-Oh well chromechickens pic (linked above) has been deleted by him or photobucket.
Basically the pic showed how the last three inches of the tang (under the handle) was simply a thin cable tang, one end welded to the knife tang and the other end welded to the attachment where the screw threads in.
 
Last edited:
sounds to me like the rat folks came up with a great knife,( I own a RAT 3)
hooked up with Ontario, Then decided they could do It better themselves, and keep
all the money. and now the lawyers will make the money
 
tholiver--tang picture site would not open.
Do you or anyone else have an alernative?
I have always wondered what was under the handles of CS knives.
thanks
--ho
 
HORACE said:
tholiver--tang picture site would not open.
Do you or anyone else have an alernative?
I have always wondered what was under the handles of CS knives.
thanks
--ho
Click to expand...
I think i might have saved it to my hard-drive, i'll look.
(Remember i didn't take the pic, someone posted it in a thread about rehandling the laredo).

Here you go!

CSLaredonakedknife.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top