Suggestions? Bark River/Ranger/Ontario?

M

makey98

Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Messages
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Looking for a tough (hard use) fixed blade to carry for camping/fishing/woods walking trips but also can cut well for fruit/veggies/skinning ect. I have been trying to get a swamprat for over a year, but I dont' like how their company operates. I want to buy a current production knife from a reputable company and don't like the games of checking a website every day......so I have moved on. Below are the things that I am looking for in my knife.

Tough carbon/tool steel-not worried about rust/corrosion. I will keep it dry and well maintained.
Around 4" blade with lanyard hole
Convex edge
$100-200

I like the Bark River knives, but they seem thin compared to Ranger/Swamprat/Ontario knives. Are they pretty tough/would I need to worry about damaging it? Don't know much about A-2 steel? Any info?
Ranger knives are cool, but he currently doesn't have any blades smaller than 5 inches....
I haven't looked at the ontario rat line very much, but they seem to fit the bill, I think they are flat ground? and I don't really love the "skull crusher" handle. Thanks.

Any suggestions would be welcome. I would like to go with the Bark River because it seems that they are very highly rec. but just not sure if they are "tough" enough for field use? No offense, just not sure...
 
If you want it for cutting veggies and fruits the knife should be pretty thin. BUt if you want to go beefy, forgoing the thinness then the Bark River Bravo 1 is hard to beat. I picked one up and have not stopped carrying it since. I consider it the perfect fixed blade knife. (The only problem is that I am just learning about sharpening a convex blade.)
TC
ps the bravo is somewhere around .20 inches thick!!!
 
Are you in a hurry?

If not, the Ranger RD4 will be in the regular line in a couple of weeks. I guess Justin could put a convex edge for you.

But I have to agree those are thick to cut food. I tried my RD6 on a pineapple and it wasn't easy.
 
I've read that Bark River is planning a paring knife later this year. Already in the initial production stages, I think. Sounds like just the thing.

-Bob
 
I have two Bark Rivers, a Highland and a Slither. I,ve used the Highland exclusively for several years and believe me it is plenty tough. I love the a-2 steel, and consider it to be the crem de la crem of any of the the blades I have. Crazy but it would appear as though you can strop it on your pant leg to sharpen it. I LOVE THIS KNIFE, and it's by far my favorite. I think I paid $ 80.00 for it.
 
I have a Bark River Woodland that I would count on anywhere... the Professional series is very ergonomic, meaning you get a lot of usable blade in a very compact package. A-2 is extremely tough, according to experts here, and has extremely good edge-holding qualties. It does not rust readily in my experience. That Woodland is kind of like a paring knife on steroids. The handle would be a tad small for skinning a large game animal but it would do if you had nothing else. It would be perfect for a high country backpacking hunt.
 
Well, I think you guys convinced me. I really like the highland and the Woodland. Just need to make a decision of 3" or 4"...not really sure yet. Also, any suggestions on handle materials. I would like it to not be slick smooth, but also look nice...

Seems like a good starting point to get into some higher quality knives. Right now I have a couple of cheap folders and a nice Spyderco Endura (?) folder that I have had for a couple years so this will be my first knife at the next price range and quality level. Thanks.
Matt
 
I also vote fot the BRKT knives. I have a few and the Woodland is by far my favorite and I expect that it will last me the rest of my life and the my son's and then his.........etc.

They are built like a damned tank.
 
makey98 said:
Looking for a tough (hard use) fixed blade to carry for camping/fishing/woods walking trips but also can cut well for fruit/veggies/skinning ect. I have been trying to get a swamprat for over a year, but I dont' like how their company operates. I want to buy a current production knife from a reputable company and don't like the games of checking a website every day......so I have moved on. Below are the things that I am looking for in my knife.

Tough carbon/tool steel-not worried about rust/corrosion. I will keep it dry and well maintained.
Around 4" blade with lanyard hole
Convex edge
$100-200

I like the Bark River knives, but they seem thin compared to Ranger/Swamprat/Ontario knives. Are they pretty tough/would I need to worry about damaging it? Don't know much about A-2 steel? Any info?
Ranger knives are cool, but he currently doesn't have any blades smaller than 5 inches....
I haven't looked at the ontario rat line very much, but they seem to fit the bill, I think they are flat ground? and I don't really love the "skull crusher" handle. Thanks.

Any suggestions would be welcome. I would like to go with the Bark River because it seems that they are very highly rec. but just not sure if they are "tough" enough for field use? No offense, just not sure...
Click to expand...

Or..... you could try a custom RD-4 at 3/16th's of inch it, in my opinion, makes a better fixed blade. An RD-4 with any handle material you want and a full convex grind should run you well under 150 dollars. Happy hunting!
 
Justin at Ranger will make you a custom RD4 or whatever you want for a great price. That would be my suggestion. Rat-5 is good also. But a Ranger would be better. Some good pics on this thread also.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480929

IMG_0697.jpg
 
That is a sweet looking knife ilbruche! Now I am undecided again.....too many choices! Maybe should just get both! Do you guys have any information about the steel that Justin uses? Not much on the website.
 
You can not go wrong with a Ranger knife or a Barkie. I own 2 Ranger Knives myself; a custom RD 4, and an RD 6.
 
Don;t be fooled by the Barkies. Their steel IS NOT thin. Take the mini-Skinner (of which I like so much I got two!). The overall knife is a little over 6" and the steel is .15. That ain;t thin for a knife that size. The Highland (which sounds ideal for your intended use) has a 3-5/8" (working length) blade, .17 inch. That aint thin. The Bravo-1 is a large, beefy knife, sporting .21 inch steel. That aint thin.

Now the Rangers, et al, usually have 1/4" steel, but with anything less than a 6" blade or longer, for me it's just too much. Those Bark River knives are tough cookies.... don;t let the size fool you. Once you get one, you'll see what we mean.

A-2 steel for the Highland and Bravo-1, and 12C27 stainless for the mini-Skinner. I like them both.
 
Any suggestions on handle material for either the RD-4 or the highland? Don't know much about handle materials.

Maybe I will get the 3" Woodland and the 4" RD-4 and see what length I like better. Never had a fixed blade, so this is a learning experience. But one can never have too many knives, right?
 
If you can get the black/green micarta with mosaic pins on the on the BRKT Highland it will be a stunning knife, that's what my Woodland has and it is awesome.
 
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