Swamp Rat Battle Rat Question

snwbrdr202

snwbrdr202

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Mar 9, 2009
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Hey guys hows it going?! I got my first Swamp Rat user...an original, unused, mint Battle Rat!!! I will not be keeping this as a safe queen, but using the hell out of it. I just wanted to ask SR BR users a quick question: how did the SR101 hold up to batoning? I have been hearing alot of SR101 praise lately, especially in the edge-holding sense. However, is it OK to bang the hell out of it to split firewood? Thanks guys, I would be happy to post action pics :cool:

-Brendan
 
YES IT IS!

Beat the crap out of that stuff. I've batoned an SR101 mini uncle mojo through a 5 inch thick log with masonry nails embedded in it - took a little while to sharpen out the dings from the nails, but the blade handled it like a champ.

Idiot who owned this place before me put a lot of metal into my trees :(
 
CongRats!! That's a great snag. :cool:

The BR is one of the overall toughest blades there has ever been. And in my opinion, there's no better blade to baton with. A comfy handle, a nice long blade, and differentially-tempered SR-101. What more could you ask for? :D
 
You got one of the classics!! Glad to hear your going to use it like it was intended!

As said before, CongRats!!! :D

My CT gets the same attention. ;)
 
Do not baton it with a rock or another piece of metal, that could cause stress fractures in any hardened metal. Try to use another piece of wood, or something similarly hard yet malleable. You may get dings in the edge from stuff like nails, or possibly metal banding if you go edge to edge, but shouldn't be too serious, like has been mentioned above. Knots and other super hard woods shouldn't be a problem at all.
 
Nice!! Thanks guys! If I decide to keep it, I sure as hell will use it. I am giving serious consideration to putting it up in the FOR TRADE forum for a M9 LE. Do you think that would be a wise decision? Or, should I just be happy and keep the BR?
 
I used my Battle Rat to baton and quarter 20+ rounds of hardwood during one camping trip and it was still shaving sharp with zero edge damage. It is tough as nails. Baton the snot out of it. :p
 
Keep the BR! Res-c has no equal for larger USER knives. I have a BR from way back and it has done great with everything. For what its worth, I use a harbor freight dead blow hammer for batoning work when not backpacking....works great!
 
Sorry to resurrect the dead here, but what makes differentially-tempered SR-101 so good? Do you rats feel that this heat treat would be as good or better than INFI for tough use? I hate to ask a comparison question...it seems like theres alot of INFI vs. SR101 going around. I know very little about both steels so I thought I might inquire. Thanks guys :)

-Brendan
 
In my opinion.... Please don't anyone put me on the Busse hit list here....

I prefer SR101 to Infi. I find that it takes a finer edge and keeps it longer. I have done multiple comparisons with the three busse steels and it constantly comes out as the winner for me. My battle rat has seen some ruff times and it has never failed me. The Res C in my opinion is ugly as heck but is the best performer for a handle out there.

The only advantage to INFI that I have noticed is around salt water. It spots but doesn't pit. Where as my SY S7 knives attract rust like crazy. The SR101 kind of inbetween. In the field it's a constant fight to keep them oiled and clean. INFI also responds to stropping better than most steels I have used.

Some observations from a pure user standpoint.

My .02
 
snwbrdr202 said:
Sorry to resurrect the dead here, but what makes differentially-tempered SR-101 so good? Do you rats feel that this heat treat would be as good or better than INFI for tough use? I hate to ask a comparison question...it seems like theres alot of INFI vs. SR101 going around. I know very little about both steels so I thought I might inquire. Thanks guys :)

-Brendan
Click to expand...

Good question. I cannot tell the difference between the two steels with regard to edge retention or toughness. If there is a difference it is very small. As mentioned previously, the primary advantage of the INFI is the rust resistance.

One thing I've noticed is that a convex edge seems to be superior than the V-grind for batoning and chopping. I can baton all day with my chopweiler or NMSFNO and it will still shave hair off my arm. The Bussekin heat treatments are phenomenal.

Now go beat the hell out of that sucker! ;) :thumbup:
 
BTW there was one version of the BR that was through hardened. It has a tan Res-C handle.

My impression of the two steels is that they will both take a very sharp edge, SR101 will keep the very sharp edge longer but INFI keeps a 'sharp' edge longer. If you are looking for 'air bleeding' sharp then SR101 may be you better choice. If you are looking for useful/good sharpness for a very long time, INFI is supposed to be the closest thing to magic.
 
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