Swamp Rat, Fehrman, Busse

C

ChuckBuck

Joined
Oct 19, 2004
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Which is the best manufacturer in your opinion, Busse, Swamp Rat, Mad Dog, Strider, Fehrman, TOPS, the list goes on... What company (not just the ones listed here, but any you can think of) makes the best tactical fixed blade fightnig knives and why?
 
I love Tops knives but the steel (1095 carbon) is not in the same class as the other makers. You can start by taking them off the list unless price is one of your factors since they are less expensive.
 
TOPS isn't less expensive than Swamprat and TOPS also uses 3V, S30V, and 154CM for some of their knives.

For a 'fighting' knife, I'd choose a metal ruler with a sharpened end. That way, my money would be going to a lawyer. :p
 
thombrogan said:
TOPS isn't less expensive than Swamprat and TOPS also uses 3V, S30V, and 154CM for some of their knives.

For a 'fighting' knife, I'd choose a metal ruler with a sharpened end. That way, my money would be going to a lawyer. :p
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Like a KABAR? Taking nothing away from a KABAR, it's probly my favorite knife, but is essentially a metal ruler, sharpened, right?
 
I have used my Camp Tramp hard ! and its performed great, its also alot less money than the rest of the bunch. :D

Ron
 
I never knew Tops used anything but 1095 carbon. I have 7 of their knives and their all the same 1095 carbon steel, which I like but its no where near my Strider's steel. Thanks for the info thombrogan.
 
thombrogan said:
TOPS isn't less expensive than Swamprat and TOPS also uses 3V, S30V, and 154CM for some of their knives.

For a 'fighting' knife, I'd choose a metal ruler with a sharpened end. That way, my money would be going to a lawyer. :p
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3V? which model uses that?
 
I alternate between using Busses, Swamp Rats, and Chris reeves. They are all great knives, and reflect their makers ideas on knife making. Quality and integrity are common to all three.
 
Roodog said:
I love Tops knives but the steel (1095 carbon) is not in the same class as the other makers. You can start by taking them off the list unless price is one of your factors since they are less expensive.
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1095 is actually a great steel if heat treated properly. Tops seem to do good job with their Paul Bos heat treat so it's in a much higher class than the average 1095 on Ontarios and ka-bars.
 
Swamp Rat makes awesome blades, but I wouldnt call them fighters. They are work knives, good for chopping, cutting, etc. I think they would be too blade heavy for fighting. If you want pure fighter, get an Ontario/Bagwell Bowie of some sort.
 
I think Dr. Thor is on to something. I only have experience with Swamp Rat and Busse (of those manufacturers you listed), but I think most make combat/utility/survival knives rather than dedicated fighting knives. Fehrmans certainly don't look designed for fighting; I'm not intimately familiar with the Strider line, but most of their knives I've seen look more like utility knives. Mad Dog makes several knives designed with fighting in mind (I think, I've never owned a Mad Dog either).

Jeremy

EDIT: For clarification- I think of fighting knives as being made of thin stock, with a fairly long, thin blades and neutral balance. Thick stock, with forward weight for chopping, wide blades, and choils all indicate utility knives IMO.
 
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