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Swamp Rat "Rat Tail"?
- Thread starter middy
- Start date
t1mpani
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
- Messages
- 5,517
Yep! 
Very solid, good steel and heat treat of course. Handle gives me about a 3.5 finger grip---more than most neck knives, although the tradeoff is this makes it noticeably bigger and heavier if you're going to wear it on your neck. Factory edge is very decent considering how narrow and thick the blade is--wouldn't be my choice as a skinner but makes a decent utility. The handle wrapping is simple but gives good purchase---as thin as it is I'd definitely recommend a reverse hammer grip with your thumb over the end if you were really wanting to drive it into something. It has a guard but a really hard blow could pop you fingers over it.
As neck knives go, it's one of my favorites--my others being the Becker Necker and Simonich Bitteroot---all of these being about as different from each other as they could possibly be.
I guess we'll say that the Rat is my favorite self-defense type necker.
Very solid, good steel and heat treat of course. Handle gives me about a 3.5 finger grip---more than most neck knives, although the tradeoff is this makes it noticeably bigger and heavier if you're going to wear it on your neck. Factory edge is very decent considering how narrow and thick the blade is--wouldn't be my choice as a skinner but makes a decent utility. The handle wrapping is simple but gives good purchase---as thin as it is I'd definitely recommend a reverse hammer grip with your thumb over the end if you were really wanting to drive it into something. It has a guard but a really hard blow could pop you fingers over it.
As neck knives go, it's one of my favorites--my others being the Becker Necker and Simonich Bitteroot---all of these being about as different from each other as they could possibly be.
I guess we'll say that the Rat is my favorite self-defense type necker.
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2005
- Messages
- 4,978
t1mpani said:Yep!
Very solid, good steel and heat treat of course. Handle gives me about a 3.5 finger grip---more than most neck knives, although the tradeoff is this makes it noticeably bigger and heavier if you're going to wear it on your neck. Factory edge is very decent considering how narrow and thick the blade is--wouldn't be my choice as a skinner but makes a decent utility. The handle wrapping is simple but gives good purchase---as thin as it is I'd definitely recommend a reverse hammer grip with your thumb over the end if you were really wanting to drive it into something. It has a guard but a really hard blow could pop you fingers over it.
As neck knives go, it's one of my favorites--my others being the Becker Necker and Simonich Bitteroot---all of these being about as different from each other as they could possibly be.
Yes. What he said.
Edited to add: The Rat Tail was one of the most overlooked knives in the Swamp Rat line. Less notoriety than knives like the Ratweiler and Howling Rat. When I got mine I really did not know what to expect, but I was extremely surprised by it. I find the handle very comfortable and the knife is definitely strong enough to be used hard.
As with any of Swamp Rats knives, you will not be disappointed with this one. Though, as a discontinued model, you'll have to keep your eyes open on the secondary market to find one.
Hope this helps!
-360
