- Joined
- Sep 10, 2011
- Messages
- 350
Swamp Rat Ratmandu Review and Comparison
Specs:
Overall Length: 10 1/4"
Blade Length: 5 1/4"
Cutting Edge: 4 ⅝
Thickness: 3/16"
Blade Width: Approx 1.35"
Steel: SR-101 / 58-60 Rc
Handle Construction: Full tang, micarta
Handle Color/Blade Color: Black Canvas/Black
Sheath: NO SHEATH, I recommend the Spec Ops Combat Master Short. Other custom offerings are available
Size:
The size of the knife is perfect for what it is intended for. From what I have read this is intended as a camp/combat knife. The edge thickness behind the secondary bevel is thinner making it very efficient in smaller woodworking tasks, this combined with the 3/16 thick stock gives it an useful yet strong package. The saber ground 3/16 stock is perfect for batoning kindling. If the RMD can span it it can baton it! In my testing I wailed on the last inch of the tip and saw no bending or breakage. The stock thickness and grind make it not ideal for food preparation tasks but I can see that it would definitely be adequate. The blade length is everything you need and anything you dont and the handle is the same. The RMD would serve anyone who wants a hard use camping, hiking, backpacking, EDC, hunting, or combat knife.
Ergonomics:
When I took the knife out of the box for the first time I was immediately surprised at the ergonomics. I wear a size large glove and the handles are filling and very well contoured. They are not as slim as my Fallkniven S1 but not quite as filling as my Scrap Yard 711. The slimmer handle benefits the RMD, it makes the handle comfortable yet flat enough where it doesnt tend to twist in your hand when gripped really hard. The progression from the flat of the tang to the flat cheeks of the micarta are done perfectly. I felt no hot spots when using the knife for an extended period of time even with bare hands. Micarta can be slick when it is finished to a high grip, the angled rope texturing prevents slippage even with bare hands. The semi-circular micarta cut-outs above the choil makes use of the choil very comfortable. The choil is very generous allowing even gloved hands to fit comfortably when in use.
Build Materials:
The knife has a full tang construction with three flared tubes holding together the micarta scales. The Micarta is radiused with a robe like pattern cut into the canvas micarta (a paper micarta model is available). The blade steel is what Busse calls SR-101, it is 52100 carbon steel (will rush quickly) with Busses proprietary heat treat coated in a crinkle coating. The coating wears off with use as you can see from the pictures. This is expected with any blade coatings. This steel takes a keeps a very fine edge. My RMD has no problem doing push cuts through thin magazine paper much less shaving arm hairs after a good amount of use. The edge holding of SR-101 is definitely something to write home about. On a recent camping trip I took my 711. Throughout the first evening I used my 711 to cut down two dead trees with a diameter of about 4 or 5 inches (They were only about 10 feet tall as they were broken in a recent storm). Once they were down I used my 711 to cut up the trees into manageable pieces (about 2-3ft sections.). I didnt really pay attention to the edge until I got home. The edge on my 711 was still very sharp with no chips to speak of. I expect nothing less from the RMD as they are made from sister companies with the same heat treatment.
Competitive Options:
For those considering the Ratmandu the Scrapyard 711 should be looked at as well. The 711 can be bought for about the same price as the RMD. For batoning the 711 pulls in front of the RMD because of its thickness (1/4) and length but the Res-C is not as durable as the Micarta if it needs to be hit by a baton. I would be more hesitant to pound on the Res-C of the 711 (not to say it couldnt be done). In my testing of the 711 several times I got it stuck, I resorted to using a wooden wedge to get it free because I didnt want to tear up the Res-C. If my RMD got stock in a knot I wouldnt have anything against giving the handle a couple good whacks to get it free.I like the smaller size of the RMD, The 711 tends to be a bit unwieldy if it is used around non-knife people not as much with RMD. I would feel more comfortable carrying the RMD over the 711 in situations like this. Between the two it comes down to intended use, preference with aesthetics and price. Specifications-wise you get more knife for your money with the 711 but it doesnt have the customization options or quite as much cool factor of the RMD.
To wrap things up I am very happy with this buy. I put my order in for a RMD a couple months after getting my Fallkniven S1. The S1 performed very well but still left some aesthetics to be desired. I put my order in and almost exactly a month later there was a package at my door. I was very impressed with the performance, build quality and ergonomics. The Ratmandu was definitely worth the wait and money. I recommend it to anyone who wants a hard use high value camp knife. I foresee my RMD getting a lot of love and use in the coming years.
[For some reason I can't get the first two pictures flipped the right way, my apologies]
Specs:
Overall Length: 10 1/4"
Blade Length: 5 1/4"
Cutting Edge: 4 ⅝
Thickness: 3/16"
Blade Width: Approx 1.35"
Steel: SR-101 / 58-60 Rc
Handle Construction: Full tang, micarta
Handle Color/Blade Color: Black Canvas/Black
Sheath: NO SHEATH, I recommend the Spec Ops Combat Master Short. Other custom offerings are available
Size:
The size of the knife is perfect for what it is intended for. From what I have read this is intended as a camp/combat knife. The edge thickness behind the secondary bevel is thinner making it very efficient in smaller woodworking tasks, this combined with the 3/16 thick stock gives it an useful yet strong package. The saber ground 3/16 stock is perfect for batoning kindling. If the RMD can span it it can baton it! In my testing I wailed on the last inch of the tip and saw no bending or breakage. The stock thickness and grind make it not ideal for food preparation tasks but I can see that it would definitely be adequate. The blade length is everything you need and anything you dont and the handle is the same. The RMD would serve anyone who wants a hard use camping, hiking, backpacking, EDC, hunting, or combat knife.
Ergonomics:
When I took the knife out of the box for the first time I was immediately surprised at the ergonomics. I wear a size large glove and the handles are filling and very well contoured. They are not as slim as my Fallkniven S1 but not quite as filling as my Scrap Yard 711. The slimmer handle benefits the RMD, it makes the handle comfortable yet flat enough where it doesnt tend to twist in your hand when gripped really hard. The progression from the flat of the tang to the flat cheeks of the micarta are done perfectly. I felt no hot spots when using the knife for an extended period of time even with bare hands. Micarta can be slick when it is finished to a high grip, the angled rope texturing prevents slippage even with bare hands. The semi-circular micarta cut-outs above the choil makes use of the choil very comfortable. The choil is very generous allowing even gloved hands to fit comfortably when in use.
Build Materials:
The knife has a full tang construction with three flared tubes holding together the micarta scales. The Micarta is radiused with a robe like pattern cut into the canvas micarta (a paper micarta model is available). The blade steel is what Busse calls SR-101, it is 52100 carbon steel (will rush quickly) with Busses proprietary heat treat coated in a crinkle coating. The coating wears off with use as you can see from the pictures. This is expected with any blade coatings. This steel takes a keeps a very fine edge. My RMD has no problem doing push cuts through thin magazine paper much less shaving arm hairs after a good amount of use. The edge holding of SR-101 is definitely something to write home about. On a recent camping trip I took my 711. Throughout the first evening I used my 711 to cut down two dead trees with a diameter of about 4 or 5 inches (They were only about 10 feet tall as they were broken in a recent storm). Once they were down I used my 711 to cut up the trees into manageable pieces (about 2-3ft sections.). I didnt really pay attention to the edge until I got home. The edge on my 711 was still very sharp with no chips to speak of. I expect nothing less from the RMD as they are made from sister companies with the same heat treatment.
Competitive Options:
For those considering the Ratmandu the Scrapyard 711 should be looked at as well. The 711 can be bought for about the same price as the RMD. For batoning the 711 pulls in front of the RMD because of its thickness (1/4) and length but the Res-C is not as durable as the Micarta if it needs to be hit by a baton. I would be more hesitant to pound on the Res-C of the 711 (not to say it couldnt be done). In my testing of the 711 several times I got it stuck, I resorted to using a wooden wedge to get it free because I didnt want to tear up the Res-C. If my RMD got stock in a knot I wouldnt have anything against giving the handle a couple good whacks to get it free.I like the smaller size of the RMD, The 711 tends to be a bit unwieldy if it is used around non-knife people not as much with RMD. I would feel more comfortable carrying the RMD over the 711 in situations like this. Between the two it comes down to intended use, preference with aesthetics and price. Specifications-wise you get more knife for your money with the 711 but it doesnt have the customization options or quite as much cool factor of the RMD.
To wrap things up I am very happy with this buy. I put my order in for a RMD a couple months after getting my Fallkniven S1. The S1 performed very well but still left some aesthetics to be desired. I put my order in and almost exactly a month later there was a package at my door. I was very impressed with the performance, build quality and ergonomics. The Ratmandu was definitely worth the wait and money. I recommend it to anyone who wants a hard use high value camp knife. I foresee my RMD getting a lot of love and use in the coming years.
[For some reason I can't get the first two pictures flipped the right way, my apologies]
