Swamp Rat Ratmandu

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
For a great 5" blade knife, Swamp Rat Ratmandus are available right now at their store. Just thought some of you outdoor folks might be interested. Here is mine. Great knife.
patina004-1.jpg
 
That does look like a great shape and size for the field. I bet they go fast!
 
Dang! I just ordered a BRKT Fox River, else I might have to fork over the cash for one of these.
 
I see SwampRat is doing a pre-order on a new blade as well. The Hairy Carry. 3.5 inches of 154CM steel. Looks like a winner!
 
Woe is the choil. That looks pretty close to a Busse Badger Attack. I got one and the choil ruins it for me. Having a choil on a med sized slicer type knife confuses me. Aren't these supposed to be pretty fine tools as is? I'm going to rehandle it and sell it. With the help of a good friend, I scored one fo the Busse Sar5's, which are choilless, and I'm hoping its a winner design!
 
I have a ratmandu, very nice blade.
Have yet to use it really, but it seems pretty bombproof.
I for one like the choil, when you choke up with it you get much more deft control.
 
Liam Ryan, is the control when you choke up to use the choil better than if there was no choil and the edge went all the way to the handle? My guess is no. Is using the choil in this fashion more comfortable than if there was no choil and the blade extended to the handle? Again, my guess is no. I don't own a ratmandu, but do own one of its close relatives, a BATACLE. In contradiction to my growing collection of Busse blades, I am finding myself coming down on the side of very small to non-existant choils. I REALLY like the SAR5 (choil-less), and am very thankful that one will be winging its way to me in the next 2-6 weeks. More choil = less blade.
 
hlee said:
Liam Ryan, is the control when you choke up to use the choil better than if there was no choil and the edge went all the way to the handle? My guess is no. Is using the choil in this fashion more comfortable than if there was no choil and the blade extended to the handle? Again, my guess is no. I don't own a ratmandu, but do own one of its close relatives, a BATACLE. In contradiction to my growing collection of Busse blades, I am finding myself coming down on the side of very small to non-existant choils. I REALLY like the SAR5 (choil-less), and am very thankful that one will be winging its way to me in the next 2-6 weeks. More choil = less blade.
Click to expand...

I'm the complete opposite. I Like the Choil and regularly use it. I can't understand a knife that has a choil, but one that is too small to put your index finger inside of.

Do I get better blade control - my guess is yes. Does it feel more comfortable - to me it does.

Do I ever worry about stabbing my knife so deep into something that it gets hung up on the choil - Nope, can't say I ever lost a wink of sleep over that thought...
 
I love my RMD and I did pre-order the new Swamp offering HC + I did score a SAR5 Green o'course....to me the Choil does not bother me, with or without if I like the Blade maker and the design and have $$$ I'll snatch one up; the choil is not a put off for me !
 
I liked the RMD but just sold my one and only on ebay. Found myself staring at it every once in a while but never using it. Choil? Or no choil? I swing both ways....I like them on bigger knives, not on the little ones.
 
My Ratmandu is the only knife I have bought so far that I still think is perfect and would not change, that has never happened before !!!
 
I too hate choils, but like the choil on my Ratmandu. It is the ONLY knife I have used the choil on (save for my Manix). The thumb ramp on the Ratmandu is unique because when you are using the choil, your thumb sits on the opposite side of the ramp, and gives you a whole different feel. As for the worst choil ever: Ontario TAK! The thing might work for a pinkie choil in a reverse grip... If you have elf hands... And some kind of strange elven disease that causes you to have abnormally small elf hands... And you don't mind your tiny elf pinkies getting squished.





The Ratmandu is an awesome knife in every single aspect. If you have the money, and would actually use a 5" woods knife, get a Ratmandu.
 
From www.agrussell.com ==> glossary

Choil
The cut away area between the edge and the tang of a pocket knife blade and between the edge and the guard of a straight knife. The choil may or may not have enough space for a finger, it's true purpose is to allow the edge to be sharpened all the way to the tang in a pocket knife and to the end of the edge in others. Any reference of choil and finger space or choil and handle is improper.
Emphasis added.

I guess I'd rather have my hand wrapped around nicely contoured handle, and not a thin and bare piece of steel. And, if control is conferred by the hand's proximity to the edge, then minimizing the ricasso (which I also consider a waste of useable blade) would have the same effect as grinding in a choil as far as control is concerned. If anyone is having trouble with this, then look at a mora. No choil, no ricasso, great ergos and control.

"Gosh I wish I had some cash. Those are very reasonably priced."
Emphasis added.

That's an understatement. If I had not just pulled the trigger on a SAR5, I'd be very tempted by the ratmandu.

The hairy carry is very tempting as well, and also fits into the "very reasonably priced" catergory.
 
Choil or not, I've been using mine since I got it at Blade last year and it is one tough knife that holds an edge very well. The handle feels great, too.
 
Got a new Ratmandu today in sage and tan. Here it is with my others. I like these blades a lot.
NuManDu002.jpg

NuManDu001.jpg
 
hlee said:
From www.agrussell.com ==> glossary
Any reference of choil and finger space or choil and handle is improper.[/B]
Emphasis added.
Click to expand...

I guess I was set straight on that one. Somebody better tell Gerry Busse and Jeff Randall about their improper designs. They might accidently make a fool of themselves in public like I just did ;)

HornDog - I am envious - I think the tan is just peachy!!!
 
I think I could get on board with the Ratmandu's if you ditched the choil and shortened the blade by that much. As is, I'm not sure it's worth the cash.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top