Swamp Rat vs Becker

S

savageman

Joined
May 27, 2005
Messages
149
Ok all gloves are off and its time to rumble!!! Which company makes a better knife?? I understand that the Swamp-Rats are on average $30 more expensive for a comparable knife. Question is is that $30-$40 worth it or can the exact same quality be had for cheaper. Better yet answer this, Howling Rat or Becker Companion??? Thanks
 
I don't think anyone here would argue that the Beckers are better knives. You might say almost as good for less money, but not better.
 
Lil Timmy said:
I don't think anyone here would argue that the Beckers are better knives. You might say almost as good for less money, but not better.
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Pretty much sums it up.
 
The Beckers are a volume product and the major disadvantage of this is in the heat treatment. Beckers are heat treated a bit on the hard side for knives intended for heavy use. Given the variability of volume heat treatment some of them may be a bit less tough than you would expect. Swamp Rat Knife Works makes a virtual fetish out of their heat treatment. They differentially harden their big choppers and do a very careful job on their smaller blades to insure toughness. They produce their blades in smaller lots which gives them tighter control on their HT. I would trust the SWRK's more in critical situations.
 
I don't know about better knives, but it sure would have been a WHOLE lot quicker to get a Becker...my SW Ratweiler has been on order since early February.......I ordered one for my camping trip (that was last week)...maybe I'll have it for next year's trip:mad:
 
I can't agree I have had several Beckers and only one Swamp Rat. I have to say my Swamp Rat has taken more abuse an than the beckers and it still amazes me how the edge has retained it sharpness. No if you are discussing toughness, I still say Swamp rat I used my Battle Rat to turn a 15' long 3" diameter limb into toothpicks and was lobbing 2" limbs with one blow. I split, chopped and sliced until my arms went weak and wwhen I was through I could cleanly SHAVE my arms. That is awesome! :D
 
Ok, I am now officially a member of the rat family. After many careful considerations I have decided on the Swamp Rat Howling Rat. I do like the Becker line of knives and dont doubt their quality. However the only carrier of these knives here in Canada wants $138.00 cnd for th Companion. Considering the exchange and shipping on a Swamp Howling Rat it would be very close in price to a Companion (approx $5 diff). I cant overlook the waranty that Swamp Rat offers for their knives. Now to beging the wait for my Howling Rat to arrive!!! Thanks for all the great info!!!
 
Having previously owned a Becker Campanion and BK7 and currently own a SWKW Camp Tramp I feel that while Beckers are sturdy blades, my hands prefer the slimmer contours of the CT's handle. The Becker's handle scales, while free of sharp edges felt a bit too large.
Sheathwise, the Companion's kydex/plastic is superior to the flimsy offering on the BK7/Camp Tramp. A knife as well built as a Swamp Rat deserves quality kydex (Buy Brown).
As mentioned, no company stands behind their warranty as well as SWKW. Period.
As for cutting chores, I feel they were all three equal to the task with edge-holding being a bit longer with the CT.
 
Excellent topic. I have been pondering a Camp Tramp or a BK7 myself. I think we all know that the CT is much better. The question is, is it over 2x better in use (to make up for the 2x greater price)? And to make this more interesting, lets toss something in thats one step above the CT:

http://www.fehrmanknives.com/knives.htm

Is the Fehrman First Strike 2x better than the CT? Which is the best value of the three? Where does the diminishing returns really start kicking in?

As for the grips on the BK7, aren't they changeable and/or easy to customize?

Mark
 
"Swamp-Rats are on average $30 more expensive"

More like over double the price.


"I have been pondering a Camp Tramp or a BK7 myself. I think we all know that the CT is much better."

I don't know that. Thicker at the edge doesn't mean better, it just means it will have to be reprofiled to offer the all around usefullness of the Becker.
 
Minjin said:
The question is, is it over 2x better in use (to make up for the 2x greater price)?
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The cutting ability is similar as the edge profiles are similar, the Camp Tramp I had ran slightly thicker at the edge but ground at the same angle so rope cutting was the same and wood carving favored the Camp Tramp due to leverage issues.

The Camp Trap is massively stronger and far tougher due to the differential tempering. The handle is also much more comfortable, user preference comes into play here of course, some people like the Becker grips others find them too slick.

The chopping ability is about 2:1 in favor of the Camp Tramp due to the heavier balance, at the same time using the index finger cutout the precision capability is similar as in a choked up grip the balance can be neutralized.

So I would say in regards to cutting and light machete work they are both similar and the Becker would be the choice as it is far cheaper. However for chopping, prying, heavy batoning and other very hard utility work the Swamp Rat's will stand out, yes 2:1 or more.

Is the Fehrman First Strike 2x better than the CT?
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Based on what I have seen with Fehrman's knives with the Extreme Judgement I would pick the Swamp Rat's even if they were the same price, of course for that price I'd get a Steel Heart.

-Cliff
 
averageguy has a point it wasn't until I re-profiled the edge on the Battle rat that it cut so well. The edge did seem to stay sharper and retained the edge longer . Where as my becker cut considerably better out of the box. :D
 
The only thing I dislike about the Battle Rat is that the handle is too small for my big hands. If it had a grip the size of the Becker with the same cushioning, I would like it better. The Becker BK9 costs about $60. The last time I looked at the Swamp Rat website, the Battle Rat was about $150 (I think). The Battle Rat is a better knife but not nearly three times better than the BK9 in my opinion.
 
averageguy said:
"I have been pondering a Camp Tramp or a BK7 myself. I think we all know that the CT is much better."

I don't know that. Thicker at the edge doesn't mean better, it just means it will have to be reprofiled to offer the all around usefullness of the Becker.
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I think by better he means, better steel, better heat treat, better handle, better performance. :D
 
Im sorry im basing my $30 dollars more on the Companion v.s. the Howling Rat. Actually here in Canada they work out to be the same price. I can't really get a good deal on the Becker Companion so it makes no sence to overlook the Swamp Rat at that price!!! How long on average did you guys wait for your swamp rats??
 
Lee48 said:
The only thing I dislike about the Battle Rat is that the handle is too small for my big hands.
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There is a micarta line, there was a 10"+ version at Blade.

-Cliff
 
savageman said:
Im sorry im basing my $30 dollars more on the Companion v.s. the Howling Rat. Actually here in Canada they work out to be the same price. I can't really get a good deal on the Becker Companion so it makes no sence to overlook the Swamp Rat at that price!!! How long on average did you guys wait for your swamp rats??
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Going on 4 months now, and am not going to wait much longer. :mad:
 
The long waits people have described arent necessarily the usual case. I got my BR in a couple weeks, HR was about the same. It depends on the production cycle, and when you order what knife. You could communicate with the company, they are very friendly and prompt with Emails they could tell you if there was going to be a long wait.
 
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