Swamp Rat vs Becker?

darkaether said:
Beckers are great but rats are better if you can afford to spend more. The biggest easily noticable difference is the handles. The Becker will be better value for your money. A Swamprat will be better if your budget allows it. Either will probably get it done. I've never actually damaged any of them, but if I was going to be particularly abusive to it, I'd feel better with Rat.
practical advantage: better ergonomics, more handle options, cosmetic options.

disadvantage, its probably going to be heavier
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the rest of that post is your perspective..so I will leave it alone


but when u say a Pro is ''better ergos'' that is a PERSONAL matter of taste, not a definitive FACT. I personally LIKE the Becker ergos. As for cosmetics, I can make a Becker look any way I want as far as Finish or color..... ya DO know they dont all stay Basic Black right, right?
 
darkaether said:
Beckers are great but rats are better if you can afford to spend more. The biggest easily noticable difference is the handles. The Becker will be better value for your money. A Swamprat will be better if your budget allows it. Either will probably get it done. I've never actually damaged any of them, but if I was going to be particularly abusive to it, I'd feel better with Rat.
practical advantage: better ergonomics, more handle options, cosmetic options.

disadvantage, its probably going to be heavier
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While you are allowed your opinion here and anywhere. I will simply disagree. The handle on Becker's full size knives are SO MUCH more comfortable than any of the RATs I have owned. In fact, the giant choils, and small girlish handles are why I never got into Swamp Rat knives. Swamp Rat makes a tough good looking knife, but they just didn't work for me.

To the OP:
Is a Swamp Rat worth the extra money. Nope. I get a great knife and warranty from Kabar and Becker..tough to beat at the price point, or any point.
 
The Becker sheath is 10 x better than the stock Busse sheath(pictured below).





















…
 
Becker, excellent steel, excellent Heat Treat, value per dollar = very high.

Swamp Rat, Better steel, Better Heat Treat, Higher Price Tag. Doesn't come with a sheath so that can delay actual field use time, till you get one.

If money is no concern, get them both as both can be resold for very little loss even after being used. Neither will let you down, and most people don't push their knives to the point to really tell the difference, but "just in case" I would go with the Swamp Rat
 
Apples and oranges really. if value doesn't concern you then in comes down to personal preference for looks balance edge geometry etc. the rats I have had a bit of a thick edge but that's easily enough corrected. I like the handles on my hrlm and the m6 I had. there's always a subconscious worry about removable handles even with locktite on the bolts, but that's just me. the rat will hold an edge a bit longer. that's about it
 
gunknifenut said:
While you are allowed your opinion here and anywhere. I will simply disagree. The handle on Becker's full size knives are SO MUCH more comfortable than any of the RATs I have owned. In fact, the giant choils, and small girlish handles are why I never got into Swamp Rat knives. Swamp Rat makes a tough good looking knife, but they just didn't work for me.

To the OP:
Is a Swamp Rat worth the extra money. Nope. I get a great knife and warranty from Kabar and Becker..tough to beat at the price point, or any point.
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/\ This /\ Man hands need man handles. Was not impressed with The swamprat I pounded on for a day. Its owner was shocked that I was beating on it...He took it, and his shiny Busses home early from the meet.
 
From my understanding the performance difference is negligible, at best. My suggestion would be get both (since you already stated money isn't an issue) and put them both to the test and figure out which you like best. Then put the Rat up for sale on the exchange and start modding the Becker to personalize it even more.
 
In the end, its a pretty unanimous opinion that getting both and deciding for yourself is best, and also that you could sell one or both and get most of your money back out of them.

Personally, id rather have a scrapyard 711 than either, and it fits a specops sheath. I got a Ratmandu and 711 for my 10yo, and myself prefer Busse Basics,Ergos, SF's, and fusion handles. After having close to 100 nice capable fixed blades, I've learned there are plenty that will get it done, and once you reach a certain point in quality, it becomes entirely about what is right for you individually.

I like Beckers and think they rule that pricepoint, but I like others more, mainly SR101 and Infi, and don't mind spending a little extra.

edit: a lot extra, in all fairness
 
I have Beckers, Busses, Swamprats and Scrapyards. I think that its a matter of personal preference. With any product there is a point of diminishing returns. The higher end product costs many times more money and only provides 10% better performance (this is an example not exact numbers). It works that way with guns, bikes, knives anything really. Both companies have great products and warranties. Busse is no questions asked, Becker is almost as good. What I like about Becker is that it seems to be by far the best value per dollar spent. Busse is better and if you dont care about price try it out. However!!!! Busse knives have vast differences in ergos between models and a very unique marketing model. Really your trying to compare apples with oranges and it just dosnt work.
 
Psyop said:
With any product there is a point of diminishing returns. The higher end product costs many times more money and only provides 10% better performance (this is an example not exact numbers). It works that way with guns, bikes, knives anything really.
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Years back, I sold medium to high end consumer electronics and later furniture. I also sold high end jewelry, and could never make sense of a man spending $10-50K on an engagement ring. I could never make sense of spending $100 on a ring but thats another story. The mid-range or mid-quality companies always offered the best dollar/cost-value purchase.
 
Had em all, Busse, Swamprat, Scrapyard, customs, you name in. VALUE will always go for the Beckers without question. I would, however, say that if price is no object, look at a custom maker. That way you can get EXACTLY what you want. I've worked with a few on designs in my head and couldn't be happier with them. For an off the shelf knife, Beckers are my choice. Once again, if price doesn't matter, you could always buy them both and do your own comparison.
 
Murphnuge said:
This oughta be fun.
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Yes it should. I just bought a Swamp Rat about the size of a BK-16, but a little smaller maybe, that I have several thoughts about I plan to to express later. I want to wait till after I get home and get to take some proper photos, not going into it now.
 
One Legged Josh said:
/\ This /\ Man hands need man handles. Was not impressed with The swamprat I pounded on for a day. Its owner was shocked that I was beating on it...He took it, and his shiny Busses home early from the meet.
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^this^ is what I was hoping this was not going to turn into.

Not every knife owner wants his knives abused, not every knife owner wants his knife choices abused. I abuse my Machaxe, Busse Steel Heart, and Tramontina Bowie. I'm an equal opportunity abuser. I will NOT look down on others brand choices and I'd love to see that attitude with my other favorite knife group right here. The attitude above is depressing. :(
 
UCPOPO said:
Had em all, Busse, Swamprat, Scrapyard, customs, you name in. VALUE will always go for the Beckers without question. I would, however, say that if price is no object, look at a custom maker.
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+1

If I had that sort of cash, enough to spend on a Busse, I would much rather put that money into my dream knife: a traditional 19th century style coffin-handled American-made Bowie knife.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
+1

If I had that sort of cash, enough to spend on a Busse, I would much rather put that money into my dream knife: a traditional 19th century style coffin-handled American-made Bowie knife.
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My dream knife is very close to your description, one of these days...... :)
 
Back on point- I have numerous models from each maker and their Kin. In the end, neither will make you 100% satisfied as there is always one little item that you would like to change. Try both and which ever is closest to 100% keep it, if the small item that is causing the blade to fall just short is correctable through a custom maker mod. Then go for the mod. For me I want the SR101 over the 1095CV, but the skinny handle and the choil on the RMD kill it for me. The Becker is more easily modified, but with a steel I am not in love with.
I trust both makers blades to do 99% of what I want and am not even concerned about warranty. Why no warranty, as when the time comes that I need to push one of these blades to justify needing the warranty, I will be so happy I am in one piece that money won't matter and when I tell the story of how I broke one of these knives fighting bigfoot and the alien hord I suspect either shop will provide me a replacement and a display model for all the free advertising I am providing. Just something to consider as since being on the forum I have purchased both from these makers and am happy with every blade I bought. Members of both subforums have gone out of their way to answer questions and help me grow my knowledge of their particular preference. There are a few that squawk about this or that, IMO it is just an opinion and worth as much as the next guy in line.
 
Don't get either, pick up a knife from the yard; same steel as swamp rat, less expensive, and Res-C FTW! :D
 
Nothing wrong with either choice. Vastly different ergo's between them. I like when Busse's come in the mail, the sheath takes up less space in the garbage can :D
 
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