Swat vs. Rat

Gress

Gress

Gold Member
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Feb 8, 2009
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Infimandu vs. Swatmandu it is.
I’ve been looking for a detailed comparison between the two for a while. So this might be helpful for some.

I’ve got them both with same g10 handle option. Steel-wise, size-wise and overall shape-wise they are pretty much same knife. The main difference is a talon hole and fuller (on swat) as well as different marking and finish. As we know, infidu is satin and swatmandu is DC.

Here they are:
8wa6ma.jpg


1zovjac.jpg


Handles look and feel exactly same
m7dmr5.jpg


Thickness of the blade is also same and at spec’d 3/16” is .170 on my caliper
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Fit and finish is excellent on both as we come to expect from Busse. Both are equally sharp.
I did not weigh them, but swatmandu feels a tiny bit lighter.

So if you deciding on which one to go with this comes down to aesthetics more than anything else.

For me, I love them both, however infidu is my choice for a user, as I prefer satin finish for every knife I use.

rbji0w.jpg
 
Thanks for the comparison text and photos! :thumbup:
I was guessing they were pretty similar but did not really know for sure.
 
Great review thanks! I have both too and I'm still undecided between the two because I love them both. That being said, my original run INFIdu came with a convex edge which I didn't like at first but after some hard use I can say without a doubt that it really improves the performance of the knife. The blade, as you mentioned, is a little thinner on the INFIdu and I think that's due to the finish require a tad more surface removal to attain the satin finish (could be wrong). Either way, both are awesome knives but like you my go to du :) is the INFIdu with the SWAT coming in at a very close second. I can't wait to get my BIG SF InfiManDu, who knows it might even replace my go to INFIdu :).

because pics are fun :D

20150328_22214522_zpslajrpgph.jpg
 
I love the crisp lines of the swat... Looks classy.

I'm using one of mine, but will probably get an infidu to abuse as well.
 
Are handles the same on these?
Ratmandu handles are too thin & flat for my hands.
Swat handles look deeper from top to bottom....or is that just angle?
 
zakjak221 said:
Are handles the same on these?
Ratmandu handles are too thin & flat for my hands.
Swat handles look deeper from top to bottom....or is that just angle?
Click to expand...

They are both the same. SWAT might be a little thicker only because the blade is a tad bit thicker as mentioned. I had liners added to a few of min :).

Notice the red liners on the SWAT? Feels awesome in hand... love that knife!

20150515_184454_zpsfbxpwmff.jpg


Below are a few SWATS two with and two without liners...

20150508_181341_zpsm4c5uq1y.jpg
 
Thanks for this.

I've been curious myself as I have an RMD and Infimandu but no SWAT. I'm curious how the weight measures out since the fuller is one of the only differences.

Also worth noting for anyone comparing the two are the different patterns on the g10 handles. Shown very clearly on rickshooters pics with the two bruisers side by side. Can someone confirm if all are different or only g10? Do the micarta handles look different as well?
 
Thanks for the comparison. Since you have calipers, could you measure the thickness at the top of the final edge bevel? It seems to be about 0.035" on this INFIManDu from the last 'Ganza. I'm a little disappointed how thick the edge is. I also just got a Nathan Carothers Field Knife, and is the edge bevel is much thinner.
 
resinguy said:
Thanks for the comparison. Since you have calipers, could you measure the thickness at the top of the final edge bevel? It seems to be about 0.035" on this INFIManDu from the last 'Ganza. I'm a little disappointed how thick the edge is. I also just got a Nathan Carothers Field Knife, and is the edge bevel is much thinner.
Click to expand...

I've had my eye on one of his blades for a while. From his videos, it sounds like Nathan's field knives are extremely thinned out, but he's able to pull it off due to the toughness of the 3v.
 
kniferMan said:
Great review thanks! I have both too and I'm still undecided between the two because I love them both. That being said, my original run INFIdu came with a convex edge which I didn't like at first but after some hard use I can say without a doubt that it really improves the performance of the knife. The blade, as you mentioned, is a little thinner on the INFIdu and I think that's due to the finish require a tad more surface removal to attain the satin finish (could be wrong). Either way, both are awesome knives but like you my go to du :) is the INFIdu with the SWAT coming in at a very close second. I can't wait to get my BIG SF InfiManDu, who knows it might even replace my go to INFIdu :).

because pics are fun :D

20150328_22214522_zpslajrpgph.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right - the infidu has a convex edge which I forgot to mension. And yes I like it better for a user.
And NO, you are not correct wrt the thickness of the blade. It was exactly what I was interested when getting both blades to compare. Both of them are same as I said at .170" in the thickest point.
 
Ok, let's see the blade thickness comparison.
2dsgs4o.jpg


Infidu comes at .170"
v5k7yh.jpg


Swatmandu comes at .170"
20gjfia.jpg


Outcome? - a tie :D
 
The swat says Busse and has that comforting little talon hole. It wins every time... It's the only knife I've gotten rid of that I would not mind buying again and again
 
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