- Joined
- Oct 15, 2009
- Messages
- 4,506
This could also easily be called Camp Tramp, new vs old. 
They are both great knives. The warranty is the same, whether through hardened or differentially hardened, with many years in between to perfect/improve the heat treatment so as to have the hardening method not to be a relevant issue with SR101 (newer Battle Rats are through hardened, haven't heard of any issues those either). I hope y'all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
These are both users.
Balance and chopping performance between the two is the same, or at least I can not perceive a difference in use. The weight is almost identical to within 1/4 oz. so blindfolded, I could not tell which was which with my hand on just the handle, but I could cheat by feeling the choil. As expected, no edge damage occurred to either blade from chopping this frozen lodgepole. :thumbup:
While the Camp Tramp is the classic original one knife SR101 res-c solution, the improved 711 is a winner for me too.
The 711 improvements over the Camp Tramp are the little subtle things like:
1) narrowing the blade just a little bit to be enough to fit popular sheaths like spec ops without needing to remold the liner (perfect fit without needing to waste an hour baking in the oven, saves time) This picture demonstrates how far they can go in a brand new sheath, CT on left, 711 on right.
Once in the sheath, you can't tell which is which.
2) moving the start of the drop to the point a little forward and giving the tip/belly just a little less of a pregnant look (slightly sexier look and slightly better penetration results with a 55 gallon drum lid)
These are taken with the handles lined up for an accurate comparison.
3) bringing the edge a 1/4" closer to the handle (slightly more useable cutting surface in the same length blade) which feels more natural to the hand.
... all of which offset the only negative being the look of the squarish Scrap Yard choil vs a round Swamp Rat one (something easily fixed with a dremel if necessary, even though it really works just fine as is).
Not much else to say, but that is what I can tell you about my opinion on them after having used both together.
Since the camera can not show you what a 3D view in person does, these shots were taken with the handles lined up perfectly and the angle of the sun used to create as accurate of an outline shadow for comparison as I could, and it is pretty darn close.
Recap after pictures of the two almost identical knives... it really is almost a 6 of one, half a dozen of the other type comparison.
Pros for the CT:
1) Round choil from factory
2) Differentially hardened, but hard to find and costs more these days.
3) Rounder belly (if that is what you prefer)
4) It's a Rat, but the choil and cutting edge start a full 1/4" further from your hand.
Pros for the 711:
1) Narrower blade fits non molded specops style sheath liners very nicely.
2) Cheaper and easily available now, but it is through hardened.
3) Sleeker slightly more pointy look.
4) More usable edge closer to handle as a result of the square choil, but it's a Dog
.
They are both great knives. The warranty is the same, whether through hardened or differentially hardened, with many years in between to perfect/improve the heat treatment so as to have the hardening method not to be a relevant issue with SR101 (newer Battle Rats are through hardened, haven't heard of any issues those either). I hope y'all enjoy this as much as I enjoyed putting it together.These are both users.
Balance and chopping performance between the two is the same, or at least I can not perceive a difference in use. The weight is almost identical to within 1/4 oz. so blindfolded, I could not tell which was which with my hand on just the handle, but I could cheat by feeling the choil. As expected, no edge damage occurred to either blade from chopping this frozen lodgepole. :thumbup:
While the Camp Tramp is the classic original one knife SR101 res-c solution, the improved 711 is a winner for me too.
The 711 improvements over the Camp Tramp are the little subtle things like:
1) narrowing the blade just a little bit to be enough to fit popular sheaths like spec ops without needing to remold the liner (perfect fit without needing to waste an hour baking in the oven, saves time) This picture demonstrates how far they can go in a brand new sheath, CT on left, 711 on right.
Once in the sheath, you can't tell which is which.
2) moving the start of the drop to the point a little forward and giving the tip/belly just a little less of a pregnant look (slightly sexier look and slightly better penetration results with a 55 gallon drum lid)
These are taken with the handles lined up for an accurate comparison.
3) bringing the edge a 1/4" closer to the handle (slightly more useable cutting surface in the same length blade) which feels more natural to the hand.
... all of which offset the only negative being the look of the squarish Scrap Yard choil vs a round Swamp Rat one (something easily fixed with a dremel if necessary, even though it really works just fine as is).
Not much else to say, but that is what I can tell you about my opinion on them after having used both together.
Since the camera can not show you what a 3D view in person does, these shots were taken with the handles lined up perfectly and the angle of the sun used to create as accurate of an outline shadow for comparison as I could, and it is pretty darn close.
Recap after pictures of the two almost identical knives... it really is almost a 6 of one, half a dozen of the other type comparison.
Pros for the CT:
1) Round choil from factory
2) Differentially hardened, but hard to find and costs more these days.
3) Rounder belly (if that is what you prefer)
4) It's a Rat
, but the choil and cutting edge start a full 1/4" further from your hand.Pros for the 711:
1) Narrower blade fits non molded specops style sheath liners very nicely.
2) Cheaper and easily available now, but it is through hardened.
3) Sleeker slightly more pointy look.
4) More usable edge closer to handle as a result of the square choil, but it's a Dog
.
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