Terrasaur vs Recluse

C

CAD

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Jan 11, 2006
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Would someone be so kind to direct me to some reviews and maybe their personal preference. Looking for my next purchase!

Thanks in advance!

Chris D.:D
 
CAD said:
Would someone be so kind to direct me to some reviews and maybe their personal preference. Looking for my next purchase!

Thanks in advance!

Chris D.:D
Click to expand...

I have had both...but not at the same time. I like both. I like the Terrasaur better as a bushcraft knife, but I like the Recluse better if any sort of game or fish cleaning is going to be going on. The slight drop to the edge and slight guard along with the flare of the pommel make the handle purchase a bit more secure with slick hands.
 
Yo CAD!

Like Brian above, I've had both. Before I comment on either, in curious what your intended use is with the knives...?

Please comment if you don't mind. :)
 
Give me a week and I'll give you some thoughts. I currently have both models inbound. :)


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CAD said:
I would be using it camping at the farm and food prep.

Chris D:D
Click to expand...

To me, the longer blade and very slight distance from the edge to the tip of guard make the Terrasaur better at food prep

20160516_090640_zpst4fpdfjs.jpg



The contours, (this shot just makes them easier the see :) ) and guard of the Recluse just offer more security when pushing the blade into game and fish with slick hands. But it hold the edge off of the cutting board during food prep, and the shorter blade and deeper belly give you less to work with using the side of a cutting board, meaning the edge will experience more abrasion during food prep than on a Terrasaur.

20160910_234408_zpsjarg53b1.jpg



Hopefully that's some help for you :)


.
 
This a great topic Chris. I love to compare and contrast various models to find the one that best suits our unique needs.

I have owned both the Recluse and Terrasaur. I wrote up my thoughts on each model a while ago on Pages 6 & 7 of the “Models, Tang Types, Steel Thicknesses, & Weights” thread. Here is the link to that in case you have not read it:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...hts/page6?highlight=Models,+Tang+Types,+Steel

Both are excellent designs depending on your hand size and intended uses. Getting more specific, the Terrasaur has a slightly longer handle and blade with less belly than the Recluse as mistwalker pointed out. The Terrasaur also has its palm swell positioned dead center in the handle and shallow curves on the bottom which make the handle feel more roomy for folks with Xl or XXL size hands. The palm swell on the Recluse is positioned a little forward of center and there is a little more flare out at the pommel as mist already mentioned. I have average medium to large size hands and the Recluse feels better to me because I don’t really need the extra roominess the longer Terrasaur handle provides. This is something to consider based on your hand size.

I personally like the Recluse as a better fit for my hand and uses between the two. I had what I consider to be the perfect Recluse in black bolstered Emerald burlap over a tapered 1/8” A2 blade with great spalting. Even with all that going for it, I sold my beautiful Recluse. “Why” you ask. Well, I found something else I like better.

The model I like better for the same type of farm/camping/food prep uses you describe is an Old School Ladyfinger in SFT 3/32” A2. After trying many Fiddleback models, I have determined that I prefer handles with a curved or arched shape on the top strap versus a handle that is more in line with the spine of the blade like the Recluse and Terrasaur. I also prefer SFT 3/32” to tapered 1/8” for better slicing ability and less cost for the tapering upcharge.

Here are some photos and other points to ponder in comparing the Old Lady to the Terrasaur.

The Ladyfinger is several ounces lighter, yet shares almost the same blade length as the Terrasaur.




The length of the cutting edges are almost identical too.




I find the curved to of the handle on the Ladyfinger more comfortable to use that the straighter Terrasaur (& Recluse) handles.




If you consider a Ladyfinger as an option, I strongly encourage you to go for an “Old School” guardless version with the taller blade for better food prep capabilities on a cutting board. I have been an outspoken proponent of “guardless” designs that encompass a taller blade that finishes even with the front of the guard for better function on a cutting board. I understand a taller guard from the back side that protects your index finger, but I don’t see any advantage to a guard that extends below the back of the cutting edge.






The Old School Ladyfinger is way up on my favorite user list for camping and food prep applications.




Good luck with whichever model you choose as right for you. There are no wrong answers here, only personal preferences. Please keep us posted what you decide on.

Phil
 
Man! A guy wanders away for a few days and all kinds of great information and pictures show up...

Got my Terrasaur and Recluse yesterday. I haven't had a chance to do more than shoot a couple of pictures and handle them a bit yet but my initial impression favors the Terrasaur for my hand/intended use. For full disclosure, I'm partial to the design and have had two of the Off the Map versions in the past and loved them.

I'll get the pictures posted shortly but it looks like they may be superfluous at this point. :)

B
 
Side by side:
20160913%20IMG_2213.JPG


Handles (spine shot):
20160913%20IMG_2214.JPG


Blades (with front of handle scales lined up) :
20160913%20IMG_2216.JPG


Will get more later once I've had a chance to get 'em dirty. :)

B
 

Hey Phil,

Funny that you added in the Old School Ladyfinger to the mix. My main reason for selling the Terrasaur is that I've already used my Old School Lady, the Terrasaur is new/unused and they seemed a bit redundant in what duties they could cover esp given the same blade length. I was expecting the Terrasaur to be a bit bigger I guess. :-)

- Jerry

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
 
I already mentioned it, but I would definitely push towards the Old School Lady as well. I just love that model, the looks, the feel. It's awesome, also harder to come by.
 
Ok...who want's to sell me their Old School Ladyfinger 3/32 or 1/8 in man made handle materal? Come on guys and gals step right up and give me about 6 to choose from:D;):thumbup:

I'm waiting!!! lol

Chris D:D
 
I'm sure one will pop up on a Friday sale soon. It feels about time for it. ;-)

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CAD said:
Ok...who want's to sell me their Old School Ladyfinger 3/32 or 1/8 in man made handle materal? Come on guys and gals step right up and give me about 6 to choose from:D;):thumbup:

I'm waiting!!! lol

Chris D:D
Click to expand...

I don't think there are too many of them out there with synthetic handle materials.

I think my perfect Old School Lady would be stainless 3/32 with neutral colored burlap scales. Like the set up on Brian_T's Terrasaur, though I'd prefer orange stripes to green ones.
 
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