TOPS DART Tactical v. Swamp Rat Camp Tramp

Slaytanic said:
I'd bet the Heafner #17 would hold up just as good
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D2 and S30V are not in the same league as differentially tempered SR101 in regards to flexibility or impact toughness. Are the makers mentioned in the above actually willing to support such claims under warrenty?

-Cliff
 
Hey guy's! will Heafner warranty his knife in a competion? He told me he'd replace it if I broke it!!(btw - I was the one that made the claim) He also stated he goes around 280lbs and has hung on the handle suspended without it breaking. So.... let's find a Battle Rat and see how the Heafner #17 holds up against it! I'll let one of my own #17's be used!!

Darrell.................

Anyone interested: www.heafnerknives.com


D2 and S30V are not in the same league as differentially tempered SR101 in regards to flexibility or impact toughness. Are the makers mentioned in the above actually willing to support such claims under warrenty?

-Cliff
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The steel is 1/4"+, and sabre ground, so it should be very strong through the main body of the blade, I would be concerned about the tip, impacts in general, both to the main body and mainly the edge.

-Cliff
 
I just dropped Eric an email about the availability of a Battle Rat, if TOPS or Trace want to guarantee similar levels of durability I'll gladly check into that as well.

-Cliff
 
Sounds good Cliff! keep us posted on when & if this happens. I suppose it'll be a good few weeks before I get my passaround Heafner back. Who do Ya think would do the testing?? More than one person??

Talk at Ya later Guy's!

Darrell................





:D Keep Supporting real Metal!!
 
I dropped Trace an email, I'll let you know what he says.

Here are some suggestions on harder work with the work in each subsection ranking loosely from easiest to hardest :

Wood :

-chopping large clear woods
-chopping small hardwoods
-chopping small knotty hardwoods
-limbing fresh wood
-limbing seasoned dead branches

Metals :

-opening cans
-cutting sheet metal
-chopping wires and cabling, belted rubber

Batoning :

-clear soft woods
-knotty hard woods
-nails and other soft steels, tension bar, etc. .
-use soft and hard batons

Rough utility :

-cutting dirty and used materials
-working in rocky/rooty soil
-bones

Leverage :

-work with the point in various woods
-pry apart woods nailed together
-support an average man through the blade main body

There are lots more, but any knife which runs through the above well has a decent performance base as much of it will cause shouts of abuse from many makers.

-Cliff
 
Madfast: Thanks for the excellent compasion between the rat and the RD.

As for the proposed 3 way torture tests by Cliff...I drooling already...
 
It looks like a three way is out, I emailed Trace and have no responce, so I won't be buying that knife. Getting a Battle Rat is no problem, so I can do a direct comparison with the custom D2 no problem, I dropped the maker about it to get his comments about the use of his bowie.

-Cliff
 
Keep in mind that the tests Cliff performs do not control or isolate variables, so that makes them completely subjective and in another thread, Cliff has mentioned that the results of his tests are not repeatable by others across the board, and that they are skill level-dependent. In other words, you can't really conclude anything from them, although I'm certain conclusions will be drawn. Can't wait to see pics and/or film of the tests as they're performed!
 
Chiro75 said:
Keep in mind that the tests Cliff performs do not control or isolate variables, so that makes them completely subjective and in another thread, Cliff has mentioned that the results of his tests are not repeatable by others across the board, and that they are skill level-dependent.
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No I never said any of that, here is the thread Chiro is talking about, if you want to see exactly that I did say :

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343733

-Cliff
 
I havent checked my E-mail in a few days, and just saw this. It would be up to Mike Fuller to take part in Cliff's "Unbiased" and "Scientific" testing, but I would most definitely take a pass. Not because I feel the knife wouldnt hold up fine, I just dont have ANY faith in Cliffs "testing", or his ability to be even-handed. If I need to test a knife I send it to people who actually GET OUT in the real world and USE a knife. Not people who sit around theorizing about using knives, or chopping bricks or whatever..
 
So do you or do you not claim the same level of toughness and durability as the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp in the TOPS DART?

-Cliff
 
Phantazem said:
Many thanks for all the great advise. I think the Camp tramp is the clear winner...
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If you are interested in a used CT for a bit cheaper, drop me a PM. I'm thinking of getting rid of mine due to lack of usage. Poor thing just sits there at the ready only to see daylight when I want to look at it. Just isn't a fair fate for such a knife.
 
Hey Cliff, I'm not following Ya? You want to contact Ken Heafner to see if he approves of the kind of destructive testing list above?? I'm going to be donating one of my own Model#17's to use for this, I don't see any of this being an issue with him?? He said I break it! He'll replace it!

Please advise.
Thanks,
Darrell............................





It looks like a three way is out, I emailed Trace and have no responce, so I won't be buying that knife. Getting a Battle Rat is no problem, so I can do a direct comparison with the custom D2 no problem, I dropped the maker about it to get his comments about the use of his bowie.

-Cliff
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:D Keep Supporting real Metal!!
 
Cliff Stamp said:
So do you or do you not claim the same level of toughness and durability as the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp in the TOPS DART?

-Cliff
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Cliff all my stuff blows, it cant possibly compare to ANYTHING by Busse... See now I saved you all that pesky "Testing" :rolleyes: Thanks but No thanks. I will plod along blindly WITHOUT the coveted Cliff "STAMP" of approval.
 
To be fair, I've read over a lot of Cliff's reviews, and he's rather fair. He mentions grind angles when one knife slices worse than another (doesn't dismiss anything too quickly), and does put in a fairly qualitative word here and there to relay his experience. I'm less interested in his X +/- x grams for push cutting some precise diameter of hemp rope, but do like his comments on edge holding, toughness, and it's nice to see someone find out what kind of abuse it takes to break a knife. At the very least it's a good place to hear about the ballpark your prospective knife purchase is in.

Trace I've been looking over your site and really like the knives! I'd be interested to see how some of your stuff in CPM-3V held up to his tests. Care to donate a Spook (I like the Tempest, too) for the cause? :)

There aren't a lot of guys working in 3V or A2 out there, and I haven't hear very much about either in terms of real experience.

Just my .02 :rolleyes:

_z

P.S. Good thread otherwise! I just started one of a similar topic...
 
Instead of "torture testing" Those blades, I advocate a "Love Testing", where everyone sends me their knives and I use them in a loving fashion in the great outdoors. I can then tell you about how much I love them. Mr. Rinaldi? Got any Knives that need adopting? I will adopt any TOPS, Busse, or SwampRat Knives also. Cliff the destroyer doesnt need those blades, But I do, and each one will be properly cared for! ;) :D :D
 
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