Tops mil spie-3

[pitdog]

It would be interesting to compare one of those with Justin's RTB in 440C.

”Well about 4 months ago I recieved a phone call from the Brigade Commander of the Ranger Training Brigade (he and I worked together when I was on active). He says to me "This year is the 60th Anniversay for the Ranger Training Brigade. We would like you to come up with a commemerative blade for the RTB's 60th Anniversary." Needless to say I was very honored to do so. So after sending many emails and pictures of blades back and forth and a few prototypes later.....here is the blade.

Look familiar? Thats right after all the pictures I sent they liked the look of the forum blade the best. So made the handle a bit bigger and dressed it up "Ranger style". It is done in stainless with a satin finish. The handles are black micarta with yellow liners (Black and Gold for the Ranger Tab) and it has two large lum ovals in the handle (cat eyes that we had on the back of our PC).

Needless to say I was very honored to not only be asked to do such a project but to also be part of history for the Ranger School! The knives will be available by Best Ranger Competition which is May 7th-9th!”

Justin Gingrich - Ranger Knives

The lanyard placements seem odd on those, do they get in the way, how long is the handle ?

 

[baldtaco-II]

The lanyard placements seem odd on those, do they get in the way, how long is the handle ?

Dunno amigo, that belongs to Sargent 666. I didn't know they existed 'till recently. I think the handle on the Boker I already have in that size would suit me much better anyway 'cos I have a thing for rubber handles on usin' knives and I think that's an especially good one. The blade is a bit to heavy duty for me too. I think the to be released “hunter version” would likely suit me better.

Anyway, thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=793191

 

[Mistwalker]

I find that notion of fair comparison quite bizarre. It would make sense to me not to compare say a Fällkniven A2 to a little Dozier hunter because they are meant for very different tasks. These strike me as pitched at a very similar market for an almost identical set of tasks. Surely if one wanted to know which is the most useful of two knives the appropriate starting place is to pick two that are meant to solve the same problems. Just comparing those that look similar[ish] to each other is arseways round? I would have thought that would be a useless approach because it wouldn't provide much in the way of useful information as to how and why one design is better than another. In this instance for example; my money would be on the one with the proper handle slaughtering the one in arguably better steel, but that's just speculation.

I guess it is the size difference I'm seeing. The MS3 is small and was also designed to be discrete and easily concealable...I'm pretty sure that factor isn't the case with the Ranger knife.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Here I go again, necromancing another thread, but it is the most comprehensive review of a knife that I have ever read on an enthusiast's forum, and since I was looking at this knife for quite a while, your most excellent objective assessment of the Mil-Spie 3 resulted in my purchasing one just moments ago. Thanks mistwalker:thumbup:

 

[monster]

Mistwalker,
I've been looking at this blade myself, what would you rate it as far as ease of sharpening while in the field?

 

[Mistwalker]

Mistwalker,
I've been looking at this blade myself, what would you rate it as far as ease of sharpening while in the field?

It is 145cm so a little harde4r to sharpen than 1095, but not bad especially with the shortness of the blade. I use a small Fallkniven DC4 stone and had no issues. I passed it on to a close friend about a year and he still loves it. Though he did have me wrap the handle like some of my other knives he has used.

 

[Alnamvet68]

Ok, sorry it took longer to get to than I meant for it to. This is the wrap I settled on. I actually find it more comfortable to use now, and it does snap securely into the sheath still.

I just noticed you have the Rowen Mfg version...brighter whiter etching and different font and logo. The newer ones now manufactured in house by TOPS has a subdued etching, plain font, and different logo, as well as being heat treated by Paul Bos.