Trying to choose the right blade

Paratrooper1989 said:
i like falkniven but i don't like that they slim down to reduce tang. i wanna see it all the way around. i think Ive narrowed down my choices from,

Esee Knives, Esee-5
Swamp-Rat Knives, Rat Man Du
Scrapyard Knives, Dumpster Mutt LE
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Well, the Fallkniven's don't actually slim down, they just wrap a handle around the tang. The Fallknivens are stainless, tough, and comfortable to use, razor sharp convex edge. However, you'd need to get a better sheath for your intended carry versatility...

The RatManDu is an amazing knife, fits the hand like it was meant to be there! I own and love this knife. It's longer than the Dumpster Mutt and an ounce heavier, but it's thinner (3/16", still plenty thick to pry, and...) made of superior steel - SR101. It ain't stainless (nor is the Mutt or ESEE-5), but the coating is great. The handle is highly ergonomic, among the best you'll find.
You'll need to get a sheath for it - try what the SRKW store has or contact someone like azwelke on this forum to make you one. It also fits SpecOps short Combat Master sheaths and that sort.
Also, if you get this knife, special request an edge angle of 45-degrees-inclusive or less: some of the RMD's shipped with really fat edges - durable as hell but most of us prefer better slicing...

I don't own / haven't handled the Dumpster Mutt, but that LE sure is pretty :cool: SR-77 has a strong reputation for being tough. Another Scrapyard knife you might consider is the Scrapper 5 - some were made with INFI the toughest steel out there, but even SR77 will get you through - it's very similar to the RatManDu in size/shape. Again, make sure about a sheath - not sure if one is included...

The ESEE-5 was designed for SERE operators, comes with a sheath, has a glass-breaker pommel and other bells/whistles, and can be had straight-edge or partially-serrated :thumbup:
You'll want to get the sheath molle-attachments, which are extra and add to the cost.
A warning - this knife is heavy: 16oz vs the RMD's 10oz or the Mutt's 9oz. It's 1/4" thick like the Mutt and coated like the RMD. 1095 isn't as impressive as SR101, but Rowen's heat-treatment is top-notch, toughest 1095 you'll find (imho), plus it's easier to sharpen. The ESEE-4 & -6 are both lighter and better cutters than the -5 but weren't designe with the same purpose in mind...
Some people find the ESEE handles blocky and uncomfortable - if you get it and don't like how it handles, use it until you can purchase something else and then sell it to one of your buds, I'm sure that someone else you know will buy it off you without problem ;). Also, if you get the molle-back, etc. keep it - a sheath can be made for one of the other knives on the list that fits the attachments (again, azwelke can help you there).


Alright, that's what I've got. Those are three great, "indestructible" knives you've got listed. For lower price 1095 knives, you can check out Becker, and they also have a collaboration knife is coming out soon - The Doug Ritter RSK MK2 - longer than the ESEE-5 and RMD, lighter than the ESEE-5, has the same heat-treatment as ESEE, costs $125 and it comes with a sheath like you request and also a little sharpener - one hell of a package... if you can wait for it...

Again, any of the knives you get, if you don't like it, I'll bet a pint you can find someone to buy it off you the same day.

Good luck out there, and God bless!
 
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chiral.grolim,

Hey bro thanks alot for all that information. You really took your time to help me out, i really appreciate it. Im not necessarily looking for a UN-STAINLESS STEEL. Id rather have stainless, because of the corrosion, but like i said I'm new to this. since i started getting into knives everyone talked of the Esee-5. But if you can give me some names other others stainless knives and alilttle more info, it be awesome. Thanks again bro.

V/R
 
Paratrooper1989 said:
chiral.grolim,

Hey bro thanks alot for all that information. You really took your time to help me out, i really appreciate it. Im not necessarily looking for a UN-STAINLESS STEEL. Id rather have stainless, because of the corrosion, but like i said I'm new to this. since i started getting into knives everyone talked of the Esee-5. But if you can give me some names other others stainless knives and alilttle more info, it be awesome. Thanks again bro.

V/R
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i listed it before, but i'll list it again. the spyderco jumpmaster was developed with the help of a major from the 82nd airborne. the spyderco jumpmaster uses H1 steel which will not rust.
 
I looked at it before and, just dont like it. Some blades i really like are Esee-5, Tops Tom Brown Tracker. stuff like that just wish they came in stainless
 
what about a tops/buck nighthawk? it's stainless and i've seen a destruction test (online) and it can take a beating.
 
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not bad, but let me be more specific, so you guys can help me out. im a very picky man, looking for something good. Id like it to be 4"-6" blade lenght, micarta or g-10 handles. Pomel (glass break/skull crusher) on the end. lanyard hole. no serations. looking for the thickness to be either 3/16" or 1/4". Id prefer stainless but non-stainless will work.
 
knives of alaska makes an xtreme defense/survival knife in both D2 and S30v steel, it has micarta scales and a blade that's 6". im not sure of the blade thickness.
 
what are you prying? on knives of alaska's website they say:

"We designed the Defense/Survival Model knife specifically for emergency situations. You can chop, slice and cut,stab, hammer, or pry with this knife."
 
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Paratrooper1989 said:
not bad, but let me be more specific, so you guys can help me out. im a very picky man, looking for something good. Id like it to be 4"-6" blade lenght, micarta or g-10 handles. Pomel (glass break/skull crusher) on the end. lanyard hole. no serations. looking for the thickness to be either 3/16" or 1/4". Id prefer stainless but non-stainless will work.
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With that description - Becker BK2 with after market micarta or ESEE5.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
Paratrooper1989 said:
good looking blade but would like it to be wider, because of all the prying i do. I really like s30v steel
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Hi, stainless steel such as S30V lacks lateral strength and therefore is poor for prying. Carbon based knives have good lateral strength and should be used by professional soldiers. Here is a review of the Green Beret knife in S30V to show you what will happen. There are four parts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwYNcSsybr4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0soh7YDpUE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THD8gfltq2o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_qDjs88hXQ&feature=related

Here is a decent article on the different types of carbon steel, so you know the differences in quality:

http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselector/general/generalpart1.html

Good luck.
 
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GerroldP said:
Hi, stainless steel such as S30V lacks lateral strength and therefore is poor for prying. Carbon based knives have good lateral strength and should be used by professional soldiers. Here is a review of the Green Beret knife in S30V to show you what will happen. There are four parts:
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even thought for all out abuse i would prefer to have good carbon steel, the tops/buck nighthawk (420HC steel) withstood a good beating in the destruction tests i saw.
 
Gerroldp,

Wow bro thanx for those videos. Ive been looking into the Chris reeves knives for awhile now, debating on to get on or not. but now def NOT. so you would say all around carbon steel is better? for combat, survival, bushcraft? What do you think of Tops Knives, i was looking at the "Stryker Defender Tool"
 
Paratrooper1989 said:
Gerroldp,

Wow bro thanx for those videos. Ive been looking into the Chris reeves knives for awhile now, debating on to get on or not. but now def NOT. so you would say all around carbon steel is better? for combat, survival, bushcraft? What do you think of Tops Knives, i was looking at the "Stryker Defender Tool"
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what do you plan on doing with the knife? for reasonable tasks, every knife recommended to you will work fine. these destruction tests are designed to see what it takes to break a particular knife. some knives will fail when repetitively hit with a mini sledge while cutting a steel bar, some won't. if you want an all out tank of a knife, there are plenty of destruction test videos to watch and see a knife you like.
 
Paratrooper1989 said:
Great the Esee-5 is my faviorate so far, im gunna order the black plain blade
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Awesome, you got lots of replies before I managed to check this thread again!

Yeah, it sounds like the ESEE-5 will suit you perfectly - glass-breaker pommel and all!:cool: Stainless isn't really all that important for most soldiers, and carbon steel is usually tougher for more of "tank"-like knife. At 1/4" and 16oz, the ESEE-5 is definitely a tank :thumbup:
They might have some kind-of military discount at the store or other distributors, so check that out. Also, don't forget the molle-sheath or attachments for that versatility you requested.

Good luck. Hope you like the purchase!
 
All out tank? SR-77 steel by Scrapyard. It's jackhammer bit steel with an awesome heat treat. Try to find a Scrapper 6. It's the benchmark of hard use utility/combat. Just for fun, search YouTube for a "destruction test" of it, and have a blast watching what kind of insanity it can endure. Hope I didn't open a can of worms...
 
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