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Woods Carry ~ Whats Your Favorite?
- Thread starter Whiskey River
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2006
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- 7,250
I just spent the last few days up in the mountains of West Virginia, and I brought a ton of knives with me. The one that saw the most use was my FBMLE, by far. It gets the job done, and it gets it done quick. But it rode attached to the 4 wheeler the entire time. I would not want to hump that beast around by foot, no sir. On my belt, what I ended up carrying and using most of the time was my Bark River Bravo-1. It is a fantastic knife. I can't think of a Busse that competes with it directly. Maybe the BATAC, but the BATAC is way bigger for the blade you get.
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- Sep 13, 2007
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- 1,598
I'd say the SAR5 would compete with the Bravo 1. I do like the SAR5, although some don't love the handle.
This would compete with it too.... size-wise. BA III, no longer made though.
This is my survival knives package of choice:
- Fallkniven F1
- Victorinox Huntsman
- Bradley Alias 1
- Busse BATAC or Fehrman LC
For occasional chopping activities (usually an axe): NMSFNO
I am about to change Busse BATAC / Fehrman LC for a SAR4, but I am about to test the SAR4.
- Fallkniven F1
- Victorinox Huntsman
- Bradley Alias 1
- Busse BATAC or Fehrman LC
For occasional chopping activities (usually an axe): NMSFNO
I am about to change Busse BATAC / Fehrman LC for a SAR4, but I am about to test the SAR4.
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2007
- Messages
- 1,743
The SAR-4 is a great EDC woods knife - I will usually carry mine along with a BAD or one of the thinner GWs as a backup for food prep/detail work. I also carry (always) a SAK just for the extra gadgets, not the blade.
As for my FBM LE, when I want it along, I let my my horse carry it.
Cheers!
"Bloody Bill"
The NMSFNO is also a great all-around 98% solution walk-in-the-woods knife. I miss mine, but don't regret trading it plus some for my FBM LE.
As for my FBM LE, when I want it along, I let my my horse carry it.
Cheers!
"Bloody Bill"
The NMSFNO is also a great all-around 98% solution walk-in-the-woods knife. I miss mine, but don't regret trading it plus some for my FBM LE.
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- Joined
- Mar 10, 2002
- Messages
- 19,808
a nice skinny ash for me!
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I'd say the SAR5 would compete with the Bravo 1. I do like the SAR5, although some don't love the handle.
I agree. But.... IMO, I am one who feels some improvements and modifications need to be done to the SAR5's handle.
The Bravo1 "IS" a great knife: great design, great size, Excellent A2 steel, etc., etc. - I think it is hard to fault the Bravo1 too much. But, personally, I believe I will grind the ramp off mine and I wish the Bravo didn't have the sharpening choil. I would rather the edge have come all the way up to the guard. Two little things and one of those things isn't hard to fix. Otherwise superb design.
However, once the handle is improved on the SAR5, and the coating removed and an edge is added to the SAR5 that can compete with Bark River's factory edge, I think the SAR5 is a VERY strong contender up against the Bravo1. In some ways (once improved), I think the SAR5 could be better than the Bravo.
Two things I don't feel like pulling punches on today:
Bark River provides better factory edges and satin finishes as a standard at reasonable prices. I would prefer Busse provide better factory edges and satin finishes at a reasonable price.
I KNOW Busse "Can" provide good edges. And I get that on certain larger knives like choppers that there is a certain arguement that could be made for having a more obtuse edge since some people seem to want to pound cinder blocks and suck. But, ANYWAY you slice it (pun intended), Large knives or small, there is still a significant amount of room for improvement on factory edges. I would personally rather have my factory edges optimized for "Cutting" and not dumbed down so less people will complain when they roll a good edge when used to smash cinder blocks. - rant off.
That said, once some improvements and modifications are made to a few other certain Busse and kin blades, they actually "Can" have some advantages over the Bravo1.
I already mentioned what I feel could be improved on the SAR5 (handle, remove coating, improve edge) to make it a great knife.
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Other VERY worthy contenders would be the Ratmandu (previously mentioned on this thread).
RMD compared to SAR5:
* MUCH better handle (size and shape) on the RMD
- Similar sized blade
- Choil vs. no choil = more or less reach/length (pros and cons = compromise on these two IMO)
The Ratmandu is one VERY good knife. It has reach advantages over the others I am mentioning in this post. The choil is functional. Personally, I think I would prefer the tip dropped a bit. But, that is something I would personally prefer on the Bravo1 as well.
As with the SAR5, the Ratmandu will be greatly improved with a satin finish and improved edge.
But, IMO, the Ratmandu has an AWESOME handle.
IMO, the Ratmandu has a BETTER handle than the Bravo1's.
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The Swamp Rat HRLM is another VERY worthy contender - especially when comparing to the Bravo1 and making a few mods to the HRLM.
IMO - once some mods are made to the HRLM, the HRLM is a notable comparison knife to the Bravo1. Probably the closest to compare.
The HRLM is just a hair larger oal. But, because of the HRLM's choil and guard being much larger, the Bravo1 actually has a bit more usable edge. The Bravo1 never leaves you with any need/feel to choke up. It functions on all tasks for it's size quite well from the normal grip.
Personally, I wish the Bravo1 didn't have the sharpening choil. And while not a big deal on this knife (variety and all), I ultimately prefer a bit more of a drop in the point.
I prefer the curve in the belly for many types of game prep. But, I don't do that nearly as often anymore. I find a dropped to spear point more useful more often.
Factory HRLM prior to mods:
The HRLM suffered (IMO) the fate of many other Busse and kin smaller blades with a non-functioning choil. I ground the choil backwards into the guard to make mine functional without sacrificing any blade. But ideally, (IMO) the HRLM would NOT have a choil and the blades edge would come up very close to the handle. I just DON'T need a choil on a knife with a blade that size.
But, a functioning choil is better than a non-functioning choil since in my mod, I didn't change the blades edge.
The factory HRLM has a VERY similar almost identical handle to the Ratmandu's - which as I stated above is a VERY good handle. But, the HRLM had a different thumb ramp. The HRLM actually had more of a thumb recess that was a bit small for my hands and preferences. So, another modification I did to my HRLM was to grind the recess into a continuous ramp up the spine of the HRLM - which now suits my thumb VERY well.
As I mentioned about the RMD having a better handle than the Bravo1's, similarly, I feel that after the mods the HRLM has a better feeling handle (IMO).
The RMD and HRLM have a taller/narrower handle than the Bravo1. I don't neccessarily have a preference for tall and narrower vs. shorter and round or square. But, I do feel taller and narrower helps control a blade from twist torque better. (otherwise, I still find the Bravo's handle quite fine - As I also like the squareish handle of the Canadian Special just fine - mentioned below.)
I also added a GREAT convex edge to my HRLM (as I do with most of my Busse and kin user blades).
As is, I feel the choil on the HRLM just really needs to be modified. And for my uses, I needed to fix the thumb recess, strip it and improve the edge. But, with the modifications, the HRLM is a VERY worthy contender to the Bravo1. And personally, (with the mods), I slightly prefer the HRLM - even though I wish the HRLM didn't have a choil and the blade's edge came all the way up to the handle.
However, if the HRLM's blade did come up close to the handle without a choil, if it had been satin from the factory, and if/once a good edge is added, I would argue the HRLM would be a Bravo1 butt kickin' stomper! :thumbup:
But, here is the kicker: For VERY little more weight and about as easy to carry, the RMD offers a bit more blade and as good utility function as the HRLM or Bravo - IMO.
In the end, (if the handle is improved) the SAR5 offers as much utility and control as the HRLM, but more blade.
Now if the SAR5 had an improved handle (satin, good edge and all) vs. a conceptual HRLM without a choil and with the blade edge up to the handel (with fixed thumb recess, satin, good edge and all) - THAT might be a VERY tough call and a GREAT problem to have.
Comparing the RMD vs. the SAR5 is a bit of a compromise. Once the handle is improved on the SAR5, the SAR5 offers about the same blade as the RMD, but carries a bit smaller and lighter - Vs. The RMD offers a bit more reach and optional grips with the choil. Tough call for me. But, the RMD is closer to perfection from the factory. Whereas, I am one who feels the SAR5 needs some significant handle mods.
The SAR5 is INFI though and while I personally feel they are both WAY tough enough for a knife this size, if properly satin, the INFI is much easier to maintain against corrosion... But, the RMD costs less both originally and definitely now on the secondary market.
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For a bit smaller knives, I have always been a BIG fan of my Canadian Special since I received it. I made a few minor tweaks to the micarta to better fit my hand, but otherwise. :thumbup:
The Canadian Special offers similar blade length to the Bravo1. But, it offers more of a spear point which I find more handy for most of my trail/woods/camping chores. They are both A2 and similar thickness - so both very comparably tough. The Bravo1 has a thicker beefier handle, but I like the versatility of the CS's handle. It might look a little funny and non-traditional. But, I (and many others including Mike S.) consider the Canadian Special one of the BEST multi-functional designs. I mention the CS because it is similar in blade length and oal to the Bravo, but it carries a bit smaller and lighter. And because it is similar to the Swamp Rat Vex.
Though I haven't used it much, the New Swamp Rat Vex from Blade 09 is promising to be one of the BEST smaller sized blades from all of Busse and kin IMO. For my uses and preferences, I might shallow out the belly just a tad on the Vex, but otherwise a GREAT design. :thumbup:
For a smaller knife a bit smaller than the RMD, the Canadian Special has honestly been one of my favorites in it's size since I got it a couple of years ago now - And I have MANY knives in this size from Busse and kin, Bark River and MANY other companies. But, this new Vex is a VERY strong contender. I am honestly not sure between the two right now.
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- Aug 10, 2006
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DWRW- You've made some good points about the Ratmandu. It is an excellent knife. I need to dust mine off and do a side-by-side against the Bravo-1. I haven't used my Ratmandu that much in the field, because it was the victim of my very first reprofiling job, and because I've never found a sheath that really fit it right. I just need to clean the edge up a bit, and it should be good-to-go.
I'd also like to mention that my OJ Warden has done more than its fair share of duty in the woods, and has been wonderful every step of the way. Satin, baby. Satin is where it's at. The more you use 'em, the purtier they get.
I'd also like to mention that my OJ Warden has done more than its fair share of duty in the woods, and has been wonderful every step of the way. Satin, baby. Satin is where it's at. The more you use 'em, the purtier they get.