[chriso]

how is this knife? any experience?
i need a goo sturdy hunting knife and im thinking of a good short machete? any recommendations? theres some pretty cool ones on cabelas but i dont know about the quality.

[hso]

I've handled the LMFII, but I wouldn't call it anything like a hunting knife. Too bulky. Pretty expensive for one also.

[jpatterson]

I have an LMF II, I like it a lot for camping/truck knife, but I dunno how I would feel about it for hunting. Last time I didn't have my hatchet in the car and I whacked down a couple 6-7in diameter trees with it easily.

[leadcounsel]

I like it for my line of work. If it's too big, you can go a step down with the Gerber Prodigy for arounf $50. It's the same knife, but smaller. Here (http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=82706&d=1218089986)'s a picture of me wearing it in Iraq.

[chriso]

what size is it? are the Ka-Bars on cabelas any good?

[hso]

chriso,

Are you hunting Whitetail or Moose?

[Exmasonite]

look at the RAT 3 for a "sturdy" outdoors knife. haven't cleaned a deer with it yet but the definition of "sturdy" in my book.

[JShirley]

Generally, the things you might want to do with a "bush knife" like a golok, kukuri, bolo, or machete are a little different than the things you'd want a hunting knife for.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What's a RAT 3?

[ArfinGreebly]

http://www.cumberlandknifeworks.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/702df26e6329ea05e44e2faf4230eadc.jpg

. . . or maybe . . .

http://www.outdoors-magazine.com/local/cache-vignettes/L500xH375/Rat3a-32799.jpg

[chriso]

who makes the rat 3? good knife? i just need a machete every once and awhile it would be good to have and white tail mullies bear and pig i want one knife does all... so no one has experience with the cabelas Ka-Bars?

[Al Thompson]

Rat is a good light knife. What's your budget?

[chriso]

probably around 120-130 around there that a good price range or will i have to up it?

[Al Thompson]

That's plenty IMHO. :) I'd get a Cold Steel Trail Master or Recon Scout.


http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CS39L16C

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CS39LRS

[chriso]

thats a pretty cool knife. i like the way the Ka-Bars look but they are selling on cabelas for around 50 bucks i thought they were way more expensive than that.

[alaskanativeson]

The Ontario Rat-3 (http://www.cutleryshoppe.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7296) is a nice sized knife that is tough and reasonably priced.

[chriso]

seems like alot of you guys have experience with it? does it keep a good edge? hows the grip?

[alaskanativeson]

Good grip even with blood, I like micarta. The D2 holds a really good edge and yet is easier to sharpen than my Carbon V Master Hunter was (I have since Ebay'd the Master Hunter.) The one thing I didn't like was the Micarta sheath. I made one out of elk leather that I didn't really like, I'll probably have one made by somebody who is better with leather than I am.

[Al Thompson]

I have a Rat-3 on my gear and like it. If you have bigger hands, the other Rat (4) is about what your looking for - Rat3 is a bit small.

http://www.ratcutlery.com/rc-4.htm

[JShirley]

i want one knife does all

Good luck. Any (insert tool name here) that can do everything won't be optimal for anything.

John

[chriso]

not EVERYTHING but hunting/camping/woods knife ya know?

[JShirley]

In this case, a very large, sturdy knife that would be good for heavy brush and light to medium chopping won't be very good for cleaning game.

A small, inexpensive knife and a larger knife would work much better, or a small knife and a hatchet.

John

[chriso]

how big are the Ka-Bars i have a small in expensive knife so maybe just a big knife is in order. are the Ka-Bars nice and sturdy? they sell them at my work and i can get it for cost.

[Exmasonite]

so... little background (as i understand it) on the "RAT" knives:

There's a company called "Ontario" and a company called "RAT" (short for Randall Adventure Training, i think). Once upon a time, Ontario put out a RAT series of knives inspired/created/made by RAT. As time went on, the two had a falling out. Ontario may or may not be continuing to make a RAT series of knife (RAT has asked them to stop as their business agreement is no longer). I think it's caught up in legal land right now...

SO.... conventional wisdom says that there are Ontario RAT knives. I have an Ontario RAT3 and Ontario RAT5. they are very good knives and i've been very happy with them. From what i've read, if you want the "real" mccoy nowadays, go to the source and buy from RAT. there may or may not be QC issues with the ontario rat line (or maybe that's just what RAT would like people to believe). Regardless, if you want to support the true "maker" and inspiration of the RAT series, go to www.ratcutlery.com My very cursory impression is that RAT is the little guy and Ontario is the big guy trying to take advantage/bully them. then again, RAT may just have a better PR machine.

My ontario RATS are made of 1095 steel which i've found no problem with. I'll also say i haven't really put them through the paces enough to determine long term durability/quality. each came somewhat dull and had to be touched up to my standards. I think you can get the RAT cutlery knives in D2 steel which some might proclaim is better. I leave that debate to your "search" button.

In conclusion, there are some nice knives out there from the Ontario/RAT people. There's a RAT 3, 5, and 7 (roughly corresponding to blade lengths). there's an RC3, 4, 5, and 6 if i recall. do your own homework and figure out what's best for you. i'd imagine between those 2 product lines, there's as big a knife as you would want to carry.

[JShirley]

chriso,

A machete will be pretty inexpensive. A machete, combined with something like a RAT-3 (http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=44246), rustproof Aqua Salt (http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=45390), the much less expensive Kaiyuh (http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5177) or Side Hawg (http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=4976), or even a good folder like the Needs Work (http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=7368), should work great for you.

The Kabar is a compromise knife, like most "combat' knives. It's really too big for delicate tasks, and too small for really good chopping power. BUT they are pretty strong, and reasonably priced.

Regards,

John

[chriso]

yeah its just a good deal because my work has plenty of the ARMY and USMC special edition Ka-Bars and i get a discount... the RAT knives look very promising i might just need to get one of each... haha

[chriso]

i think im going to order the desert Ka-Bar does that have a rubber grip? or still the leather? i guess what i really need to know is are they strong? will it last me? and do they keep a good edge? is it good quality?

[JShirley]

Kabars are strong, and will last with very moderate maintenance unless you badly abuse them. If you mean this version (https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=5013&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7&categoryName=Military/Tactical), the handle is Kraton. Steel is 1095, which is not a new super-steel, but which is a very decent combination of edge holding and strength. Can rust, but run a little gun oil over the knife after use. If you use it for cooking, use a little olive oil after you wash it.

If you're dead set on getting a Kabar, may I suggest you accompany it with something small and useful like this (https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=4062). Really, any small knife with a useful blade shape will work fine for things like skinning animals or cutting steak.

John

[chriso]

yeah well with the Ka-Bar it seems like a win win... cheaper... i get a discount... and i can also get a small knife as well... Jshirley is there a certain recommended steel for knives? what grade steel did the USMC use when Ka-Bars were issued? anyone know?

[JShirley]

Just depends on your needs, man. There's nothing wrong with 1095. It's an inexpensive steel that is fairly strong and can take a good edge. It's also not hard to resharpen.

Kabar's "Next Generation" Ka-Bar is 440A, which most here would probably consider a downgrade. If you wanted to upgrade to D2 (https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=1282&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7,9&categoryName=Military/Tactical), which is arguably a better steel than 1095 (for cutting, not chopping), you'll be looking at a significant increase in cost.
Personally, if your discount is on any Kabar product, I'd probably get their bolo-patterned Camp Knife (https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=1244&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7&categoryName=Military/Tactical). It's slightly heavier and longer, but its blade shape should make it a much better chopper.

[Exmasonite]

that Kabar machete under "related products" on JS's link might be something to look at, too.

[chriso]

so ive decided on getting some type of Ka-Bar but im wondering if i should get serrated or just regular?

[45Guy]

I'd stick with regular for a blade that size. You have more than enough length and weight to a Ka-Bar that serrations are just something to look at. It looks better too:)

[acmax95]

Are you getting a full size Ka-Bar or one of the smaller 5 1/4" blades? I recently bought one of the short Ka-Bars and I do not like the way it feels. It seems like a good knife but the handle seems too thin.

You could take a look at the SOG Seal knives. I recently bought a Seal Pup Elite and a Seal Team elite and both seem like really good knives and they feel good in my hands. The Seal Pup Elite is going deer hunting with me this fall. The Seal team stays in the truck but would probably make a good camp/field knife as well.

[chriso]

im getting a full sized Ka-Bar yeah my friend had one of the SOG seal knives and it seemed really cool and well balanced. the Ka-Bar seems like the best deal for the price and i get a discount so im going to go with a fullsized Ka-Bar and ill probably buy a machete from them as well and maybe a gerber folder or somthing.

[chriso]

actually i just ordered the gerber lmf2 infantry a friend of mine who served in bahgdad said he loved his and totally recommended it for my needs. He also said Ka-Bars are great knives to so ill probably order the camp knife as well.

[JShirley]

LMF2 are great, as well. They don't have the size you really need for an outdoor knife, but get a hatchet or very large knife to accompany it.

[chriso]

Yeah I think im going to get a Ka-Bar machete or camp knife.

[chriso]

Just got my gerber lmf II ITS AWESOME!!! It's just so tempting to go break some plexi glass. It is a very solid knife and came with a very sharp factory edge, It seems like it should hold up fairly well and suite my needs.