[Blain]

Are the ATAK knifes worth the price of a gun? Supposedly the best utility knifes, but are they worth THAT much? What other options do I have?

http://mdenterprise.com/knives.htm

[Kjay]

This topic starts flame-wars on Bladeforums. Here's my opinion as a former owner of five MDs. The knives are good solid pieces. The hard chrome over O1 is more PR than practical. The O1 is a good tool steel but will rust easily and worse will rust under the chrome finish. The grips have good ergo feel but can slip when wet. The maker has made some interesting claims that you should take with a grain of salt - way too much hype. I found the knives practical but boring - that's why I parted with mine. There are many makes that will serve you as well (such as CRK). If you like the MD style buy one. :scrutiny:

[JShirley]

There are many makes that will serve you as well (such as CRK).

Haha. :D MD vs. CRK. But, it's the drop of Kevin's blood that imparts the Dark Geniustm. And, perhaps, the price. ;)

In all fairness, CRK makes good, value- priced knives vs semi-custom knives that Mad Dog makes. No-one else can answer what satisfies your perceived value.

Blain, it would help if you gave a little better criteria- ie, ideal size, materials, etc. My "utility knife" ideal has a long blade, and is fairly heavy, to use for limbing and chopping, a la the big Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry hackers. You would probably be hard pressed to beat the value you'll find in Swamp Rat (http://www.swamprat.com/knives.html) knives.

John

[Kjay]

CRK = Chris Reeve Knives. Not Columbia River Knife & Tool. Methinks you'll find a Reeve's knife every bit the match of a MD at a better price. But that's my opinion. :neener:

[JShirley]

No argument. I just thought it was a spectacularly understated jab at 'ole Kev. :) CRK...CRKT...whatever. ;)

John

[Kjay]

Hehe... :evil: Actually might suggest that you could buy 10 Becker BK7's for the price of one ATAK and be well served until heck freezes over. ;) :D

[JShirley]

I've liked the Becker's I've seen.

I've thought the MD's I've seen were...okay. Usually too light for my taste.

[Blain]

I want a survival knife for my bug out bag. Right now I have a bayonet....

[Tamara]

If you want Real Ultimate Power in a knife, you are looking in the right direction.

[hso]

For less money and good quality you could go to -

http://www.chrisreeve.com/pffixed.htm

http://swamprat.com/knives.html

http://www.shomertec.com/item.cfm?Action=Index&variable=452

http://www.topsknives.com/

http://www.grecoknives.com/GRECO275.htm

and many other makers

[TheeBadOne]

http://swamprat.com/images/howlingratsm.jpg
Swamprat Howling Rat $88.95

http://store5.yimg.com/I/topsknivesstore_1766_1612427
TOPS Tom Brown Tracker $299

http://www.chrisreeve.com/skinner.jpg
Chris Reeve Skinner $265

Of the above links, these are the ones that appeal to me. Howling Rat is priced the lowest at $88.95

[JShirley]

I think Swamp Rat knives have got to be one of the best current bargains in hard-use knives.

Love my EDMF knives, too. Hard to beat, but heavy (good or bad, depending on your view. I like heavy, big knives).

John

[hso]

Forgot to include the McCann Puffin - http://www.gokart.net/shop-utopia/mccann/knives/puffin/puffin.html

[TheeBadOne]

http://www.gokart.net/shop-utopia/mccann/knives/puffin/PuffinMagnum.jpg
That's one fine looking blade too. :cool:

[mtnbkr]

Real Ultimate Power in a knife

Bwahahaha :D

Chris

[Tamara]

The McCann Puffin Magnum is one seriously good utility blade. I have one as my camp/utility/chop-[stuff]-up knife, and can report that it is sharp as the dickens, holds an edge well, and is built like a truck.

[TheeBadOne]

The McCann Puffin Magnum is one seriously good utility blade. I have one as my camp/utility/chop-[stuff]-up knife, and can report that it is sharp as the dickens, holds an edge well, and is built like a truck.
Looks like I have one more to add to my wish list. :D

[JShirley]

Tamara, is that...?

:D

[Tamara]

Oh, yeah, it's heck on fingers, too... :o

[Guyon]

Camillus has seconds of the BK-7 on sale for about $37. Reports on Bladeforums are that they have very minor blemishes--usually just some coating overspray on the blade stamp. Others report their knives look like firsts.

[TrapperReady]

Looking at that Mad Dog site...

Am I to understand that the Guard Bar is a $300 stick... whoops... I mean... crowbar?


MD Guard Bar (http://mdenterprise.com/guardbar.htm)

[JShirley]

Yeah, but...um...IT"S COOL and Stuff!

[Prodigalshooter]

Hey now, you know you're not supposed to be critical of the MD, gosh, you could be banished from Ultimate Tacticality, forever!:p
Uh, yeah, banished, yeah, that's the ticket!;)

[Joe Demko]

RE: Mad Dog

He is one of the people I personally boycott. Why? Because I don't buy anything from anybody who mantains a self-imposed LEO or Active Military Only sales policy on any of their products. Haven't even bothered to look at Mad Dog's website in a couple-three years, but the last time I looked, he had ceramic knives for sale. The ones for those of us who weren't LEO or Active Military had metallic strips embedded in them. Those for The Annointed did not. No laws involved. Just his personal policy. No thanks. Keep it. I'll buy from somebody who trusts me, thanks.

[Chris Rhines]

I like mine.
And for what it's worth, Mad Dog and I have similar ideas of what makes a good working knife.
But I doubt that I'll buy another, not since I got into making my own.

- Chris

[1911]

Ill have to agree with the general consensus here and suggest the
Chris Reeve Knives.Great value for the money.

I see way too much inconsistency from knife to knife with the Mad Dogs.Seen way more DAWGS that I have seen good ones.They also feel to light for my taste.