Advice Needed: Ultra-Rugged Bushcraft/Camping Blade

Hello THR knife experts. Please go easy on me.

My current blade knowledge plays a very distant third to my firearm and flashlight knowledge. I have a drawer full of decent Benchmade, Kershaw, Lone Wolf, and Buck EDC folders, but I now find myself looking for a very nice large fixed blade. And yes, I have read through the entire recent, "Advice for a survival knife" thread.

I do have a R.A.T. (before they were ESEE) Izula, and I love the little guy. It is so light and handy, and has taken a short camping trip full of minor abuse, and is still shaving sharp. Now I want a very nice large companion to the Izula. This blade would literally be in a custom kydex combo sheath with the Izula, so I want something substantially larger than the Izula. My main uses for this knife, in order of importance, will be:

1. Camping/hiking/bushcraft (batoning, fire prep, whittling, general...um, beating? :eek:)
2. Yard work (cutting twine, slicing canvas plant sacks, chopping small branches, cutting open bags of fertilizer, cutting blackberry vines off of EVERYTHING)
3. Everything else that takes a very sturdy large fixed blade

My budget is about $150-$175. I would like new as opposed to used or discontinued. I would prefer a blade length of 5" to 6.5", thickness at least 3/16", plain edge, made in the USA, handles of micarta or G-10, made of steel that can take a serious beating and hold an edge. Sheath doesn't matter too much, since I make my own kydex sheaths.

I have looked at the ESEE 5 and 6, and I like almost everything about them, but they lack a certain...I don't know - uniqueness? I like the looks and specs of Busse and Swamp Rat, but it's hard to figure out what is currently available new from these companies (it seems extremely limited - and can you buy them from anywhere except their websites?). The Bark River Bravo 2 looks great, but I wonder how well it holds up to abuse like batoning and moderate wood prying/chopping. Also, I like a choke-up choil (but am not necessarily married to the idea), and the Bravo 2 doesn't offer this, nor does the ESEE 5.

If I didn't have the Izula, I think the ESEE 4 would be my best choice as it seems to be the "Goldilocks" of outdoor knives. But I think I'd like a larger blade that will compliment the Izula. The Izula handles the smaller finer chores fantastically, but lacks heft, grip, blade length, and frankly...distinction.

I am now open for suggestions. Thanks!

Swamp Rat Ratmandu.5 1/4 inch blade.It takes about 6 weeks to get one.
Order at ratknives.com
Lifetime warranty on those bad boys.

Swamp Rat Ratmandu.

Yes, I've come across the Ratmandu during my online searches. I REALLY like that knife. The specs look just about perfect for my needs. I had no idea where to buy. 6 weeks? Really? Well, good knives come to those who wait...

Any other similar knives in this price range out there that I'm not thinking of?

There is TOPS knives.They have alot of different designs.Becker knives also have a good reputation.

I am waiting on my Ratmandu now.For that price,it's tough to beat.

It's about 0.5" shorter than you specified, but I'd look hard at the Benchmade Nimravus. No wait, under budget, great quality, and you know Benchmade will stand behind their product. They also have the Lifesharp deal too. You pay the shipping to send your knife to them and they will resharpen it for free. Not sure if you need or want that option, but it's there.


made of steel that can take a serious beating and hold an edge.

Keep in mind that those two qualities are in total opposition to one another. The best you can do is compromise between the two.


Not being facetious here, but have you considered just getting a beater machete or bolo, or parang, or even a small hatchet, and leaving the more delicate tasks to your other knives? The reason I say this is that you mention heft and chopping. I'd hate having to chop anything with a 6.5" blade, which is at the high end of what you mentioned. Just some thoughts.

Good luck with your hunt :)


Jason

There is TOPS knives.They have alot of different designs.Becker knives also have a good reputation.

I've only glanced through the TOPS selection briefly. I'll take another look. Becker as well, although I didn't see much Becker with micarta or G-10. Seems to be a lot of plastic.

I'd look hard at the Benchmade Nimravus

I do love Benchmade, and I also like that I work about a 10-minute drive from their factory. I'll take a second look at the Nim, but it didn't strike me as a heavy-duty woods knife, maybe more of a fighting blade.

those two qualities are in total opposition to one another

I guess I meant, "holds an edge well during heavy use". My R.A.T. Izula seems to have this ability. 1095. Harder to sharpen, maybe?

I'd hate having to chop anything with a 6.5" blade, which is at the high end of what you mentioned.

I do have a Kershaw Outcast D2, for the really heavy chopping duties. I'm looking for more of an all-around survival/camp knife, with small chopping/batoning capabilities.

If they're still available, I suggest a SYKO 711 (http://shop.scrapyardknives.com/product.sc;jsessionid=D1528A37E38DE713E60F84641B5E6DCD.qscstrfrnt06?productId=60&categoryId=4). 52100 steel with Busse's terrific heat treat and coating to reduce rusting. You will need to get a sheath, but since you make your own, you'll come in under $175 after paying for your sheath materials.

John

Becker BK 2. There are micarta handles available for around $35 on Ebay

Edit to add: Bark River Bravo 1 and Fallkniven F1

Jim

but they lack a certain...I don't know - uniqueness

That's a good thing. Keep in mind that knives have been in use for a long time and there's not a lot of "uniqueness" that serves your purpose since form follows function. The forms that work for what you want are due to the use dictating what works.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I decided on the Ratmandu CG. I don't know what the CG stands for. Convex grind maybe? Anyway, I just placed my order for a desert sage blade with tan canvas micarta handle. I think this blade will serve me well for almost all my uses for a long time. Matched up with my R.A.T. Izula and my Kershaw Outcast, I'll have a great outdoor trio.

I think the SYKO is a better buy, but it's hard to go wrong with a Busse, in any case, IMO. You found a RMD for less than $175?

John

Congrats on the new knife. Have fun!

Jim

As long as you don't mind waiting a bit,they are 138.00 on the website.

I think the SYKO is a better buy, but it's hard to go wrong with a Busse, in any case, IMO.

I took a look at the SYKCO 511, but liked the Ratmandu's choil, grip, tang, and colors better. The 511 would have been my second choice.

You found a RMD for less than $175?

On the ratknives.com site, they are $138.95

No sheath with the SRCG?
What/where would accommodate?

No sheath with the SRCG?
What/where would accommodate?

I make my own kydex holsters for handguns, and I've made 1 or 2 kydex sheaths for knives, so I plan on making one for my Ratmandu as soon as I get it. But I have seen a few from this website: http://www.mashedcat.com/prod_rmd.php

OJ, glad you found the one you're looking for. Feels good, don't it?

As for me, dang. I thought I had all the blades I needed (for now),
but then JS went and posted a link to the Sykco 711 (http://shop.scrapyardknives.com/product.sc;jsessionid=D1528A37E38DE713E60F84641B5E6DCD.qscstrfrnt06?productId=60&categoryId=4).

Dang. Just dang. Look at that knife. Dang.

Bass Pro shops has a large Bowie knife made by winchester for around $35. Mine has survived 2 deer seasons. Due to it's size I use it like a hatchet. It's good to go next season.

As for me, dang. I thought I had all the blades I needed (for now),
but then JS went and posted a link to the Sykco 711.

Dang. Just dang. Look at that knife. Dang.

Yeah, those SYKCOs look pretty sweet. That coating...mmmm. I just like the details of the Swamp Rat knives a little better. I would like to try those SYKCO resiprene handles. They look very durable. These Swamp Rat and SYKCO blades seem to be just about the best value going right now.

OJ, glad you found the one you're looking for. Feels good, don't it?

Yep!!! I just have to try and wait patiently now. I am pretty excited.

One_Jackal,

I'm glad it's working for you, but that's probably because you're not using it like a knife. Winchester's quality is pretty bad.

Nem,

Sam's got a 311 I sent, and a 911 (http://shop.scrapyardknives.com/product.sc?productId=62&categoryId=4) will hopefully be on its way soon. :) There's a SR in the same size (Rodent 9, maybe?), but it's got finger grooves. Finger grooves are almost always a sure recipe for hot spots on a large chopper.

Johnny, you could ask Sam for his impressions of the 311.

John

Whatever anyone has to say about the Busse, Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard line of knives everything that they produce is going to be a good tough product.

If you don't like the coatings you can always take them off, but be prepared to care for the knife so you don't end up with rust.

Sam's got a 311 I sent, and a 911 will hopefully be on its way soon. :)That 911 results in more blade lust.
(Must ... not ... look --- turn ... away ... :eek:)

If for some reason my new Ontario SP 53 (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=666488) doesn't work out -
though I have no reason to think that it won't -
that 911 would be next.

Maybe someday regardless ... :rolleyes:

If you don't like the coatings you can always take them off, but be prepared to care for the knife so you don't end up with rust.

Oh, I like the coating. My R.A.T. Izula has a pretty thick coating on the blade, and it is great. It's one of the reasons I picked the Ratmandu over something like a Bark River.

@Jshirley I have no problems keeping any stainless steel knife sharp enough to shave with, even the $3 filet knives that commercial fishermen use. Maybe you should invest in a ceramic rod instead of more knives.

Heh. Good one.

The firearms company-licensed knives that are decent to good quality:

Browning
H&K

Decent to bad: S&W

Junk: Winchester

One J,
Thanks for bringing up Bass Pro Shops. I spend more $$ there than any other retail store in the world, excluding Kroger. There isn't a month that goes by that there isn't a package arriving from them. I am in the middle of two stores, both about 2.5 hours away. If I ever move from my place, the number one criteria is 30 minutes max away from a BPS. Now you reminded me I haven't shopped this month. Thanks a bunch:banghead:
Glad your knife is working out for you. It's not the tool, it's the mechanic.....

Jim

Sorry for the thread drift

A falkniven A1 can be found for just just a few bucks over your price bracket. Good quality V10 steel 6.3" blade.