gerber lmf2 infantry and machete

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chriso

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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.
 
I've handled the LMFII, but I wouldn't call it anything like a hunting knife. Too bulky. Pretty expensive for one also.
 
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.
 
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's a picture of me wearing it in Iraq.
 
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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.
 
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.
 
Rat 3?

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. . . or maybe . . .

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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?
 
probably around 120-130 around there that a good price range or will i have to up it?
 
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.
 
seems like alot of you guys have experience with it? does it keep a good edge? hows the grip?
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
chriso,

A machete will be pretty inexpensive. A machete, combined with something like a RAT-3, rustproof Aqua Salt, the much less expensive Kaiyuh or Side Hawg, or even a good folder like the Needs Work, 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
 
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