The Yard Keeper is a very fine knife. It is just overbuilt. I like to think of it as a mini-survival knife. You could chop down small trees with it by beating on the back of the blade!
I think one of the advantages of the Yard Keeper is the thicker spine in the event you want to use it for beating on. I still haven't measured the primary grind angles of the Howler and the Yard Keeper to compare. But, as HD showed, you can get a great edge on it. That said, like the DM, the Yard Keeper "Can" be made into a great edge cutter, but because of it's excessive thickness, it is not going to be the best through cutter. Thinner stock will have an advantage in through cutting. But, most people wouldn't notice too much real world difference if comparing a 1/4" thick knife to a 3/16" thick knife if they both have the same "edge" grind angles and same level of sharpness.
I do think the Yard Keeper is overbuilt. But, with a full height grind, I am OK with it. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I may prefer the Yard Keeper over the Howler (????). I KNOW I like the SATIN finish!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
.
