I took my knives out today for a bit of chopping today but it was about to rain so I didn't have my camera. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

The knives that I took with me today were a bunch of my users. Here are my very unscientific observations:

1. 18" Ontario machete - surprised me with how well it chopped hard wood as I had never chopped before with a machete, very versatile in both chopping and clearing brush, hurt my palm after awhile and developed hot spots because the fit and finish on the scales was poor, not very shock resistant.

2. Battle Rat - awesome chopper for a knife 1/2 the size of the machete it hung at about 80%, very comfortable.

3. Sarsquatch (SARq) in competition finish - very effective at 75%, not as comfortable as the ResC but not bad either. Easy to "aim" for precise cuts.

4. Camp Tramp - probably 65% of the machete, very comfortable, great compromise between size and efficiency, if it was as sharp and convex as the Sarsquatch (the SARq is a laser) I bet that it would have almost closed the 10% gap. I look forward to Vic's extended test with equal edge geometry.

5. Scrapper 6 - could get the job done in a pinch but you really don't want to chop with any knife of this size if you are concerned with efficiency

Next time I head out I'll take my camera and bring along a Ratweiler and Fusion Steel Heart.