Today the mighty Ratweiler came in!

She's a beauty!

A little edge touch up, just to keep things even.

She has some serious competition:

Specs: Swamp Rat Knives Ratweiler 7 1/2" long 1/4" thick SR101 blade, 1 3/4" wide. High saber grind. Ergonomic micarta handles. Wt: 19 oz.
Ranger Knives RD-7: 8" long 1/4" thick 5160 blade. Full flat grind. Micarta handles. Wt 18 oz.
Scrap Yard Knives Yard Hook. 7 1/4" long >1/4" thick recurve SR77 blade. Saber grind. Respirene C handle. Wt: 16 oz.

This one is gonna' be fun!

This is gunna be a good one! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, but I have too much else going on today. Just a little chopping comparison.
First I whacked the little tree I cut down yesterday with the BATAC. All three knives just sailed right through it in one or two chops. I like the feel of the ratweiler.

Then I got a hard old Live oak log and gave it 20 whacks!

Then 20 with the Yard Hook.

Then 20 with the Ranger.

I hate when this happens. I was able to chop about the same amount with 20 chops from each of them. They are all excellent choppers. The Ranger and the Ratweiler seemed to take less effort and bit deeper, but the Yard Hook's cushy handle let me hit it harder. So all I'm left with is my impression of which one I like the best. I just love the balance and feel of the Ratweiler. The handle is hand-filling and very comfortable for me, more so than the Ranger's. I can't help but think that a "mini" Dog Father with a 7 1/2" blade would rule. The high saber and flat grinds just seem to bite deeper with less effort than the thicker saber ground recurve. That goes against logic, but there it is. The weight probably helped the Ratweiler and Ranger, too. They are heavier. As choppers, I rate them as they are displayed, top to bottom.

Sweet pics, you are a lucky man, it is going to be a little bit before I get my hands on mine but it is coming. The sage looks great..... How was the edge when you got it? When I ordered my other 2 SR blades they both came hair popping sharp?

The edge was surprisingly sharp. It took very little work for me to get it as sharp as the others. This knife has a great feel to it, SB. And yes, the sage is a manly color, but girls like it, too. Like Irish Spring. I am very impressed with it.

Great Chopping Vic. That went about how I expected it to. I'll look forward to more... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Great comparison Vic! I wasn't sure how big the chopweiller was. Looks like a nice overall blade once again!

This is a great comparison.

I have been wanting the Chopweiler for some time now, but I am unfortunately selling knives right now just to pay bills. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />

I actually had a STUPID moment and sold a couple that I REALLY didn't want to let go. I am having regrets. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

I hope I don't miss out on the Chopweiler <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.

Bruce, I have the Camp Tramp as well... awesome knife and part of my reasoning and justification for letting my first original Ratweiler go (part of the reason...).

But, I like the blade shape of this new Chopweiler. The Camp Tramp and Ratweiler/Chopweiler are both nice, but they are different.

I don't really "Need" one either as I have a Camp Tramp and a Yard Guard, but this hobby is largely about wants anyway....

.

Well that's just great. I was all pumped and primed to do a Ratweiler (in Sage no less), Yard Guard, and RD-7 comparison. Talk about taking the wind out of my sails.

do it jerry! for the yard!

must not bow to peer pressure...bowing to peer pressure must not inhale...oops wrong thread.

Nice pix HD, I need to break my Ratweiler out and use it.

i knew he'd pick the rw. i had a feelin this was such a Horn Dog knife.

i just got a box from the swamp as well. photo shoot time.

It is my considered opinion having studied this thread carefully that ergonomic micarta is an oxymoron. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Now bring on the tan and sage S7 and S9s.

(And great thread Vic, thanks for sharing!)

Jerry can you hit something hard with each knife about 200 times then report in on which handle came second after the res-C hooker wins hands-down on comfort!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

price to preformance i would think the rd7 wins <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Please do it, Jerry. I had to run some errands. I have two teenage girls and it is Halloween. I did not have the time to do a full test with batoning and all. But I told the Yard I'd post a comparison as soon as possible, and I did that! You may get different results. I honestly thought the Yard Hook would out chop them both, but as you see, the results were about the same. At least my Yard Hook has a bottle opener. And it was cheaper than the Ratweiler. The RD is priced closer to the YH, but I have had it a few months and never used it until today. I do prefer the Ratweiler, though. It is just slightly blade heavy and the handle is perfect. The Swamp did a good job on this one.

I will however, I won't be able to do anything until this weekend. We have some new furnature comming so I was planning on doing destruction testing on some of our old stuff. However, I might save that for the Crash Axe/Gerber hatchet chopoff.

While the handles on the Ratweiler are very well shaped, Res C does a better job of shock absorption. The handle on the Ranger felt good, too, but for chopper handles, Res C is better IMO. Maybe Dan will have a Scrap Yard version soon. I'd buy it. The Yardweiler. The Scrapweiler? The Chopweiler!

maybe he could just call it "rufus". that's a good name for a dog.

maybe in this situation. when you've gotta chop through a concrete wall to escape a naxi zombie incarceration center, then slice a tomato to feed the starving children you were able to free, you'll be glad you went with a Busse.

I can see the informercial now. it will star jessica alba as a sous chef who's been abducted by nazi scientists trying to reanimate the dead, and you can watch it saturday night on sci-fi.

Ranger Knives are a great value. I have five of them. They are plenty tough, but jack hammer bit steel is probably a little tougher. Think what a Busse Combat in INFI this size would cost. Maybe $300?

I like the ratweiler very much. It has a lot of weight in the blade, for such a 'relatively' short knife. The handle is the best Rat handle I have seen, since the bog dog. I think this may end up being one of my favorites.

Cracking blade Vic !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Your tests are the best threads on this forum now, I only hope your funds permit many more to come !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, but I have a feeling Scrap Yard will be bringing out the DFLE soon. I don't need to test it, since I already put the original against the RTAK 2 and RD-9, but I still must BUY one! I really like this chopwelier. In fact, I like every Swamp Rat I ever bought. At least I'm off the Busse Combat kick. They are awesome knives, and the steel is easy to work, but with a FBM, Fat FBM, Steel Heart, Badger Attack, and Meaner Street, I think I have it covered. If Dan were to offer a chopweiler type knife, I'd get it and test it.

Well, I DO! I have a CT too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Well I have an RD7 and a Sage Weiler on the way so I plan on doing some comparison work. The one thing I won't do is baton with the weiler, I know she can handle it but it will rip that finish right off her. I suppose I could always send her in and have her pimped out like my SRS6

Oooohhh...yes, do that! That'd look really cool! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Nice review Vic and great pics as usual.

I don't have a camp tramp but the RD7 and Yard guard look pretty good to me.

just wait for the scrapper 7.

whatever. just wait for the 9" hook!

Din, I have noticed that sometimes SRKW and SYKCO have similar sized offerings near each other in time. So I would not be surprised to see a Scrap Yard 7.5" chopper come out soon. A Ratweiler with a Res C handle would be great. And don't forget that Yard Hooks are still in stock and they chop fine. I thought the other choppers cut a little deeper and easier, but 20 strokes still removed about the same amount of wood. And the Res C handle does reduce hand fatique. Many of us are hoping for a Scapper 7 or similar size SY knife soon.

vic, I have a hook and guard already, and love them. I just want one that's a little...bigger. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I would definitely pick up an S7, and I'm hoping that the tan S6 shows up in stock soonish, because I really would love one. I've just been fixated on the prototype photo from back when, with the really, really large recurves. so the 9" hook will be my white, res-c handled whale!

The 9" recurve would be impressive. I'm still holding out hope for the DFLE soon!

if we could get both, I wouldn't ask for anything else. for at least a week or two. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tan S7 (hell, or S9!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" />

AND NOT IN 2 RUDDY WEEKS! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

You like em big huh?