I will soon be in the market for a large chopper (once the weather warms up, that’s why I passed up the last release). I have pretty much narrowed my choices down to the SYKCO Dog Father or the Ranger RD-9. I know many people on this forum own both or knives from both companies. I am torn right now between which one to buy. Can anyone give me an honest (I know everyone will say the dogfather on this site!) assessment of each and tell me which one is better?
I have done some research and it seems that SYKCO’s products almost always come sharper than the Rangers. Most people have also said RES-C was more comfortable than the slab micarta construction of the Rangers.
On the other hand, Rangers were slightly cheaper, easier to buy and were easier to sharpen.
I read Horn Dogs topic of the Ranger, Dogfather, and Browning Chop off comparison and it seemed pretty helpful but only talked about how well the knives chopped, which were almost equal.
My first Scrapper was the Yard Keeper. Out of curiosity, can anyone give me a comparison of that and the RD-4?

For mew it goes DFLE best ,RD-9 next then DFCG. A lot of that is personal preference. If you want a special handle like ironwood or G10 then for sure go with the RD-9. If chopping wood is the most important thing then the DFCG wins but for the best combo of looks ,handle comfort and usability the DFLE is tops.

You might also want to consider the Browning comp bowie. It is a very nice knife and sheath combo for very very cheap. Not as good a chopper but better at slicing.

I've got both an RD9 (thanks ColdOne) and a DF en-route. I'll go hack some stuff - and let you know.

I did some "machete" work with all three knives, too amc. I find it hard to get decent pictures of slashing through palmettos. The best all-around of the three in that test was the DFLE, but the the Browning was better at a slicing through the palmettos and light vegetation. The Ranger RD9 and DFLE are about dead even in both chopping hard wood and machete work. The comfort of the DFLE handle gives it an advantage for long days of use, but the Ranger is pretty darned good as an all-around chopper. I see you are up at Ft Bragg. Spent some time there in the 70s at ROTC "Summer Camp". 82nd Airborne Division is hard core. If you are a paratrooper, I'd go with one of the non-shiny ones. The DF CG is more a pure chopper, like the FBM. It is too heavy to swing all day hacking through jungle or brush, but it is a great camp knife and chops like a small axe.

Good point, I like to build fires, primitive shelters, traps and the like on my camping trips and this is where the need for a big chopper comes in. I really dont like hatchets or axes for this because big knives have proved themself so much more versatile and less clumsy to swing.
How about the other characterists of these knives? How do they compare in sharpening, stain/rust resistance, edge holding, flexability? etc....

The Ranger's 5160 and Dog Father's SR77 are both good tool steels. They hold an edge fairly well in hard use. Not quite as well as Swamp Rat's Chopweiler, but they are easy to keep sharp with a little crock stick. They both require some care to prevent rust and both are strong enough for prying, batonning, and other hard use. I have only used the Browning once in the test you refer to. It is 1080 steel, I think. It has a good sharp convex edge, but I have not batonned with it or pried with it. I have not used it enough to determine long-term edge holding. It too would require some care to prevent rust. It is more specialized, being a competition bowie. For raw chopping power, the DF CG will beat the DFLE, Browning, and RD9. Personally, for the uses you describe, I would go with the DFLE or RD9. They are both great all-around big choppers. I have been using the Marine Tuf cloth on my satin and uncoated blades in SR77, SR101, and 5160. None of them have rusted so far, and I live on a salt water marsh.

As for the RD4 and YK, I have not compared those two. The RD4 is much bigger and heavier (nearly a 5" blade). The YK is much handier and easier carrying. It would be better for most bush craft and light cutting. The RD4 is a brute of a knife and is even bigger and heavier than the Dumpster Mutt. It can even chop pretty well, but you could just as easily carry a Scrapper 6, which is my favorite all-around fixed blade knife.

well, I have an rd9 and DFLE, and my rd9 has a convex grind, so its alot heavier than the dfle, but the edge is thicker(also less prone to damage) and doesn't chop as good.
if you get the flat ground rd9, I'm sure it will chop as good as the DFLE.
also, justin at ranger knives will send the knives as sharp as you want.
the rd9's handle is WAYYYY less comfy as the dogfathers but is also more versatile and has a good pommel.

so the DFCG, I don't have but I think it will outchop the rd9.
I have pryed with all my strength on both and they both hold up great and perform great.

i would do the old "eenie-meenie-minie-moe" deal and just pick one,and then in the near future just get the other.you want them both!!!!

something to take into consideration is availability and price.you can get an rd-9 any time you want in any configuration.DF's can be tricky to find.so,if you see a good deal on a DF,or a rare opportunity arises then buy that one.you can always get the ranger later.

as far as value goes..........
your going to pay about an extra $70.00-$80.00 for a DF.theirs one for sale right now for $200.00.an RD-9 costs $120.00.

the question is if the DF is worth the extra money.i think it is worth the money it sells for but only you can decide if it is worth the extra money in comparison to the ranger.i own all three...DF,DFLE,RD-9 and i like'em all....you will too.

the good news is that you have good taste in knives,particularly choppers and that you cant loose either way.how often does a win-win happen

good luck,let us know how it works out

I used to have one of the old heavy saber ground RD9s. It was a beast of a chopper. I prefer the lighter, faster flat ground RDs. The saber grind is fine for chopping wood, but not quite as efficient as a flat grind for through cutting smaller saplings and such in one chop. The same applies to the Dog Fathers. The heavier CG in saber grind will out chop the flat ground DFLE, but is not as good at cutting through lighter stuff. In both cases, the superior shock absorping quality of Respirene C handle makes the DFs easier on the hand than the Ranger's full tang with micarta.

I think a DFCG is worth 200, and if you see it for a good price grab it, than get a ranger whenever you have the money.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

convex grinds are great choppers

thats why most axe's and kurkri's are convex ground

yeah, but the convex grind is alot thicker, it really depends on HOW you do the convex grind. I'm sure I could ask him to thin it out, (there just soo much metal behind the edge) but I think it will come in handy, I want one super thick edge that I can beat on!
I think a high sabre grind and convex edge makes for the best chopper, BTW/
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />