Had not considered machete work. DFLE has an advantage there due to extra 3/4" length and full flat grind.



I love the look of satin and prefer it when I can get it. DFLE has an advantage there as my BR is coated. I will get around to stripping my BR eventually as I planned to do that when I bought it as a user. Is SR101 dimple-prone like Infi?

This thread has confirmed my inital feelings that any of these three are a great big knife. The DF LE is probably the hybrid amongst these three, and as such has slightly more versatility.

In a VERY tight personal race, I think that the DF LE wins for me. Here's why...
- 3/4" longer than the BR
- almost the same weight as the BR
- full flat grind is nice and keeps the blade narrow
- satin finish is beautiful and easy to refresh
- 2'nd place travel friendly (behind the BR)
- 2'nd place chopping (behind the DFCG)
- 1'st place batoning
- 1'st place machete work
- 2'nd place fighter (behind the BR)
- 2'nd place detail work (behind the BR)
- 2'nd place toughness (behind the DFCG

The DF LE wins because it does a lot of things well without any big weaknesses.

I would be happy with all three in the bush! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Does the DF LE and DF CG use the same steel?

Why is the DF LE 3 oz's lighter? They are exactly the same size.

Good argument Vox. I tend to mostly agree with your breakdown assessment.


One other advantage of the DFLE over the BR (assuming the BR is stripped) is the DFLE is less prone to rust than the BR.

In most cases, I would argue that it is hard to choose a winner in certain catagories between the DFLE and the BR. They are just too close.

They are all tough enough, so I don't get much point in trying to pick an advantage to either if both are plenty tought enough.

SR-101 does have some edge advantages, but with some corrosion compromises.

The extra length for the DFLE is a slight advantage in some things.

Weight is too close for most people to notice.


--------

Most Swamp Rat SR-101 knives are dimple prone just as SR-77.

Occassionaly, I find a nice surprise and not too many. But, it appears random per knife more-so than per model.

The only exception I know of was the Swamp Rat Desert Jack. Mine had no heat-treat swirl markc or pecker trails. Just simple orange peel type uniform dimples.
But, I have never seen anyone else strip their Desert Jack. So, maybe I got lucky (??????).

.

I have a CGDF and DFLE - I'm going w/ the CGDF - its a brute, and a pleasure to chop with. No scientific reasoning - just my favorite! (I'm a batoning fool...)

Same steel. Both use SR-77.


The DFCG and DFLE have the same "dimensions". But, they have
The difference in weight is from the different grinds.

The Sabre grind on the SFCG has a LOT more steel and weight above the primary grind for the length of the spine.

The DFLE has a full height grind which shaves a lot of weight - reduced across the length of the blade.


*** Part of the weight difference "Might" also be in blade thickness differences - see below.

But, regardless of blade thickness, full height grind will weigh less than sabre grind if other factors are the same.

If the DFLE is thinner than the DFCG, then both thickness and grind type "Both" attribute to lighte blade and over-all weight. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />


--------------------------


*** Interestingly, I have always understood the DFCG to have a .275" thick blade. But, I never had one to measure. And I don't recall anyone posting dimensional specs on thickness for confirmation.


The DFCG is listed now as: Thickness: .275 (Between 1/4" & 5/16")

"Between 1/4" & 5/16")" is pretty ambiguous!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I guess Dan is just trying to help us understand that 0.275" falls "Between 0.25" and 0.3125" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> )


In any event, the DFLE is also listed as: "Thickness: .275 (Between 1/4" & 5/16")"



**** ..... Yet, I measure my DFLE at 0.248" thick!



Anybody else have confirmation of thickness of the DFCG?



.

saber grind vs full height grind.

I didn't know the DFLE and DFCG had different grind blades...thx

I just calipered one of each:
DFCG (2nd release) = 6.56mm or 0.258in = a hair over 1/4"
DFLE = 6.21mm or 0.244in = a hair under 1/4"

Close enough to call them both 1/4" in my book, with the CG coating adding a few thousandths to the original.

It can definitely be hard to see in pictures. Its almost exactly like the difference between a DMDC/LE and DMCG. less mass, but more efficient geometry.

Thanks MTR. That difference can probably be credited to black coating on the CG and no black coating and some grinding to remove dimples on the LE. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Still don't know where 0.275" came from ???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

.

I think you are thinking this kind of...
idk... wrong.

impact is impact, it all goes one way.
the impact can't go out to the sides...
???
it's all going to go in the same place.

all the more concentrated area is going to do, it put more force in one spot on the baton, possibly releasing energy into the baton and cutting into it.

so I def. think a flat spine is better for batoning.

and the punching bag thing (I did read your correction, they'd both go the same difference, one spot may show the impact differently though.
like there may be a dent in a spot if you used your fist Vs a flat surface.

so actually the spine has no effect on how a knife batons other than the fact that some energy is going to be released into the baton (so if you did have a hard enough baton they would baton about the same) and it's just kind of awkward and not as easy.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
just my thoughts...
and voxhog, I think you made a great choice.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

and knifeguy, when the DFLE was intorduced Dan said it was .250" (1/4") thick.
I'm sure the info on the sight is just an oversight.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

For batoning I feel that a flat spine with "slightly" rounded edges is ideal.

If the edges are a perfect 90 degree instead of rounded you can eat up your baton if you are not perfect with your swings. My Battle Rat has a "slight" rounding on the edges of the spine compared to the perfect 90 degree angle on both Dogfathers.

I may take a belt grinder to the spine of my DF LE to take off the hard corners. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />