One of my trees was being choked out by massive grape vines, blackberry bushes, palmettos and sticker vines. I could not believe how much stuff I got out of that tree.


Burn baby burn.

Messed up this little mother's home a bit, but she'll be fine.

Today was more cut and burn. Good time to check out the Ratweiler.
It came with this sheath and a nice hand-finished edge from the previous owner.


Here I used it to chop up a dead limb I cut from the tree I am trying to save.


It chops well for a 7.5" blade. Much like the Chopweiler. I think I prefer the handle on the chopweiler a little. I used it to split some maple to stoke the fire. This stuff burns fast and hot with a blue flame. The CW does this well.


The limbs are starting to fall faster than I can pick them up. Getting some wind from Tropical Storm Fay.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SRKW/kookri023.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SRKW/kookri027.jpg[/img]
There will be plenty more to chop and burn after the storm. As I expected, the Ratweiler handles pretty much like the chopweiler. In other words, It's a great little camp knife.

Great pics! it's fun to excercise your blades especially new ones,I never feel like their mine realy until I put them through a little heavy use. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I'm thinking about getting a Ratweiler.

Very interesting info Vic! I've really been looking forward to hearing how you liked the Ratweiler after a little use. I really like the looks of that knife and have wanted one for some time, however I really like the Chopweiler and I'm not sure if I would really benefit more from a Ratweiler. It's been interesting to hear how they compare. So far it seems that from what I've heard that both cut about the same, but most users prefer the handle on the Chopweiler better. This is good news, especially since having just purchased an NMFBM, I'm not really in a position financially to run around looking for a Ratweiler on the exchanges. Thanks for sharing! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

So for now I'll just be happy that I have a Chopweiler to play with, although I'd still would love to have a Ratweiler one of these days. Just not any time soon... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Nice pics, thats some nice looking land you have there.

You will probably have a bunch more limbs to clean up after this storm passes through your area, but i hear most of the storm has fizzled out. We are getting some wind up here in Augusta, but I wish we would get some rain too.

Nice pics Brother! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The yard is a huge mess. Limbs and branches litter the place. TS Fay's rain bands are still hitting coastal Georgia right now. The Disaster Channel went on endlessly about Jacksonville, FL and Charleston, SC. Coastal Georgia has been hammered for three days and even with the center of the storm way over in the FL panhandle we are still getting the rain bands. This will take me a week to clean up, if it ever stops raining.

As for the Ratweiler, I just wanted to have all three versions, the CW, RW, and CT. I can see no practical reason for getting a RW if you have a CW. The Chopweiler is the latest and most perfected version of the original Ratweiler.

Bah! Blasphemer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

If I had to pick one of the three it would be the Tramp because you get so much in a lighter package. Then it would be the RW based on the "it" factor, and I just love how it feels in the hand. The Chopweiler comes in third but I can't deny that the drop point and handle are more functional.

All three are great blades.

Well blasphemy or not, I have all three! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sigh! I only have a couple of CampTramps. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I love the handle on the Camp Tramp, and the Ratweiler is the sexiest looking of the three that's for sure, but I do believe the Chopweiler has them both covered in the chopping department but just a bit.

If you forced me at gun point to get rid of two of the three of them though, I would keep my Ratweiler. I don't really know why, but I would.

I think the Ratweiler is the best looking of the three. I like them all.