I wanted to compare the medium sized survival type knives that are offered. These are not the big 9"+ blades, but the ones in the 7" to nearly 9" size. The small belt knives like the Bravo-1 and Yard Keeper will be done in another comparo.

First up is the new Schrade SCHF2. It weighs 14.5 oz with a 7 1/4" x 1 1/4" x x 7/32" thick blade of 1070 high carbon steel. It is made from one solid piece of steel with a hollow handle that holds a small tool kit. It is a hollow saber grind.

This is the BRKT Bravo-2, an upsized version of the Bravo-1. It weighs 12oz and has a 7" x 1 11/32" x 7/32" blade of convex ground A2 tool steel. Scales on this one are green linen micarta.

Next is the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. It has a 7 5/16" x 1 3/4" x 1/4" blade of SR101 (52-100) steel with a Resprine C handle. It weighs 13 oz. This one has a full convex edge. Normal is a high saber flat grind.

Next is the Scrap Yard Son Of Dogfather limited edition or SODLE. It weighs 13oz. and has a 7 1/2" x 1 3/4" x 1/4" blade of SR77 or S7 steel. It also has a Resprine C handle. It has a full flat grind with a convex edge I put on it.

Next is the Becker BK-7 Combat/Utility, with a 7 1/8" x 1 5/8" x 3/16" blade of 50-100B or 0170-6C steel. Handles are micarta but it comes with plastic handles.

Next is the Ka-Bar Next Generation combat knife. It is based on the old Mark II, but in modern materials. It weighs 12oz and has a 7" x 1 1/4" x 5/32" blade of 440A steel. Earlier versions were Sanvik 12C27. It has a saber grind with a sharpened swedge and fuller. Handle is Kraton with stainless steel guard and pommel. The blade is coated.

This is the Swamp Rat Ratweiler. It weighs 19 oz and has a 7 11/16" x 1 3/4" x 1/4" thick blade of SR101 steel. It has a high saber flat grind with a convex edge. The blade is coated and the handles are micarta.

This is the Ranger RD-7 knife. They are now made by Ontario, but this one is made by Ranger Knives (Justin Gingrich). It weighs 16 oz, with an 8" x 1 11/16" x 1/4" blade of 5160 steel. Handles are micarta.

This is the SOG Seal 2000 knife. It weighs 12 oz and has a 7" x 1 3/8" x 1/4" blade of AUS-6 steel. The blade has a swedge and a flat saber grind. Handle is zytel.

This is the Entrek Destroyer. It weighs 16 oz and has a 8 3/8" x 1 5/8" x 1/4" bolo recurve blade of 440C steel. It has a saber grind. Handles are micarta.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival013.jpg[/img]
This is the original Camp/Survival knife style. Originals were made by Hudson Bay Trading Co for North American use. This one is made by Bark River and is called the Hudson Bay Camp Knife. It weighs 15 oz and has a 8" x 1 3/4" x 3/16" blade of A2 tool steel. It has a full convex grind and micarta handles.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival014.jpg[/img]
This is the popular Randall Training and Adventure or RAT-7 designed by Jeff Randall. It is made by Ontario. It weighs 12 oz and has a 7" x 1 9/16" x 3/16" blade of flat ground 1095 steel. The blade has a zinc phosphate coating to prevent rust. Handles are micarta.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival015.jpg[/img]
This is the Ministry of Defense or MOD-4 survival knife. Steel is high carbon Sheffield steel as used in most British military knives. They were made by various contracters, some had convex edges, but this one had a saber grind until I convexed it. It weighs a hefty 16 oz even after all that grinding. The blade is 6 15/16" x 1 5/8" x 7/32". Handles are G-10. It has steel quillion that is soldered in place.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival016.jpg[/img]
This is the famous Chris Reeve Green Beret or Yarborough knife issued to US Army Special Forces. It weighs 12 oz and has a 7" x 1 1/16" x 7/32" blade of CPM S30V steel. It has a saber grind. Handles are micarta.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival017.jpg[/img]
Below is the Swamp Rat Chopweiler or more properly, Ratweiler Chopper. It weighs 17.5 oz and has a 7 1/2" x 1 3/4" x 1/4" blade of SR101 steel. It has a drop point and a high saber grind. Handles are micarta.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival018.jpg[/img]
Last but certainly not least, is the Busse Sarsquatch CE or competition edition. It has a full convex grind and weighs 16 oz. It has a 7 1/8" x 1 3/4" x 3/16" blade of INFI steel.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival019.jpg[/img]
So these are the knives we will be comparing in chopping, batoning, sticking, and general cutting.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/Knife/Survival020.jpg[/img]

and i anxiously await the results brother!

im rooting for the SOD and the Swamp Rat blades! that Chris Reeve knife wont perform as well as the busse kin stuff according to Noss' tests. it got AWFUL reviews.

Nice lineup Vic - I have most of them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Your comparison test should be very interesting, illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of each knife. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

First, let's check out the new Chris Reeve Project II clone, the Schrade SCHF2. At $40 to $60, depending on who sells it, this is a bargain based on the cost of cheap communist Chinese labor. But in this new and improved era of change, it seems appropriate somehow. This knife balances at the blade handle junction with the tool kit removed. It seems to take and hold an edge reasonably well. The knurled steel handle is an intergral part of the blade, all just one chunk of 1070 steel with some kind of gray coating on it. I touched up the edge, and it slices pretty well.

It can do curls and shavings on wood for fire starting.

After beating on a 1" soft pine sapling for about 20 strokes, it finally cut through. Not a great chopper, but it will chop. Chopping with the Schrade is an excercise in pain and patience, that only a masochistic kung foo artist could appreciate.

It does a lot better with the baton for splitting wood. You can beat the heck out of this handle, and it won't damage it.



The main strength of this knife is it is near unbreakable. And you could store matches in the handle. It does throw well for me, so it can be a weapon.

It might be a good knife to keep in the jeep or truck for emergencies. Trust me, you don't want to use this knife for very long unless you have to.

Lord have mercy Vic.

Do you daughters ever tell you that you may be spending too much money on knives? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I am in awe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

Waiting with VERY eager anticipation for the battle.

I have two favorites in that bunch. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Let um rip!

Peace.

That's some line up Vic! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

I am really stoked!!! I can't wait to see more. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Sweet! Can't wait to see the rest.

Ahh! A handle made to fit the human hand. This knife is lighter than the Schrade, too. It came with a scary sharp full convex edge and it is a slicing machine.

It notches, and chops better than the Schrade, and is comfortable to use. It batons about as well.


Balance is on the first finger, so it is lively in the hand, much like the S6.
It came with a nice leather sheath rather than the Cordura that the Schrade has. Of course, this knife costs 5 times as much.

Oh now it is fun to chop with this one. This is the Camp Tramp. The slight forward blade heavy feel makes this one a natural chopper. And that Res C handle is so easy on the hand. The CT bites deep with each chop.


And with the convex edge I put on it, it will slice as well as the Barkie.

Natually, it batons and splits wood well, but the handle is not as durable to beat on as the micarta one on the Bravo.

The Camp Tramp is just a pure joy to use, and it holds its edge a long time.

Well I could just say, "see camp tramp", as these knives feel about the same. The SOD is just a tad longer with a pointier point and a thumb rest. Instead of SR101 it uses Scrap Yard's S7, called SR77. It holds its edge well and was still plenty sharp after the use it got today.


The SODLE is a joy to use, with good balance and feel. And since it is made of the jack hammer steel that even Noss has trouble breaking, I am not worried at all about blade failure. Even if one were to destroy the Res C handle (squirrels will eat it), it has a near full tang that could still be used as a handle, especially with some tape or paracord wrapping. The SR77 steel is easy to sharpen, too. This knife carries light and probably can to the most work for the wieght carried (along with its cousin the Camp Tramp).

This is an older Becker made by Camillus, but it is essentially the same as the ones you can buy from Ka-Bar now. I put the micarta handles on it. Camillus sold them to me direct, and they bolted right on. Steel on this one is 50-100B or 0170-6C. The new ones are 1095 CroVan. Probably fairly close in composition.
It slices, notches and batons just fine, but it won't chop like the CT or SOD. It chops about like the Bravo-2, maybe not quite as well. The handle is roomy and comfy.Its big brother, the BK-9 is a fine chopper.



It is more of a combat/utility like the Ka-Bar Mk 2. It would do as a survival knife at least as well. It carries light and balance is on the first finger.