The SAR5 just does'nt do it for me .... despite wanting a 5 inch Infi blade without a choil ... good luck to those who mod it ... if the handle were a better shape I would do the same <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

As long as weight isn't an issue, SAR5 FTW. No question.

Choil-less, but guarded design. Full convex. Full tang design. Just a snazzy hap'nin blade. And you can probably find it for the same price as an S5. More blade for same price b/c they aren't that popular.

I'll say this, If I had mad drilling skillz, I'd remove my handles and skeletonize the tang some. Too fleepin much steel in the handle. Then I'd re-set the flare-tubes a bit deeper so that I could get thinner scales.

Maybe Ducci is bored and could do it all for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well my first Busse was a SAR5 that I got from a fellow dog. I let it go on a trade for my CGFBM so I was ok with it but wish I had another one to go on my pack. I loved how the SAR5 balanced for me except it was a little to thick in the handle area; and like others said there was a lot of steel for the money. If I get an area where I can do some work I might pick up a user and do some mods on it so I can have me a perfect (for me at least) bushcraft knife.

I have an awesome Hog holding a modded user SAR5 for me, to be paid for once I'm settled down in my new place. I plan to mod the crap out of it, so it ought to be a fun project <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Funny. That's exactly what I was thinking as this thread evolved. I met him a couple years ago and think he lives within 5mi of here (didn't live 'here' then). Great guy. Anyway, I like the knife in theory, but in practice it's never in the 5" knife rotation because it's so darn heavy. I'm OK with the thickness (big hands), but the weight of that much G10 is oppressive. If I had more confidence in my skill or in the outcome, I'd try drilling out the slabs in a series of holes that could be seen when looking down at the spine & tang...

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Or I could sell it. But then my wife would spend the money and I wouldn't have the knife or the money. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

I have both knives and prefer the S5LE hands down. The SAR5 I have has G-10 handles and their just too thick and heavy for my taste, someday I may Mod them, and I'm sure it will be an improvement, I still like the knife though and it was a great deal (Got mine at Knob Creek when they first came out) I'm just noy crazy about the stock handles.

For me the only knife that would better the S5LE and even then they would likely "draw" as I would have seperate uses the S5LE could only do ...is an Infi RMD ... to be honest there is so much "wrong" with the SAR5 I would'nt or could'nt bring myself to put them on the same page ...it's like one of the "worst" with one of the "best" for me ...

Thanks for the input guys. I'm still on the fence. I want to wait until the regulator is released first.