Not much action tonight! I'm getting ready for another exam, so I've just been checkin in every five or ten minutes, but haven't seen much action tonight.

I did some cardboard box chopping with my Ranger RD4 and the DM tonight. No pix, nothing exciting, just me sitting by the trashcan with a box I was thowing away. I'm glad no one saw me, I probably looked like a madman. Anyways, the RD4 cuts and stabs much better, but I don't think I'd trust it as much for tip prys. Since its a full height grind and a drop point, the forward 2" are relatively thin (I say relatively because its still thicker than most knives are at their thickest point!). The DM spine is so crazy thick all the way up because of its "near" full height grind, and its rather insignificant drop that I think it will hold up during prying very well (I've done some and felt good about it.) I've thought about Batoning my RD4 in to a tree and hanging from it. Don't ask me why. I don't think I'd do that w/ the DM because it doesn't have a steel pommel though. The edge on the RD4 is pretty thin by comparison too. I wouldn't be as confident stabbing and twisting in to anything solid w/ the RD4 as the DM. If it came to stabbing or cutting people though (as in a self defense situation), the RD4 is my winner. It also has a wicked skull crusher pommel, and is approaching twice the weight of the DM. The DM is clearly going to be stronger though, and a better prying tool. I like them both.

I like that little RD4. Except for the friggin' blue handles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My DM cuts like there is no tomorrow. I steeled it and it is wicked sharp. I just spent a couple minutes slicing computer paper just to convince myself I wasn't hallucinating <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

diceman,Cool pics diceman.
Yep, those 2 knives do seem to have some rivalry going on..

I've always felt it would be useful if the Tang protruded out the back of the Res-C handles. Someone once said 'crud would get in between there'.. but then same would be true of where Res-C met the blade.

It seems these Res-C handles are slipped onto tang from the back and then riveted, so tang couldn't do any fancy flaring out or anything.. but imo.. just a straight exposed tang could be very handy for hammering from the pommel, skull crushing, etc..
Strengthwise, I don't think it'd be any weaker if tang was exposed at back of Res-C?

My DM is sharp too, but due to its wedge shape, it doesn't slice as well, is what I'm saying. I stropped my DM and its shaaaarp!

Tang out the back would definately be nice. Would probably be ugly too! I wonder if ResC slabs could ever be used... Might be kind of hokey though. The two knives are definately ying and yang to each other, pretty crazy.

yeah.. Busse's & SwampRat's exposed metal tangs could be useful in certain situations.
Would be nice if somehow.. could be done with Res-C also..

the pommel on the mutt will take a stern beating. i gave it some healthy whacks with the mallet on the mercury and you'd never know from lookin at it. i guess i'd prefer gettin hit with the mutt butt over the ranger but i still wouldn't look forward to it.

I did notice that from your pictures - very impressive. I've heard about someone who screwed theirs up batoning and did a "cordwrap" or something, which would, IMO, suck, compared to the ResC. I'm not going to take any chances I guess! My luck, I'd screw it up right off the bat...

i think the crinkle coat diminishes the slicing efficiency more than the thickness. many thinner knives are great cutters with saber grinds that yield the same edge as the mutt. i'm always thinkin about strippin my mutt.

some soldier wrote to gerber about having to cut some power lines at a terrorist outpost or somethin and thanked them for the rubber grips. he needed a mutt.

Magnum22,re: stripping
some say SR-77 is more corrosion-resistant than SR-101..
if you do it.. take Pics!

oh yea for cutting Live wires.. rubber/plastic grips is the way to go! Don't ask me how i know! ...zzzZAP!!!

Dumpster Mutt!!!!!

we all say things in excitement over our new knives and i hope i'm not just blinded by novelty when i say this, but it looks like the mutt is the best all purpose fixed blade i've ever had. so fr it's handled onions, tomatoes, station wagons, wood, cardboard, plastic, rope, leather, and cake. prying and slicing have never coexisted so peacefully in my experience. throw in chopping and a sturdy point and there's little else to be desired in a blade. haven't even gotten to the grips.

I agree. It's a much more versatile knife than it's chubby little waistline would lead you to believe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />