Thoughts on 4"ers

Been thinking of these three: SY Yardkeeper, SR Howling Rat and the BR Bravo-1. Love the sure grip on the two Bussekin resiprene handles, still undecided on the micarta/g-10 on the Bark River. The steel on the 3 seems anywhere from very good to just this side of awesome. How would you rate these and why.

Thanks, Mark

Hey xK. I can't give you much on the SY and SR because I don't own them...but I would like to have a HR eventually. I do own a Bravo-1 custom with ghost green G-10 handles (black liners) and it is a very nice knife. Because it is a custom and less than 10 like it were made...I don't use it. So I need a 4" user or two..I'm thinking of getting the following:

SR Howling Rat and a RAT Cutlery RC-4.

those should be great for any need I have for a 4" knife.

Others will have more to add/suggest./ Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My favorite knife with a 4" blade is my Swamp Rat Vex. They were released only at BLADE this year, but I've seen a few on the exchange. No way am I giving mine up.

Those are three of the best. The RC-4 is nice, too. I like the Bravo-1 because the handle fits my big hand better. I have one in A2 and one in CPM 154. You can't go wrong with any of those. For SYKCO 4" blades, I like the SS4 and Bird Dog because the mudder handle fits me better. I also like the HRLM with its larger micarta handle and super good SR101 steel.

I forgot about the SS4- I do own that one and it is a sweet knife! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And Infi steel to boot. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Of the Busse-kin knives, the Swamprat Bandicoot is a pretty decent knife in that size range as well !!!!

Or Inficoot if you can find one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

What about the SAR-4? I don't one one but they look to be pretty decent knives in this size range...

You should really try and hold an RC4 before ya buy one, the handle was too small for my liking and just made the knife feel wrong !!!!

Other sseem to love them though !!!!!!

Here is a pic of a Bandicoot next to an RC 4 !

A downside to the Bandicoot is the large choil which causes you to lose a lot of useable blade edge. Compare the Bandicoot above with my knife below ( the bottom one in the pic ) both are about the same overall length but mine has a much larger handle yet still slightly more useable edge. The top one wastes no edge at all !!!

Nice blades Pit; I really like the top one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Yeah it's not mine unfortunately but I really like the design how there is no waste of blade. Even on that knife I feel the handle could be 1/2" longer.
This pic shows how it has both more useable blade and also more usable handle than the Bandicoot.

If I could pick just one, I wouldn't have all these... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



I actually have more than this now... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />

My vote is for the Yard Keeper because it's a great size and has the S6 grip only a little smaller, but my favorite is the DMDC because it has a slightly longer blade.

I'm getting ruined by Bussekin knives, and I just started. I stated this before but,,small hands need a bigger, thicker handle, larger hands can do nicely with a smaller, thinner handle. At least that's how it works for me. YMMV

So Andy, which one feels the best?

I would like to get a SS4 and a HR to try out. I do agree with Horn Dog on the Bird Dog bing a great knife--I love mine.

Either the mudder or the RMD/HRLM handle. The standard res-c & Basic handles are a little small.

Get a S5 and have HD cut it down to 4".....or wait for the Scrap Pup...

I think the regular Res-C and Mudders work well for most of us - big guys have always had to go over-sized. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

i love my rc 4 its a great knife and tight now im saving up for eather a brovo 1 or a montana guide from brkt

I have a YK, a BRKT canadian special, and a few other 4"ers.
I have to say I'm kind of fond of Barkies for that size knife.
I think the bravo would be perfect. I love my yardkeeper too, I love to beat on it and with some work on the edge geometry it cuts well too, but Barkies seem to be among the best of that size knife.

I love my BR Bravo-1, very very nice. I go with BR for all my small blades. Granted I wasn't part of the yard when they had a 4" or less blade available, or I would have one of those too.

I have tested the YK, YKLE & I just got back from testing 3 RAT Cutlery knives(1095).
Edge holding, toughness & feel. Scrap Yard YK with it's Res C handle, HT & SR-77 is in another league over RAT cutlery knives. But saying that, I think for the money$(except SYKC) they are a good 'option', but, it's not the steel for me & my business. As they all lost there edge pretty fast, COMPARED to INFI, S30V(Strider) & SR-77.
All 3 here have superb edge holding capabilities, with the tests I have conducted. For the $$$ SR-77 is the standout! Just MO. Hope this helps <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Hard to compare them like that though due to the RAT knives being thinner stock than the Yardkeeper and a thinner grind.I'm pretty sure that if they were of the same dimensions you would find 1095 holds an edge better than SR77 but not quite as well as SR101 !

WARNING, some BLOOD & GORE!


I'm sorry but I disagree, SR-77 eats 1095 steel!
Look, don't get me wrong, RC knives are superb knives but it's not the steel I want to grow old hunting/camping with.
But saying that, my son & daughter now have an Izula each. Like I said, they are fine knives, especially for the $$$. Just not for me, when I have SR-77, SR101, INFI or Strider S30V steels <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
I'm going to add a few pictures that do contain some blood & gore. Please don't take offense to these but rather look at them for what they are. TESTS!
I'm a hunter that gets out nearly every second weekend & as I do test a few knives in the bush & at home. I probably should put my findings forward more often!
So IMHO SR-77, SR101, INFI & S30V rocks. They all hold there edge(never a need to touch up on a bone-out/cape-out like this). Some other steels do.


Scrapper 6

Yard Keeper

Nice pics, good to know you use your blades regularly. Speaks volumes.

great pics i cant wait to go white tail hunting this winter( i am also an avid hunter) but do you always carry 5 knives whith you when you go hunting

Good to hear from a fellow hunter/Dog <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

No, I usually only take 2 knives out. This time I was testing some new steel & I had my son with me. So we had 5. But sometimes I do take 3 out when testing new steel.

We also tested 2 new Busse's. If it wasn't for the Busse's I would hate to think <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
I ended up using my NMFBM to finish off the cape out, take the back-straps & eye-fillets.
I couldn't pop the neck bone that joins the skull with the RC-3, no go, it would of broke for sure. It did not have the lateral strength or length I needed. So the NMFBM did indeed prove to be a real champ, with about 8 light to medium chops through the huge Stag neck bones. I did this(chop test instead of popping the vertebra) as I wanted to test the NMFBM & INFI steel. No chips, rolls, dings & best of all, it held it's edge. Just like SR-77 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

And who said big knives are not handy for the hunter. It saved the day!

I would vote for the muddder.....those grips can't be beat for a all around weather friendly grip.

on smaller knives i like the mudders I'm going to have to save up and get a DF to try out the resCs heh. i also have a bravo 2 brkt which i really like its a bit on the big side.... on the S5 i kinda wish there was a magnum handle option for the mudders.... oh well ill just have to keep collecting and enjoying them.

Well done Terry! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I know this is the 4" knife thread, but in fixed blades, I like them bigger if I am going way down into the swamp. A big knife can do more. The 4" blades are handy for light work and carry well on a hike or something, but the big knives can do it all, as has been shown. Dan used a Scrapper 6 on a deer hunt. That's a good all-around size knife for the bush.