I used the new Scrapper 5 today. I have lots of 5" blade knives, but I wanted to compare the S5 to those most like it. Some of these are thicker and heavier than the S5.

The Al Mar SERE, SOG Team Leader, and Swamp Rat Ratmandu are very close in size. All have 3/16" thick blades. All but the Scrapper have full tangs with scales attached. The SOG has Zytel scales, the Al Mar uses Nylon, and the Swamp Rat has micarta scales. The SOG uses the new expensive 20CV Duratec stainless, the Al Mar uses S30V, and the Ratmandu, like the S5 has modified 52-100 or SR101 steel.


The light slim SERE may be the best slicer here. They all did well in notching and slicing.

The Team Leader cuts very well, but the handle is very rough and uncomfortable to use. It feels much like a green pine cone. I hate it.

The ratmandu and S5 were the most comfortable to use. I batoned all the knives through some Red Bay with no damage to the edges.





[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD020.jpg[/img]
Just for fun, I used the saw on my SOG Seal Revolver to see if sawing was easier than batoning. It wasn't, but the saw is handy on that knife.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD039.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD041.jpg[/img]
All these knives have good balance. I was able to stick them all on the first try, except for the SOG TL. I didn't throw the revolver.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD026.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD027.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD028.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD029.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD030.jpg[/img]
All these knives work well for all-arounders, but my favorites are the Ratmandu and Scrapper 5. If the SOG had a decent handle, it would do a lot better.
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD033.jpg[/img]
I finished up by sticking a machete. I just love doing that and watching it vibrate in the wood! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
[img]http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w64/rivershaman/SYKCO/S5MOD035.jpg[/img]
I did not test for edge retention or try to bend them. I just used them as I would any knife and these are my impressions.