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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - RatManDu (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/13/2010 1:03:02 PM EDT
| So I've been considering pre-ordering one of the Swamp Rat RatManDu's, could anybody give me some insight/experience with theirs? Would it be worth picking up as a do-all knife to hang onto for the long haul for a non-knife guy? I'm really more knowledgeable about rifles and handguns, knives are kind of an unfamiliar beast to me. Thanks ahead of time. |
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They are excellent knives and would serve you well. At the price during the pre-order you are picking up a fantastic blade at a great price. If you don't like it you will likely be able to sell it later for the same price you paid for it, but I don't think that will happen, you will most likely hang on to it.
On a related note the price on the Swamp Wardens is amazing. You may want to try one of those for a smaller fixed blade for EDC or to keep in a BOB. Small blades are incredibly useful. |
| The Ratmandu is a great little knife, but the HRLM is too. I do have both and love them both. I have many 5" fixed blade knives and I prefer the Scrapper 5 over the RMD. I guess cause its a little lighter in the hand and I love the Res-c grips. I got a HRLM last year and fell in love with it. It has a shorter blade, but I just like it a little better than the RMD. I would suggest at the price they are offered now is to get them both and find out which one you like better and you can easily sell the one you don't like, but you will probably keep both. |
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So these bad boys don't come with a sheath, will they eventually put some out? I'm gonna go ahead and put an order in for a RatManDu, just trying to get squared away ahead of time. They will probably offer some sheaths from one or two different sheath makers on their site. There are several good sheath makers that make sheaths for these. |
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I ordered a ratmandu as well, it will be my first swamp rat, although i do own a scrap yard dumpster mutt LE. I think it will be a nice break from the thicker blades coming out of the bussekin family normally.keep a good edge and im sure it will be a mean slicer, and still strong enough to do anything and more a knife should take.
Edit: just got my email from Swamp Rat, 4-6 weeks till my blades should be ready. |
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I'm going to try and swing for a Ratmandu and a HRLM now after this thread. If i have to pick i'm sticking with the HRLM. I like smaller beefier blades which is what the HRLM looks like. Either way if SwampRats reputation is anywhere near being true it won't matter either way b/c either of the knives will be awesome.
On a side note for those of you with an HRLM what sheath do you use? I guess i'll wait and see what they come out with for them, i just wasn't sure if maybe a spec ops sheath would possibly work? |
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I think this is the black canvas (if im wrong someone let me know please, but this is what my online searching has come up with) and the black paper is the all black handle. You are correct. That is black canvas with tanker gray blade. 
Here is black paper with black blade 
I received my email telling me my RMD is ready. I will have it soon, and will post pics. |
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I am a life long Randall knife user and abuser, but I got to tell ya that the Swamp Rat knives are great blades for the price!
My RatMandu has a gray blade and black G-10 handles. I picked it up from from another member on the Rat Chat board a couple of years ago and, as I recall, I paid somewhere around $180 or $200 for it. I just ordered a Sage/Tan HRLM from Swamp Rat as a companion blade to my Ratmandu. 
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So what are y'all gonna do for a sheath? I was thinking about getting something kydex and have looked into Okuden. Their website is kinda vague though, how do you order? Do you have to send your knife to them or can I just give them the measurements? I was thinking about getting the small size of the A-1:
http://www.okuden.net/products/index.htm Any ideas? Anybody know of a preformed kydex sheath that wouldn't require custom fitting, something I could just order up and would fit? |
| I will probably get a kydex sheath from Mashed Cat, as long as he gets a RatManDu. There are some kydex makers out there that have a RatManDu that they can used to form the sheath, otherwise you will have to send them your knife. |
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So what are y'all gonna do for a sheath? I was thinking about getting something kydex and have looked into Okuden. Their website is kinda vague though, how do you order? Do you have to send your knife to them or can I just give them the measurements? I was thinking about getting the small size of the A-1: http://www.okuden.net/products/index.htm Any ideas? Anybody know of a preformed kydex sheath that wouldn't require custom fitting, something I could just order up and would fit? I think Okuden does have a RatManDu to form with, as he has made sheaths for the company store in the past. |
I just got my HRLM (sage blade, tan canvas handle). I'm interested in a leather sheath, not Kydex. I don't particularly care for the leather sheaths on the Swamp Rat website as they don't have thumb breaks. Anybody got experience with Rainwalker sheaths? |
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I just got my HRLM (sage blade, tan canvas handle). I'm interested in a leather sheath, not Kydex. I don't particularly care for the leather sheaths on the Swamp Rat website as they don't have thumb breaks. Anybody got experience with Rainwalker sheaths? I've got no experience myself but i've never heard a bad thing about them on bladeforums. |
So I got the blade, which is just as sweet as I'd imagined it would be. I also found a guy who makes Kydex sheaths for the RatManDu on eBay. His name is azshnyder5438, just search for RatManDu and it'll pop up. Dude does great work, shipped it the next day, and the price was great. Anyways, time for pictures:
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I just got my HRLM (sage blade, tan canvas handle). I'm interested in a leather sheath, not Kydex. I don't particularly care for the leather sheaths on the Swamp Rat website as they don't have thumb breaks. Anybody got experience with Rainwalker sheaths? Stockshift, I ordered an identical HRLM with the sage blade and tan handle....It was shipped a couple of days ago and should be here soon! I agree, I don't like the looks of the sheaths that are being offered for these blades on the SR website....I have no actual experience with Rainwalker sheaths, but from the SW forums, they appear to have a great reputation for being a high quality sheath. I am thinking on ordering a sheath or two from them myself.... I was also toying with the idea of making a sheath of my own as well......I have collected all the tools and some leather, so I will give it a try and see what happens.... ETA: I think we might want to start a new HRLM thread, so we don't hijack this one......  !!!!
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I ordered an identical HRLM with the sage blade and tan handle....It was shipped a couple of days ago and should be here soon! Nice pics! I am going to try a Rainwalker sheath. Incidentally I tried the leather sheath that ARF member wsix made for my Ontario RAT5 and it fits fairly well, albeit a bit longer than I'd like. In a pinch I could use that sheath for my HRLM. I am kinda wishing I bought a Rat Man Du as well ...
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Im still waiting on my Ratmandu and HRLM, glad you guys got yours, got my fingers crossed every morning i have an email telling me to give them almost $300  seems pretty messed up, but im a big fan of my Dumpster mutt LE, so im sure these wont dissapoint.I haven't gotten an e-mail to pay for my RMD yet either. 
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They seem to be a company that takes pride in their lack of business sense and poor communication. I got the e-mail stating that my order was received right away......Now I'm just waiting for the e-mail telling me my order is ready to ship and I have to pay. |
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They seem to be a company that takes pride in their lack of business sense and poor communication. I'm sure they understand they could do far more business with a better system. I think they like what they do, are comfortable with their income, and don't really give a shit about selling more knives/making more money than they currently are. They're (Busse family) clearly loaded up with surplus cash and are in it for a good time. Just look at Jerry's posts on bladeforums, the guy is a nut! |
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They seem to be a company that takes pride in their lack of business sense and poor communication. I'm sure they understand they could do far more business with a better system. I think they like what they do, are comfortable with their income, and don't really give a shit about selling more knives/making more money than they currently are. They're (Busse family) clearly loaded up with surplus cash and are in it for a good time. Just look at Jerry's posts on bladeforums, the guy is a nut! I've often pondered this to, and I think you hit the nail on the head. They like the position they are in right now and enjoy the shit out of it. |
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just something about the orange / black G10 micarta that I like on my Busse's and Rats.. http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii218/fbusmc/More%20Busse%20Pics/KnobCreekApril2010021.jpg I prefer the feel of canvas micarta, but that pumpkin G10 sure is pretty. 
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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - RatManDu (Page 1 of 2)
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