Stick Tang knives

[zhangmaster12]

Quick question Noss,
On the stick tang knives, ie Kabar USMC and Ontario AFSK, the tang bends because (besides it being stick tang) you are hitting it on the handle?

Does hitting the knife on the handle put more pressure on the knife and does the knife bend from only hitting the tip?

Thanks, Great tests.

[Paul The Brit]

I can't comment for Noss but I bent the tang just behind the cross guard on my Camilus Marine bowie when I was chopping with it and hit the wood at a poor angle... As the handle is so round it's easy for it to rotate in your hand and the blade hit at the wood at about 45 degrees. The knife was bent about 30 degrees out of true and stayed there! I'm 160lbs Joe Average not the Hulk. The only stick tangs worth a damn for serious use are the Scrapyard Scrapper 6 (etc) or a Busse Basic imho.

[zhangmaster12]

I can't comment for Noss but I bent the tang just behind the cross guard on my Camilus Marine bowie when I was chopping with it and hit the wood at a poor angle... As the handle is so round it's easy for it to rotate in your hand and the blade hit at the wood at about 45 degrees. The knife was bent about 30 degrees out of true and stayed there! I'm 160lbs Joe Average not the Hulk. The only stick tangs worth a damn for serious use are the Scrapyard Scrapper 6 (etc) or a Busse Basic imho.

Thanks paul.

I dont plan on chopping, only medium batoning.

Id say any scrap-yard or swamp rat stick tangs are indestructible, my SOD and DF aren't breaking any time soon.

I really love the design on the USMC though, I was just wondering on its batoning ability as long as you don't hit the handle. I dont plan on chopping with it, I use a saw or a Dogfather for choppin :D. I want this to be my "nice and light" knife, after all compared to the Dogfather, the USMC is "nice and light."

[Paul The Brit]

I'm the proud owner of a DFCG, S6CG (and a SS4 in INFI)... The DFCG is unbreakable but it weighs a ton (as I'm sure you agree!) I've still got that crappy Camilus Marine kicking round somewhere, I'll weigh it compared to the S6 and Basic 7. To me the S6 is nice and light! ;)

I'd trust my S6 with my life, no offence to any Kabar, Camilus, Ontario etc fans out there, but a S6 would totally kick the butt of ANYTHING they make...

I have lightly batoned just fine with my Marine before the bend incident, but if you don't trust a knife you'll take a spare, if you have a spare you are carrying dead weight..

The Busse Basic 7 is about 3/4" longer than the S6 and a bit lighter weight, if you can find one they are VERY nice.

I don't have a SOD but I've never heard a bad word said about them! (If Dan had made SODs in sage and black res-C I'd have bought one in an instant).

Hmm, slightly random reply! :)

[Paul The Brit]

Another thought- any USMC Bowie knife has a semi sharp swedge/ double edge for about 2" at the tip. That will really chew up your baton quickly. I think the USMC is a better fighter than field knife.

[Noss]

Quick question Noss,
On the stick tang knives, ie Kabar USMC and Ontario AFSK, the tang bends because (besides it being stick tang) you are hitting it on the handle?

Does hitting the knife on the handle put more pressure on the knife and does the knife bend from only hitting the tip?

Thanks, Great tests.




I hit them on the handle sometimes to see if I can get a failure. Many knives have no problems with this but knives like the USMC did. The USMC isn't a very heavy duty knife and would not make a good choice for batoning work. The softer stick tangs like one the USMC and ASEK knife should be avoided for batoning in my opinion. There are many better choices out there for this type of work. Batoning puts a lot of stress on a knife and if the knife is not up to it one wrong hit on a weaker knife and it's all over. :eek: Also once they get bent they become stressed and may tear some so if this happens the end probably isn't far away. If you bend the tang you will get the warning that says back of from this activity or your going to end up with a 2 piece knife.

As Paul said scrapyard SR-77 stick tangs are in a league of their own. They are tougher, stronger than many full tang knives. Check the scrapper 6 D-test to see what I mean if you haven't already.

[zhangmaster12]

Thanks guys!
I def agree with you guys, my Sod, DF, and now Reg (not here yet) are absolutely unbreakable! If you get a chance/money, pick up a SOD, that things an absolute beast, it chops better than any 7.5" knife i have ever encountered, blows away my POS couglan camp hatchet.

I really love the Air Force Survival and USMC designs however they are just time-less classics.....
So, I picked one up for 30 shipped (Ontario).

Actually, I find that although a swedge does chew up a baton, its not that bad. Batons handle my BK-9 fine. I also un-sharpened the Ontario Swedge.

I think it will definitely handle easier batoning, ie 3 -3.5 inches across. Ill field test it. I mean, 30 bucks, why not? And I always carry a backup anyway.

Thanks Paul and Noss!

[Paul The Brit]

Enjoy your new knife mate, post a field test report!

[zhangmaster12]

Im uploading a First Impression Video Right now !

And possible a field test this weekend or next weekend, whenever I can find some time to get out and play with it.

Uploaded a vid of my knife collection too.

[tester]

thaaaaaaaaaaankksss man 10