Who's got a Swamp Rat?

[CKE]

OK...my take on this company thus far. Like Spyderco only fixed blades is their thing. I am not sold on their folder but their FB's are nice. So who's got one and want to share some info.
I really like that they are cheap...although they are carbon steel blades if I am not mistaken. Simple designs that work...again kinda like :spyder:
I have been thinking about getting a Bog Dog and have heard good things about their D2 steel. Also the Howling Rat and Bandicoot look good too.
One of the only negatives I have heard is the wait time...sometimes months. Sooooooo what do you say...yay or nay?????

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha Craig!

First and foremost, let me say God bless you brother!!! :)

Okay...I too, have looked at and liked what I have seen regarding these Swamp Rats. The grips look cool, yet functional. ;)

I say yea...Go 4 it, then give us some feedback and a review!!! How will Customs "take it" though...will they literally "take it?!" :confused:

God bless and congrats on defeating this "thing"... ;)

[CKE]

Chad,
Customs won't care because it is a fixed blade(or hunting knife in their eyes). I could walk into Custom with a Bowie knife on my belt to complain about why they have just confiscated my "flickable' Salsa and be completely legal...go figure:)
Will let you know what I decide...????
Take Care

[voxnaes]

Get one, you won´t be sorry... It´s not a Busse but in some ways it´s better!
I´m trying to trade for a Ratweiler but people seems to hold on to the darn things... :p
vox.

[CKE]

Thanks Vox :D

[voxnaes]

Your welcome, mait!!
TAke care,
vox.

[Milu]

I have a ratchet, great tool but not in relation to price, it's crazy expensive in Europe and the quality and service does not justify the cost.

[CKE]

Milu, I have heard they are quite expensive in Europe. Does that go with most knives?

[Senate]

Milu, I have heard they are quite expensive in Europe. Does that go with most knives?

I can answer that! :)

for France:
every products from outside Europe is taxed at 30% of the MSRP just to enter in the EU + custom fees + a 30% tax on the initial tax and the custom fees (yeah a tax on a tax, I'm not kidding...), add to that the share of the distributor then the vendor and you get the final price :)

some examples:

Civilian G10 130$ at NGK, 370$ (280€) at the local shop (the most expensive spyderco to buy in france!)
Gunting 100$ at NGK, 280$ (215€) at the local shop

Busse of the month: LE Heavy Ordnance Fusion Steel Heart
600$ for USA (bussecombat.com), 950$ (725€) for Europe (bussecombat.de)

and even with these high prices, you don't have a large choice of model, they have at best 10 different spydercos, most of the stores don't keep the boxes, the knives being so expensive they sat on the shelves collecting dust for 10 years etc etc... you get the picture... its a nightmare! :)

That's why I order them online in the USA.

[CKE]

YIKES!!!! :eek:

[Milu]

Italian knife shops are a little better than that. Prices however are a lot higher, especially on the more exotic items like MoD.

I bought the ratchet from Swamprat's German agent/site, the US site just refers you there. Check it out for yourself. I bought it for a specific application, but for the cost and time involved I could have had it custom made for less and quicker.

US price: - $98.95
http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/knives.html#ratchet


Paul´s Ratchet - € 145
http://www.swamprat.de/knives.html

It's a good thing the exchange rate favours the Euro!

I don't think I will be buying again

[Milu]

Out of curiosity I posted on the Swamprat forum on the subject of European prices. Mr Isaacson of SR was kind enough to reply:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2882000#post2882000

[voxnaes]

My best price excample is always this;
123 Lithium batteries cost 15U$ for 12 at SureFire.com.
The price in Denmark is 12U$ for ONE!!!!!!! :confused: ...but hey, the Danish one is a Duracell :eek: ;)
Vox.

[Milu]

The one I really have a problem with is cars.

Why is a new Porsche so much cheaper (less than $70k compared to E80k) in America than Europe? And the euro is continuing to gain ground against the dollar.

[voxnaes]

Ha, you think you have it hard in France...
I just payed 11.000€ for a Citroen Berlingo from ´97.........and that´s a good price here :eek: ;)
Vox.

[CKE]

Vox...don't feel bad them little 123 lithium batteries are damn expensive here too. That reminds me, I need some more to feed to my Scorpion :D

[Milu]

Ha, you think you have it hard in France...
I just payed 11.000€ for a Citroen Berlingo from ´97.........and that´s a good price here :eek: ;)
Vox.

I'm not in France but..... :eek:

How does it relate to property prices and income. ie what is average wage and average cost of an apartment in say Copenhagen?

[voxnaes]

A 3 roomed flat in center of Copenhagen would be about 350000€ :eek:
My 2 store house by the Fjord is worth about the same with 3000M2 garden :rolleyes: Average wage is ca. 34000€
We pay about 50% in incometax and a 25% vat on products.
A golden rule when buying a car is this; Take the price in Germany and triple it. A WV Golf is about 40000€ from new. Still, I do love this little Kingdom :D
vox.
OBTW; Sorry about the France-thing ;)

[KBR]

I had a Camp Tramp, but sold it a good while back. :( It was an awesome blade, practically indestructible, but I jumped the gun and sold it to fund another new "toy".

I'm planning on getting a Safari Skinner from a fellow forumite, from the Bladeforums, here within the next week or so. This will be my first D2 blade that I hear can make an excellent everyday carry knife because of its' size(3 3/4"blade).
http://www.ip-australia.com/swamp/knifespec%20images/safariskinner.jpg
I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!! :D