by Jim and Mary Clary
Another knife review from the Clays. Which one of them will win out, keeping the Ruger Muzzle-Brake Fixed Blade Knife in their collection?
USA -(Ammoland.com)- There are a lot of “chopper-camp” knives on the market. They all have one thing in common, they are big. Most of these blades rely on their size and shape to appeal to the buyer. As such, the majority use pretty cheap steel in their construction. This is also a common problem with the majority of the machetes on the market.
When Ruger decided to add hunting knives to their brand, they did not make the same mistake that other firearms companies made: Mass produced throw-away knives with cheap steel. Ruger insisted on decent steel in their knives and utilized a well-known manufacturer (CRKT) for their production.
The result…. good knives at an affordable price. In fact, CRKT went one step further. They enlisted the design skills of several well known bladesmiths including: Ken Steigerwalt, Bill Harsey, Robert Carter, Matthew Lerch, Ken Onion and Ryan Johnson.
Ruger Muzzle-Brake Fixed Blade Knife
When we saw the Ruger Muzzle-Brake Fixed Blade Knife at the 2017 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Mary immediately recognized it as a “Ken Onion design”. Although she has never met him, she has been a fan of his blades ever since using his Skinner (CRKT #K700KXP) four years ago. Whenever we have an opportunity to test knives, she always wants to add Ken’s knives to her collection.
Ken’s blades almost always have a high hollow grind, and once you see one of his blades, you will be able to recognize his “angles” and style in every knife that he puts out. The Muzzle-Brake is no exception. This is a very well balanced camp knife.
It is large enough for “chopper duty” around your camp, but not so large that you couldn’t use it to dress out an elk or deer. Based on a modified Bowie design, it has a blood groove, not sure why that is necessary on a hunting knife, but it is a nice touch.
When 8Cr13MoV stainless steel is properly heat treated (HRC 58-59), it is tough, corrosion resistant and holds a good edge. It is approximately equivalent to Japanese AUS-8 stainless steel and is easy to re-sharpen when needed.
The Ruger Muzzle-Brake Fixed Blade Knife comes with a DOTS sheath and belt attachment. The DOTS system is the toughest and most reliable on the market for attaching a blade to your backpack, a MOLLE loop or your belt.
And yes, the knife is now part of Mary’s collection.
Ruger Muzzle-Brake Fixed Blade Knife Features & Specifications:
- Model number: Muzzle-Brake (R2501K)
- Designer: Ken Onion
- Type: Hunter/chopper camp knife
- Blade type: Clip point, hollow ground w blood groove
- Traditional Bowie design
- Blade length: 7.50 inches
- Blade width: 1.50 inches
- Blade thickness: 0.187 inches
- Blade material: 8Cr13MoV
- Hardness: 58-59 HRC
- Edge: Plain
- Sheath: Injection molded nylon
- Handle: Glass Filled Nylon – full tang
- Overall length: 12.0 inches
- Weight: 11.1 ounces
- Country of origin: China
- 2017 MSRP: $99.99 ( much cheaper online )
I am not sure whether my bride will let me take this one into the mountains, as I have a tendency to misplace things… call those times, “Senior Moments”. So, I’ll probably have to order a second one for myself.
As we expected, Ken and CRKT have produced a good blade, worthy of the Ruger name, that will be invaluable around any camp.
About Jim and Mary Clary:
Jim and Mary Clary have co-authored over three hundred and fifty articles, (and counting) on shooting and hunting. You can read many of them on AmmoLand News.
I thought that the crkt knife was American Made. Not in China I will not buy another one.
Joe bird.
knives are made in China because the labor is cheap, but so is the product! I only mostly buy American made knives now, but do have a fox MD which is very nice,would rather pay more for a quality knife that I can depend on in a shtf situation.
Interesting since the guy who owns CRKT, Rod Bremer is NOT in favor of private firearm ownership.and their very tiny line of hunting knives out of their huge line of foreign made knives reflects this position too. NOT a gun guy and that fact is not widely known.!
So much fail in this article. Almost lost me at “This is also a common problem with the majority of the machetes on the market.” If you don’t understand why “cheap steel” is used in the vast majority of machetes available from some of the best makers, you don’t understand the machete, it’s history, or the cultures that use them regularly as a subsistence tool. These people often make their machetes out of car leaf springs or cheap carbon steel, don’t give a rats butt about grind angles and sharpen their machetes on flat rocks. Try doing that with Elmax.… Read more »
Ruger and CRKT and…….China! So sad. I use American made knives!
https://americansworking.com/
Made in China.
WTF? Can we not make knives in AMERICA anymore???
I was thinking about getting one but I don’t need one that bad, I’ll just use my K-Bar which was made in America ( at least mine is anyway).
Thanks but …… NO THANKS!
I buy American or not at all. I found the following site thAt is usefull some companies say American made but not completely accurate as with Buck Knives some here others overseas search the following and browse https://americansworking.com/
for the money wanted for this Chinese made knife, one could buy American made knives of proven durable 1095 steel! Tops and Ontario Knife Company to name a few.
I checked out the steel ratings and found that many high dollar knives are not any better than my cheaper ones. I was given a couple that cost $10.00 to $20.00 and they are stainless steel and great knives.