Hey guys. Stoney here. I see that some of you feel that products ordered from Bud K are not of a quality sufficient for survival. If you don't mind I would like to give my two cents.
The quality of a product plays in at three different levels. These levels are the actual need for the product by the user, the maintenance and understanding of the products design, and the intended use of the product. Each of these factors will weight differently with each user for ever single product. For example, what’s the difference between a Glock 21 versus a 1911? To my mind the both are the same but to another user there could be glaring differences. Let’s look at this real quick and see what we can learn.Let’s start by thinking about the actual need of a product by a user. I think an excellent product to use in this case would be the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk. As I write this it is retailing for anywhere from $140 to $200. Gerber has a solid reputation for quality products and their Downrange Tomahawk is priced to reflect their pride in quality. Now the Downrange Tomahawk was designed as a breaching tool for military law enforcement. That is how it is marketed and the solely the intent of the design. I personally have no need for a breaching tool. I live in the city but most of the structures in my area are from the early 1900’s. A good kick or improvised sledge can get you a lot of places in an emergency. Realistically I spend the majority of my time and activities in the wilderness near town. I don’t really need a breaching tool to work my way through the pines. Now Zombease on the other hand is in an opposite scenario. He must contend with quite a bit more urban and probably more industrial improvement. He might actually have a need for a light weight and sturdy breaching tool. Yet as it stands, who owns the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk? This guy, that’s who. Yet for all intents and purposes a Ridge Runner Camping Hatchet from Bud K would serve my actual needs just fine. The Ridge Runner cost $10. There are no doubts in my mind that the Ridge Runner would sufficiently meet all of my actual needs. It is a simple, rugged, design and I’m sure that Bud K stocks it to meet the needs of a practical adventurer such as myself. Is it cheap because it’s from Bud K? Is it cheap because it’s $10? If it does the job then it is in no way cheap. It’s perfect to priceless; especially if I need it!
Now let’s take the Ridge Runner and the Downrange Hawk to discuss the maintenance and understanding of each product’s actual capabilities. Undoubtedly the Downrange Hawk is going to be able to sustain massively more amounts of abuse. It was designed to endure the rigors of vigorous blows against metal grates, strains of prying doors away from frames, and hacking through anything as needed. This product requires a substantially different design and metallurgy to be successful at its intended use. The Ridge Runner on the other hand was designed for splitting smaller firewood, driving tents stakes into the ground, and various other lighter duty camp details. It does not require the same design or materials to fit the intended use. Do you think it would be fair of Ridge Runner to market their product at the same price just so folks will know it is a “quality” product? Would it be fair of Bud K to mark the product up? No. Additionally, now that we have established that the two products were designed and manufactured differently it is safe to say that we can treat them differently. I know that I shouldn’t be using the Ridge Runner as a prying tool. It was designed to strike. I know that it I can’t split large pieces of wood or door frames with the Ridge Runner. It was designed with a different alloy to be light. I know that I must maintain a better edge on the Ridge Runner so I can better cut fine kindling like it was designed. The Gerber must be cleaned and oiled if exposed to water to prevent rusting. I must take into account the weight of the Gerber when packing it anywhere. I also must consider the less sharp edge that is designed for hacking as opposed to cutting. By understanding each product I am not able to ensure that regardless of price point and materials, I can still get a long use life out of both.
Lastly, let’s discuss the intended use of each product. I know we’ve already discuss what the product was designed for quite thoroughly. What I’m referring to is what you, as the end user, intend to use the product to accomplish. If I was shopping around for a tool that was light, durable, weather resistant, and affordable to use as a camp tool then I would definitely purchase a Ridge Runner Camping Hatchet from Bud K. It does everything I want and it’s only $10! Again, I have no doubts that the quality of the product meets its design needs. But, to be honest, I bought the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk. I don’t clear buildings for living. I am military but I’m support. That’s “Support Not Sissy”. But you know what sold me on the Gerber? It met my requirements of high strength steel, full length single piece design, and hammer strike head. Plus, very importantly, it looked tough. I like my aesthetics. I love MultiCam for Christ sake. That being said, I am using the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk for something other than what it was intended. How many times do we do that when shopping for “survival” products? As you can see it goes both ways. I spent an average of $150 more then I needed. Many of us do that with the guise of purchasing quality. It’s a bitter two way street my friends.
So when shopping for quality take into account those three important key points. Your need, understanding the design, and what you truly intend to do. You might find that a quality product is a lot more obtainable than you thought. That being said I guess I should call Bud K about ordering my new Ridge Runner for my hunting pack. After writing this, it makes a lot of sense.
~ Stoney, ATA Tactical
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