Argali carbon knife vs altitude

[sivart]

Decided to ditch my Havalon and go back to a standard knife.

Pros and cons of these two? I also see that ridge belts offers a knife that looks like the same steel as the altitude?

 

[Drenalin]

I haven't used the Carbon but had a Serac, which appears to have an identical handle. It feels very good in hand, and the somewhat heavy texture is nice when you're wearing gloves or when things get slick. I'm a Benchmade fan, but haven't owned an Altitude - without having used one, my impression is that I wouldn't like the handle.

Here's a link to a thread about that Ridge Belts knife.

 

[Mark at EXO]

I was a huge fan of the Altitude and used it extensively when it came out. It is a good knife.

But the security and in-hand feel of the Argali has won me over these days.

From a pure blade performance perspective, they're both great.

 

[sndmn11]

Decided to ditch my Havalon and go back to a standard knife.

Pros and cons of these two? I also see that ridge belts offers a knife that looks like the same steel as the altitude?

I have put handles in all three now, and subsequent sharpened all three.

I would find an Altitude or get a Ridge (I do have one for sale as well) because of the steel on the Argali knives is far behind s90v. It is very soft and I cannot imagine a usable edge making it half as long as s90v. The people I know who have used them in the field say the same, but I also don't know how sharp their knives were to start off. The scales on the Argali also don't do much and I think they are the most expensive of the bunch.

I think an Altitude/Ridge would be a great single knife choice.


I don't know where the pictures of @bradb Altitude that I did went.

 

[bradb]

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

Ive owned both, sold both. I think the Houge Extrak is the best of both combined with M4 blade steel. All 3 made in the US. The Extrak is lighter with the sheath that the altitude with the sheath, just as comfortable to use as the Argali carbon. Id at least throw it in the mix. I like M4 in the field more than S90V and S35VN.

Somewhere on here I did a full comparision between the Altitude and Extrak. The idea of the altitude is good, but in practice that thin handle will wear your hand out/hand cramps. Unless you know someone like sndmn11 who can put handle scales on it. You deal with the thin handle to save on weight....but the Extrak has scales, wider handle and weighs less.

Out of those 2, I like the Altitude, but with scales. If youre going for out the package use, the Argali.

 

[sndmn11]

Ive owned both, sold both. I think the Houge Extrak is the best of both combined with M4 blade steel. All 3 made in the US. The Extrak is lighter with the sheath that the altitude with the sheath, just as comfortable to use as the Argali carbon. Id at least throw it in the mix. I like M4 in the field more than S90V and S35VN.

Somewhere on here I did a full comparision between the Altitude and Extrak. The idea of the altitude is good, but in practice that thin handle will wear your hand out/hand cramps. Unless you know someone like sndmn11 who can put handle scales on it. You deal with the thin handle to save on weight....but the Extrak has scales, wider handle and weighs less.

Out of those 2, I like the Altitude, but with scales. If youre going for out the package use, the Argali.

Oh man, I had no idea these existed! https://www.hogueinc.com/knives/hog...te-finish-cpm-m4-frame-solid-black-g10-scales



Do you have a top picture to see the thickness? When that Argali knife showed up for me to put a handle on, I was really surprised to see that the scales were only 1/8" thick.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I don’t like either one, but the s90v altitude would be a better option
both are extremely overpriced for what you get imo

Cold Steel 36LPCM 3V Pendleton Mini Hunter​

3v steel would be my choice over s35vn

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

Oh man, I had no idea these existed! https://www.hogueinc.com/knives/hog...te-finish-cpm-m4-frame-solid-black-g10-scales



Do you have a top picture to see the thickness? When that Argali knife showed up for me to put a handle on, I was really surprised to see that the scales were only 1/8" thick.

Check out the hogue expel too, no danger in havalon blade changing in the field. No need to bring multi tools or pliers. Looks like 1/4" total, and each scale 1/16-3/32". Fills up the hand to where you dont get cramps like with the Altitude - while being a lighter total package. The thumb ramp on the Hogue also lets you dig in quite a bit more than the other 2.

 

[TheGDog]

Lovin' that Argali Carbon! To me it felt much like using a Havalon.. only a Havalon that wasn't all "bendy" when you were trying to do longer runs thru the hide, such as when trying to traverse down along the forelimbs cutting at the color-line.

My first blood on it was the last coyote I took. Nice long fur to him. The Carbon felt like it had really great control such as when turning the eyelids and doing the nose tissue and the tricky stuff near the lips. Also removing the flesh covering the hard palate felt significantly easier to do.

 

[sndmn11]

Check out the hogue expel too, no danger in havalon blade changing in the field. No need to bring multi tools or pliers. Looks like 1/4" total, and each scale 1/16-3/32". Fills up the hand to where you dont get cramps like with the Altitude - while being a lighter total package. The thumb ramp on the Hogue also lets you dig in quite a bit more than the other 2.

Nice, thank you. I haven't run into any issues with a Avalon/barracuta style blade removal; I probably do it differently than most. I do think their solution is much better than what Gerber and others have tried to come up with.

 

[CCooper]

Here's another @sndmn11 cork handled Altitude. I can attest the blade sharpness lasted much longer on the altitude versus the Argali. I however am not very nice to them.

 

[sndmn11]

Here's another @sndmn11 cork handled Altitude. I can attest the blade sharpness lasted much longer on the altitude versus the Argali. I however am not very nice to them.

View attachment 492924

"Hey we have the same shoes!" ... oh that's my actual foot.

 

[mthayr]

Some cordage wrapped around my Altitude, no grip issues...

 

[camelcluch]

I had an Altitude and took it to Alaska for a moose. I was able to do about one cut up the leg before it was completely dull. My buddy got about 3/4 of the moose before sharpening his Carbon.
The altitude takes a little extra effort to sharpen but it’s not difficult to get it sharp. The carbon gets sharp with very little effort.
The handle of the altitude is small. The carbon is a nice size for most people.
I sold the altitude.
I bought a carbon.
I also think Rainer Knives Fastpak is a better knife and value than the altitude.

 

[Vrybusy]

I own both. The Argali knives have better handles and hold an edge very well! My Altitude sits in a box. I use the Argali knives each and every season for all of my hunting and have not been disappointed.

 

[TheHammer]

I run the carbon my hunting partner ran a havalon, after using my carbon he now packs a havalon and a COL, the havalon only comes out for skull work.

 

[mthayr]

Looks like Benchmade is re-introducing the Altitude with full carbon fiber scales (from SHOT Show 2023 video):

 

[BarCO]

Argali is so easy to keep sharp. Just carry a strop and touch it up from time to time. I use the serac for all sorts of tasks

 

[RAPTOR]

Had both, sold the Altitude. The Argali kicks ass.