Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Turtle Man or Heavy Hunter?

Recently purchased two Economy fixed blade hunters. (Both made in China) The first was the Turtle Man Lightning (TM 002) the other a Rough Rider Heavy Hunter Series Sidewinder (RR 1349)

The Sidewinder currently sells at $22.99. (It debuted at $16.99). The Lightning goes for slightly less at $19.99

Both are currently sold out so both are exceedingly popular. After playing around with both for a few days, I have to say, I prefer the Lightning, primarily because it feel more comfortable in the hand and it is easier to get out of the sheath.

Specs	Lightning	Sidewinder
Maker	Turtle Man (SMKW)	Rough Rider (SMKW)
Made in	SMKW’s China Factory	SMKW’s China Factory
Model Number	TM002	RR1349
Blade Steel	440C	440a
Tang	Full	Full
Blade length	4.5 in	5 in
Thickness	1/8	3/16
Blade width	1 1/8	1 ¼ in
Overall all length	8 7/8 in	10 in.
Handle Material	Pakkawood	Polished Wood
Sheath	Nylon & Faux-Leather	Nylon & Faux-Leather
Rivets	Brass	Brass
Guard	Nickel Silver	Nickel Silver
Pommel	N/A	Nickel Silver
Lanyard Hole	Brass Pin	N/A

As the chart shows, the Turtle man Lighting is almost a full inch smaller that the Heavy Hunter Side Winder. The blade is also ½ inch shorter, with less width and thickness. However it is 440c compared to 440a. Both blades came razor sharp with a nice hollow grind.

The Sidewinder is currently a knife that is on a traveling tour within the Rough Rider Group on iKC. We have already seen how it was possible to cut down a three inch sapling with the five inch blade. The most I’ve done with the Lightning was use it as wedge to split a 2X4 and cut some frozen pork and chicken with it.

Both seem to be good solid knives worth the asking price. I suspect the sidewinder with its thicker, tougher blade might be slightly better in the batoning department. However, the deep finger grooved handle makes it hard to change your grip.

The thumb rest along the spine of the Turtle Man Lightning make it extremely easy to place an index finger or thumb on the spine for stability and control during fine detail work. Also the Loveless Style handle makes for a very comfortable grip. Plus the handle has a lanyard hole which comes in handy for people who like to use a lanyard.

The sheath on the Turtle Man Lightning is made of the same nylon and imitation leather used in the Heavy Hunter Series. It also has a simple plastic insert and wide belt loop. The securing strap holds the knife in place by securing the guard. I find this the best type of strap as it doesn’t interfere too much with drawing the knife. It has a single strap on the back which might have been added for horizontal carry, however unless you add another strap it probably would be an epic fail. On the plus side, the sheath has an extra wide belt loop which is more than wide enough for an web belt (3 inches)

The Heavy Hunter Series sheaths also have the wide belt loop (not quite as wide as the Lightning) and features a wrap around design the protects the knife’s handle. The sheath also has two loops which make horizontal carry possible. They also provide the potential for MOLLE type attachments. Of course, if you’re left handed (as I am) this wrap around feature only makes it that more difficult to draw the knife.

In the case of both knives, you will find they rattle a certain amount inside the plastic inserts inside the sheaths. I have found this to be a common problem with nylon sheaths with plastic inserts.

If you’re looking for an economy priced hunter both are worth the asking price. They are well made and will get the job done. The rest will come down to your personal preference in blade geometry and ease of grip.

Turtle Man Lighting

Heavy Hunter Sidewinder

5 members like this

Next Post >

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of iKnife Collector to add comments!

Join iKnife Collector

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on November 13, 2013 at 20:59: Ken,

It was Fall, and we stopped at a "punkin" farm not far from Franklinville - got some apples. It was a weekday and the farm was setting up for kids to visit on the weekend - farm animals in pens, some rides, concessions, etc.

Ontario Knives sets a block back from main street, so you have to be looking for it. Kinda like Queen Cutlery. If you didn't know where it was, you'd never see it. Like a lot of small PA towns, where there is nothing behind the houses on main street, except maybe farm fields. Long line of houses and stores on both sides of the road, but it's all one deep.

Comment by Ron Cooper on November 13, 2013 at 19:19: Toby, I have the greatest respect for all those who are Air Assault qualified. I spent the afternoon yesterday with the son of one of my friends who was just discharged after serving 4 years with the 101st and had a deployment to Afghanistan. In fact, I gave him a knife! The 101st has a proud history and it doesn't matter if you're jumping out of that plane with a parachute or jumping slack, as we called it, rappelling from a chopper. It's the heart of the warrior that counts!

And, what the hay! With ears like these, I didn't even need a parachute! (BTW, c.1964)

Comment by Tobias Gibson on November 13, 2013 at 18:56: On the other side of the coin, Ron. I knew several people who had gone through both Airborne School and Air Assault School. To a man all of them said the Air Assault School was much more physically demanding. (this was back in late 1970s-early 1980s when the Air Assault School first formed. I'm not sure what it is like today or if either school has changed dramatically. One thing I recall my Jump class was still in boots for the morning runs but the Air Assault Runs were in athletic shoes. Then there is also the 12 mile hike similar to the one required for the EIB.

Comment by Ken Spielvogel on November 13, 2013 at 18:49: Howard, I know Franklinville fairly well, I farmed not far from there, never knew there was a knife factory there.

Comment by Ron Cooper on November 13, 2013 at 18:38: Charles, I know that you were only joking. I seem to recall hearing the same sentiment that you expressed a few times in the past. (Hmm...perhaps only a million times!) lol

And, Toby! Yes, In some respects I suppose that I was just a little bit peeved when they were reduced to Air Assault. But, at the same, time I understood the reasoning behind it. Plus, I had already been a civilian for quite a while by the time that happened. So, that took some of the sting out of it.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on November 13, 2013 at 18:32: Charles, to be honest I don't think I ever got a chance to look out the door before jumping. Ron was an actual paratrooper so he might have had that opportunity a time or two. The closest chance I got to "standing in the door and enjoying the scenery was when the Jump Master grabbed the back of my 'chute pulled me back from the door took a peak and screamed "you're good" and pushed me out of a C141. He was just checking to see if were over the Georgia Pines, yet. That was my second jump. Black Hats (NCOs who do the training) can be a lot of fun when you're in jump school. Thanks you for your service as well, Charles. It ain't easy being a police officer.

Featured Comment by Charles Sample on November 13, 2013 at 18:24: Ron, you guys have more courage than me. I don't think I could look out that airplane door and jump. I was never in the military so the question never came up. The only uniform I ever wore was a police uniform.

Featured Comment by Charles Sample on November 13, 2013 at 18:17: Ron and Tobias, I was just joking, my wife would say I was being persnickety! LOL Ron, I appreciate your service, thank you for it. And Tobias, I realize the reason and need for paratroops. We owe all of our service men and women far more than we can ever repay.

Comment by Tobias Gibson on November 13, 2013 at 18:15: So did you get just a little peeved when the 101st became "Air Assault" instead of "Airborne" Ron?

Comment by Ron Cooper on November 13, 2013 at 18:06: Charles Sample said:

"I never did see any reason to jump out of a perfectly good airplane! LOL"

To which, I would reply:

$55 a month Jump Pay and authorization to wear highly polished, bloused, Corcoran Jump Boots and shiny silver Jump Wings with my Class A uniform was all the incentive that I needed! Oh, yeah! And that Screaming Eagle on my shoulder, also!

Currahee!