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I once wanted to get a Hoodlum.
Then I read plenty complaints about the shit blade, not to mention the completely useless notch on it, on which some broke, and the shit handle. Then I tried one, the handle is indeed shit, and as I chopped through wood, it put such an extreme bend at the notch that I knew it would break if I continued. Also the sheath is shit.
I eventually got an Ontario Ranger RD9, pic related, which is like everything a Hoodlum should be: same steel, but much better blade, simple handle, though a bit big and squarey, but unlike that of the Hoodlum, it can be fixed with a bit of sandpapering in just minutes, and even a great sheath. And it's definitely a more interesting alternative to the Junglas than the Hoodlum.
Note that there's nothing wrong about 5160 steel though. It's not a very common steel for knives, and doesn't really have as good cutting capabilities, though at this point, we're comparing between going to the Moon and going to Mars; you won't be disappointed by either. But 5160 is also way much tougher. 1095 steel has a maximum strength of 53 kg/mm2, 5160 is of 68 kg/mm2; and the hardening process of 5160 allows for much more hardness. I used my RD9 as a pry bar several times, and learned not to hesitate to do so. Overall, 1095 is better for knives, but 5160 is better for long pieces of metal, and those things are part knife, part long piece of metal, so that's one thing to consider. At such lengths, 5160 can bend enough to break.
The Hoodlum I tried since broke at the notch despite having been used properly, and even then quite lightly. My RD9 has been continuously and extensively abused for 9 months, and far outlived the Hoodlum already.
I once hesitated between a Junglas and a RD9, and I mostly picked a RD9 because it's cheaper, and some have serrations. Yeah I'm one of those guys that needs serrations. And I came to be greatly satisfied with the steel, because I needed a large piece of metal more than I needed a large knife.
