Rat cutlery
- Thread starter curlyme
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For what?
Get the 4 and you'll be happy. Be sure to give us a field report after you get a chance to use it.
gga357
Member
RC5 can't go wrong with a 1/4" blade.
Start with the RC-4, or even the RC-3.
Then get out and practice your wood's survival skills. Neither are really going to make great choppers. But you can add a $10 folding Fiskars saw to handle any small diameter tree removal. Or a hatchet or belt axe.
Then get out and practice your wood's survival skills. Neither are really going to make great choppers. But you can add a $10 folding Fiskars saw to handle any small diameter tree removal. Or a hatchet or belt axe.
Black Toe Knives
Member
Rat-3 You will love it. I carry a Damascus version of it with hollow ground blade.
Instead of spending money on a knife you should be spending the money on learning skills.
If you're not in the BSA you should be looking for a local instructor that trains on regional survival skills. The fact that you're 15 and even interested could get you a good weekend intro for free or at least the price of the RAT. A cheap plain 1/4" thick knife from carbon steel and a simple pocketable sharpener along with a fire steel will serve you well when you pay for that training. Remember that a tool is not much more than a toy without the training to use it.
If you're not in the BSA you should be looking for a local instructor that trains on regional survival skills. The fact that you're 15 and even interested could get you a good weekend intro for free or at least the price of the RAT. A cheap plain 1/4" thick knife from carbon steel and a simple pocketable sharpener along with a fire steel will serve you well when you pay for that training. Remember that a tool is not much more than a toy without the training to use it.
Thanks for the suggestions... I've read a lot of books on the subject of survival and go back packing in the desert regularly. I will def. look into training and will most ikely also pick up the rc-4. I just picked up an crkt m21 g10 big dog... so i will have to wait a few months untill i get my rc-4... plus I'm saving for a xd9 tactical... so if i can ever aford the rat and traing that'll be great!!!
Pattern welded layered steel like this.
Steels of differing composition are layered and forge welded together and then heated and folded and forge welded repeatedly to produce a composite steel with different etch resistances so the pattern can be brought up using etching solutions. How you fold and manipulate the composite at different stages of forging influences/determines the structure of the composite and the pattern exposed when it is etched.
http://www.agrussell.com/Knife-Encylopedia/a/111/
Steels of differing composition are layered and forge welded together and then heated and folded and forge welded repeatedly to produce a composite steel with different etch resistances so the pattern can be brought up using etching solutions. How you fold and manipulate the composite at different stages of forging influences/determines the structure of the composite and the pattern exposed when it is etched.
http://www.agrussell.com/Knife-Encylopedia/a/111/
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I own a RAT-3 (by Ontario), an OD RC Izula and a RC-5 ESEE (bka SERE) The Ontario and the ESEE are both partially serrated. Most people prefer plain edged knives for the outdoors, but the serrations can be useful at times. They don't really get in the way all that much, but I would recommend the plain edge unless you really want them.
For your purposes, I would recommend the 4. You don't need a large knife for what you are wanting to do. A 4" edge will do just about all the wilderness tasks you can think of (except chop or baton thick wood). I love my 5, but it is a big knife. Oftentimes, with big knives
RC knives are a little pricey, but not as bad as some other brands. You can get decent deals if you shop around.RC knives are working tools and are backed by the best warranty in the industry. If you really like the design, but ca't afford the coin, the Ontario RAT designed knives would make a good option for you. They are decent quality. and a good value for the money.
It sounds like you want a rough use knife. If that is the case, go with a RAT or RC. If you don't need a rough use knife, take a look at a carbon Mora Clipper.
For your purposes, I would recommend the 4. You don't need a large knife for what you are wanting to do. A 4" edge will do just about all the wilderness tasks you can think of (except chop or baton thick wood). I love my 5, but it is a big knife. Oftentimes, with big knives
RC knives are a little pricey, but not as bad as some other brands. You can get decent deals if you shop around.RC knives are working tools and are backed by the best warranty in the industry. If you really like the design, but ca't afford the coin, the Ontario RAT designed knives would make a good option for you. They are decent quality. and a good value for the money.
It sounds like you want a rough use knife. If that is the case, go with a RAT or RC. If you don't need a rough use knife, take a look at a carbon Mora Clipper.
Black Toe Knives
Member
HSO that is knife I carry every daily now. I seen RATS 3 for around 75.00 At SMKW.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Desert & Mountains
The rc-4 is a fine choice.
What hso said about training is important.
I used to do a lot of camping with my family in the Chiricahua mountains not too far from you.
Good equipment is always a good idea, but skills will save your butt.
The desert is a special case in survival, and desert mountains another special case. You're right there for both.
If you get good at desert and mountain know-how, your tools will be useful, otherwise they'll just be stuff you carry around.
The rc-4 is a fine choice.
What hso said about training is important.
I used to do a lot of camping with my family in the Chiricahua mountains not too far from you.
Good equipment is always a good idea, but skills will save your butt.
The desert is a special case in survival, and desert mountains another special case. You're right there for both.
If you get good at desert and mountain know-how, your tools will be useful, otherwise they'll just be stuff you carry around.
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