5" knife niche.

J

JWLevin

Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
79
Hey Rats and Dogs,

Just recieved a Scrapper 5 from the exchange the other day and took it on a weekend camp trip instead of my ESEE 6. Before I go on it should be noted that this is my first knife in this range (5" exactly) since I normally carry the ESEE-6 for chores and either a BK-14, IZULA, or Swamp Warden for the smaller stuff. I really love the weight and feel of the Scrapper, great feel in fact. The problem is I took the knife expecting it to replace my -6 and it just didn't do that, an incorrect assessment on my part? So my question here to you guys is this:

What role does a 5" knife play in your camping kit?

I see many advocates of the RMD, would this knife fill the same role as my ESEE-6 does for camp chores (fire wood prep, batoning, and brush clearing) or would I need to go up to the R6/R7?

-JWLevin

(This isn't a Scrapper 5 bashing, not at all! I love the knife for its weight, or lack of, and the ergo's.)
 
It will make your esee 6 obsolete! Man i tried to love Esee, look at my sig, im a beckerhead and love them so i tried to love esee as well, just could not get into the ergos at all. I tried 3 thinking eventually id like it...Nope, they all had to go. The RMD can do way more than you think for this size blade. I have battoned, chopped, cut, sliced, stabbed and everything with mine and it holds up great, its just a beast for its size. Everybody loves it with good purpose its a 1 knife does it all, if ever there was such a thing.

Look at the size wood i was chopping with it, Its not often you would to need to chop larger than this i dont think, and it took this with ease. When your chopping with a knife of this size, technique has a lot to do with it also though. if you use it like a 9 inch blade you will get tired fast and not get through very much wood but if you snap you wrist while cutting some "snap cut" you can get through quite a bit of wood quickly with little effort.

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worldwood said:
You have the mudder handled one right?
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Yea, it feels good with gloves on. Maybe like micarta better (only had it since Friday). Other than just not feeling like it had a "role" to play, its a great knife. Held its edge (not a hair shaver, but a chopping edge) and I forgot it was on my belt on the hike in.
 
I have a few trips coming up, But if you dont have an RMD say mid september hit me up and maybe we can swap blades for a weekend or something, you can test out the RMD and i could test to see if i like those mudder handles. I have tried Res-c a few times but didnt like em, i think maybe the mudder shaped ones might offer more ergos, they look like it anyway.
 
the RMD replaced my ESEE 6.
the RMD is as WW said is a great do all knife if there is ever such a thing
but to answer your question
the 5in blade category in my kit is my primary blade(RMD) while i have something smaller(izula,candiru,SW) for finer taskes
hope that helps,
Thomas
 
worldwood said:
I have a few trips coming up, But if you dont have an RMD say mid september hit me up and maybe we can swap blades for a weekend or something, you can test out the RMD and i could test to see if i like those mudder handles. I have tried Res-c a few times but didnt like em, i think maybe the mudder shaped ones might offer more ergos, they look like it anyway.
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Sounds good, I for sure won't have an RMD until October (birthday) or December. Wedding is getting more and more expensive so I need to be "responsible" ;)
 
Ok no problem just hit me up, or ill hit you up after my camping trip in september... I cant go camping without my RMD lol. Im going out tomorrow as well for a few days in a cabin somewhere off in the woods! Im excited !

Oh, Just dont fall too in love with mine, she's my baby :)
 
JWLevin said:
I really love the weight and feel of the Scrapper, great feel in fact. The problem is I took the knife expecting it to replace my -6 and it just didn't do that, an incorrect assessment on my part? So my question here to you guys is this:

What role does a 5" knife play in your camping kit?

I see many advocates of the RMD, would this knife fill the same role as my ESEE-6 does for camp chores (fire wood prep, batoning, and brush clearing) or would I need to go up to the R6/R7?
Click to expand...

For me, a 5" knife is just not as useful as something in the 6-9" range. I had a Scrapper 5 SE briefly, but came to the conclusion that it is just a little bit too small to handle everything well. You could try and 'make it fit' by asking it to handle everything, but I think it's a bit under gunned for this kind of use.

I tend to lean towards 9-10" blades for all rounders, even though most people tend to prefer 5-8" knives for this role. 6" blades are about the bottom end of what I would consider for a camp knife that I'd expect to do it all.
 
RMD is great around the campsite for most everything and one very appealing thing is its overall size. Because you can hook it to your belt (in whatever desired way) and it does not get in the way like a larger blade can / does.

So, you get a very capable knife in a manageable size. I pair mine with a larger knife but the larger knife stays on the pack so it's not as accessible as the RMD or my folders.
 
I like my ESEE6 (and I love my 3), the 6 will still have a bit more blade than the RMD but if forced to pick between the two I would take the RMD for everything each and every time... that is not saying the 6 can't do those things, just that *I* prefer the RMD (given I just ordered my 6th RMD I would expect that to be the case) ... maybe it is worth looking at a combo like the Scrapper 711 + your RS or SW... you would have a big range of function there no doubt at all. My present do all set is a Busse B4 (skinny) for all tasks relating to dressing game, an RMD and a RS or SW or Izula for little tasks. I have no question that the RS or RMD could do what the B4 does for the most part but *I* like to keep my game processing blade separate from the knock around working camp blades. The B4 is just spectacular tool on meat...!!!!!!

Andy
 
The RMD (the greatest 5 inch knife ever made) is a great do it all tool. I find it does everything I need and if I need bigger I grab the Junglas (greatest 10 inch knife ever made imo). Don't count out your ESEE they are fantastic knives but really the RMD is in a class of its own (this includes Busses, customs, and other Rats).

All I would need to survive any trip short of Canada would be an RMD and a tomahawk (replace tomahawk with machete if in the tropics).
 
I just got my second Scrapper5 today actually. I made the mistake of selling my first one. For an average day hike, or camping excursion, it's about all I would need. Would a larger, say 7+inch knife be better for some other chores, of course. A large knife pretty much can do anything a smaller knife can do, but not vice versa. However, for ease of care, comfort and general usefulness, a Scrapper5 is the knife for me.
 
I'm with aaaa_cccc. My primary go to blade is any FBM between .25 and .27 thick. But I've recently been on the hunt for a smaller, shall I say, less conspicuous blade. I wanted something that I could carry on a hike with the family at a local park without getting looks :eek:. I've been really researching ESEE 6 and 5 but I just placed an order for a RMD from the ol' swamp :). I had one before and sold it because it had paper handles. Paper's just not my thing. I ordered black canvas but I might take the handle off altogether and do a paracord wrap handle.

Anyway, to answer your question. I'd use it for small chores, food prep. I could see it as a knife that, if in a pinch, I could have close by to lash to a pole and make a spear for hunting/fishing. Prep fire wood. In a bind having a knife can be a matter of life and death so I wanted a knife that I could depend on. Now for the wait :grumpy:.
 
I have had the ratmandu and scrapper 5. There both great knives but the res-c handle is noticably lighter to carry, but the ultimate 5" knife is the war dog. I've owned over 30 busse/kin and it's my favorite knife so far.
 
high desert said:
I have had the ratmandu and scrapper 5. There both great knives but the res-c handle is noticably lighter to carry, but the ultimate 5" knife is the war dog. I've owned over 30 busse/kin and it's my favorite knife so far.
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The War Dog is also my favorite 5" blade that I've used, I do regret letting mine go.

I'm thinking a Pork Shank might be my ideal 5" blade though, I'll have to see once I get one. It's light, thin, narrow, concealable and did I mention INFI..... :)
 
Yes The Shank is a really nice blade as well. I have a double cut/black canvas version and do like it a great deal. Probably not enough handle on it for some hard going and that is where I find the RMD and HRLM come into their own... !
 
The 5" blade is definitely my "all around" knife, encompassing all of the tasks you mentioned and probably many of those you reserve for the smaller knives.
For chopping and brush-clearing, I hold back on the handle and use a lanyard-wrap to keep my grip secure, giving the knife extra reach/momentum. For heavier chopping, I use a baton.
For finer work, I choke-up into the choil or pinch-grip the blade - being only ~10.5" overall, these grips leave less handle or blade extending beyond where I need them compared to a longer knife.
I've been trying to use 4" knives for most tasks but find myself wishing for just that little extra bit more length in handle and blade which these knives offer.
Blades 6-8" I find overly cumbersome for the meager advantages they offer in my use, so I skip from 5" to the 10" choppers. As was said above, with a RatManDu and a good machete, I'm fairly well set for whatever cutting tasks come to hand. Oh, add to that the Leatherman Charge for its various tools and a thinner short blade, maybe a pack-saw as well...
 
I love my scrapper 5 and 5LE. in the cold wet winter hunting and for its light weight it's hard to beat the Res-c mudders. I use the RMD more on camping and harder use with the canvas micarta handles. Pair one of them with a BATTLE RAT or Basic 11 or 10 and you can rule the forest!!!!!!
 
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