A few RC-4 Questions

D

Dutch253

Joined
Oct 5, 2010
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81
I checked around and didn't see this covered in the forums so far so I apologize if it already has.

I am wondering if anyone has sanded off any of the finish on the spine of their RC-4 for striking a firesteel? If so how did you go about doing it? Also I am looking for some other handles for mine, the ones they came with are nice but I would like something with some swell in the palm and preferrably made from micarta. Thanks in advance for any information you guys might be able to give me!
 
Hey, i cleaned a little section off in front of jimping for fire steel and i just used a small file. look in esee forum for new scales coming out.
 
I had to retip my RC4, one of the previous owners botched a convexing job, and really blunted the tip. So I contacted ESEE first to make sure it was not going to cause trouble. Once Mike gave me the go ahead, I took care of it. While I was there, I squared off the spine to make it more "misch" friendly. It works real well. I clamped it in my bench vice, and took a sharp file to it. That is some tough steel, for sure. It took about 30 min of measured filing to get it square. Now, I didn't remove much metal at all, just enough, but I had to really dig in in order to make that tip sharp again. When I was done, I polished it shiny and started making sparks. I hope this helps. Moose
 
Yeah that helps Moose, so just take a file to a section to make it grab the firesteel more? I want to remove as little of the finish as possible since the 1095 is a little more vulnerable to rust.
 
I did check the ESEE forums for the scales and email ESEE and had no luck finding any other scales.
 
Dutch253 said:
Yeah that helps Moose, so just take a file to a section to make it grab the firesteel more? I want to remove as little of the finish as possible since the 1095 is a little more vulnerable to rust.
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I stripped my entire blade, but if you want to leave it, then leave it and only remove what you need to. Be sure and clean the edges well, as you want a tight corner for your firesteels. Go slow and take your time. Good luck. Moose
 
I thought about doing the above but decided instead to use a thin metal edge I got when at a wilderness survival school. It is attached to my lanyard along with a whistle, compass and spare ferrocerium rod. It goes with me whenever I am in the outdoors.

I didn't want to monkey around with my RC-4. I am not very handy and would somehow figure a way to screw up the knife.
 
A handy little thing to carry with a fire steel is a P38 or P51 can opener. They're pretty good for throwing a spark.
 
Orion's Belt said:
A handy little thing to carry with a fire steel is a P38 or P51 can opener. They're pretty good for throwing a spark.
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Man, you know, I always have a P38 with me, Old Speako, but I never thought of using it with my firesteels. Good call, thanks OB. Moose
 
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