Becker Patrol Machete or Ontario RTAK

T

tobym

Joined
Dec 27, 2001
Messages
17
im looking at either the becker patrol machete or the upcoming ontario RTAK for my next knife. my usage would be a combination of bushwhacking through vegetation that ranges from grass to heavy branches and camp chores in wilderness areas. plus it will serve as a survival knife if the need arises as well.

any comparisons anyone can offer on these knives? of course the comparison would probably have to be with a livesay RTAK.
 
both are awesome blades but I like the RTAK best. I think it fills the gap quite well between a full size machete and a camp knife. Have fun with your decision whichever you choose:)
 
While I like the BK&T handle a LOT, I'd go with the RTAK based on your comment that it will have to serve for "...camp chores in wilderness areas. plus it will serve as a survival knife if the need arises as well." I think the Patrol Machete will be a helluva chopper with its long blade. But the RTAK should prove more versatile in performing the many other chores that need doing around a camp, besides being a passable chopper when needed. Jeff Randall's comments about the Livesay RTAK model imply that it served very very well as a camp knife in the jungles of South America.
 
i have an rtak and will tell yo that the knife is a good size for most environments, will chop, dig, cut and hack with the best ofg them, the handle i fell is well made, and wont leave any hot spots. i dont have a patrol machete , but my brute has the smame type of handle, and it works well also.

alex
 
If you're thinking about "Patrol Machete", have you considered the "Military Bolo" from Junglee? I currently own one in addition to a Cold Steel LTC kukri. While both perform well imho the Junglee really stands out. It's lightweight for its size(19.5") but strong and resiliant. I have used it for brush clearing in Maine on everything from thick weeds to evergreen branches with ease. The blade is AUS-8 which gives a better margin for error in humid or wet situations, but it takes a bit longer to resharpen. I love it.
The RTAK looks very much like a "Busse Battle Mistress" but since I don't own either(someday) I can't comment further.
Oh Yah! Also look at the "Woodman's Pal". Looks radically different from the others but it's very efficient. I used my boss' last summer (there's an awful lot of brush in Maine!) and was impressed enough to consider getting one for the times when I have friends help and I have to supply them. That or possibly a "Jungle Knife" which coincidentally is made in Maine.
( www.knifecenter.com ) or ( www.blowoutknives.com ) for Junglee,
( www.woodmanspal.com ),
( www.jungleknife.com ).

Good luck and happy hacking.
 
mithril :

["Military Bolo" from Junglee?]

http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/junglee/images/ju2048a.jpg

Does that actually have a primary grind or is it just flat stock?

["Woodman's Pal"]

http://www.woodmanspal.com/graphics/cover8.jpg

I used my boss' last summer (there's an awful lot of brush in Maine!) and was impressed enough to consider getting one for the times when I have friends help and I have to supply them.
Click to expand...

I have been considering it for some time, the price puts me off considering the materials. Did you have any use for the hook?

-Cliff
 
Cliff:
The picture pretty much says it all. It starts as flat stock, but tapers to an excellent edge on the primary blade side(the slightly darker shaded band along the bottom of the blade in the picture), and has the first 3 or so inches of the blade spine after the point sharpened too. Remember that the "Patrol Machete" advertises its light weight because of the fact it is made from flat stock.
I really didn't get a chance to use the hook, other than a little testing with a few small saplings growing too close to some trees(there aren't many vines growing up the trunks of trees in Maine), but it worked fine in that capacity. The clearing work I did with was more open sweeping movements, although I cut thicknesses that varied form grasses to branches about as thick as 1.5 inches. We had a full compliment of tools with us at the time, including a good "Roselli" ax, so I never tried it on anything much bigger. It had to be resharpened after using it on a long series of branch trimmings , but that was no problem and it was quick. The hook imo is good for short sickle type cuts.
 
Not sure but I've heard that the Ontario version of the RTAK will be a little lighter in weight than the Livesay version. With the extremely well contoured handle I think this will be the most awesome large knife you could own. This one is a definate must for me. 90 days is going to seem like a long time but I'm going to tuff it out somehow.
 
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