Bushcrafting with the RC-4 (Pics)

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
4,290
RC-4

Specs:

Overall length: 9.0"
Cutting Edge Length: 4.06"
Blade Length (end of handle to tip of blade): 4.5"
Blade Width: 1.25"
Weight (knife only): 7.4 ounces
Drop point blade style
Available in plain or partially serrated edge
Maximum thickness: .188"
1095 Carbon Steel, 57 Rc.
Removable lined Micarta handle slabs
Rounded Pommel w/ lanyard hole
Formed Ambidextrous Kydex sheath with MOLLE Locks included
Paracord and cord lock
Vertical and horizontal carry
Taken off the Rat Cutlery Site.

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Lanyard-This is the way I like to use a lanyard on a fixed blade and a machete. John "Lofty" Wiseman style.
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Very safe. If the knife were to slip out of your hand it would have less swing due to it being supported by the back of the hand. Try it. Don't make it too tight.
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My kind of Lanyard
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Bushcraft with the RC-4.
I am a huge fan of Mors Kochanski. His book Bushcraft-Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival is very different than most survival books out there. There is much talk and even some debate on what Bushcraft is and where it fits in with survival. To me survival seems too much about man or woman against the mean wilderness. Bushcraft to me seems more about man living with the wilderness not against it. While this may be debateable this is the advice I would give to anyone who may be thinking of doing a survival course or may see them themselves in a possible survival situation while hiking or backpacking. One must be prepared to live with the wilderness and not against it in order to survive an ordeal.

Here are a few Bushcrafting knife grips for working with wood. There are many others some safer than otheres. Mors says that the ideal bush blade is one where both the handle and the blade are as long as the width of the users hand. This makes the RC-4 perfect for me.

Forehand Grip
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Good for whittling.
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Some light chopping for trap parts.
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Push Cut-This is used for making notches for tent pegs or twich-up style traps where two notches lock together. Figure Four traps use this kind of cuttimg. Both thumbs assist in the motion. Very controled cut.
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This grip or position is good for carving or making feather sticks. Put the spine of the knife in the soft spot of your knee. Then just brace the knife and let the left hand do all the work with a pulling back motion.
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Ron Hood does this alot in his videos and it is very usefull and safe when cutting a small stick to length. Make sure the thumb is to one side as you roll the stick with the left hand creating a weak spot allowing it to break clean.
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Chest Lever Grip-This is a power cut and can also be used for fine work. The advantage of this kind of position is that you can have it at chest level right under your view for powerful yet very controlled cuts. The blade is actually facing the nuckles
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Under view.
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This is used for incision or scrapping type cuts. The knife is resting on the ground or log or table top so there is less danger of the knife slipping out and cutting you. Most of the work is being done with the thumb.
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Here is what it looks like from behind the work. Kind of a monkey looking grip. Practice this with a butter knife.
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Splitting wrist size pieces of wood was no problem for the RC-4
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RC-4 is a great bushcraft knife.

Keep checking this thread since this will be a work in progress as I am going to be adding more pictures as I do more tests and get more bush time in. Hope you enjoyed it.
 
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Great tutorial. Very informative and I really appreciate the different angle shots of the same grip. Keep up the good work on this!
 
Excellent tutorial. It is good to have a photographer to show detailed action shots. All I can do is before and after. Very useful, bear the dog. :thumbup:
 
Thanks all. Feel free to add any picts to this thread. We can make it the unofficial RC-4 user thread.
 
Well done. Nice pics.

I love my RC-4. One of the best purchases in a blade.

I need to get out and get some field time with it but it will probably spend time riding at the range with me in April and May.

Fortunately there are woods very close to the range.
 
Superb as always bear, that's some really great work. Good expose of the RC4 itself, and a great bladework tutorial overall. That would be an excellent read for anyone new to field blades or to bushcraft.
 
Nice review with some very useful info!

You're are really tempting me to get one......
 
I am heading out to hike for a few hours. I am taking my camera since the sun is out today and its like 90 degrees in Orange County CA. For now here is another tester. The handle was to big for him so he choked up on the blade.
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The pictures and instructions are great. I'm so close to ordering one of the RC4s. Thanks Bear.
 
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