Camping Knife

G

Grizzly Adam

Joined
Jul 30, 2007
Messages
57
I've been on a search for the "perfect" camping knife and am finally going to give RAT a try. Currently, my camp knife is the SOG Seal Pup Elite. This weekend, I was out camping and I wish I had a little more knife. I had a full size ax for chopping, but needed to do more fine control splitting to make some kindling as everything was wet and the SOG just didn't "cut" it, no pun intended. I want something that I can use starting fires and work in the kitchen. Generally, I do carry a leatherman in my day pack but it rarely comes out. I rely more on the my camp knife for mostly everything. At first I was taken by the RC-5 but have come to the conclusion that it's way more than I need. Now I am leaning towards the RC-6 but not 100% sure.

What's everyone using for their camp knife?
 
Ah, the ultimate camp knife. I used my Dad's old WWII KaBar for years... then a hunting knife bought with Green Stamps - maybe a Western 66, but it fell out of a U-Haul in a move. Then, just a Vic SAK - back to the KaBar - until I broke it's pommel. Years later, I repaired it - but I have a new one to play with now.

My son gave me a Gerber LMFII last Father's Day. I liked my Buck 119 - but just had to get a Buck 650 Nighthawk - found a 'deal'. Then - after looking at another retired friend's Busse collection - and trying to find one I could afford - I elected to try a RAT knife. It had to be an RC-5 - it just looked 'right'... a beefy knife a retired educator could afford - barely! It came today... wow!

Here it is with the Buck Nighthawk, my LMFII, and my user KaBar, which admittedly hasn't seen a lot of use:

IMG_3518.jpg


I am impressed. No, I won't leave my Buck 110 home - or a Vic SAK, like a Farmer. I am sure you could slice apples and oranges with an RC-5, but it is at it's best shaping camp stuff. It has what you'd expect in heft - and, like the Buck, it is a shaver out of the box. It's heavy - the sheath feels good, but I am just not fond of military style storage. A leather sheath would be great - time to contact Sharpshooter... Love the drop point style blade... not so fond of the second edge on the KaBar (Not all have that.).

No doubt the SS nature of the Gerber & Buck would be appreciated by some - but you can't beat 1095 CS for edge-ability. Rudementary care is all you need to protect the edge. Certainly, the finish on the RC-5 appears tenacious. I used a KaBar for eons - it held up well until I dropped it to my garage's concrete floor, breaking the pommel & reduced tang right off. That handle is a tad shorter now - with a Monel pommel. I finally retired it - wish I had earlier, my Dad carried that in the So. Pacific in WWII.

Don't get me wrong, I have a selection of 'other' bushcraft knives - Bark Rivers, Northwood, Marbles, Bucks, etc - but this newbie from RAT has my immediate attention - I'll take it camping next, for sure.

Stainz
 
Grizzly Adam said:
I've been on a search for the "perfect" camping knife and am finally going to give RAT a try. Currently, my camp knife is the SOG Seal Pup Elite.
Click to expand...

Grizzly Adam said:
I ended up ordering a nice RC-4 in OD with Orange handle.
Click to expand...

There you go. :cool:

I've had a SOG Seal Pup Elite for about a year now. Maybe it's just me, but I never considered it for bushcraft or camp-knife duty. I like it fine, but it rides in my truck, just in case.

I'm a real sucker for a four-inch (or so) drop point. My fixed-blade camping knives are a BRKT Bravo-1 and, more recently, a RAT RC-4. I love both and will part with neither, but you'd have a hard time convincing me that the RC-4 isn't the better value -- maybe the best value out there.

In other words, "You done good, kid." ;) Enjoy the RC-4.
 
I recommend the rc-4 around the campsite mainly. It is great for all around use camping activities. My setup consists of the rc-5 sheathed to the side of my pack, the rc-4 on my belt, and the izula on my neck.
 
I've got a 6 that should be landing Thursday, and I'll be at camp Friday, so I'll let you know how it does! :D
 
The RC-4 rides on my hip when out and about. I want a 6 & a 5 but the 4 really does everything I need to do with a knife. Now the RC-3 shines in the food prep dept. and fine detail carving like no other so it just depends what you are needing your knife to do. Camp knife can mean different things to different people.
 
Second the NWA Sierra Scout. Also, a Swamp Rat Ratmandu would be a great knife.

I generally prefer a larger knife for camping chores and go with a NWA Woodsman or
my Swamp Rat Camp Tramp.

For smaller stuff, I have a Leatherman although it doesn't get used that much either.

Cheers
 
rc-4 is the best for me but for what your looking for i would say the rc-6 is perfect unless you want the feeling that you can baton a car in half then the rc-5 is for you
 
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