Closest thing to an RC-6?

Rat 7 is made by another company. There's fine knives, just not as nice, and support is through Ontario, not esee.

If you want a chopper, wait for the junglas. The six it's possible, but I avoid it if possible
 
IMO if you want to go with the least expense, ESEE isn't your ticket. IMO Ontario has always had the "cheap, but good enough" market sewn up. They make the RAT-7, which is the direct predecessor to the ESEE6. It's a fine knife in and of itself, but the finish isn't as good, the warranty isn't as good, they've had bad heat treat batches before, and you don't get the RAT community. So, IMO the RAT-7 is as close as you'll get to an ESEE6 without getting an ESEE6.

As for chopping, no blades of this length are choppers, there just isn't enough weight or leverage to do it. If you want a chopper, get a Junglas when it comes out.

Now, all that being said, if you're not after the absolute cheapest you can get away with, ESEE is the best bang-for-buck out there. Besides the fit and finish and warranty, they come straight from the factory with the most versatile sheaths out there. I don't know of any company that has anything like the MOLLE back.

Here's an exercise: pick a knife you might buy as an alternative. Price out a kydex sheath (just the sheath, no MOLLE clips, MOLLE back, etc). The sheath along will run $40-60, depending on the size of the blade. Add that to the knife you were thinking about. How much less is it than the ESEE now? Then consider that you don't get the same warranty service from the other company, and the cheaper knife just won't be put together as nicely.
 
Thanks for all the options kindly put forward- very reassuring to see and read about them. It only makes the decision easier. All good suggestions- I can see that it is close, but there is still some margin between the ESEE's and other similar sized knives. I am not wholly about spending the least, just have a tendency before splashing out, to have one last think/scan over the possible alternatives.

As for chopping, I have a gransfors for that, so, I am looking for something weighty but which will still cut where I want it to out at the tip-control
= ESEE -6
 
Just get it :)
4005993978_d6b800aa83.jpg


and that's after splitting rounds for the fire...
 
I'll go with the Falkniven S1, although smaller in length and the A1 (larger blade). BRK&T has many in the 7" category, e.g. the Bravo-II but are more expensive. I won't agree with the one poster on the Scrapyard 5. I absolutely could not learn to like the muddy scales. Entrek has a few 6-7" blades in 440C with nice micarta handles. TOPs has a bunch of 5-7" blades. They are more tactical looking, but good micarta handles. Fehrman has an expensive 6" blade comparable to a busse. Ranger RD-6 (thicker).

Customs - look to Bryan Breeden (peacemaker), Koyote, JK-knives, Scott Gossman, Walter Davis (who cranks out some fine 1070 bowies), Ray Laconico, Bruce Culberson, Fiddleback (woodsman).
 
Currently, my go to blade in 6 inches is a Benchmade CSK II. I bought it for 60 bucks. It is run harder than the RC6, so I assume it lacks some of its toughness. It has a santoprene handle, so no Micarta. It does everything I have asked of it, light chopping and batonning, bushcraft, etc. You could go with the Ontario Pilots Knife or Marine combat for under 40 bucks. Also very tough knives for the $.
 
is your Dad purchasing this ESEE 6 ?
Prices of Knives & gear were alot different back in his days....
if you want a ESEE 6 might as well buy one. if your looking to save cash but still long for the 6,you still wasted cash on the "hold you over knife " until you get the 6 IMO

to tide you over get a ESEE4 shared look just a tad smaller
 
Dcycle: I agree in regards to not just liking the brand cause of others or just cause of fanboyism, theres reason people are flocked to ESEE, and if you ever do break the knife in hard use? It isn't cause the company produced a crappy product, its because you as an end user abused it. In a L&D situation you don't want an el-cheapo de'blado. But regardless of how you abuse it or when and if you need to call upon your ESEE knife to do duties and chores to save your life or support it? If the thing eventually dies...isn't it nice the company will replace it? But if it does all it was designed too. You should just buy another one right? But still, wow right? The company WILL REPLACE your knife if you wish to. Even if it didn't fail to do what it was designed too. Now thats awesome bucking value right there. And if that doesn't sway or say something, than eh. I dunno what would. I personally? Don't compare knives, firearms, etc on exacting purposes. I don't ask or do that of my cars or bikes, or as such I've built. Everything is different. But imo how I explained this to some of my friends over the weekend at a car meet? I have a 91 240sx coupe, Nissan. No fancy weird plane looking body parts what so ever. Looks unassuming. Now a car by def is transportation. I however ENJOY driving, I abuse and punish my cars, however. If you could have a car thats fast and handles and stops top notch...and everything about the machine is amazing. But is based and built on a no frills platform, like an unassuming 240sx. Would you want such a car or say a 599GTB or etc along those lines of beautiful and amazing euro machines? Its on preferance. I however have built my car to dominate, and to hunt. If one would disect it, very little is left lol, original except portions of original metal... from the factory. Carbon Fiber fenders, hood, trunk lid, bumpers...no real dash...cage work... a 6.2L LSM GM Based crate motor from Rockhellar, etc. I personally appreciate all sorts of makes and models, from Corvettes to Vipers, new M3's to Gransports, but no frills no bs. I don't build for magazine exposure, or to sit at some parking lot meet for random people I dont know to gock at...I don't even allow media or full specs to float around the net. I don't care much for recog from people I don't know. But some do, some want all that. Magazine print and features, car shows, etc. Its the same with AR's and any nitch catchy thing. Tacticool and etc. Lots of hype lots of misinformation. What you really should look at is what you need said item to do. If you enjoy a basic car that doesn't scream I spent oogles of cash on a car I didnt build and dont know intimately, than thats cool, or if you like suits and fancy things. Again, nothing wrong with that, just different strokes for diff folks. John Doe AR prospective buyer, may only need a nice dependable rifle to use, he may not need a LWRCi or Noveske Rifle, its just to much for average joe. So make sure you know what you want. Be damned with what your DAD or any other person says or thinks, cause in the end? They aren't you. And only you will use your stuff for exactly what you need and have to use items for. I use 2 s10s everyday, one has a 4cyl I rebuilt and its stock, the trucks only modifications are wider wheels and tires for contact and such, better brakes and susp. High quality speakers and head deck...tint cause I hate the sun in summer. HiD Lamps replacing stocks, and LED tail lights for visability and safety. Mmmm thats nearly about it. Other has a stock LS from a 02 SS, sports the stock 07 z06 brakes from my dads vette I bought when he upgraded his to stoptechs. I scrounge and dirty myself looking for 2nd hand stuff to use :) truck is low slung, sparco seats and steering wheel, etc. But thats cause I like to drive hard...and still be able to if need be throw something into the back of the truck. I also have a stock colorado and civic I use daily.

It all just depends. Step back and see what you need and what you need something to do. Take everything said and adviced of you, with a bit of salt, apply to yourself if you wish, accordingly.

I trust ESEE products cause I've been in a situation where my life was resting on their use. At one time I didn't know how to make a fire, I thought all you did was get whatever wood was around you and could crack one in a V a little at tip, and spin a twig in it to make fire, how stupid right? My life rested in the hands of a friend who had, then known Rat Cut Co knives. All I had was a Bencher folder. Heh. Now my Izzie is at my waist, and my RC3 hides inside my carry bag. I myself have applied what I've learned from here and others, and other sources to my life.

My bag use to only have moleskine notebooks, pens and paper....now I carry a air tight compressed items like first aid, paracord, my cousin gave me fire steel and surefire 6pLED, my friend gave me a Gerber LMFII (stays in car with emergency bag cause I have Izzie and RC3 now), I carry a E2DL he also gave me, batteries, an MRE, Water Tabs and Io, and so much more. My dad is a suit, and he has nice cars, I dont wear a suit, and I have cars and vehicles I built with my 2 hands...Hes well off, I'm not. lol. Starving student here! Its all relative man! Anyways sorry for the rant!

Just get/or stay with the 6, expand your collection if that makes you happy, but don't forget. Knives are meant to be used, no matter how collected or shiney some may be, Or how some are made for display only...their original purpose was to be used. :) So use them ;P
 
dcycleman said:
mabe the cold steel SRK would be a viable alternative. or some of the ranger knives. buck nighthawk. UUUUMMMMM, whatelse.... some of the (dare I say it) ONTARIO KNIVES. I personally think that all of the alternatives I just listed are inferior to an RC-6. I personally own three rat knives and its not because I love the brand. I buy them because they are the most bang for the buck in my mind. I was looking at all those knives that you are considering right now and I bought an RC-6. No regrets here. Plus if you ever manage to break it (highly unlikely) this company will stand behind their product. So in short ... get an rc6
Click to expand...

Having just used a SRK this weekend, that was my first thought also. Another "alternative" is the Becker Crewman.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top