Combat Elite RRF Review + PICS :)

TOB9595

TOB9595

Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Messages
2,773
ErikD was kind to passaround his own Combat Elite RRF. Passaround thread is HERE

Website link is HERE
MSRP ~ $200

The Combat Elite is a business of Darryl Ralph and Ryan Wilson.....I believe :)

Specs:
RAPID RESPONSE FOLDER (RRF)
• Titanium Frame-Lock Design
• CPM S30V Steel Blade
• 3.375 Inch Blade Length
• Black Armor-Tuff Blade for Maximum Protection
• Green or Black Armor-Tuff Frame
• Black or Green MAXX GRIP 3D™ Machined G10 Inlay
• Cocobolo Inlay available
• Sure Grip II™ Frame
• All Hardware Black
• Available with a Partially Serrated Blade

Erik's is the all black with cocobolo inlay

I found this to be a tactical blade of Sebenza quality.
The fit and finish is incredible.
When I got the RRF it was a little gritty so I washed it with soap and water, dried and blew it out with air. I put it in the oven @ ~150 degrees overnight. I forgot where I put it. :)
I then gave it a drink of Miltec. Opening was smooth and quick.
I wanted to take it apart and use XP7????? The grease to see the difference in actioin but I never got around to it.

There is a lever opening that is the FIRST lever action I've liked.
A snap o the wrist and it was a folding fixed blade. Also has dual thumbstuds
I gave the blade a few licks on a simichrome ladened leather and it was wicked sharp.

I would get the lighter color so the cocobola wood is enhanced by the grey metal of the Ti handle
IMG_3423.jpg


Cocobolo wood inlay is lovely and functional! Very grippy
IMG_3426.jpg


Right hand only clip but tip up or down. Note the cover plate for the unused clip screw holes. Just more fine detail work on this knife
IMG_3429.jpg


This really fit my hand well. It is a great size for edc. Grooved thumbramp and grooved spine. Scalloped thumbramp left or right.

IMG_3430.jpg
 
Damn!!
I really like this knife..

Thank you Erik for your kindness passing it round

Tom
 
That handle looks amazing! The clip looks too thick for my taste, but it's up
nice and high which must make for a low profile when pocketed.
What's the triangle thingy below the end of the clip?

The blade looks nice too, guard area is the flipper? Great way to open
a knife!

Thanks for sharing, you always have fun don't ya! :)
G2
 
Gary W. Graley said:
That handle looks amazing! The clip looks too thick for my taste, but it's up
nice and high which must make for a low profile when pocketed.
What's the triangle thingy below the end of the clip?
The blade looks nice too, guard area is the flipper? Great way to open
a knife!
Thanks for sharing, you always have fun don't ya! :)
G2
Click to expand...
G2 :)
I didn't find the clip very thick.
I often clipped it to my sling. I'm sure the sling is thinner than my jeans, tho.
The thingy is the plate to protect the unused screw threads when using tip up/down

Knifester - I didn't use it tip up. So maybe one of the other reviewers will address this.
It's not a wave type, I think....tho I didn't pocket carry this to try it out.
Dual thumbstuds and the flipper

Ya gotsta have fun...
We pass this way but once. It ain't a dress rehearsal
:)

Tom
 
Great review Tom, I can't wait until this pass around shows up at my door.
 
Glad you enjoyed the knife Tom, I agree 100% with your comments. I think it is really weird that this knife has been out for some time but hasn't really been discussed much around here.

I really used the knife pretty hard for a good few months before letting it go out for the passaround. As Tom noted after some time in the pocket and use it would get a bit gritty (I could have sworn that I cleaned and lubed it up before sending it out, but I guess I was mistaken). Anyway just a good cleaning and some Militec-1 and it was as good as new.

I really like the low ride clip design. In fact I liked it so much that after only a week or so of carrying the knife I had Darrel put the same type of clip on the EDC he made me. It works out really well keeping just about the whole knife inside your pocket. I find that it works really well no matter what type of pants I was wearing. I didn't try it myself but I think carrying tip up would leave to much of the knife sticking out of my pocket.
 
Erik, I had not heard of Combat Elite before your passaround.

I want to get one now. :)
It's a great size.
I see on the website that they have many larger styles.

More affordable than a Sebenza yet entirely as nice OR nicer :)

Dave H would box my ears if he heard that
hahaha
Tom
 
knifetester said:
Nice looking knife, how does it deploy with tip up carry?
Click to expand...
It comes out like a waved Emerson. No joke. Takes a little getting used to, but you can pop the flipper with your index finger as the knife clears your pocket, on the way to establishing your grip on the knife. Maybe hard to describe, but easy to do. Extremely fast to deploy.
Here's something I haven't seen mentioned, but maybe y'all can appreciate. Ever notice with some frame locks how you get that creaking noise when you've got a hard grip on the knife, or how some frame and liner locks will show blade play when the lockbar is pushed UP on?
You'll probably never notice this with the clip in place, but look how the RRF solves this potential problem:
attachment.php

Along with good lock geometry, another reason the RRF has very positive lockup, and zero play in any direction. btw, notice the contouring of the edges of the handle. It's beveled and/or rounded, all the way around, inside and out. I think Darrel is THE master when it comes to making secure and comfortable handles.
 
Good points Owen, Thanks for the insight.

Wouldn't have seen it till I took mine apart...when I get mine
:)
Tom
 
Man, now I really wish I had seen this in time to participate; it sounds like a great knife. I really like that index finger flipper - ever since trying it out on my CRKT M16 for the first time, I can't open any other knife as fast as that M16. The only downside of it is it wears a hole in my pants where it rubs against my leg; I've been wearing my M16 for 2 years give or take, and all my pants have the hole. :( Other than that, it's a great idea, IMO. I guess I may just have to go buy one of these knives anyways based on these reviews, even though I missed my chance of trying it out here first; I have a feeling I'll like this knife.
 
I have one of these knives and it always winds up in my pocket. It came ferociously not sharp and with a very obtuse grind. After a reprofile, it is a much better, but not great, slicer. It is tough as a tank and a great size- not too big -not to small. Great lock up with no play after months of use. my version has one pb washer and one nylatron?...weird eh.

It is a tough as$ed knife.
 
I just passed this baby on, and I already miss it.
Just reiterating to what has been said, It is:

Smooth
Sharp
and Solid, especially for a folder that has seen some use.

This is the first flipper I have liked and felt natural using.

Dimensionallly, it is very similar to the Microtech Mini Socom I usually carry. The Elite would be a better comparison, however I do not have one so...
I did not weigh either, but they felt very similar, I think the RRF may weigh a slight bit more though. I found the action of the RRF to be much smother however. The RRF carries better too.


I think the clip design is brilliant, however I am not a big fan of the bracket and screws which go into the other set of clip holes when not in use, the bracket pushes the heads up too high and they tend to drag a bit. It is not a big deal, just an observation. Were it mine I would carry without.

The only other design feature I was not crazy about was the recessed lock. It was not difficult to unlock, even when flipped open. It had good texture, however I prefer the lock to set just slightly out from the other scale

Erik, thanks again for sending this one around!
 
Handled a similar model last week and I was thoroughly impressed. Unbelievably smooth opening action, great ergonomics and the flipper is very well-designed.
 
i enjoyed this knife a lot,in fact enough that i am planning on getting one inside of a week! well to start out with i was looking for a medium edc. and this fits to a tee. while it might not be up to a sebenza, but its close. ireally did like the fact that you can change the knife from tip up to tip down.depending what you like. second i liked the way it fit my hands,it felt good in different grips. third i was very impressed with the way it cuts! it kept it's edge pretty long. like i said at the beginning i like this knife a lot,in fact the one i am getting looks like this knife!!! :D thank you erikd for allowing me a chance to play with this knife. :)
 
TOB9595 said:
The thingy is the plate to protect the unused screw threads when using tip up/down
Click to expand...

That thingy is actually a form of stabalizer to keep the lock bar from over flexing. The clip does the job in the tip down configuration, you place the triangle at the pivot end for use tip up.
 
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