Decisions...!

D

Danito

Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
130
Hi All,

I need your help. It's time to invest in a new knife(s).
Primary uses will be hunting tasks (skinning, field dressing etc) as well usual outdoors/camping uses (some chopping etc).

I have caught on a little to the whole Busse craze... and I must say I find them quite appealing (would look at an ASH). However it has come to my attention that for the price of one busse bought and shipped to Aus, I could pretty much buy 2 or 3 RAT Cutlery knives (thinking an RC-3 and RC-6 and possibly an RC-4 to round off the collection! They all come with great sheaths, as opposed to the Busse's which I would have to purchase seperately.

I have posted this here as I suppose I am leaning to the RC's, and want to know how the steels between the brands compare, and how the knives compare in general with such a big price difference.

Help convince me the RC's are the way to go!

Thanks in advance,
Daniel.
 
Busse's are awesome, and Infi is pretty tough stuff, but the price on these bad boys is pretty steep.

Rat Cutlery makes extremely good knives. The 1095 they use is some of the best out there, and the attention to detail is great :D

For not a lot of cash, you can get an RC. They're all great knives, comes with a great sheaths and the perfect warranty. It's an unbeatable value (imo).
 
Thanks for the links, great pics!
You seen like a bit of a RAT fan yourself! What would you say was the most practical sized knife, the 3 or 4? And do you have a preference for serrations/non-serrated?

Do you have an RC-6 yet? Just after some first impressions on these... not sure if anyone even has them yet??
 
Go with the knife that you think will serve you best at things you intend to use it for.
Both busse and Rat Cutlery make excellent product with top notch customer service. Whichever you go with, you won't regret it.
 
Danito said:
Thanks for the links, great pics!
You seen like a bit of a RAT fan yourself! What would you say was the most practical sized knife, the 3 or 4? And do you have a preference for serrations/non-serrated?

Do you have an RC-6 yet? Just after some first impressions on these... not sure if anyone even has them yet??
Click to expand...
Sure always willing to help a fellow forum member in knife crisiss.

Serrations?
Seems like I do more smoth fine whittling with the first 2" of the blade and don't find myself cutting much rope ar nylon so I go for plain.
A person working around rope, cardboard, nylon, or a boat man may want the serrations. I know RAT makes the best serrations and if I were to get a serrated knife it would be from RAT.

As far as which is more practical thats easy the RC-3. You said maybe some chopping too, so then you might want the RC-4 with a little more weight and reach. I say if you want practical get the RC-3 but don't expect even the RC-4 to be a do all plus chop knife. It is possible you might want the RC-6 but there are not any out there yet.
Happy to help.
 
Danito said:
Thanks for the links, great pics!
You seen like a bit of a RAT fan yourself! What would you say was the most practical sized knife, the 3 or 4? And do you have a preference for serrations/non-serrated?

Do you have an RC-6 yet? Just after some first impressions on these... not sure if anyone even has them yet??
Click to expand...
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Great questions Danito, I have been looking at, and comparing fixed blade knives latley, as I am planning to buy my first fixed blade knife. I've looked at
SOG, Cold Steel, Gerber, and Zero Tolerance and a few of the other better knives out there. My use is for general purpose, camping, survival. (if I ever get in a situation like that) I basicaly want a good balance of the important features you need in an outdoors knife.
I really like the ZT 0100 for its strength and great blade but it is a bit expensive. The other brands sound good but a lot of them are not made in the USA, and some are made in China.(even though they sound like a good knife) I like that the RC knives are made here in the good ol USA. And are affordable.
RC looks to have a good strong product, sounds like the company is great to deal with and the their knives are some of the BEST LOOKING knives out there.

I'm leaning toward the RC 4 or the RC 6, so any recomendationds will be welcome.

I will only buy from Rat Cutlery not the other company with the similar sounding name.
 
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Sounds like you are on a good track. I agree, the RC knives are a great marriage of quality and price--it is hard to find more knife at a better price!

Just be careful...you can't have just one.
 
If you're getting two knives, I'd get the RC-3 and RC-6.
If you're getting one knife and/or are willing to get a bigger tool for the heavier chores (like a hatchet/machete/kukri), then I'd go with the RC-4.

IMO none of the current or near future RCs are good choppers. Just not enough heft. I have a RAT-7 that's about 1/2" longer than the RC-6 will be and it's not a good chopper.

Now the RTAK II (or in the more distant future the RC RTAK II) would be a different story.
 
The Rat knives with 1095 (a carbon steel) will not have the corrosion or wear resistance of a Busse and probably wouldn't be as tough as a Busse but I think it would be as sharp. I think they would make a good general all purpose knife and like you said they are a lot cheaper than a Busse. I plan on getting one of the orange G10 handled one in the future probably an RC4.
 
In my opinion the RC4 is the best all around small to midsized knife around right now. I think it has a better handle to blade ratio/symmetry than the RC3.

I've had all kinds of knives in all sorts of price ranges, and I've pretty much settled on Busses and RATs as what I want. In fact I've sold a lot of my other stuff to focus on them. I still think Busse makes the best bigger knives around, but a big Busse (my favorites are the Steel Heart and the SFNO) and the RC4 are an untoppable combo in my book. Combine them with a SAK or a LM and you'll never need another knife (though that won't stop most of us from buying more:D).
 
Thanks for all your responses... I will be sure to let you know what I end up with!!
I am pretty sure it will be one or more RC's in plain blade form... and if I find a Busse down the track that I like and can afford may think about it then.
 
okbohn said:
Just be careful...you can't have just one.
Click to expand...

Ha Ha, yes I am beginning to realise this!!
Does anyone know when a future RTAK from RAT Cutlery will be made? If it was going to be soon, I wouldn't worry about an RC-6 and just wait for that...
 
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