GI Tanto vs. RAT-5

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
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I am going to get a new survival knife combo.

I was thinking of the CS GI tanto with a survival sheath. I had to grade some papers for a teacher today. While doing that, I watched knifetests.com. I got to almost all of them of the GI and the RTAK.

I have to say, I was more impressed the the RTAK. The RAT-5 can be had for $76 with a pretty good sheath. The GI with a sheath totals at $69-75.

After seeing all the cool practical kits on the PSK thread, I feel a desire to make a better more efficient sheath set up with a new knife.

Anyone think either of those knives would be better?

BTW, I did double check my grades.
 
Without a shadow of a doubt the RAT 5 or TAK are better survival knives than the GI Tanto and if anyone on here tells you any different then I think I'm wasting my time on this forum !!!!
 
pitdog said:
Without a shadow of a doubt the RAT 5 or TAK are better survival knives than the GI Tanto and if anyone on here tells you any different then I think I'm wasting my time on this forum !!!!
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Pitdog, don't worry, you're not wasting your time here...:D

I think (depending on your preference) the TAK-1 is even better, for allround work. At least for smaller work the TAK-1 is fabulous. I've got a TAK-1 RAT-3 RAT-5 RAT-7 and the TAK-1 gets used the most for survival/bushwork.

But.....if you need to open up an atomic shelter too someday, try the Ranger RD4. It's allmost the same size as the RAT-5, but a lot thicker and stronger. Reprolfile it to 25deg edge and you're ready.

Anyway, I would save my money on the CS and buy a RAT/TAK or RANGER. If weight is an issue get the RAT/TAK.

CZ
 
I don't think many people will recommend a tanto for a survival knife, b/c it's so lousy for skinning. I now Ron Hood did at one point use a tanto but that's the only one I can think of & that was a few years ago.
 
chrisaloia said:
I am going to get a new survival knife combo.

I was thinking of the CS GI tanto with a survival sheath. I had to grade some papers for a teacher today. While doing that, I watched knifetests.com. I got to almost all of them of the GI and the RTAK.

I have to say, I was more impressed the the RTAK. The RAT-5 can be had for $76 with a pretty good sheath. The GI with a sheath totals at $69-75.

After seeing all the cool practical kits on the PSK thread, I feel a desire to make a better more efficient sheath set up with a new knife.

Anyone think either of those knives would be better?

BTW, I did double check my grades.
Click to expand...
You may want to do yourself a favor and check around for the price of a CS GI Tanto....I paid around 20.00 for mine. Of the knives listed, I'd go with the RD4. :thumbup:
 
The GI price of $69-75 is including a survival sheath.

I thought about Ranger, but I think 1/4" is too thick.

If you look at the GI tanto on knifetests.com, I can't imagine how 4mm knife could possibly fail you. Also, the RTAK kicked butt.
 
chrisaloia said:
If you look at the GI tanto on knifetests.com, I can't imagine how 4mm knife could possibly fail you. Also, the RTAK kicked butt.
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By fail do you mean break? I don't have a GI tanto but I did have a CS Recon Tanto for years and I even tried to field dress a deer with it in my easlier days so I think it would compare. I never thought it would break but the tanto point was lousy for anything intricate and the second "point" where the two edges come together makes skinning very difficult.

If you want a knife to beat and pry on stuff i guess it would be okay for the price but if you actually are going to cut, wittle, or use it to make field expedient stuff I would say Rat5 hands down.
 
The Rat 5 is a nice blade, very heavy built but still a usable knife. Has a great handle. Justin at Ranger Knives makes great blades as well. Both companies are great to work with. If I was going to get a knife of the ones listed I would look hard a Rat TAK.
 
The GI Tanto isn't a knife, if you ask me. It's a poorly sharpened bar of metal with a cord for a handle. Assuming you're going to be actually cutting with the knife, then I'd rather go with the RAT-5...

And I'll third Ranger Knives. Good knives, better prices. :D
 
I personally like cold steel products but I would never buy the GI tanto. If you want a decent survival knife from CS get a recon scout they are around $70.00 or cheaper on the bay. I would also take anything from Ontario over the GI tanto. The rat-5 would be a good choice but the rat-7 or rat-7 D2 would be much better. The GI tanto is made from a cheap steel and its rc is not very high. It is so tough because it is somewhat soft. Sheath sucks and para-cord handle also sucks. The best think you could do with this knife is insert it into a pole and use the cordage from the handle to lash it tight making an OK spear. If you want a true tuff knife that can take whatever you throw a it get a Fallkniven A1 or even a S1.
 
The tanto blade shape is great for stabbing car hoods and beer cans. For a woods knife you are better off with a good handle and a blade with some "belly". You'll also want the knife to be of decent steel so you aren't sharpening it all the time too. Based on the choices you've outlined the Rat is the better choice.

A highly skilled woodsman can make do with almost any knife. A quality woods knife makes you more efficient so you can enjoy your time in the woods. The Rat would probably be the more efficient woods knife for you.
 
chrisaloia said:
The GI price of $69-75 is including a survival sheath.

I thought about Ranger, but I think 1/4" is too thick.

If you look at the GI tanto on knifetests.com, I can't imagine how 4mm knife could possibly fail you. Also, the RTAK kicked butt.
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O.K., now I gotcha ref. the high price tag. If you ever wind up in a true survival situation, and you have to baton and/or chop with your knife, you may just wish that your knife was 1/4" thick. ;) The RD4 thins pretty nicely near the point, for more refined work. Personally, if I was ever "in the sh*t", I'd want the RD4 with me...along with a couple of Busse's, of course. :)
 
Thanks for all the comments.

I think, I have been steered in the right direction.

I'll be going with a RAT. Thanks
 
chrisaloia said:
Thanks for all the comments.

I think, I have been steered in the right direction.

I'll be going with a RAT. Thanks
Click to expand...

Good choice. I was just going to recommend it myself.

Like has been said before, the tanto point is great if your ripping apart logs searching for grubs to eat, but not much else.

I have a Rat-7 which I like a lot and still have a Rat-5 on the list....but it is waaaay down that list.

Justin at Ranger Knives will make you a RD-whatever in any thickness with whatever scales you want on it. Mine is an RD-5 with green/black G10. If I had to do it over I think I'd skip the choil though.
 
chrisaloia said:
Thanks for all the comments.

I think, I have been steered in the right direction.

I'll be going with a RAT. Thanks
Click to expand...

I don't think you will go far wrong with any of the RAT line !!!!:thumbup:

Just be sure and post us some pics of it in action !!!!!!;)
 
I have owned both.....get a RAT5 :) Better knife all around.
 
I have own a bunch of Cold Steel knives, including the GI Tanto. It is much more of a beater combat knife. You saw the knife test video so you know it is super strong. It would not be the best skinner. But you could buy one for ever vehicle and just forget about it. It is lighter than a big chopper, but also won't chop as well. It would make a good spear blade that would flex instead of break. I don't use mine as my out door knife, however. I just throw it a lot. A 1/4 inch spine is not really a handy-cap. Makes for a better chopper. You might keep a small thin blade for skinning, and a bigger heavier blade for a chopper.
 
I'm adding my voice to the Ranger camp. I have a RD 4 with spear point. The thickness gives me comfort and the edge has been reprofiled and now slices and chops. Currently it's off to the leather maker's for a new leather sheath with firesteel loop. Good luck with the decision.
 
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