- Joined
- Jun 8, 2010
- Messages
- 106
As far as I can tell from the ESEE web site the differences between the RC-3MIL (and now the ESEE-3MIL) and the other RC-3 models are:
1) Black blade with Canvas Micarta handle and black oxide handle screws.
2) Sharpened Glass Breaker Pommel.
3) (Obviously) The Blade name etch.
Those are the differences in the knife, the other differences are green molded sheath, and MOLLE back always included. But here I'm not talking about the accessories, just the knife.
When I was deciding which RC-3 to get, I quickly decided (after reading lots of threads here) that I wanted canvas micarta. This narrowed the choices down to the Desert Tan 'regular' model or the 'military' model. I think that the DT RC-3 is a fantastic looking knife, but for some reason the shiny handle screws just didn't appeal to me. This is absolutely just a personal preference that has everything to do with looking at the knife and nothing to do with the actual use of the knife.
This brings us to the other difference in the 3MIL, the sharpened pommel. I really don't think I will ever have need to use this feature. I bought the knife for outdoor 'backwoods' use. (And I can't legally carry it in the city, so when it's in the car it has to be in the trunk...) I was a little concerned that this 'sharp' pommel could cause problems. My concern was that the sharp point might scratch or puncture my hand if I wasn't extra careful getting the knife out of the sheath or I used a palm reinforced grip to drive the point into an object. The sharpened pommel looks very sharp in the photos. In other posts forum members have expressed concerns over the sharp pommel. I bought the 3-MIL anyway because I really liked the looks.
Good news everybody! The sharpened glass breaker isn't sharp enough to cut anything.
The two flat grinds that make the point ensure that a glass breaking impact will concentrate the force of the blow to a single point (for the regular non-modified pommel this would be a straight line rather than a point), so it should perform its intended duty well. It is not an issue for handling.
If I ever need to use a baton on the pommel to chisel a hole in a piece of wood, the point will probably be rather hard on the baton. This is probably why the regular RC-3 is available with the modified (rounded) pommel.
And I am very, very happy with the RC-3MIL!
Here are a couple of close up photos -- though even these photos make the point look very sharp:
P.S. Owners of the non-sharpened glass breaker pommels could very easily sharpen theirs.
1) Black blade with Canvas Micarta handle and black oxide handle screws.
2) Sharpened Glass Breaker Pommel.
3) (Obviously) The Blade name etch.
Those are the differences in the knife, the other differences are green molded sheath, and MOLLE back always included. But here I'm not talking about the accessories, just the knife.
When I was deciding which RC-3 to get, I quickly decided (after reading lots of threads here) that I wanted canvas micarta. This narrowed the choices down to the Desert Tan 'regular' model or the 'military' model. I think that the DT RC-3 is a fantastic looking knife, but for some reason the shiny handle screws just didn't appeal to me. This is absolutely just a personal preference that has everything to do with looking at the knife and nothing to do with the actual use of the knife.
This brings us to the other difference in the 3MIL, the sharpened pommel. I really don't think I will ever have need to use this feature. I bought the knife for outdoor 'backwoods' use. (And I can't legally carry it in the city, so when it's in the car it has to be in the trunk...) I was a little concerned that this 'sharp' pommel could cause problems. My concern was that the sharp point might scratch or puncture my hand if I wasn't extra careful getting the knife out of the sheath or I used a palm reinforced grip to drive the point into an object. The sharpened pommel looks very sharp in the photos. In other posts forum members have expressed concerns over the sharp pommel. I bought the 3-MIL anyway because I really liked the looks.
Good news everybody! The sharpened glass breaker isn't sharp enough to cut anything.
The two flat grinds that make the point ensure that a glass breaking impact will concentrate the force of the blow to a single point (for the regular non-modified pommel this would be a straight line rather than a point), so it should perform its intended duty well. It is not an issue for handling.
If I ever need to use a baton on the pommel to chisel a hole in a piece of wood, the point will probably be rather hard on the baton. This is probably why the regular RC-3 is available with the modified (rounded) pommel.
And I am very, very happy with the RC-3MIL!
Here are a couple of close up photos -- though even these photos make the point look very sharp:
P.S. Owners of the non-sharpened glass breaker pommels could very easily sharpen theirs.
:thumbup:
