Glass Breaker Pros & Cons?

P

perpster

Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
146
I'm going to purchase my first RAT soon. It will most likely be an RC-3 or RC-4 (and probably with serrations based on the great comments here about the Rowan-style serrations). I am a first responder so I like the idea of the glass breaker, but I'm wondering if there are any downsides to it. The knife will see first responder duty use but also weekend camping trips with the family and/or scouts. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.
 
I have an RC-4 (modified pommel) and RC-3 (glass breaker). I do not notice any difference between the two. The main complaint people have raised is that the pointy part of the pommel jabs into your love handles. Unfortunately, I do own love handles, but I do not find the criticism lives up to its claim. My love handles are in no way blemished by the pointy pommel :)

If you think the glass breaker pommel could be useful than it is probably a worthwhile feature to get, plus in the RC-3 it comes at a slightly cheaper price point so my suggestion is go for it. Also as a first responder I strongly recommend the serrated model - perfect for seatbelts IMO. I think the RC-3 is an awesome choice for work and play.

The RC-3 paired with a larger chopper like a hatchet, big knife or a saw is a great camping trip combo and works beautifully at that task. The RC-4 is better optimized as the 'one' camping and survival knife. They are both great knives, but given your use of this knife for work + a little play, I'd suggest the RC-3 would better meet your performance needs. This way, you won't feel any guilt buying the RC-6 to pair up with the 3 on those family camping trips ;)

Posting gives me a gratuitous excuse for knife porn...

DSC_0025-6.jpg


DSC_0026-7.jpg
 
Oh you guys are killing me! I started out really REALLY wanting an RC-4. Now you're making me want an RC-3 (and maybe an RC-6 later, but I already have an O-Rat-7. I know, I know, but funds aren't growing on trees). Of course I'll still have to get an RC-4 'cause that's what I REALLY wanted in the first place!

But now, guys, what do I go for -- which flavor RC-3:

RC-3 Orange scales serrated
or
RC-3 Mil serrated
or
???
 
to me I prefer the G10 but if your worried about it slipping and you want the best RAT cutlery handle to prevent that...The RC3 Mil, I think,not sure but I think the RC Tan version shares the same Green Micarta scales and have very good traction over the Black Linen ,slightly better than the G10.. IMO
 
texastonydobbs said:
to me I prefer the G10 but if your worried about it slipping and you want the best RAT cutlery handle to prevent that...The RC3 Mil, I think,not sure but I think the RC Tan version shares the same Green Micarta scales and have very good traction over the Black Linen ,slightly better than the G10.. IMO
Click to expand...
Please pardon my ignorance, but I thought "linen" and "micarta" were one in the same. What is the difference between Green Micarta and Black Linen? Do they have different frictions?
 
perpster said:
Oh you guys are killing me! I started out really REALLY wanting an RC-4. Now you're making me want an RC-3 (and maybe an RC-6 later, but I already have an O-Rat-7. I know, I know, but funds aren't growing on trees). Of course I'll still have to get an RC-4 'cause that's what I REALLY wanted in the first place!

But now, guys, what do I go for -- which flavor RC-3:

RC-3 Orange scales serrated
or
RC-3 Mil serrated
or
???
Click to expand...
Alright, here's how to do it:
The RC-6 is only available in standard colors, get it.
The RC-3 Mil has the black blade and (sweet to me) GREEN CANVAS scales.
Then get the RC-4 in Orange/OD.

Desert tan: :barf: (just my opinion, I see WAY too much desert brown, coyote, khaki these days)
 
perpster said:
Please pardon my ignorance, but I thought "linen" and "micarta" were one in the same. What is the difference between Green Micarta and Black Linen? Do they have different frictions?
Click to expand...

Tell you the Truth I am not to sure both are Micarta but the Linen version is Smoother and less grippy vs. standard Micarta scales.
Go to RAT Cutlery website ,it is in my signature line below,and look at the Pictures of the Different RC handles and you can see the difference texture of the scales
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Alright, here's how to do it:
The RC-6 is only available in standard colors, get it.
The RC-3 Mil has the black blade and (sweet to me) GREEN CANVAS scales.
Then get the RC-4 in Orange/OD.

Desert tan: :barf: (just my opinion, I see WAY too much desert brown, coyote, khaki these days)
Click to expand...
lol. I'm not serving in the sandbox so I'm not into the tan/brown/khaki stuff either. My hat is off to and I salute those who are serving, and maybe they are the primary market for those colors.

The RC-3 Mil has definitely been calling to me and is probably my first choice.

I'm not sure if having bright orange on the RC-4 is a good or bad thing for a general purpose use knife. I'm also not sure about G10 grips. Going to have to look into that further like TexasTonyDobbs said.
 
I should also have said that the RC-6 looks like a great knife as well, but funds aren't freely available and I'll have to start with a 3" and/or 4" first. I already have an O-RAT 7 to hold me over until the bills are caught up with.
 
Thanks for the interesting link Grump. I hope we'll hear from the RAT folks if there are different fibres/resins in the micarta scales, or if they're all the same except for color.
 
I found this on BF
G-10 offers a few advantages over micarta:

It is stronger. (tensile strength per thickness).
It offers more texture
It is more stable.

Micarta has a nicer "feel"
Micarta has paper, linen and canvas variants.

G10 is a fiberglass/epoxy composite, micarta, uses paper or some kind of cloth instead (usually linen or canvas).
 
It's hard to explain, but canvas micarta is much more grippy than linen micarta. It's easiest to understand the difference if you grab a piece of linen and a piece of canvas and compare them. Linen is a much softer and smoother material than canvas, while canvas is rough. Those qualities translate into the kind of grip you get with their respective layered phenolic varieties. I bought the desert tan for the canvas micarta scales, and of course, the day i get it, they release the RC-3MIL to the public :grumpy:
I still like the desert tan one though, it is a bit easier to see when i set it down around the house. I do live in a desert environment, however.
 
perpster said:
lol. I'm not serving in the sandbox so I'm not into the tan/brown/khaki stuff either. My hat is off to and I salute those who are serving, and maybe they are the primary market for those colors.
Click to expand...
Considering how the RAT folks treat our servicemen, I'd bet money that it's for them. :thumbup:

perpster said:
I'm not sure if having bright orange on the RC-4 is a good or bad thing for a general purpose use knife. I'm also not sure about G10 grips. Going to have to look into that further like TexasTonyDobbs said.
Click to expand...

I have the OD/Orange RC-3 (would have gotten the RC4 if I knew the RC3 Mil was going to be made generally available), and haven't had any problems with the G10. I do prefer canvas Micarta, which I think is grippier than either G10 or linen micarta, but, alas, it isn't an option on the RC4 unless I buy tan :barf:. I've used it with wet hands (water) but not coated in oil or blood, but the grip has so far not been a problem. Plus for a bushcraft knife (which the RC4 is purpose built for) having a color that clashes with the stuff you're likely to drop it in is a big advantage.
 
Take a look at the G10 RC-3 picture on Derrek's site (KSF)- the reason I say this is that it has a rather close up, high contrast image that shows a lot of texture on the handle.

Sorry - I'm too lazy to download, save it and post it though :)
 
kgd said:
Take a look at the G10 RC-3 picture on Derrek's site (KSF)- the reason I say this is that it has a rather close up, high contrast image that shows a lot of texture on the handle.

Sorry - I'm too lazy to download, save it and post it though :)
Click to expand...
Do you have a link to the site? I have no idea where/what it is.

All the wonderful responses have boiled me down to this likely decision (but still ruminating):

RC-4 Orange (serrated) and then RC-3 MIL (serrated).

I appreciate the continued input from you folks out there in computerland.
 
If the answer to this is "yes", then my mind is made up: Does the RC-4 Orange/OD (serrated) have the rounded pommel? (The better to hammer with)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top