I Just Got a CS Rajah II

JTR357 said:
I just read that the Rajah II had a hollow grind.Is this a misprint?Why the heck would they put a hollow grind(weakest edge IMO) on what is mostly considered a chopper?!:confused:
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I am sure it's flat grind. My Rajah 1 is.

Anyone seen Resident Evil (the last one, can't remember the name)? I saw it while waiting for my Rajah 1 to arrive and the khuks in the movie was really nice :)

Now with one Rajah 1 in my hand I'm contemplating the Rajah 2 in my other. Anyone who has owned/handled both can tell me what's the difference and which is better?
 
What's with the $100 difference between the Rajah I & II??!
 
JTR357 said:
What's with the $100 difference between the Rajah I & II??!
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Rajah 1 uses 7075 aluminum and G10 and Rajah 2 uses Grivory and a SS liner. Also there seems to be a 0.2mm difference in blade thickness but that is not too significant in my opinion.

I believe injection molded grivory and punched out SS liners are lot more cheaper than CNC 7075 aluminum and human fine-tuned g10. Basically there is a material price difference and workmanship difference as well as time difference.
 
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When the Rajah II first appeared, people who saw it reacted very favorably to its size and strength. The YouTube video also gave it a boost, and though it's an impressive knife, don't forget that as far as size, it hardly dwarfs the Voyager X2 and the Vaquero Grande, both of which are incredible folders. The Rajah II is a more substantial knife (heavier and stronger), but the Voyager and Vaquero are both exceptionally strong folders for more conventional carry. Neither will hold up for extended chopping, but they make excellent self defense and outdoor knives.

RajahII_Vaquero.jpg


The Rajah II (top) and the Vaquero Grande, two very large
folders. Why don't other knife companies offer competitive
sizes and types of their own?
 
The Rajah II is certainly heavier and a better chopper than the Vaquero and X2---but all of them are excellent, and certainly do have their uses! :thumbup:

I'm not sure why other companies don't offer competitive knives in this size range; you might argue that the 630 Skirmish by Benchmade is somewhat in this size range, but it's being discontinued. I communicated with Mr. Glesser of Spyderco several times wishing for a larger folding knife with a 5 to 6 inch blade---a sort of "souped up" Military, but it wasn't practical at the time. I would love to see something like this, perhaps with a compression lock, carbon fiber scales, and a thick, wide, flat-ground blade in a carbon steel like CPM M4. That would be fantastic---a dream knife if there ever was one. :D
 
JTR357 said:
I do not like AUS4 or AUS6(too darn soft!):barf:(they should be taken off any respectable companies steel options IMHO)
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AUS-6 isn't too far off from 13C26, so I'd blame a lackluster heat-treatment for the suckiness you've experienced.

Confederate,

Thanks for the side-by-side of the Rajah II and Vaquero Grande. Allow me to say: :eek:
 
What are some of the knives made with 13C26? I've only been marginally happy with AUS6 knife blades, and only with knives I'm not going to be using a great deal. The only knife I ever carry using it is the CRKT M16-13Z (older model). Then they took the knife down to AUS4.

Despite the blade cut on the Rajah II, the AUS8 blade did a lot of chopping. When I ordered one, I almost instantly regretted it, saying, you know, this thing is going to be some overweight safari knife, but twenty minutes after playing with it, I was sold. In the winter, where cars can get stuck in snow and ice and other problems occur, here was a knife that could be carried somewhat discreetly, was as strong as a bull moose and felt great in the hands. It's something that can chop through ice, cut back vegetation and can be folded and carried with no problems. It's also a fairly good companion if you have to drop by a rest stop at night.

It'll never be an EDC, but I do think it makes a great addition to one's bug-out bag. Just having it for the great lock is almost worth it alone.
 
Confederate said:
What are some of the knives made with 13C26?
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All Kershaws, but: Junkyard Dog II, External Toggle (my favorite folder), R.A.M., Storm, Leek, Groove, and many others (but those are the ones I've tried and thoroughly enjoyed).

Confederate said:
It'll never be an EDC, but I do think it makes a great addition to one's bug-out bag. Just having it for the great lock is almost worth it alone.
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It might be an EDC for you some day. Little steps. :)
 
My Rajah II arrived this morning. I haven't had it outside yet. Yes, it's a tank, and yes, it weighs too much. I am impressed, though. It balances pretty well, could be used like a Bushman as a car knife or for trimming back vegetation.

I am no fan of knife-fighting and that goes double for "intimidating" people by brandishing a knife, but :eek: if you snap this open in a mugger's face, he'll have a freaking heart attack. Gripped at the butt, the tip is 9" from your hand. Unlike the Vaquero/Voyager handle, this will not slip.

The Rajah II is well-made, I'm pleased with the fit & finish. The clip is mounted on the right but it's also tapped on the left and is their usual too tight. :p They include another clip and screws. I can see back-pocket carry in jeans.
 
I just wish CS would include a small hex wrench. I have some small ones, but none fit the screws for the clips.

Of the two knives, the Rajah II is just as strong, I think, as the Rajah I. It's just polished and a bit more rust resistant. I polished the blade on mine.
 
My Rajah II arrived yesterday (I really gotta stop reading these reviews!:D). Definately a massive knife! I'm not sure the clip is all that useful - seems it would do better in a belt pouch. Over all, I'm favorably impressed - can't wait for warmer weather so I can go out and attack my bushes!
 
Ron, I just had mine out for a walk this afternoon. I put it in the inside breast pocket of my jacket and only about 2" stuck out, it didn't shift around at all, and on the walk home, I found it very easy to slide the clip over the pocket's edge.

Just for fun, I slashed at a branch a little over 1/4" I think. Sliced it off cleanly, didn't feel it go through, it's so heavy. :)
 
Andrew Demko came up with the Tri-Ad locking system, too, and that's the very heart of the Rajah, the
espadaseries.html
, Spartan, Black Rhino and American Lawman. (The Tri-Ad is a successor to a patented lock design originally created by John PerMar.) It also will revolutionize the folding knife industry, I believe. For the first time, folding knives can be as strong as fixed blades (and without CRKT's overrated LAWKS, which, while good, doesn't come close to making a folder into a fixed blade).

I hope to see it employed on the CS Voyager someday soon as well.


csstoreonline_2036_842097


The CS Spartan
 
Confederate said:
For the first time, folding knives can be as strong as fixed blades (and without CRKT's overrated LAWKS, which, while good, doesn't come close to making a folder into a fixed blade).
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Is your point:

1. Tri-Ad is the first really strong lock.

Answer: No. The Axis lock, and others like it are at least as strong, from a design point of view.

2. Which is what you actually said. "For the first time, folding knives can be as strong as fixed blades"

Answer: No. A folding knife can not physically be as strong as an equivalent fixed blade knife. It's just not gonna happen.
 
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I disagree. The axis lock is nowhere near as strong as the Tri-ad, because the axis can be defeated by bumping the axis bar. Working in a tight space, that is a real danger.

Many smaller fixed blades with less than full tangs can be strong enough for their intended use, and still not be nearly as strong as a Tri-ad with a thick pivot.

Locks like bolt actions or compression or even decent framelocks will hold up against more stress than the hand that's holding them.
 
No Maybe,
darthsoaker said:
Answer: No. fail. The Axis lock, and others like it are at least as strong, from a design point of view.
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From a design point of view, a Rukus has a small pin to resist opening/cutting forces, A Rajah's pin is thicker and is therefore stronger in cutting/opening forces. The shearing of the steel pin is the main consideration. The same consideration can be applied to closing/negative forces as well (borrowing term negative forces, I'm almost sure of it's use).

From a design point of view, an axis pin is thinner and has less shear area and the distance to pivot pin centroid is closer hence it is (from a design point of view) weaker. Shear strength is different and at ultra high/max loads then the lockbar pivot pin of the Tri-ad comes to contribute as well but there is no backup for the axis.

I also compared to a 710 also to be sure.
darthsoaker said:
Answer: No, fail. A folding knife can not physically be as strong as an equivalent fixed blade knife. It's just not gonna happen.
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Depends on the fixed blade in question. Compared to a full tang sandwich slab type fixed blade of equal thickness then yes you're right. But compared to narrow or welded tang type with equivalent thickness blade then it is stronger. Depends on the term 'equivalent'. There are forumites who stand by narrow tangs saying they are just as strong as full tang types but I personally don't think so. Lateral stress is another different issue though I agree.

Another thing, No need to put a pic of the 'fail' cat. It's a little too insulting and you could beg to differ more nicely. I have no right to tell you this I understand and sorry if I offend you but there are different/nicer ways of doing things. How you accept this is up to you and out of my control.

Have a nice day :)
 
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Esav Benyamin said:
I disagree. The axis lock is nowhere near as strong as the Tri-ad, because the axis can be defeated by bumping the axis bar. Working in a tight space, that is a real danger.
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Then you would be making a case for safety from accidental release, not lock strength. But wouldn't you be just as likely to press the lock release on a lockback?

Esav Benyamin said:
Many smaller fixed blades with less than full tangs can be strong enough for their intended use, and still not be nearly as strong as a Tri-ad with a thick pivot.
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I always try to visualize folders as, at best, a fixed blade with a 1 inch tang. Virtually every Bladeforums member would scream in disgust at FB with a 1 inch tang, insisting that it isn't strong enough.

Keep in mind, I said "equivalent" FB. Sure, my Spyderco Delica will stronger then many CCC hidden tang FB, but it's not a entirely fair comparison, is it?

Esav Benyamin said:
Locks like bolt actions or compression or even decent framelocks will hold up against more stress than the hand that's holding them.
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While this is true for most folders we (or at least I) deal with, or sig. smaller then the Rajah. You have much more leverage on a 6 in blade then a 3in. Lock choice becomes much more important when we're dealing with larger blades.
 
Cotherion said:
Another thing, No need to put a pic of the 'fail' cat. It's a little too insulting and you could beg to differ more nicely. I have no right to tell you this I understand and sorry if I offend you but there are different/nicer ways of doing things. How you accept this is up to you and out of my control.

Have a nice day :)
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No, you are right. I'll edit it out. Just been a bad day. :o
 
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