Livesay's RCM vs. RTAK..what do u think?

L

Lukers

Joined
Jul 17, 1999
Messages
571
HI guys,
I was wondering if some of you with experience with Newt's knives could help me out. I have been considering the possibility of purchasing a big machette style knife for survival purposes. Which would be more suiting for that? I like the Rtak because it is a bit shorter but is the two inch difference between the blades going to matter much?
Also, what is the deal with Busse. I am so amazed by the tests he puts his knives through, If i had more money i would like invest in one of his knives(understand, a knife to me is a tool) But is the INFI steel some new miracle that is better than any other steel. Is it just a sales gimick? I don't think jerry would do that(not knowing him well...i only called him once). Should i stick with good old 1095 for my knives.
thanks alot guys,
Luke
 
Chrisjohn
smile.gif

that would be very appreciated!...I was thinking about it and the rtak is probably better than the rcm because it is a better size and has a nicer handle. Hey what is the wait for the rtak. iheard it was getting longer and longer.
Luke
 
A few first initial impressions of my RTAK. Went on a short backpacking excursion a few nights ago. Arkansas summers preclude doing any serious daylight backpacking. Looking back on the time I spent in Saudi Arabia, I marvel that nobody died. Anyway, strap on your headlamp and go for a walk some night, an awesome change of pace. Anyway back to the knife.

Took along a newly acquired RTAK strapped to my pack. The sheath is such a configuration, that there are 10 holes on both edges of the kydex sheath that allows for creative attachment. I ran high gauge bungee cord through the first two and last two sets of holes and lashed it to the left side of my pack at an angle, handle down, give me just enough purchase to cross draw it. Got to the cliff, my destination, and decided to build a nice big fire. Talk about an excuse to go cut something.
smile.gif
Foraged around and found enough dead hardwood to fuel a decent size blaze. I didn't really pay attention to the size of things I chopped, but it was all rock hard desiccated wood. The RTAK beats any hatchet and some axes I have ever used, hands down. One thing immediately noticeable, is the excellent balance of the blade. It doesn't handle like a ten inch, more like a six, not making you feel like a drunk lumberjack when using it. The ergonomics didn't really strike me just playing around with it, but after a good hour and half, my hand was in good shape, with no hotspots, just sore from the exertion. Started the fire, and sat back into the therma lounger to inspect the damage if any to the RTAK. Some of the Parkerizing had rubbed off, but the edge was amazingly pretty much the same. Still cut slivers off a paper back I had stuck in my pack. So far so good it seems. The differential heat treatment delivers as billed, tough edge and a softer spine. Chopping didn't jar my hand/arm as much, with I attribute to the softer spine when compared to an East Wing Hatchet. Pretty impressive.
 
ChrisJohn
Thanks alot for replying really fast!! I am glad to hear that the RTAK is doing well for you! Is the factory edge still in razor shape? (was it a razor to start?) you said the handling was good...so you think that the blade should be thicker for more mass? do you have any other knives from newt? I have the Air Assult, Little Pecker and SOP. I love them all! But i think that the RTAK would be a great addition to the others. The last purchase necessary to be able to face most any survival or camping situation. What other knives do you own? do you knoowledge of the wilderness and how to survive. I am wanting to learn so bad how to live in the wild with few modern things....to get all food and shelter things from nature. Do you have any advice? I would appreciate your help! ANyones help!!
Luke
PS how long did it take to get your RTAK after you ordered it?
 
You ask a few questions that are not easily answered.

1) What other knives do I own? Too many to list. Used to be a dedicated MD ATAK user until discovering Livesay's knives. Less than half the price, quality is just as good, and Newt doesn't insult customers if they disagree with him. Warranty is is the real thing too. You will be satisfied.

2) As for wilderness survival, I am an ardent backpacker/mountainbiker, but not eating for days is not my thing. I once went on a three day excursion without any food, thinking I could kill/scrounge what I needed. It was all I could do not to cut the trip short and return, by the third day I was about ready to eat my fist. Edible plants only take one so far. There are lots of schools for wilderness survival skills, but having no experience with any of them, I can't point you in any direction. Just spending time underneath a pack teachers one a whole lot.

3) Newt sepcificially said that the RTAK's edge was not meant to the hair shaving sharp as that type of edge is too fine for the heavy types of cutting tasks that the RTAK is intended for. Towards the tip, the edge is much thinner than towards the coil, where it is ground thicker, so it really has two grinds. As for edge retention, is seemed almost as keen when I was finished chopping as when I began.

4) The 3/14 blade stock does not inhibit cutting/chopping AT ALL! It just makes the blade easier to handle IHMO.

------------------
"Women bring life into the world
and much death, for they sway the
destinies of men." -Anneas

[This message has been edited by chrisJohn (edited 24 July 1999).]
 
Lukers,

>>I am wanting to learn so bad how to live in the wild with few modern things....to get all food and shelter things from nature.<<

You might wanna look into purchasing some of Ron and Karen Hood's videos. I bought three, so far..., and he seems to be covering exactly what you're wanting to learn. Primitive survival on a semi-longterm basis.

His suggested survival kit is significantly more sparse than I prefer, but they cover shelters, firemaking, trapping, navigation, cooking, and several other subjects. I've ordered four more of his tapes.

Otherwise.., Larry Olsen put out a book, about 25 years ago, called "Outdoor Survival Skills", that covers *very* primitive survival skills.., like chipping out stone knives and such. Personally..., I like my steel ones better
smile.gif
 
Kirkd,
Thanks alot....i was considering purchasing the hoods videos, but i wasn't sure about what to do. Thanks alot though, i think i will get there videos. By the way, Whats your personal choices for a big survival knive..I am thinking the battle mistress or the RTak made by newt livesay....what do you think?
luke
 
Another good book is Tom Brown`s Field Guide to Wilderness Survival. This is also very primitive stuff,it assumes you don`t even have a knife! Marcus
 
Lukers,

For an outdoors knife, what exactly do you do? For brush clearing and the like, I like to have some length. I want my hand well away from the thorns and any possible poison oak growing in the brush. And sometimes it's nice to have the extra torque to be had from a longer knife. That would favor getting the RCM, if you're gonna get just one knife.

I've done most of my outdoors big-knife activities with an Ontario 12" machete, and sometimes an Ontario 18" machete. They work just fine. So if you decide to get the smaller RTAK, you might want to also consider the Ontario 18" machete as a backup to leave at camp. That's pretty much the solution I've decided on.

If you're going to be humping the knife around, that's another reason to favor the smaller and lighter RTAK.

Joe
 
Lukers,

One of the finest websites around ,imo, is Doug Ritter's "Equipped to Survive" website. This is a tremendous site with links galore and superb information on all kinds of survival including marine,air,wilderness,disaster etc. I am truly amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge exhibited on this site. Doug Ritter has done a tremendous job for anyone interested in gathering state of the art info on preparing for and coping with the sudden reality of being forced to survive in harsh environments. Equipped to Survive is a gold mine for hunters,pilots,boaters, or any outdoorsperson. This has to be one of the finest and most useful sites in cyberspace.
. A thought provoking and rather comprehensive section on blades and multitools too. I don't know how Doug found the time to assemble such a staggering amount of pertinent info, but he has my thanks. Highly recommended.
Check it out, you won't be sorry, and someday I'm sure Doug's info will directly save one or more lives if it hasn't already.
His website is that good.
www.equipped.org

Ron and Karen Wood are here; www.survival.com

Stay safe and all the best, Phil <-----<

 
I'm brand new to the forum (just signed up a few minutes ago), and not a SME(subject matter expert) at all; but, I have long had a great deal of interest in blades of all kinds.
Although I don't own an R.T.A.K, I've been corresponding with the man who designed the blade that Newt Livesay built. His name is Jeff Randall and he's very good about responding to queries or comments. He has a web page at <jungletraining.com>. Twice a year he leads survival training exepditions into the south and central american jungles. He takes various products of well known manufacturers and subjects them to all kinds of abuse one could reasonably expect to encounter in such extreme circumstances. After being dissatisfied with several different "Survival" cum "general purpose camp" knives , he went to Newt and worked with him to design the R.T.A.K.
Strictly on the basis of cyber-based research rather than (regrettably) first-hand experience, I would say that consensus strongly favors the designer's and manufacturer's claims about the knife's quality and utility.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top