modifying a rat-7

[sjsienna]

Hi all,

recently joined and was having trouble with the search functioin lately (only seemed to work with single keyword searches -- multiword searches always returned an empty page).

Anyway - have done some searching so hopefully this is not a beat-a-dead-horse thread:

I have just ordered an Ontario Rat-7 and am waiting for it to arrive. I tried also buying a Becker BK7, but the two online dealers I tried are totally out of stock. I liked the Becker's blade format (profile?) - being a clip-point. The Rat-7 got such good reviews here that I decided to get one of them. I am looking for the standard camping/survival needs that have been discussed to great detail here.

However - the Rat-7 is a standard drop point, which I realize from reading here is a stronger tip , but I have to be honest that in my opinion, one of the other uses of a knife in this class, beyond all the other chopping, cutting, etc needs , is last-resort self defense - which I *think* the clip point is better at.

So, my questions are:

1. do people agree with the idea that a defensive knife being a clip point offers any better function (in particular here I am thinking of stabbing )

2. if I wanted to modify the rat-7 into a clip point, is this prohibitively difficult, or even unlikely to be successful given the current profile of the knife? can i use a set of aggressive files to "whittle away at it" ?

3. and while I have your attention -- what about taking the black coating off -- it seems a little prettier without it

thanks in advance

Rich

 

[Cliff Stamp]

In general if you reduce the cross section of a tip it will penetrate easier. You can file most modern cutlery steels but it takes a lot of force and a decent file+vice. A grinder is usually more efficient or a similar power tool. There are many ways to remove the coating, strippers will do it easily and you can just sand it off which you will want to do likely anyway as the naked blades usually have rough finishes.

-Cliff