My new RTAKII

T

tobiism

Joined
Jun 28, 2013
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I just received my brand new RTAK 2 today in a trade for a BK7. I have to say I am SO impressed. My previous favorite big chopper was a BK9 and I cant believe how much more I like this one. It is so nimble for smaller tasks! The edge that came on this 5160 steel is PERFECT. Anyway I cant wait to use this more and more. I think Im going to pair this with my BK16 and take on the world!!!
The only mods I think Im going to make are re contoured handles and stripping the blade.

 
I agree with you on the performance of the RTAK, its like a giant chefs knife. The grind and edge is super thin for such a large blade.
Here is my 1095 version with a number I did on the handle:


 
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What size allen wrench is used to take the scales off? Was trying find one in the tool box for my new RTAKII earlier. Didn't want to walk in lowes with a 10 inch blade to figure it out
 
You know its odd, when holding the Bk9 in one hand, and the RTAK II in the other, the RTAK II does feel lighter and more nimble... I also really like the choil.

I am going to be doing a head to head YouTube chopper review of the sp5, sp10, RTAK II, and Bk9 after I do an in depth review of each one. So far I have only done the SP5, but I have been very impressed!

But what i am most excited to do is compare the RTAKII and the Bk9 side by side.

When it comes to fit and finish though... the Bk9 def has the upper hand, even with the cheaper scales. But the oversized scales of the RTAKII is kinda nice in that you can customize them to your hand...

Cant wait!
 
I find the BK9 has a better fit .. thou I have a big hand, the RTAK II still feels really beefy in my hand width wise. Even if I can sand down the thickness, the width is still kinda wide for me.
 
Mathias888, I agree with you completely. And I sure don't have large hands... But I can't help but feel that maybe the ginormous handle is why the heavier RTAK II feels lighter and more nimble in hand than the Bk9. maybe it is because of the Full Flat grind. I don't know...
 
beachmaster said:
You know its odd, when holding the Bk9 in one hand, and the RTAK II in the other, the RTAK II does feel lighter and more nimble... I also really like the choil.

I am going to be doing a head to head YouTube chopper review of the sp5, sp10, RTAK II, and Bk9 after I do an in depth review of each one. So far I have only done the SP5, but I have been very impressed!

But what i am most excited to do is compare the RTAKII and the Bk9 side by side.

When it comes to fit and finish though... the Bk9 def has the upper hand, even with the cheaper scales. But the oversized scales of the RTAKII is kinda nice in that you can customize them to your hand...

Cant wait!
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Let us know when you post the videos up, I'd like to see the reviews myself.
 
Most folks seemed to think the RTAK was good, and that the RTAK ll was even better.
I have seen it compared ro many pricier knives many times and it always fairs very well.

Keep us posted
 
I've owned an RtakII and it was. "Okay" to me. Just ok. So I sold it, and I regret it quite a bit. I hung onto my Bk9 (NEVER selling that one!) and my convexed SP10. The main drawback to the RtakII IMO was the thickness/chunkyness of the handle. I LOVED the heftiness of the RTAKII and the FFG. But I couldn't warm up to the grip, unlike my beloved BK9.
I know I could have hung on to it and modded it (and now I wish I had), but I needed the funds. I'd like to get one back, but alas, sadly the price of them has gone up, and they're almost nil on the secondary market. I'm kicking the idea around of one day (likely years from now) making one myself, perhaps out of 5160, or 52100 and homemade micarta... Has anyone tried this?

Idk. I wish I didn't sell mine. But I do have my sp10, bk9, bk13, and bk2 to keep me company. You've got a good blade sir. Don't ever sell it! :)
JT
 
JTmisterknifeguy said:
I've owned an RtakII and it was. "Okay" to me. Just ok. So I sold it, and I regret it quite a bit. I hung onto my Bk9 (NEVER selling that one!) and my convexed SP10. The main drawback to the RtakII IMO was the thickness/chunkyness of the handle. I LOVED the heftiness of the RTAKII and the FFG. But I couldn't warm up to the grip, unlike my beloved BK9.
I know I could have hung on to it and modded it (and now I wish I had), but I needed the funds. I'd like to get one back, but alas, sadly the price of them has gone up, and they're almost nil on the secondary market. I'm kicking the idea around of one day (likely years from now) making one myself, perhaps out of 5160, or 52100 and homemade micarta... Has anyone tried this?

Idk. I wish I didn't sell mine. But I do have my sp10, bk9, bk13, and bk2 to keep me company. You've got a good blade sir. Don't ever sell it! :)
JT
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You know, I've read a lot about people not liking the thick, blocky scales of the RTAK-II knife. And it leaves me seriously confused. Why not just get some new scales made for it? A lot of the Becker guys do it all the time. It's a mass production knife, not a custom made knife, don't expect perfection going in.
 
I dont mind that they are thick and blocky, but mine dont match the blade... at all. They are way oversized. That being said, it is easy to make grossly oversized scales smaller, to perfectly fit them to your hand. It is hard to take small scales and make them larger. I actually see this as a benefit.
A knife the price of that RTAKII that comes with the features that it does is a steal. A little sandpaper, and it is uniquely yours
 
Charlie_K said:
You know, I've read a lot about people not liking the thick, blocky scales of the RTAK-II knife. And it leaves me seriously confused. Why not just get some new scales made for it? A lot of the Becker guys do it all the time. It's a mass production knife, not a custom made knife, don't expect perfection going in.
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Hmmmm,
It wasn't "perfection" per se that I was expecting, but for an $80-$90 knife, that has been touted as one of the best/better woods blades out there, I expected it to be a little more comfortable. It seriously almost felt unfinished to me....
And as for swapping out scales.... I now wish I'd have hung on to it and at least sanded it down a bit. But the thought of dropping down $ for "custom" scales makes my bank account shriek with terror. As I've said elsewhere(other threads), I get probably less than $0.42 per year to spend on my terminal blade addiction...(read here, "woe is me") putting a spouse through med school while raising a one year old will put a vise on "rediculous boyish hobbies" like buying or modding awesome knives. :(
But don't think for a second that I don't think the knife isn't amazing. I'm just thinking that if the handle wasn't so blocky to begin with, I wouldn't have been so quick to part with it. I'm also a fan of the crinkle finish, seems quite tough!
Back again to the OP, you got a heck of a knife man! But you already knew that. :)
 
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beachmaster said:
I dont mind that they are thick and blocky, but mine dont match the blade... at all. They are way oversized. That being said, it is easy to make grossly oversized scales smaller, to perfectly fit them to your hand. It is hard to take small scales and make them larger. I actually see this as a benefit.
A knife the price of that RTAKII that comes with the features that it does is a steal. A little sandpaper, and it is uniquely yours
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I agree, I actually did this a bit with an rbs 9, (I also sold that one, dammit!) because of the rediculous sharp points in the micarta. I have no clue why I didn't do this to my rtak2.... Alas.
 
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