New RC-5 on order

B

Big_Mack

Joined
Jan 24, 2008
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Hello all - Been a long time since I've visited as I haven't had the opportunity to hit the bush (I was off having kids, which has occupied most of my time). Now that 2 of them are getting a bit older, I was looking for a new do-everything knife for my backpacking to replace an old Kabar (I found the the stacked leather wasn't comfortable). I've had a lot of difficulty choosing between the -6 and the -5. After looking around I pulled the trigger on the -5. (If I had the cash right now, I'd have gotten both).

Any thoughts? Is it overkill for backpacking in the Canadian Rockies (I'm a Canuck)?

Also, Jeff and Mike - a while back you were toying with the idea of making a stainless steel knife - has that idea died? I have a couple of older RAT-3s in D2 and would love an RC-4 in a stainless (or near stainless), as I find the RAT-3's tang too short.
 
It's one big solid knife, especially compared to the RC-3, which I also have. I was surprised at its heft! I'm in Ontario, and I'm debating whether to carry the RC-5 hunting deer/moose. It is a little big for day trips out of the hunting lodge and its not an ideal skinning knife.

But for back packing in the Rockies, don't mountains deserve a bigger piece of steel?

Congrats!
 
I think the RC-5 looks great! I'm going with an RC-6 first, simply because the thinner blade and full flat grind will slice better, which I'm looking for in my next bushcraft blade. Apparently the RC-5 is quite a splitter, despite it's smaller blade length. Personally, I'd like to get the RC-6, Izula, and an Ontario RTAK 2 for a real solid outdoor knife system.

I wish RAT Cutlery would make like an RC-8 or something like that. Maybe something similar to the Fallkniven A2. 8 inches of 1095 would be an outstanding outdoors blade in my opinion. We'll see if the future has room for that idea. Cheers
 
Big Mack, I got my RC-5 in the mail yesterday. I too used a kabar for a good long time as my fieldcraft knife, but you simply cannot go wrong with the RC-5. It's big and tough enough to take abuse and come back asking for more, yet the edge is sharp enough and the overall design is controllable enough to get the finer tasks done. I think I'd have been happy with either but I am glad I settled for the RC-5.
 
between the RC-5 and and RC-6, I would have done the same and gotten an RC-5 first. A big blade in the rockies is overkill imo, and i'd tend to jump to the smaller blade especially when hiking up to the chimneys I don't need a big floppy knife getting in my way. I carry an Izula on my pack and an RC-4 on my belt.

did you make sure you got the new kydex sheath for your RC-5? i'm not sure if it's on the market yet but it's soon.
 
the cutting edge length difference between the RC5 and 6 is less than an inch, the real difference is the width. The RC-5 is wider, at .25 inches, than the 6 at .18 inches. It's heavier but will take more punishment.
 
I love mine so far - but haven't yet had occasion to carry it anywhere. She isn't a lightweight, that much is certain:D
 
I can't stop fondling it, it's steeling the Koyote's thunder as it sits on my desk crying for attention. I'ts cool though because they will both get a real good workout in a few days
 
Y'all are getting me more an' more excited! I haven't even gotten a shipping notice yet, so I'm just reading this and anticipating it more n' more.
When I climb, I don't tend to carry anything larger than my old RAT-3. But for backpacking, I like the feel of a big knife on my thigh. That would be the -5 or -6, depending on the trip.
I also originally thought about an RC-4 (paired with an RC-6) - they're really great looking knives, but I think they'd be redundant given I have 2 old RAT-3s (hmm, one is unused, perhaps I should give it as a gift, which leaves me minus a knife...).
 
sounds like you've got your bases covered. I used my Gerber Prodigy climbing in Seven Devils last week, and other than the ridiculous amount of minuscule chipping going on with gerber's crappy steel, such a large knife did fine. It makes me mad, I love the design of that knife and it feels so good in my hand I just wish it were of higher quality. Well now the RC5 will take it's place. Other than water, tools takes up the most weight in my pack, so I figure what's an extra couple of ounces for a knife I know will never fail me? I had almost 80 pounds in my pack when I climbed He Devil and She Devil and that climbing is no joke.
 
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