Old Izula?

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kg4miq

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Oct 30, 2009
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I'm noticing in the photos someone has an "older" Izula (I'm assuming), which has a much thicker spine to it and doesn't have the same flat grind on the blade face that the current ones do. Was this a prototype? Are they still available? I like that design better for strength reasons (not that there's a whole lot to complain about, heh) but was just wondering...how can I get one of those?
 
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Not exactly sure what your referring to but beyond purchasing an older version, I doubt you will find them if that was in fact an older version. However I do not think that you will be disappointed with the current thickness/strength of the Izula. ESEE (RAT) makes reallllllllly tough knives. If using it for prying, I think your first issue will be with the size then the strength. (that just means you must carry a RC-6, in addition to the Izula)
 
kg4miq said:
I'm noticing in the photos someone has an "older" Izula (I'm assuming), which has a much thicker spine to it and doesn't have the same flat grind on the blade face that the current ones do. Was this a prototype? Are they still available? I like that design better for strength reasons (not that there's a whole lot to complain about, heh) but was just wondering...how can I get one of those?
Click to expand...

That was a proto. I've seen pictures of it pop up every so often. All current Izulas are FFG. Regarding strength reasons, out of several thousand Izulas, RAT (ESEE now) has only reported one being sent back because of a broken tip, and even then it was very abused from what I remember reading.

The Izula is about as stout as can be without sacrificing cutting ability.

EDIT:
izulafield1.jpg
<---proto
 
If you like saber flat ground knives, the HEST with its high flat saber grind (higher than the Izula Proto) is very addictive !
Cheers
Nemo
 
Can we have a special run of izula protos for the rat pack :) pretty please.

U can even charge double for the trouble.
 
harkamus said:
That was a proto. I've seen pictures of it pop up every so often. All current Izulas are FFG. Regarding strength reasons, out of several thousand Izulas, RAT (ESEE now) has only reported one being sent back because of a broken tip, and even then it was very abused from what I remember reading.

The Izula is about as stout as can be without sacrificing cutting ability.

EDIT:
izulafield1.jpg
<---proto
Click to expand...

that is my proto type in pic
 
gun blued is a thicker version proto type
DSCF0986.jpg

pink Izula is #007 proto type before release
DSCF0377.jpg

DSCF0378.jpg

gun blued is a thicker version proto type
DSCF0381.jpg

DSCF0382.jpg
 
Yes, this is what I was asking about. I figured it was a prototype or something. But I DO like sabre ground blades. Don't know why, just my preference. Yes, I don't doubt the strength of the current Izula, I just think the prototypes have more poise. I'm anxiously awaiting arrival of my new RC3MIL, to go with its big brother, my RC-5, which could compete in the "I like it nasty" category quite well. Thanks so much for the pics. Anybody want to sell their Izula prototype?!?
 
Bump.

MWM seeks lasting relationship with "old skool" Izula (prototype sabre grind, as seen in knife pron above). These new youngsters just don't hold the same sway for me. I need something with some "swagger." Look forward to enjoying long walks on the beach (or in the woods, preferably), plenty of "batoning" (wink, wink) with a sweet piece of 1095, excellent cuisine (pick your favorite cut of venison...I'm easy), great music (think: Nine Inch Nails/Iron Maiden/anything Metal, not Kenny G). Come to my crib. I'll show you my house. You might even be my next "main squeeze," if you catch my drift. I'll hook you up - on my BOB, my pants pocket, my truck bag, whatevah. I"ll pin you down, right next to my ESEE-5 and my ESEE-3MIL. PM me, playah. Let's talk.
 
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kg4miq said:
Bump.

MWM seeks lasting relationship with "old skool" Izula (prototype sabre grind, as seen in knife pron above). These new youngsters just don't hold the same sway for me. I need something with some "swagger." Look forward to enjoying long walks on the beach (or in the woods, preferably), plenty of "batoning" (wink, wink) with a sweet piece of 1095, excellent cuisine (pick your favorite cut of venison...I'm easy), great music (think: Nine Inch Nails/Iron Maiden/anything Metal, not Kenny G). Come to my crib. I'll show you my house. You might even be my next "main squeeze," if you catch my drift. I'll hook you up - on my BOB, my pants pocket, my truck bag, whatevah. I"ll pin you down, right next to my ESEE-5 and my ESEE-3MIL. PM me, playah. Let's talk.
Click to expand...

Your best bet would be to PM texastony and see if he'll sell it to you. Less than a handful of the protos were made from what I recall.
 
Lol, I doubt getting hands on a proto is going to be easy if even possible. Open posting outside of the exchange is probably a bad idea, but I'd assume you'd need something pretty rare as bait. Cash almost never factors into getting hands on such rare items unless someone is cleaning out.

If you want a more stout small blade, nemos suggestion of a hest is perfect. Check the photo thread, there are several shots of it, it's a tough little guy
 
kg4miq said:
TTD, I'll let you hold a dollar if you'll let me hold your prototype for a while. :D
Click to expand...

I think there was about 15 saber grind and flat grind proto types ? maybe less ? and I Highly Doubt you'll find anyone that would sale theirs .
plus no one paid for them they we're giving away in a random method on the forum ( we do it all the time)... :D & Mine is not for Sale either
Glad he did not see the HEST w/ proto type scales ;)

5/2008
We have about 15 of the RAT Cutlery neck knives that were prototypes we used to setup tooling and tweak the final neck knife design. These are the 3/16" model that I posted pics of. They are exactly like the production models except for the thickness. They are NOT powder coated and do NOT include a sheath. They ARE sharpened and heat treated.There are the only 15 in existence and there will never be any more like them in this thickness. No warranty of any kind since we will not be producing the 3/16" thickness and couldn't give anyone an exact replacement should something happen to one of these. I said all that to say this: soon we will have a contest to give all of these away to BladeForums members. Whatever the contest is will be posted on this thread and we hope to have the contest completed and knives shipped to the winners before the last week in May. We may actually limit the contest participation to members of Tony's new RAT Cutlery social club he created. Stay tuned!
 
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As a result of the discussion above, it's not the durability of the blade I'm concerned about any longer. Videos posted on this forum show my ESEE3-MIL to be capable of handling a 30 degree bend and returning to its original straightness without failure, thanks to the heat treatment of the 1095 by Rowen Mfg. What the 3 lacks (yeah, right...as if) in toughness, strength, and heft are more than accounted for by the ESEE 5.

Nope, I'm simply enamored with the look of the sabre grind on that Izula skeleton. The HEST looks too gimmicky to me for some strange reason. Granted, I know it's not, but it looks like it is - e.g. grinning skulls with a hat on the scales. Now, the ESEE logo skull on the scales, that's better. And what's with the pommel? What's it's function, other than looks?

Don't mistake me...I'm digging the HEST, too, just not as much.

Yet. ;)
 
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Easy solution. Strip off the scales and wrap with para cord. The pommel has a pry bar. I planned to grind mine off. But when I got it in hand, I forgot all about that idea. It's small, really small, and useful
 
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