Ontario TAK = my perfect outdoors knife

Macchina

Macchina

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
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I've owned many fixed blades trying to find the "perfect" camp/hiking knife, and I think I've been overlooking simple designs. I've tried a lot of the Benchmade combat orientated fixed blades with super steels, some very thick blades from Scrapyard, some Swamp Rats, and I think the Ontario TAK suits me perfectly. I've been hiking with it twice this year, and the thin blade (compared to the Scrapyards) works really well, without the fear of it breaking. I've found that a knife blade much longer is useless, because I chop with chopping tools only. The handle fits me perfectly, and is very comfy for long use. I got the 1095 steel, because it is tough, sharp (and easy to get sharp), and a classic. I have a drawer full of fancy fixed blades and heavy duty folders, but the TAK is my go-to hiking knife. The sheath, which a lot of people complain about, is great in my opinion. I'd recommend this knife to anyone looking for a well priced outdoors knife.
 
I agree. Got one in a trade awhile back and it is a great knife. I always have trouble deciding whether to carry it or my Tom Brown Tracker 2.
 
i am waiting for my ontario rat-5 now, seems they've sold out :|

i do think the blade might be a tad too long for regular camp chores and too short for any chopping stuff. But i usually got a thrower with me that is 12" or something bigger like a machete for any chopping part.
So yeah, maybe the TAK is better for me aswell.

But anyway the knife has been catching my attention and i wanna try it anyway :D
 
A while back I put up my Becker Crewman to trade for a TAK, but I've since decided to keep it. It occurred to me that the two knives are similar enough that it made little sense to trade one for the other (although the Becker is bulkier).

Soon I will be getting a Bark River Northstar, which I expect to become my go-to fixed blade. The Becker will be a good BoB-type knife.
 
michaelmcgo said:
I've owned many fixed blades trying to find the "perfect" camp/hiking knife, and I think I've been overlooking simple designs. I've tried a lot of the Benchmade combat orientated fixed blades with super steels, some very thick blades from Scrapyard, some Swamp Rats, and I think the Ontario TAK suits me perfectly. I've been hiking with it twice this year, and the thin blade (compared to the Scrapyards) works really well, without the fear of it breaking. I've found that a knife blade much longer is useless, because I chop with chopping tools only. The handle fits me perfectly, and is very comfy for long use. I got the 1095 steel, because it is tough, sharp (and easy to get sharp), and a classic. I have a drawer full of fancy fixed blades and heavy duty folders, but the TAK is my go-to hiking knife. The sheath, which a lot of people complain about, is great in my opinion. I'd recommend this knife to anyone looking for a well priced outdoors knife.
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Man, have you been reading my mind?!!:thumbup: I've been searching for years, and found the TAK-1 a year ago, and it's been my bush knife ever since. I like big choppers and small folders, but the TAK goes everywhere with me in the woods!
Everything is perfect on this knife! But........the search continues......yes it's an addiction.....:D

CZ
 
Here is a thread I started a while back with a side-by-side comparison of RAT-5 and a TAK (both 1095).

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=485140

The reason I mention this is although the RAT-5 seems to be a better designed knife....I seem to be dragging the TAK with me just about everywhere I need a camp/utility knife.
 
I was going to ask this in a separate but this seems kind of relevant here. I am looking for a knife the same size as my Air Force Survival knife. I have a Becker Crewman which in my opinion is much larger. I have several Moras which to me are much smaller. The Tak seems to be the same size but I don't have any way to compare. Anyone know the answer to this because I have been considering the TAK for a while.
 
cucharadedragon said:
I was going to ask this in a separate but this seems kind of relevant here. I am looking for a knife the same size as my Air Force Survival knife. I have a Becker Crewman which in my opinion is much larger. I have several Moras which to me are much smaller. The Tak seems to be the same size but I don't have any way to compare. Anyone know the answer to this because I have been considering the TAK for a while.
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I have a TAK and an Ontario Air Force Survival knife.....the TAK is just a smidge shorter than the Air Force knife and it is the blade length that is shorter. The handles are the same size in length. The blade of the TAK is a little wider but thickness is the same between the two knives. The TAK is a bit heavier. Hope this helps.
 
morrowj_98 said:
I have a TAK and an Ontario Air Force Survival knife.....the TAK is just a smidge shorter than the Air Force knife and it is the blade length that is shorter. The handles are the same size in length. The blade of the TAK is a little wider but thickness is the same between the two knives. The TAK is a bit heavier. Hope this helps.
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Thanks. This is what I have been trying to find out. It actually surprises me a little that the TAK is heavier but it sounds just like what I have been looking for.
 
I have a Swamp Rat Howler LM that I take everywhere. I've been looking all around for something better but I agree with you that this size knife is just about perfect. Tried going with the Ratmandu which is a 5 inch but it just didn't seem right. Great minds think alike.:thumbup::D
 
cucharadedragon said:
Thanks. This is what I have been trying to find out. It actually surprises me a little that the TAK is heavier but it sounds just like what I have been looking for.
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it's the micarta handle scales that make it heavier. IMHO, the weight is more than worth it.....the micarta handles on these take an insane amount of abuse.
 
The more I use them, the more I appreciate these mid-sized knives (~5" blades). Much easier to carry than a larger blade...perfect belt-sized outdoors knife that can do big and small chores. The RAT 5 is a great knive, but it gives up more edge with the larger choil; the TAK has a smaller, but functional choil but with more edge. It's a more svelte knife over the RAT 5, plus I really don't care for the pommel on the RAT-5...when I get back it's going to have a metting with a Dremmel.

Overall, I like both the RAT5 and TAK. Even though they are pretty much the same sized handle, the TAK seems a little larger for me. My TAK is D2 and it takes a great edge.

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
The more I use them, the more I appreciate these mid-sized knives (~5" blades). Much easier to carry than a larger blade...perfect belt-sized outdoors knife that can do big and small chores. The RAT 5 is a great knive, but it gives up more edge with the larger choil; the TAK has a smaller, but functional choil but with more edge. It's a more svelte knife over the RAT 5, plus I really don't care for the pommel on the RAT-5...when I get back it's going to have a metting with a Dremmel.

Overall, I like both the RAT5 and TAK. Even though they are pretty much the same sized handle, the TAK seems a little larger for me. My TAK is D2 and it takes a great edge.

ROCK6
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yeah actually rat-5 or tak
not much difference
must be interesting to have one in 1095 and one in D2
 
ROCK6 said:
The RAT 5 is a great knive, but it gives up more edge with the larger choil; the TAK has a smaller, but functional choil but with more edge. It's a more svelte knife over the RAT 5, plus I really don't care for the pommel on the RAT-5...when I get back it's going to have a metting with a Dremmel.ROCK6
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I definitely agree that the pommel on the RAT5 has to go, at least for an outdoors knife. Who wants that sticking them in the ribs. But I'm curious about your claim regarding the TAK choil. Its definitely smaller, but it looks to small to be functional. Can you really fit your finger in it to choke up? It looks to small for that, which is why I prefer the RAT5.
 
I love the RAT/TAK line up, i have a hard time choosing whick knife to take..awe desicions ,desicions lol ! great knife for camp chores and the RTAK II or RAT-7 for the bigger jobs.
 
Gotta love RATs. Man would it be sweet to get to put one to use on one of Randalls Amazon expeditions.
 
I own RTAKII ,TAK D2, TAK 1095,RAT-7 1095,RAT-3 D2,RAT-3 1095 all plain edge blade,having not owned the RTAK II long that is a monster chopper,I get all giddy just holding that Beast !!! :D
 
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