Ordered RD-4

1/4 inch seems the way to go since I plan to make this one work for its keep:D Thanks everyone.
 
I'd still like one in 3/16" as it will slice slightly better and enable it to keep a better edge profile as the blade gets worn down. Have you ever seen a 3/16" blade made of 5160 break ?
 
Mine is 1/4, and it cut pretty nice!! But admittedly, I did put a crazy 15/30 deg convex edge on it!
DSC00913.jpg
 
pitdog said:
I'd still like one in 3/16" as it will slice slightly better and enable it to keep a better edge profile as the blade gets worn down. Have you ever seen a 3/16" blade made of 5160 break ?
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Oh you guys aren't making this decision easy:confused:
 
Why don't you put another post on the forum asking what thickness people would prefer on a 4" knife, that may help you decide !!!
 
IUKE12,

Just make a deal with yourself or satan, whoever pays the bills, to pursue the ultimate knife for the rest of your life. Then you can lie cheat or steal to keep trying every knife variation that will ever come out till the day you die. I have been doing this, with brief periods of rest, since 1990.

I have just purchased the RD-4. I will probably purchase an Ontario Rat-5 in a few months and I am sure that I will buy another in a few months after that. You just have to try as many knives as you can. Then maybe if you are lucky, you will settle on one. Luckily, knife love can't produce off spring that you wil be responsible for.
 
chrisaloia said:
IUKE12,

Just make a deal with yourself or satan, whoever pays the bills, to pursue the ultimate knife for the rest of your life. Then you can lie cheat or steal to keep trying every knife variation that will ever come out till the day you die. .
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Again, this is soooo true. I've been searching for my perfect knife too. And the more i'm searching the more "perfect" knives I see.
But after several years, I'm leaning more to the TAK-1 and RD4. The TAK-1 has seen already more use then all my other knives. (SRKW, ScrapYard,Cold steel,Spyderco, Benchmade,EKA,Victorinox)
The problem with knives is, there are so many brands, models and variations, that you probably never find THE perfect knife. Price is a major issue for me.

The ones that come close for me are:
RTAKII, RD7, SRKW Camptramp
TAK-1, RD4 and RD6, EKA H8 and W11
Victorinox Ranger, Swisschamp and Farmer
Spyderco Manix and Mini Manix, Military, Endura and Delica

And the ones I almost allway use: TAK-1 and RD4 (before I used the EKA H8 allmost allways).

It's a never ending quest (lucky me....:D )
CZ
 
All good suggestions, I suppose I am making this harder on myself than it needs to be. Allow me to think out loud for a moment using pure logic. I have a TAK-1 which is roughly the same size as the RD4. The tak is made from 3/16 stock....so, I should just go for the RD4 in 1/4 stock and have all my bases covered. Pitdog, Ill get a post going, I'm sure it will be beneficial, Chrisaloia, pursuit in progress.
 
Congrats on the purchase! There is no way that you will be anything but 110% satisfyed with the knife.
 
IUKE12 said:
All good suggestions, I suppose I am making this harder on myself than it needs to be. Allow me to think out loud for a moment using pure logic. I have a TAK-1 which is roughly the same size as the RD4. The tak is made from 3/16 stock....so, I should just go for the RD4 in 1/4 stock and have all my bases covered. Pitdog, Ill get a post going, I'm sure it will be beneficial, Chrisaloia, pursuit in progress.
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IUKE12,

Keep the TAK-1 and get yourself a RD6 instead of a RD4. Then you have a lot more bases covered.

CZ
 
cz75b said:
IUKE12,

Keep the TAK-1 and get yourself a RD6 instead of a RD4. Then you have a lot more bases covered.

CZ
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I agree with that. You already have a 4.75" so 6 makes more sense. How does having a 1/4" and 3/16th cover all the bases?

I carry machetes, folders and small utility blades. I love trying all the knives and which one performs well. That said, the perfect knife is the one you have on you when you need it.

Enjoy the process and accept the fact that you need to try a 1/4" to tell if the 3/16th is really the one.
 
Like any other knife nut, I confess to owning more blades than I need, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to try more. I already have the RD-6, just looking for something the size of the TAK, but a notch up on the toughness scale, not that the TAK is a lightweight. The RD-4 seems to fill that bill, tough little brute in the blade length I prefer. Seems like 1/4 inch thick would satisfy my brute requirements, but the argument for 3/16 is strong as well. I have started a new post addressing this issue in the general discussion forum as suggested.
My thanks to all that replied, as always, excellent feedback from a well seasoned field of fellow knife nuts:D
 
Well, I hope you fellas are happy.

Now I want an RD-4.

I'm pretty unfamiliar with Ranger knives, so please allow me to ask a few silly questions.

First, would it cost more or less to get one without the coating?

Finally, this (for now) is going to be my "do manly abusive stuff beyond a SAK/Leatherman/smallish fixed blade's capability" knife. I'm not going to use it to clean a fish, make camp chili, or push cut newspaper. Its going to make big, hard things into small, hard things.

I take it, then, that 1/4 is the way to go?

Thanks for the info!
 
marcinek said:
Well, I hope you fellas are happy.

Now I want an RD-4.

I'm pretty unfamiliar with Ranger knives, so please allow me to ask a few silly questions.

First, would it cost more or less to get one without the coating?

Finally, this (for now) is going to be my "do manly abusive stuff beyond a SAK/Leatherman/smallish fixed blade's capability" knife. I'm not going to use it to clean a fish, make camp chili, or push cut newspaper. Its going to make big, hard things into small, hard things.

I take it, then, that 1/4 is the way to go?

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm happy... :D with my RD4.
I can pushcut paper with my RD4 (reprofiled it to 25degr). Did cut veggies, and small stuff, and made firewood. For firewood I battoned the knife like hell for 30mins. After that I was still able to pushcut thin paper. It didn't shave anymore but after a few runs over the loaded strop, and it was shaving again..... :D :thumbup: :thumbup:


CZ
 
marcinek said:
Well, I hope you fellas are happy.

Now I want an RD-4.

I'm pretty unfamiliar with Ranger knives, so please allow me to ask a few silly questions.

First, would it cost more or less to get one without the coating?


Thanks for the info!
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Marcinek, I called Justin and to have a matte gray finish was $20. I am not sure w/o coating. Call him or email him at www.rangerknives.com he got right back to me.
 
Thanks for the reply CZ!

I didn't mean to come off sounding like I look down at people who push cut newspaper (I spend a lot of time trying to pop forearm hairs off...my wife thinks I'm nuts).

I'm glad you like the RD4...I'm really considering getting one. I had been leaning towards a Bark River Bravo-1 or Fox River...they are great knives...but it doesn't seem like Ranger can be beat for the "beefiness to price to customer service" ratio.

Question...did you reprofile the edge, or did you have Justin do it? I've become pretty good with making 30 degree edges, which I like, with my Sharpmaker. But, if I can get the knife with that edge to begin with, even better!
 
marcinek said:
Thanks for the reply CZ!

I had been leaning towards a Bark River Bravo-1 or Fox River...they are great knives...but it doesn't seem like Ranger can be beat for the "beefiness to price to customer service" ratio.
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I would love BR Fox River. I think it comes in at $150-160. Similar specs to the RD-4 which is a nickel below $100.
 
chrisaloia said:
I would love BR Fox River. I think it comes in at $150-160. Similar specs to the RD-4 which is a nickel below $100.
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My thoughts exactly chrisaloia!

I'd feel nervous about abusing the Bark River, :eek: and I'm hoping to get the opportunity to abuse the Ranger! :thumbup:
 
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