Overall feelings on the RC-5?

S

seanuhthin

Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
362
Can I get some thoughts from the community? I really like the way it looks, but I want to know how easily it is sharpened, how it chops just anything. Do you think a sharp maker would be fine for this knife?
 
Unless you're gonna be cutting through helicopters and airplanes, I'd buy something else.
 
Lol. But I saw that "RC-5 and a lil fun" thread of making the shelter, and I am just inspired. I want something to put to use like that...
 
pretty much the whole line you can make shelters with... if your looking to baton it... the 6 and 4 seam to do ok... the rc5 is heavy to carry , and well i leave it in my truck just in case i do h ave to get threw a steel door or something....shes a brute and does that job well... if you want one then pick one up... she will do what you want as a camp knife, but not as well of a camp knife as others in the line....
 
I considered the RC-5, but prefer the blade thickness and grind of the RC-4. That said, I have not handled either.
 
If you're looking for a bushcraft blade then there are MUCH better knives to be had at cheaper prices. The RC5 is not the ideal shelter building tool. if you're just wanting "cool factor" with capability then the RC5 would be ok but damn it's heavy!
 
Okay Okay lol I am just keeping my options open. I really like the RC-6 also. I don't personally have enough experience chopping things down so I am relying on the opinions of others hah.
 
and that's what we're doing...giving opinions ;)
 
Well you obviously have tons of experience right? In the scenario that you need a knife to baton, chop, cleave, (lol), defend, and be a hardcore user for exploration, what knife do you pick up?
 
a Tramontina or Imacasa machete for my neck of the woods
 
if i was stuck in the middle of nowhere canada for say a year or 3 i would figure the rc5 with an izula would work out.... a 1 knife that does every thing usual does a mediocere job at all of em... dont get me wrong , i dig my rc5 , but shes kinda small for a chopper... kinda thick for a slicer , and kinda heavy to lug around.... i wouldnt trade her , but i reach for other blades or an ax to chop... and a knife to slice... and a pry bar to pry... if i only had a knife to do all that i would use the rc5 in a heart beat....

the rc-6/4 will do most of your small camping trip stuff... if you were on an expedition i figure your load would be a lot higher... so taking a tool built for the terain would be cool.

given the purpose behind the knife , its for a small portable kit. that can do a lotta things for a compact set up for a fairly short time period. which it does well. and thats the role i feel the rc5 fits.

im not trying to discourage your choice, just saying you gotta figure out what your going to do and get the proper tool for it. even stuff like what kinda wood you will be going after will make you change what you pick. survival isnt about cool factor , its about getting the job done effecently.... atleast to me
 
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I'm really not trying to sound like a smart ass with what I'm about to say. Not picking on you either, but we have these same threads here a lot. It's cool that you ask opinions on what knives to use, especially since you say you don't have a lot of experience. But I would suggest buying several cheaper knives of different styles and try them in the woods before you put down more money for one knife. RAT Cutlery is not the best survival knife, chopping knife, slicing knife, etc. and it appears that's what you are looking for. That "best" scenario only comes with experience and I would rather see you spend less money on several different knives and get experience before you settle on one.
 
somberbear said:
if i was stuck in the middle of nowhere canada for say a year or 3 i would figure the rc5 with an izula would work out.... a 1 knife that does every thing usual does a mediocere job at all of em... dont get me wrong , i dig my rc5 , but shes kinda small for a chopper... kinda thick for a slicer , and kinda heavy to lug around.... i wouldnt trade her , but i reach for other blades or an ax to chop... and a knife to slice... and a pry bar to pry... if i only had a knife to do all that i would use the rc5 in a heart beat....

the rc-6/4 will do most of your small camping trip stuff... if you were on an expedition i figure your load would be a lot higher... so taking a tool built for the terain would be cool.

given the purpose behind the knife , its for a small portable kit. that can do a lotta things for a compact set up. which it does well.

im not trying to discourage your choice, just saying you gotta figure out what your going to do it and get the proper tool for it. even stuff like what kinda wood you will be going after will make you change what you pick.
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Okay. Well I live in Florida. I go into the woods whenever I can, and I like bush craft things like walking sticks, spears, and pretty much anything. I want to learn how to baton and chop to make shelters. I have never gone hunting, but I would like to. With all this I'm sure I would want a different knife for each of these applications, but my purpose of the thread was to see if the RC-5 would be good at all of that. I'm not so sure now. It seems like each RC- knife has a specific purpose. I'm still trying to figure that one out lol.
 
.... start reading up and practicing ... take a few challenges .... its not always the tool , but the user that makes the most of it. so i believe rat gave you very sound advice, as well you can learn how to sharpen on cheaper blades , and get and idea whats really right for you. i personal like just taking a little muk around... it does most the stuff i need to do. its small and slices up stuff real nice... so pick up a few blades before you drop the change on a nice rc5... other gear will help you out more ... like boots, socks , a good set up bob etc. people have been doing it for ages... way way before any modern maker has been out... take those lessons and you can up it a notch or two.

i hope you the best of luck in which ever path you take.
 
I appreciate your honesty and your motivation to learn these skills. But I am asking you to not buy the RC-5 knife. If you buy it and try to learn skills with it, it's going to make your experience much more difficult. A good knife to start out with for general woods work would be the Cold Steel SRK or a KaBar style knife from Ontario or KaBar. These are relatively inexpensive and will do everything you are wanting to learn, except heavy chopping.
 
R.A.T. said:
I'm really not trying to sound like a smart ass with what I'm about to say. Not picking on you either, but we have these same threads here a lot. It's cool that you ask opinions on what knives to use, especially since you say you don't have a lot of experience. But I would suggest buying several cheaper knives of different styles and try them in the woods before you put down more money for one knife. RAT Cutlery is not the best survival knife, chopping knife, slicing knife, etc. and it appears that's what you are looking for. That "best" scenario only comes with experience and I would rather see you spend less money on several different knives and get experience before you settle on one.
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Okay. I think I understand. I would really like to try others but I have not even tried any RC's to tell u the truth. I going to keep things simple and get an RC-4. Everyone loves em', and I will use it like it is meant to be used. If I feel I am over-killing (doubts) or don't have enough power, I will go from there. Hows that?:)
 
i believe the rc5 was for sere training... with out the sere training (i dont have it). i cant really mark out all there requirments. but learning about what they do in sere and reading the documents about it. i believe the rc5 fits there requirments. it might not fit yours. but with out learning more and reading up and practicing it it would be hard to give you any real direction... i can only draw from my experiance in the woods to figure out where they were going with theres.
 
R.A.T. said:
a Tramontina or Imacasa machete for my neck of the woods
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Not surprisingly, that's sound advise. I have a bunch of machetes and big knives, but I keep on going back to my $4 Tramontia bolo machete. It fits me well...although it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Likewise, I am moving closer and closer to getting the RC-4, as I have better blade control with under 5" blades.

I would buy less for the cool-factor, and more in line with an honest self-assessment of my needs and abilities...
 
Get the RC4 like you said and then build around it. Combine with a good pocket knife and a machete or camp axe(whichever fits your criteria) and your ready to go.
 
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