Overall feelings on the RC-5?

Well I have the pocket knife, The Tenacious. I have been EDCing it for a while now, maybe it's time for a review? I'm not so sure though, because I am still trying to figure out what kind of tasks I should put it through. It's funny because, I am the dude that would have been (about 2-3 weeks ago) speculating on buying a Sebenza. Honestly I am not putting down people that enjoy these because I would in turn be insulting my self. I still think it would be cool to have one. But the applications I would have put a pocket knife of that size through would definitely have not called for the price tag, and I still am a firm believer that you shouldn't have to pay 300 and up for a good warranty and customer service. I'm not going to worship RAT because then I wont give myself a chance to try other things, but for now, this is where I am at. If RAT can successfully make a good folder like I hope they will then chances are that will be what I buy next.
I won't say anymore about this because this is sure a lot to say about a bunch of knives I haven't even tried yet. I will know once I try my first one.
 
I don't own the RC-5 pretty much for the reasons that Jeff stated (it's the only RC blade along with the HEST that I don't have). If you want to go with a very versatile longer blade why not try the RC-6. For me it is very suitable for most bushcraft chores, while not being too heavy or overly cumbersome as can be the RC-5. The extra blade length is very helpful for batoning and you can do a little light chopping when needed. It also slices very well with the 3/16" blade stock and full flat grind (here it has a substantial advantage on the RC-5 at 1/4" sabre grind).
RC-6 :thumbup:
 
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I have an RC-5 and really like it. It's a monster of a knife and very heavy. Is it a good skinner? Nope. Is it a good slicer? Nope. Is it a good chopper? Not bad, but not great. Is it a good batonner? Again not bad, but not great. Is it a knife that I would bet my life on if I have had too, you're damn right it is. It's a knife designed to survive a plane crash and get pilots out alive, by the people who know best what that takes.

For a camp/bushcraft knife, I would get a GI issue machete and an RC-3. But hey, what the heck do I know?


It's amazing that the owner of RAT is telling you not to buy his knives. It shows a man of true integrity and service before self to do that. Jeff never ceases to amaze me. One of the few people I've ever conversed with, who has never served in the Air Force, but demonstrates on a continuous basis the AF core values. You rock Jeff!!!!

Jim
 
I just ordered the 6 and gave the 4 to my wife.I loved the knife,but the handle was a little short for my paws,I'm 6'4"and 260+change.I gifted it to her yesterday when we were mushroom hunting in our neck of the woods.She immediately started chopping small limbs while making happy sounds,made me grin to see it.We also own most of the RAT line,except the H.E.S.T.and 5.I would get the 5,but already own a Camillus BK2.What I see both the RC5 and BK2,both about the same,being useful for is as bug out blades,or S.H.T.F.blades.I don't need 1/10 the knives I have,but I'm a knife junkie.
 
Now I am not comparing you to a six year old, but I started my boy off with a mora 510 and small bolo machete....Under 30 bucks for both together.....As he gets older he can pick what he wants.....I will say that the combo he has I would use in a heartbeat without being worried about losing one of them....now the mora has a red handle and the chete is painted blaze orange......so I doubt they will be lost>>>>lol
 
just to add to what I said earlier......the mora is also a scandi grind which is the easiest to learn to keep sharp and is holds an edge well......and for 10 bucks if you screw it up so what....
 
I own the RC5 and if you go into the woods as it comes from RAT Cutlery the Grind will work but it was not designed for bushcrafting.... I would opt for the RC6 or RC4 over the RC5. the only way I would use the RC5 in the woods is go take the RC5 and have the edge convexed. My son just loves the RC5 for tromping thru the woods with big & heavy ..hack & wack attack on vegatation.... splitting wood... destructive jobs my son loves...but for finer wood working skills he pulls out the SAK.(swiss army knife) .
I personally prefer the RC6 for outdoor activities
 
Anyway,what I was going to say before I went into orbit,I would prefer the 6 or the 4 for an all around woods blade.Heck,I could get by with my 3 90% of the time.Which is ,by the way,one of my favorites!
 
texastonydobbs said:
I own the RC5 and if you go into the woods as it comes from RAT Cutlery the Grind will work but it was not designed for bushcrafting.... I would opt for the RC6 or RC4 over the RC5. the only way I would use the RC5 in the woods is go take the RC5 and have the edge convexed. My son just loves the RC5 for tromping thru the woods with big & heavy ..hack & wack attack on vegatation.... splitting wood... destructive jobs my son loves...but for finer wood working skills he pulls out the SAK.(swiss army knife) .
I personally prefer the RC6 for outdoor activities
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I would be willing to bet by the time he gets to our age he won't want the extra weight either.......It's amazing how kids can go all day without even sweating
 
Actually the RC-3 is a pretty great little bushcrafter knife!

Regarding Jeff's recommendations, the SRK is cheaper but even thicker and the opposite way you want to go. Consider perhaps a buck vanguard, mora2000, jarvapaa scandi all can be had for $40-50.
 
He said he wanted to learn to baton wood. The SRK is one of my favorites at that task. And cheap too, as you mentioned.
 
My son just loves the RC5 for tromping thru the woods with big & heavy ..hack & wack attack on vegatation.... splitting wood... destructive jobs
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Yeah Me too!!
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Destroying stuff is fun that's why I got mine
 
The RC 5, although I really like it, is not the best blade for anything. Bushcraft is what you want it for? Than the RC 3 or 4 would be better in every aspect. Don't buy the RC 5 if you think it is going to be a great bushcraft knife, because, it isn't.

I would also try different sizes/weights before buying a higher tier knife for the first time.

Just my thoughts on the matter.
 
Personally, I like the RC-3 best from the RC line as far as bushcrafting goes. Small, controllable, yet large enough to do most anything you'd honestly need to do in the field with a knife. It's my favorite deer gutting and skinning blade as well. It's a little on the short side for butchering, but it still works well enough for something the size of a deer. Batonning is a useful skill sometimes, but I think it gets a bit more press than it really needs. Quite frankly, I almost never baton a knife. On the rare occasion I do any batonning at all, I use my hatchet, which I find to be better suited for splitting wood. I also find the hatchet more useful for rough carving than a large knife.

Those are certainly my opinions on the matter. Jeff and many others here love machetes with maybe a small blade for woods craft. Given you're in Florida, a machete and your Tenacious would honestly be a great starting set. Being a bit farther North, the hatchet and RC-3 or other smaller fixed blade works well for me.

The real benefit from the RC-5 is that it is beastly and tough. It is not optimized for cutting, really. For bushcrafting and general woodscraft purposes, an RC-3 or RC-4 would be much better.
 
R.A.T. said:
He said he wanted to learn to baton wood. The SRK is one of my favorites at that task. And cheap too, as you mentioned.
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True enough, but sometimes thick isn't always the best for learning batoning either. Sure, it forces a split faster but you have to pound like a mad man to sink the blade below the bevel. Now a thinner blade will slip through the wood with much less batoning force even though it requires you to sink the blade further into the wood, perhaps all the way through before it splits.

Have a person learn to baton with a machete, both long length and 1/8" thick and you will teach them both value of the technique and skill of doing so. I.E. they will be conscious of the force they use on the baton, conscious of the lateral force imparted on the blade during batoning and conscious of the angle of the blade as it enters the wood. Give that same person an almost 0.3" chunk of metal to baton and they will not think of technique, they will think of brute strength and generate the false confidence that nothing will break their blade.

Of course, this is a philosophical segway. I clearly don't have the experience to counteract the advice of R.A.T. Just providing a different opinion. Finally, yes, all the knives I recommended previously are probably too short to baton in a versatile manner.
 
Get ready for the honesty train. I mean no disrespect to anyone who owns this knife and Jeff, Mike and Shon know that I mean them no disrespect. With that said, I see no practicality of that knife what so ever, unless you need to pry a car or a heli apart and you left your Jaws of Life at home.

I admit, I had a big smile on my face when Jeff slapped that knife in my hand at Blade the year before it came out. I remember looking down at it with this big grin and totally forgetting how I feel about 1/4" thick blades of this type and length. Jeff even said, I know you don't like these knives, but check this out." For just a little while, I thought, "I need one of these. I know I've never liked them before, but I need one now." Luckily, they weren't in production yet. A short while after that, I remembered how much I don't like knives like that and how I would NEVER take one in the woods with me.

Here's the deal. It's NOT a knife well suited for carving, camp chores, surviving, etc. It's a 1/4" think piece of sharp steel with a cool handle. That's it. I honestly think that anyone who says otherwise is just brainwashed by either the simple joy of a RAT Cutlery product, or the current "sharp prybar" culture. Will it baton, yes. Will it chop, kinda. Will it cut, somewhat. This knife is the equivilant of a really hot dumbass crazy chick. (or dude if you're a girl) You become blinded by the pretty curves and the nice rack, and just forget all the shortcomings and the fact that she's just not right for you.

Is it a cool looking knife, Yep. Is it worth the money? If you take into consideration the materials used, the labor required, and the benefits of owning such a product, yes, absolutely. However, if you just look at it's practicality, no way. You could use that same amount of money on other gear (by the some company or others) that would better suit your needs.

I love RAT Cutlery and Jeff, Mike and Shon are my homeboys for life. I think that RAT produces some of the best production knives available and I can't wait to get my hands on my own guilty pleasure, the completely impractical... RC10. lol. BUT! When it comes to this knife, I'll pick it up and admire the powdercoat and the heft at the Blade show and think about putting a bow drill divot in my RC-4 scales, but it'll stop there. It's just not the knife for me. I think that knife is well suited for the people it was designed for... maybe, but not for the average woodsbum.
 
Now on the other hand, if someone wants it as a guilty pleasure knife, by all means, buy two! I know when the RC10 comes out, I'm going to be riding in my truck with all the windows rolled up, singing along with Lady Gaga, holding my new impractical knife in my hand. ;)

Come on. You know her music is catchy as hell. You can't help it. You want to change the station but you just can't. Not to mention she's hot as all get out.
 
The AF SERE guys have ordered a bunch of them and love them. Just not my style of knife though. Never has been come to think of it.
 
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