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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
RAT 4pMB Damaged
- Thread starter okbohn
- Start date
Ok, here is an excerpt from experience/review I had with an RC-4 posted on another forum. Love that knife.
The other knife I had up there was an RC-4 which also took it's turn spliting things. After a while I inspected the edge on the RC and found a sizable ding in it mid blade. I was a little pissed at first until I saw the other side of the blade. There was a clear mark in the finish where the knife had run by something metallic i.e. gouge in the finish. I inspected the board and found a screw head. So the ding was from going through a screw I didn't see. Fair enough. Once home I worked the ding out pretty quickly. Much faster than I would have expected. The finish on the RC looked to be in about the same shape as the RD.
the rest of the post
The other knife I had up there was an RC-4 which also took it's turn spliting things. After a while I inspected the edge on the RC and found a sizable ding in it mid blade. I was a little pissed at first until I saw the other side of the blade. There was a clear mark in the finish where the knife had run by something metallic i.e. gouge in the finish. I inspected the board and found a screw head. So the ding was from going through a screw I didn't see. Fair enough. Once home I worked the ding out pretty quickly. Much faster than I would have expected. The finish on the RC looked to be in about the same shape as the RD.
the rest of the post
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
on the RAT Cutlery Advanced E&E Kit
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=636116
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=636116
Here you go, thanks for the chance :thumbup:
IZULA REVIEW
A lot of people have been asking what I think of the RAT Izula, and if I could review it. I've wanted to for a while, but I had a problem: if I don't have the knife, I can't review it. So I offered some stuff for trade, and Jeff (cutlerylover here) traded me for the Izula he had in a video review. It can be found here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWfrdnWVLJs
This is my review of the Izula, and in short, it's great knife. Since this is the kit knife, I'll also detail the kit components. Mine is black, model IZULA-B-KIT, and sells for about $60 in stores. It's also available without the kit (just the knife and sheath) for about $50. This knife is also available in pink, OD green, or tan, with or without the survival kit. All measurements are from my ruler, so it might no synch up 100% with website descriptions. Let's get to it...
The Knife: The Izula is a one-piece skeletonized neck knife. It's made of 1095 carbon steel and is just under 3/16" thick. The entire knife, except for the grind line, has a black powder-coated finish. The blade is flat ground and 2-3/4" long with a 2-1/2" cutting edge. The handle is just under 3-1/2" long. The handle is hollowed out in a teardrop shape, and has a large ring in the butt for your pinky or a carabiner.
Photos from RAT's website...
The knife is pretty light at 2 ounces in weight, and is unnoticeable until you need it. It doesn't weigh you down or stick you in the side.
The spine of the blade has a 9/16" long section of jimping, and it's coarse enough to be useful without tearing your thumb up. As far as markings, the Izula has the following lasered on... IZULA on the left side of the blade. The RAT Cutlery logo is on the left side tang. The right side has a bullet ant lasered on, and the right side tang has ROWEN lasered on. The left side of the top handle bar also has a serial number, unique to every Izula. Mine is 0027.
While I haven't used the Izula hard yet, I've done some outdoor work with it. It will clean a deer out very nicely, as the upswept blade really lends itself to skinning and slicing. I tried to use it as a thrower just to see what would happen, and I can get it to stick about 80% of the time. I understand that it's not a thrower, but isn't it nice to know that you could?
The handle length is just about perfect for a neck knife that's intended to be used for survival. It's not irritating, even without wrapping it, and offers a great grip when your hands are bloody or just plain wet.
The blade came out of the package razor sharp and needed no touch-up. Even after the use mentioned above, it only required a very light stropping to shave hair again. It still has 100% of its finish intact, and there are no rust spots.
The Sheath: If you order the Izula without the survival kit, you'll just get the knife itself and a sheath...
The sheath is black, and is injection-molded polymer. It's 3-3/4" long and 5-16" thick, and has a large hole in the bottom for attaching a carabiner or neck lanyard. There are also two vertical holes and a vertical slot for lashing to gear; it will accept a large Tek-Lok for either horizontal or vertical carry. The two holes and the open slot can also be used to hold extra cordage. The Izula snaps into the sheath securely and is held in with two nubs, which is typical of this style sheath. It's secure; turning the sheath upside down and shaking doesn't dislodge it, and I carried it for a few hours upside down on my hip with no problem. With the knife inserted, the sheath is 7" long. Nice job, Mr. Randall
SURVIVAL KIT COMPONENTS
If you choose to get the Izula with the survival kit, you'll get the following components, and I'll tell you what they're for.
Again, from RAT's website...
These items are listend and pictured on the sheet that comes with the Izula, and is available as a PDF on RAT's website here... http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_front.pdf
Cord Lock: A black spring-loaded piece of plastic (actually, two pieces of plastic fitted together) used to keep your cord in place. Squeeze to open, insert cordage, let go to close. Removal is just as easy. I don't use this unless I'm attaching the Izula to a neck lanyard, but it's still pretty helpful.
Paracord: Seven-strand OD green 550 cord, five feet of it. The ends are already melted. Use it for a handle wrap, neck lanyard, or store it on the sheath for when you might need it.
MOLLE Lock: That's MOLLE, pronounced "Molly". She's Alice's younger cousin. This is another fitted piece of black plastic. It's two halves, hinged together and locking. It goes onto your MOLLE attachment points and holds the Izula in place horizontally or vertically. There are four screw holes in the MOLLE lock so that you can find the best fit. Because of the smaller inside dimensions of the MOLLE lock, you can't really fit it onto a standard belt. This piece of hardware is quite useful for securing the Izula to any kind of strapping, MOLLE or not. The included screws, bolts, and O-rings are for this attachment.
Fire Flint: A magnesium rod with a ferrocium rod attached. I don't have it on me so I'm not sure of the specific dimensions, but I think it's about 2" long by 1/4" thick. There's a hole drilled into one side so you can attach it to a split ring or a lanyard. Do I really need to explain how this works?
Thanks a million for including this piece of essential survival gear.
Snap Hook: A piece of black plastic used to attach the Izula to just about anything. Looking at it, it's one of those hooks that are used on duffel bags to hold the shoulder strap on. Mine doesn't get much use, but I have plans for it involving a trap trigger.
Split Rings: they're black metal split rings, that's all. You get two of them; one medium-sized and one large size. I don't have these on me either, so I can't give you exact dimensions. They're handy for attaching the Izula or its accessories to things, and make nice trap triggers.
Whistle Assembly: Another piece of black plastic. It's in two pieces and snaps together. It's the same thing as the cord lock, except no springs (once it's in place, it's hard to remove) and the open end has a whistle. I'm using this to hold the ends of my handle wrap together, and it's working nicely. I'll always have a whistle whenever I have the knife, which is a lot. The whistle itself can be blown pretty hard and makes an appropriately-loud toot. Once again, thanks to Jeff Randall for putting useful items in this kit
The back of the above-mentioned sheet has suggested uses for the survival items, as well as a short how-to for wrapping the handle. Here's the PDF from RAT's website... http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_back.pdf
If you haven't held an Izula in your hand, you really need to. It's a pretty useful knife that won't bug you, made even more useful when you buy the kit. Consider the price, consider that it's 100% American-made, then consider who the designer is. After all of this, you'll end up buying one of every color. Trust me
Here's RAT Cutlery's page on the Izula... http://www.ratcutlery.com/neck_knife.htm
IZULA REVIEW
A lot of people have been asking what I think of the RAT Izula, and if I could review it. I've wanted to for a while, but I had a problem: if I don't have the knife, I can't review it. So I offered some stuff for trade, and Jeff (cutlerylover here) traded me for the Izula he had in a video review. It can be found here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWfrdnWVLJs
This is my review of the Izula, and in short, it's great knife. Since this is the kit knife, I'll also detail the kit components. Mine is black, model IZULA-B-KIT, and sells for about $60 in stores. It's also available without the kit (just the knife and sheath) for about $50. This knife is also available in pink, OD green, or tan, with or without the survival kit. All measurements are from my ruler, so it might no synch up 100% with website descriptions. Let's get to it...
The Knife: The Izula is a one-piece skeletonized neck knife. It's made of 1095 carbon steel and is just under 3/16" thick. The entire knife, except for the grind line, has a black powder-coated finish. The blade is flat ground and 2-3/4" long with a 2-1/2" cutting edge. The handle is just under 3-1/2" long. The handle is hollowed out in a teardrop shape, and has a large ring in the butt for your pinky or a carabiner.
Photos from RAT's website...
The knife is pretty light at 2 ounces in weight, and is unnoticeable until you need it. It doesn't weigh you down or stick you in the side.
The spine of the blade has a 9/16" long section of jimping, and it's coarse enough to be useful without tearing your thumb up. As far as markings, the Izula has the following lasered on... IZULA on the left side of the blade. The RAT Cutlery logo is on the left side tang. The right side has a bullet ant lasered on, and the right side tang has ROWEN lasered on. The left side of the top handle bar also has a serial number, unique to every Izula. Mine is 0027.
While I haven't used the Izula hard yet, I've done some outdoor work with it. It will clean a deer out very nicely, as the upswept blade really lends itself to skinning and slicing. I tried to use it as a thrower just to see what would happen, and I can get it to stick about 80% of the time. I understand that it's not a thrower, but isn't it nice to know that you could?
The handle length is just about perfect for a neck knife that's intended to be used for survival. It's not irritating, even without wrapping it, and offers a great grip when your hands are bloody or just plain wet.
The blade came out of the package razor sharp and needed no touch-up. Even after the use mentioned above, it only required a very light stropping to shave hair again. It still has 100% of its finish intact, and there are no rust spots.
The Sheath: If you order the Izula without the survival kit, you'll just get the knife itself and a sheath...
The sheath is black, and is injection-molded polymer. It's 3-3/4" long and 5-16" thick, and has a large hole in the bottom for attaching a carabiner or neck lanyard. There are also two vertical holes and a vertical slot for lashing to gear; it will accept a large Tek-Lok for either horizontal or vertical carry. The two holes and the open slot can also be used to hold extra cordage. The Izula snaps into the sheath securely and is held in with two nubs, which is typical of this style sheath. It's secure; turning the sheath upside down and shaking doesn't dislodge it, and I carried it for a few hours upside down on my hip with no problem. With the knife inserted, the sheath is 7" long. Nice job, Mr. Randall
SURVIVAL KIT COMPONENTS
If you choose to get the Izula with the survival kit, you'll get the following components, and I'll tell you what they're for.
Again, from RAT's website...
These items are listend and pictured on the sheet that comes with the Izula, and is available as a PDF on RAT's website here... http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_front.pdf
Cord Lock: A black spring-loaded piece of plastic (actually, two pieces of plastic fitted together) used to keep your cord in place. Squeeze to open, insert cordage, let go to close. Removal is just as easy. I don't use this unless I'm attaching the Izula to a neck lanyard, but it's still pretty helpful.
Paracord: Seven-strand OD green 550 cord, five feet of it. The ends are already melted. Use it for a handle wrap, neck lanyard, or store it on the sheath for when you might need it.
MOLLE Lock: That's MOLLE, pronounced "Molly". She's Alice's younger cousin. This is another fitted piece of black plastic. It's two halves, hinged together and locking. It goes onto your MOLLE attachment points and holds the Izula in place horizontally or vertically. There are four screw holes in the MOLLE lock so that you can find the best fit. Because of the smaller inside dimensions of the MOLLE lock, you can't really fit it onto a standard belt. This piece of hardware is quite useful for securing the Izula to any kind of strapping, MOLLE or not. The included screws, bolts, and O-rings are for this attachment.
Fire Flint: A magnesium rod with a ferrocium rod attached. I don't have it on me so I'm not sure of the specific dimensions, but I think it's about 2" long by 1/4" thick. There's a hole drilled into one side so you can attach it to a split ring or a lanyard. Do I really need to explain how this works?
Thanks a million for including this piece of essential survival gear.
Snap Hook: A piece of black plastic used to attach the Izula to just about anything. Looking at it, it's one of those hooks that are used on duffel bags to hold the shoulder strap on. Mine doesn't get much use, but I have plans for it involving a trap trigger.
Split Rings: they're black metal split rings, that's all. You get two of them; one medium-sized and one large size. I don't have these on me either, so I can't give you exact dimensions. They're handy for attaching the Izula or its accessories to things, and make nice trap triggers.
Whistle Assembly: Another piece of black plastic. It's in two pieces and snaps together. It's the same thing as the cord lock, except no springs (once it's in place, it's hard to remove) and the open end has a whistle. I'm using this to hold the ends of my handle wrap together, and it's working nicely. I'll always have a whistle whenever I have the knife, which is a lot. The whistle itself can be blown pretty hard and makes an appropriately-loud toot. Once again, thanks to Jeff Randall for putting useful items in this kit
The back of the above-mentioned sheet has suggested uses for the survival items, as well as a short how-to for wrapping the handle. Here's the PDF from RAT's website... http://www.ratcutlery.com/izula_sheet_back.pdf
If you haven't held an Izula in your hand, you really need to. It's a pretty useful knife that won't bug you, made even more useful when you buy the kit. Consider the price, consider that it's 100% American-made, then consider who the designer is. After all of this, you'll end up buying one of every color. Trust me
Here's RAT Cutlery's page on the Izula... http://www.ratcutlery.com/neck_knife.htm
Green Izula
I bought one of the first Izulas to become available. In fact, I probably pestered Jeff Randall and company a lot waiting for them to come to market. I have been a fan of RAT cutlerysicne they began, however this is the first RAT Cutlery product that I've owned. For the money, the Izula is a great buy. The sheath is very secure and sheath is adaptable to many different carry styles. Unlike some of RAT's competitors (especially MIcrotech), the grip is long enough to accomadate my hand- which is on the larger side. It is short enough to be compact, but long enough to do most field tasks. Out of the box, the edge is excellent.And, it is designed and made in the USA to boot!
-Joe
I bought one of the first Izulas to become available. In fact, I probably pestered Jeff Randall and company a lot waiting for them to come to market. I have been a fan of RAT cutlerysicne they began, however this is the first RAT Cutlery product that I've owned. For the money, the Izula is a great buy. The sheath is very secure and sheath is adaptable to many different carry styles. Unlike some of RAT's competitors (especially MIcrotech), the grip is long enough to accomadate my hand- which is on the larger side. It is short enough to be compact, but long enough to do most field tasks. Out of the box, the edge is excellent.And, it is designed and made in the USA to boot!
-Joe
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,465
The RAT fire kit is meant to be an “aww shoot I am in trouble now” fire starter. It is made of an aluminum capsule with a misch metal flint rod attached. The rod is not like your typical ferro rod in that it doesn’t shoot out just sparks, but small hot balls of fire that burn long enough to ignite pieces of tinder that a normal ferro rod could not. The aluminum capsule is pretty large for spy capsule standards and will easily hold a tiny survival kit or enough tinder to start a good number of fires. It is also large enough to insert a 20mm button compass into the cap.
There are a few things I really like about this piece of kit. First is the rod itself. The little balls of fire this thing produces will ignite any reasonable good piece of tinder without a problem. I have successfully ignited birch bark, dry leaves, cotton balls, pants, and my carpet. Not to mention I now have three little burn holes in the linoleum floor of my kitchen. This rod really puts out a hot spark that stays lit. You will find that its much more effective than a standard ferro rod. This could easily come in handy in a real survival situation when getting a fire going fast, in less than ideal conditions may be the difference between life and death. The rod is also replaceable via a small Phillips head screw at the bottom of the capsule. The downside to this rod is that it takes a sharper edge than a standard ferro rod to get a good strike. This would not be a problem in a real survival situation; I don’t think anyone would be worried about a small dull spot in his or her blade if they were sitting next to a warm fire while boiling some water. An easy solution is to attach a small knife to the kit.
The capsule is bigger than I thought it would be after looking at pictures on the web. I really like how much it fills your hand. It makes getting a good strike easy. I was able to fit a piece of tinder, fish hooks, split shot, fishing line, a compass, a small piece of paper, tiny pencil, and some folded brass wire into mine. Not a full sized kit, but it’s better than nothing. It is waterproof and includes a lanyard hole on the cap, which is a great spot to attach that small knife for a striker I was talking about. It comes in a cool green color and the finish seems to be pretty durable. After a few practice sessions there are no visible scratches or nicks.
Overall, the RAT fire kit is a well built, made in the U.S.A, piece of kit that could really help in a survival situation. This is not a crappy survival gimmick. I don’t think you will find a better, more reliable fire starter. Not to mention, it comes with the famous RAT lifetime, no hassle guarantee. I have two, one for practice, and one to carry with me while outdoors.
There are a few things I really like about this piece of kit. First is the rod itself. The little balls of fire this thing produces will ignite any reasonable good piece of tinder without a problem. I have successfully ignited birch bark, dry leaves, cotton balls, pants, and my carpet. Not to mention I now have three little burn holes in the linoleum floor of my kitchen. This rod really puts out a hot spark that stays lit. You will find that its much more effective than a standard ferro rod. This could easily come in handy in a real survival situation when getting a fire going fast, in less than ideal conditions may be the difference between life and death. The rod is also replaceable via a small Phillips head screw at the bottom of the capsule. The downside to this rod is that it takes a sharper edge than a standard ferro rod to get a good strike. This would not be a problem in a real survival situation; I don’t think anyone would be worried about a small dull spot in his or her blade if they were sitting next to a warm fire while boiling some water. An easy solution is to attach a small knife to the kit.
The capsule is bigger than I thought it would be after looking at pictures on the web. I really like how much it fills your hand. It makes getting a good strike easy. I was able to fit a piece of tinder, fish hooks, split shot, fishing line, a compass, a small piece of paper, tiny pencil, and some folded brass wire into mine. Not a full sized kit, but it’s better than nothing. It is waterproof and includes a lanyard hole on the cap, which is a great spot to attach that small knife for a striker I was talking about. It comes in a cool green color and the finish seems to be pretty durable. After a few practice sessions there are no visible scratches or nicks.
Overall, the RAT fire kit is a well built, made in the U.S.A, piece of kit that could really help in a survival situation. This is not a crappy survival gimmick. I don’t think you will find a better, more reliable fire starter. Not to mention, it comes with the famous RAT lifetime, no hassle guarantee. I have two, one for practice, and one to carry with me while outdoors.
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
I read where some one was so excited to receive the fire kit he struck it while sitting in car..... I think the Oh sh*t 
factor kicked in then .... 
I think there are a few more funny/ horror stories floating around as well 
factor kicked in then .... I think there are a few more funny/ horror stories floating around as well
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,465
No problem. Figured I would do one since you asked. Plus I really want a RC4!
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
Suck up 
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,465
Takes one to know one! Besides, A RAT blade is one of the only things you will ever see me suck up for.
Besides, A RAT blade is one of the only things you will ever see me suck up for.
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
Touché
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2008
- Messages
- 611
Ok everyone, I finally got a chance to get out to the woods and play around with the RC-5. I really like this blade!
It is pretty heavy, but not so much so that it would be cumbersome. It balances well in the hand and works in around
tight brushy areas really well. I chopped small branches and deadwood with ease. I didn't try to baton any logs, but I
would imagine that it would do just fine. Here are some photos of our day. Enjoy!
Here we are preparing some water for a cup of tea and some Mountain House
breakfast. The RC-5 made quick work of the fire wood prep.
I cut several nice notches in some branches. I'd rather not have the serrations on my knife, but it was easy enough
using the forward portion of the plain edge.
JuniorSpark began making his first primitive spear. The RC-5 did fairly well shaving the bark, but this one will take
some time to finish so the carving will be done with the RC-6 and Izula.
I'd love to have tried the Bow Drill divot, but I figured I'd leave that for someone else to review.
Mrs. WifeSpark wanted a fire tonight, so I took the opportunity to use the RC-5 to split some wood. I lost some pictures to the SD card gods..don't know why that happened but here are some shots of the 5 and 6 together.
RC-5
RC-6
The RC-5 is a little short for the 1/4 logs, but it'll get the corners and get the job done.
The RC-6 is a log splitting son of a gun. I put her through a knot that had it deflected almost
3/4 of an inch and she snapped back to her normal self just like that!
I almost forgot to talk about the sheath. It fits great to any size belt, and the more you
move, the tighter the sheath grips the belt so it doesn't slip or slide at all. The leg
strap is a great addition, and even when pulled tight it is still comfortable to wear.
We didn't travel more than a few miles, so I don't know how it would wear
on the leg if worn for a longer distance but I had no problems on this trip. I used
the pocket as a compass case, and it worked very well. You could really fit a lot of
different items in there if you thought about packing it right.
I found that the retention straps are somewhat difficult to fasten right now, but
I'm sure the nylon will stretch some with use. The top strap came open a couple
of time during the hike, probably caught a branch or my arm swinging forward opened it.
I don't know for sure.
The final verdict is in. This is a very nice knife. I would be very happy to carry this
thing anywhere. I definitely could have put this thing through some serious use, but I'll
let the rest of you try and destroy it. LOL
It is pretty heavy, but not so much so that it would be cumbersome. It balances well in the hand and works in around
tight brushy areas really well. I chopped small branches and deadwood with ease. I didn't try to baton any logs, but I
would imagine that it would do just fine. Here are some photos of our day. Enjoy!
Here we are preparing some water for a cup of tea and some Mountain House
breakfast. The RC-5 made quick work of the fire wood prep.
I cut several nice notches in some branches. I'd rather not have the serrations on my knife, but it was easy enough
using the forward portion of the plain edge.
JuniorSpark began making his first primitive spear. The RC-5 did fairly well shaving the bark, but this one will take
some time to finish so the carving will be done with the RC-6 and Izula.
I'd love to have tried the Bow Drill divot, but I figured I'd leave that for someone else to review.
Mrs. WifeSpark wanted a fire tonight, so I took the opportunity to use the RC-5 to split some wood. I lost some pictures to the SD card gods..don't know why that happened but here are some shots of the 5 and 6 together.
RC-5
RC-6
The RC-5 is a little short for the 1/4 logs, but it'll get the corners and get the job done.
The RC-6 is a log splitting son of a gun. I put her through a knot that had it deflected almost
3/4 of an inch and she snapped back to her normal self just like that!
I almost forgot to talk about the sheath. It fits great to any size belt, and the more you
move, the tighter the sheath grips the belt so it doesn't slip or slide at all. The leg
strap is a great addition, and even when pulled tight it is still comfortable to wear.
We didn't travel more than a few miles, so I don't know how it would wear
on the leg if worn for a longer distance but I had no problems on this trip. I used
the pocket as a compass case, and it worked very well. You could really fit a lot of
different items in there if you thought about packing it right.
I found that the retention straps are somewhat difficult to fasten right now, but
I'm sure the nylon will stretch some with use. The top strap came open a couple
of time during the hike, probably caught a branch or my arm swinging forward opened it.
I don't know for sure.
The final verdict is in. This is a very nice knife. I would be very happy to carry this
thing anywhere. I definitely could have put this thing through some serious use, but I'll
let the rest of you try and destroy it. LOL
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2008
- Messages
- 611
I couldn't resist the chance for a free RAT.....
If you'll see the picture of my son shaving the bark off his spear, you'll see the sheath of a well worn USMC KA-bar that he has been gifted. He needs an upgrade. Yeah I'm shamelessly using my son to garner support here. C'mon guys this ones really for the children. LOL!
I feel all oily and slimy now...but not bad enough to edit..LOL
If you'll see the picture of my son shaving the bark off his spear, you'll see the sheath of a well worn USMC KA-bar that he has been gifted. He needs an upgrade. Yeah I'm shamelessly using my son to garner support here. C'mon guys this ones really for the children. LOL!
I feel all oily and slimy now...but not bad enough to edit..LOL
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2008
- Messages
- 631
Wow, looks like I'm coming into this one close to the wire! These were written at work, so I'm sure I could have done better if I'd have waited till I got home, but here ya go:
Izula (with kit):
I have never really been a big fan of small fixed blades, there was always something about them I didn't like. But once I got my hands on the Izula all that changed. When I first got the package from the UPS guy, I was worried that it was going to be too small to be of any use to me. After opening it, and feeling the blade in my hand, my opinion completely changed. I was amazed at how such a relatively small blade could feel so good in my hand. I tried it without the cord wrap for a little while before deciding that, for me, wrapped would be better. Once that was taken care of it was time to test it out. Being as I was at work all I had was cardboard to play with. But having worked in a warehouse for 4 years I knew that cardboard was actually a really good test of a knife. I first tried opening some boxes that had heavy duty packing tape. The Izula cut through all the tape without a seconds hesitation. Slices of cardboard were also no problem for this great little knife. Once I had cut up just about all the boxes the warehouse manager would let me have I went back to my office, where the Izula proceeded to still shave hair like a straight razor.
The following day I needed to trim some plastic sheet protectors for a catalog I was making. Out came the Izula, and the job was done in no time. The blade was small enough that I was able to get the precision cuts that I needed without damaging the pages. And still the edge was razor sharp.
Up until this point I had not put the Izula through any outdoor tests, but that changed during my last camping trip. Cutting open food packages, plastic containers, boxes, anything I could throw at it the Izula cut right through. The following morning I was the first up, so it was my turn for fire duty. After gathering all the needed starting materials I set about making some tinder and fuzz sticks. I had brought along a necker that I had used before to make tinder, but it never really worked as well as I would like. So I instead reached for my Izula. In no time I had plenty of tinder, cut grass, and bark shavings ready for the fire. With the assistance of the RAT fire starter that came in my kit I had a flame on the second strike. While doing all this had somewhat dulled the razor edge, it still cut like a champ.
Food prep similarly poses no problems for the Izula. Since it is on my belt most of the time now it sees more action than most of the knives in my kitchen. The small yet wide belly blade slices everything from steak, chicken, and pork to vegetables, garlic cloves, carrots, ect. While a larger blade would be better for the larger tasks, the Izula still handles it better than any other small knife I've ever seen.
The sheath is similarly well made. There are several well placed holes that allow for several different carry methods, including (but not limited to) MOLLE, Tec-Loc, Paracord loops, pocket clip (not sold by RAT), neck, MercHarness, and secured to a larger sheath (such as the RC3) as a companion knife. Since the blade is not stainless steel, and thus more susceptible to rust, there is a small drainage hole at the bottom to allow moisture to escape. And since the sheath holds the Izula securely in place it can be carried in any position the user desires.
The kit includes many useful items, such as a fire starter, split ring, a snap for keyring carry, MOLLE lock, a length of paracord for either wrapping the handle or tying around the sheath for emergency use, whistle, and an instruction sheet detailing the different ways to carry the knife, and how to attach the accessories. I have used the fire-starter twice, and both times it has worked better than the $10 unit I have. I cannot speak for the usefulness of the other items, as I have not used them. But I would have the utmost confidence in their dependability.
The RAT warranty is one of the best in the business. Usually a warranty isn't something that you really think about with a knife, but this one is worth mentioning. They have a unconditional replacement guarantee, if you break it they will replace it. That's how much they stand by their product. And I would venture to say that you'd be hard pressed to break these knives, they are so well made.
So for less than $100 you get a dependable knife that will last a lifetime, a sheath that is as close to perfect as any I've seen, a mini survival kit packed with a ton of useful items, a great guarantee, and the support of one of the best company's out there today. The RAT people are the best I have personally dealt with. The genuinely care about the user and try their best to make a knife that you can trust your life on.
I was honestly going to stop here, but I was on a roll and really wanted to do a RC3 review too. So here it is:
RC3:
The RC3 is the second smallest fixed blade offered by RAT Cutlery, but don't let it's smaller size fool you, this is one heck of a knife!
I purchased it at a knife show last year, and I haven't gone a day without it since. Even when I can't carry it on my belt it's either in my bag or sitting in the Jeep. It came razor sharp and ready for work. Cardboard, plastic, zip ties, and just about anything else I could think of to throw at it posed no problems for the RC3, it powered through it all. The knife feels perfect in the hand, and there are no rough spots on the handle that would irritate you during a long use. And since it is smaller in size than most of the fixed blades I own I can carry it in public without attracting negative attention. It disappears under a shirt, and with the use of a MercHarness it makes a perfect concealed carry knife.
The 3 7/8" blade (with a 3 3/8" cutting edge) is big enough for most tasks, while still being small enough for delicate work. I didn't get a chance to go hunting this past season, but I would say that the blade will work well as a skinner and field dressing knife.
Around the house the RC3 excels as well, and in the kitchen it is a wonderful knife. I have made dinner on several occasions using just the RC3, and I didn't once wish I had another knife with me.
At work the RC3 does a great job of taking care of packing tape, cardboard dividers, and breaking down cardboard boxes that are no longer needed. Plus, if I happen to have need for a knife during lunch the RC3 is up to the task.
I recently took it with me on a weekend camping trip to see how it performs with more strenuous work. Fire making, food prep, fishing, opening packages, and several other tasks were handled without a problem.
The sheath on the RC3 is just as well made as the knife. Retention is perfect, and according the RAT staff each sheath is drop tested at a height of around four feet, so there is very little chance of losing the knife if it is properly secured. Along the sides of the sheath are eight holes for attaching either a MOLLE or Tec-Loc, or securing to a belt or gear with paracord. At the bottom of the sheath is a small drainage hole. This is important since the knife is made of 1095 steel and thus is more susceptible to rust.
While the RC3 might be too small for some tasks, I would venture to say that it would be perfect as an EDC, and would handle 99% of anything you threw at it. And since it comes with the backing of one of the best cutlery companies out there you can be confident that your getting one heck of a knife at an economical price.
Here are some pictures showing both knives at work during various tasks (Pardon the bad quality, but the lighting wasn't the best in either setting):
Camping:
Food:
RC3 Pictures:
EDIT: Forgot to include my name: Joe Bingman
Izula (with kit):
I have never really been a big fan of small fixed blades, there was always something about them I didn't like. But once I got my hands on the Izula all that changed. When I first got the package from the UPS guy, I was worried that it was going to be too small to be of any use to me. After opening it, and feeling the blade in my hand, my opinion completely changed. I was amazed at how such a relatively small blade could feel so good in my hand. I tried it without the cord wrap for a little while before deciding that, for me, wrapped would be better. Once that was taken care of it was time to test it out. Being as I was at work all I had was cardboard to play with. But having worked in a warehouse for 4 years I knew that cardboard was actually a really good test of a knife. I first tried opening some boxes that had heavy duty packing tape. The Izula cut through all the tape without a seconds hesitation. Slices of cardboard were also no problem for this great little knife. Once I had cut up just about all the boxes the warehouse manager would let me have I went back to my office, where the Izula proceeded to still shave hair like a straight razor.
The following day I needed to trim some plastic sheet protectors for a catalog I was making. Out came the Izula, and the job was done in no time. The blade was small enough that I was able to get the precision cuts that I needed without damaging the pages. And still the edge was razor sharp.
Up until this point I had not put the Izula through any outdoor tests, but that changed during my last camping trip. Cutting open food packages, plastic containers, boxes, anything I could throw at it the Izula cut right through. The following morning I was the first up, so it was my turn for fire duty. After gathering all the needed starting materials I set about making some tinder and fuzz sticks. I had brought along a necker that I had used before to make tinder, but it never really worked as well as I would like. So I instead reached for my Izula. In no time I had plenty of tinder, cut grass, and bark shavings ready for the fire. With the assistance of the RAT fire starter that came in my kit I had a flame on the second strike. While doing all this had somewhat dulled the razor edge, it still cut like a champ.
Food prep similarly poses no problems for the Izula. Since it is on my belt most of the time now it sees more action than most of the knives in my kitchen. The small yet wide belly blade slices everything from steak, chicken, and pork to vegetables, garlic cloves, carrots, ect. While a larger blade would be better for the larger tasks, the Izula still handles it better than any other small knife I've ever seen.
The sheath is similarly well made. There are several well placed holes that allow for several different carry methods, including (but not limited to) MOLLE, Tec-Loc, Paracord loops, pocket clip (not sold by RAT), neck, MercHarness, and secured to a larger sheath (such as the RC3) as a companion knife. Since the blade is not stainless steel, and thus more susceptible to rust, there is a small drainage hole at the bottom to allow moisture to escape. And since the sheath holds the Izula securely in place it can be carried in any position the user desires.
The kit includes many useful items, such as a fire starter, split ring, a snap for keyring carry, MOLLE lock, a length of paracord for either wrapping the handle or tying around the sheath for emergency use, whistle, and an instruction sheet detailing the different ways to carry the knife, and how to attach the accessories. I have used the fire-starter twice, and both times it has worked better than the $10 unit I have. I cannot speak for the usefulness of the other items, as I have not used them. But I would have the utmost confidence in their dependability.
The RAT warranty is one of the best in the business. Usually a warranty isn't something that you really think about with a knife, but this one is worth mentioning. They have a unconditional replacement guarantee, if you break it they will replace it. That's how much they stand by their product. And I would venture to say that you'd be hard pressed to break these knives, they are so well made.
So for less than $100 you get a dependable knife that will last a lifetime, a sheath that is as close to perfect as any I've seen, a mini survival kit packed with a ton of useful items, a great guarantee, and the support of one of the best company's out there today. The RAT people are the best I have personally dealt with. The genuinely care about the user and try their best to make a knife that you can trust your life on.
I was honestly going to stop here, but I was on a roll and really wanted to do a RC3 review too. So here it is:
RC3:
The RC3 is the second smallest fixed blade offered by RAT Cutlery, but don't let it's smaller size fool you, this is one heck of a knife!
I purchased it at a knife show last year, and I haven't gone a day without it since. Even when I can't carry it on my belt it's either in my bag or sitting in the Jeep. It came razor sharp and ready for work. Cardboard, plastic, zip ties, and just about anything else I could think of to throw at it posed no problems for the RC3, it powered through it all. The knife feels perfect in the hand, and there are no rough spots on the handle that would irritate you during a long use. And since it is smaller in size than most of the fixed blades I own I can carry it in public without attracting negative attention. It disappears under a shirt, and with the use of a MercHarness it makes a perfect concealed carry knife.
The 3 7/8" blade (with a 3 3/8" cutting edge) is big enough for most tasks, while still being small enough for delicate work. I didn't get a chance to go hunting this past season, but I would say that the blade will work well as a skinner and field dressing knife.
Around the house the RC3 excels as well, and in the kitchen it is a wonderful knife. I have made dinner on several occasions using just the RC3, and I didn't once wish I had another knife with me.
At work the RC3 does a great job of taking care of packing tape, cardboard dividers, and breaking down cardboard boxes that are no longer needed. Plus, if I happen to have need for a knife during lunch the RC3 is up to the task.
I recently took it with me on a weekend camping trip to see how it performs with more strenuous work. Fire making, food prep, fishing, opening packages, and several other tasks were handled without a problem.
The sheath on the RC3 is just as well made as the knife. Retention is perfect, and according the RAT staff each sheath is drop tested at a height of around four feet, so there is very little chance of losing the knife if it is properly secured. Along the sides of the sheath are eight holes for attaching either a MOLLE or Tec-Loc, or securing to a belt or gear with paracord. At the bottom of the sheath is a small drainage hole. This is important since the knife is made of 1095 steel and thus is more susceptible to rust.
While the RC3 might be too small for some tasks, I would venture to say that it would be perfect as an EDC, and would handle 99% of anything you threw at it. And since it comes with the backing of one of the best cutlery companies out there you can be confident that your getting one heck of a knife at an economical price.
Here are some pictures showing both knives at work during various tasks (Pardon the bad quality, but the lighting wasn't the best in either setting):
Camping:
Food:
RC3 Pictures:
EDIT: Forgot to include my name: Joe Bingman
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2005
- Messages
- 7,809
Some great reviews here guys.
Keep'em coming and make this a bit tougher for Derrick, you still have a few hours.
Keep'em coming and make this a bit tougher for Derrick
, you still have a few hours.
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2008
- Messages
- 4,542
How am I just now discovering this thread, I'll throw together a quick and dirty review of some Izulas I purchased off of you just to be a good sport and participate, but it wont be pretty .Also great idea for a contest and that totally sucks what happened to you original package.