Rat Cutlery RC-5

H

Hornady

Joined
Nov 6, 2008
Messages
320
Hello,

So, I just read a review on the RC-5 on woodsmonkey.com and I must say: wow!
I saw the RC-5 allready on Rat's site and I was impressed by its looks.
So after reading a very positive review on it my day will not get any better.

But before I go buying one, what are your thougts on it?
I would use the knife for fire making, shelter building and other random stuff when you're in the woods.

Greetings,
 
I have only seen photos, but it looks like a tank.

Should easily do all that you ask of it.
 
I am sure it will be a great knife. There is a pass around going on of the RC-5 in the Rat Cutlery forum. Keep checking it in the up coming weeks to see other views of this knife.
 
I would go with the RC-6 instead...It's better suited for what you want.
 
The RC-6 is actually lighter weight than the RC-5(11.8 for the RC-6 and 16 oz for the RC-5). The 1/4 blade thickness for the RC-5 adds alot of strength, but also weight. I do like the sheath system they provide with the RC-5 better. I wish I could justify the RC-5, but my RC-6 is awesome enough.
 
Still, I know the RC-6 is better for batonning because it has more blade length, but I was wondering, is it strong?
I don't like a knife with a tip or whole blade that gives you the feeling it's gonna break when you put a little bit weight on it.
Thats why I was very enthousiast with the RC-5.

But RC-6 owners, how strong is the entire blade and particularly the tip?
I really don't want to store the knife in my locker because I am never sure if it will be strong enough for the abuse I put it trough or not.

Btw, anyone got the RC-5 allready?
Would love to hear about it from first hand!
 
Either knife will suit your needs easily.

I have an RC6 and find it performs amazingly well, and is one hell of a cutter with it fine edge. I probably wouldn't use it for prying bricks apart and such. However it was tested for tactical team use where ity was employed to pry open windows etc. woth no problems at all.

I prefer the sheath system for the RC5, and I placed one of the first pre orders for the knife,and am eagerly awaiting its arrival.

The RC6 is easily capable of doing everything you need while camping, but then again so can an RC4. As to tip strength...the tip is strong enough for everythin except heavy prying, and if you did manage to break it RAT will replace the knife no questions asked.

You can rest easy with any RAT cutlery product you purchase.
 
Hm, that pulls the score almost even between those 2.
Well, if the knives both are both well suited for my means, I would still take the RC-5, to me it is one of the nicest knives I have ever seen.
Yes, the blade is shorter and yes it is much heavier and thicker but I've seen and read that other 5'' blades could easily baton trought wood, just take the sides.
So, I'll be ordering an RC-5.


Still, one more question is there to ask.
What is a trusted knife shop online which offers both the Rat RC-5 and the Spyderco Sharpmaker set.
Have looked at chestnut ridge shop, new grahams but they don't have one of the 2...

Greetings!

Btw, review on the Rat Cutlery RC-5: http://woodsmonkey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:rat-cutlerys-rc-5-review&catid=34:knives&Itemid=55
 
RAT blades are all beefy enough. I took the new RC-6 winter camping 3 weeks ago for the first time. I was excited to try a few things out, especially batoning. I grabbed a few logs from the home pile, which were far larger and harder than any dead fall you would pick up. I was able to consistently split 5" oak without any problem. I hit the exposed 1" near the tip and had to hit the tang occasionally, but it split like a champ. It dulled it some, as would be expected, but I still had a fairly sharp edge after splitting the nights wood. The coating smoothed out a bit, but didn't wear off. I really like the look of it now, after I cleaned it up. The edge came right back with some crock stick sharpening. If you want to chop bigger limbs, eat your Wheaties and prepare for a long and tiring task. There just isn't enough length or mass there to do it efficiently.

After splitting the wood, I tried shaving wood for fuzz sticks again and noticed some loss in the edge, but not that bad. The blade is a little big for good control for that task, but you can choke up a bit on the choil (which the RC-5 lacks).

Regarding the sheath- I felt it rode a bit high on my belt using the parachord as the belt retainer, which is why I like the looks of the RC-5 sheath. Hopefully RAT will have a back accessory soon to let it dangle from the belt. When I took it off, the coyote brown color was hard to find on the winter ground with dead leaves around at dusk. I might wrap some orange paracord around it. The sheath is fully functional, the retention is great, and the molded plastic is really better than I expected.

So- I think the thinner blade is an asset for general camp chores, along with the lighter weight and extra length. 3/16 1095 is plenty. The choil lets you choke up and gain control. My only beef is the sheath, but that is a fun project to solve. That said, The RC-5 looks like a great knife as well, just shorter, thicker, heavier, with a better sheath.

Damn, I think I just talked myself into wanting the RC-5, too. Knivesshipfree had stock last time I looked.
 
I was tempted by the RC-5. Personally, I find the RC-4 just a bit too small and the RC-6 a little too big for my preference. I don't really care for the extra thickness of the blade on the 5, and I don't care for the overly complex, strap covered sheath, though.
 
The RC-5 wasn't meant for the same uses as the RC6 and RC4, hence the different sheath and thinkness. It was meant for if you need to dig, it has extra strenght for it, if you have to pry, it has added strength to it.

Anyway, if you want a general camp knife, I would get the RC 6 to be honest. However, the RC 5 will be a bit of a tougher blade, with the added thickness. So, it really depends on the main purpose of your camping duties. I mean, the RC 6 will not break under what the intended purposes are. And the warranty covers you if it does break, which wuld only happen were you to abuse the knife, a lot.
 
Just chiming in again.

My favorite blade length for general use is a 5 inch blade.

Personaly for carry use, and the tasks you've described I will probably be carrying my RC5 once it arrives. The determining factor is the sheath system which I really like.

Jeff did mention in a post a little while back that Eagle may be making them some sheaths for the RC6 as well. If that develops I will purchase on for my RC6 as well.

I believe form what I have seen so far that the RC5 will perform the ragular tasks while camping well, and will perform truly heavy duty tasks better than the RC6. That was the idea of the designers. The knife is designed for extreme and heavy use scenarios more than for the fine tasks.
 
wildmike said:
I believe form what I have seen so far that the RC5 will perform the ragular tasks while camping well, and will perform truly heavy duty tasks better than the RC6. That was the idea of the designers. The knife is designed for extreme and heavy use scenarios more than for the fine tasks.
Click to expand...
From what you say, I'm sure you will be happy with it. Its a fine knife but designed to meet different requirements (kind of like comparing a 3/4 ton pick up to a midsize SUV, neither is better than the other just different)

For my own use, the RC-4 or RC-6 are a better choice, although I consider 4.5-5.0 to be the perfect blade length for me so I was hoping for something that split the difference. Since I don't use my camp knife to split logs or pry rocks, the stronger construction of the RC-5 is wasted, and to an extent even detracts from my intended useage.
 
As TonyM suggested above, go to the "Manufactuers" section at the top of your screen and then the Rat Cutlery forum. Lots of talk there, including the company owners as participants.
 
Looking at the pics on Woodsmonkey, I notice there is small divot in the one scale.

Here

What is this for? It can't be a bow drill socket can it, I didn't think micarta would hold up to that?
 
It IS in fact a bow drill divot. I haven't seen too many other examples of this but one forum member did modify another knife to have a similar divot. I think Jeff said he tried it and it worked. The micarta might burn a little but it should work good enough in a pinch. Be sure to lube the divot like you would with a normal bow drill and I'd imagine it would work just fine. I'll be trying it when my RC-5 gets here :)

Oh yeah and KnivesShipFree is a great place to order from. Derrick has the RC-5 up as of today (or yesterday) and I think he also carries the Sharpmaker. Fast shipping and amazing customer service.
 
Thanks for the tip!
Knivesshipfree.com has got them both indeed.

I have read that the RC-5 has got a sabre grind?
What are the advantages of that specific kind of grind?
Also I was wondering if you can still use the Spyderco Sharpmaker to sharpen this knife.
I would very much apreciate it if someone could give me a link or some info about grinds, what their purposes are etc.

Greetings from Holland!
 
Hornady, you can indeed use a Sharpmaker. Here is a link to some blade geometry info. Hope it helps:)
 
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