RAT Cutlery RC4S

[Mistwalker]

I bought another RAT Cutlery knife last week, an RC4S with 50/50 edge, tan blade, and green scales. While it is a bit smaller than most of my other knives I actually bought it as my "larger" knife in an urban environment. I like having serrations when there is a chance I'll be working with non-organic materials.

For any not familiar with the RC4 here are some specs...

Blade length 4 5/8 inches
O/A length 9 inches
Blade Steel 3/16 1095
Blade Profile Full Flat Grind
micarta scales 3/16"

I've had it out checking it out some lately in just normal knife tasks. I really do like working with this knife. It's small enough to tuck away, is quick in the hand, handles really well, and is relatively light...yet it is heavy enough to take some abuse. I really like how the friction retention sheath holds the knife well with the binding post in the upper most hole.


I used it to baton off some slivers of fatwood earlier.

Then I used it to whittle some fuzz sticks.

Actually I did all of that a couple of times, once for the video, and then again for the still shots. There are two videos, but the second one was done only because I went over the ten minutes Y.T. allows and wanted to show that even with as wet as the ground and wood here is the fatwood would get the fire going with little fuss. It's great for getting your fire going while you gather more fuel. You'll be able to tell that I have just started to study using the small ferro rod but I am really liking it.





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[youtube]E4vApbAb1No[/youtube]

 

[Mistwalker]

I used the RC4S as my only knife to prep supper the other night. Nothing fancy but the knife handled it very well...I am very pleased with it, I know it'll handle any camp cooking chores I may throw at it just fine.

I started with some Kielbasa, potatoes, onion, fresh garlic and some celery. I think the pics pretty much speak for themselves so...

 

[Mistwalker]

And this is how I will be carrying it on hikes in the woods.

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[Mistwalker]

Once again I'd like to say thank you to Lisa at Two Wolves for a great shopping experience and excellent customer service.

And to Storl of Going Gear also for the excellent service and for having great mischmetal ferro rods! Oh, and I like the little containers too...at least the one I got to keep...lost the blue one to the wife as soon as I opened the envelope...but I knew that when I ordered it

 

[Rockywolf]

As I mentioned about this knife, it looks like a great user. You are good at these picture and video diaries, my friend. And I usually have to stop myself from buying some of the stuff you display! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mistwalker]

As I mentioned about this knife, it looks like a great user. You are good at these picture and video diaries, my friend. And I usually have to stop myself from buying some of the stuff you display! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Rocky, I really appreciate the compliments!

Besides the RC4 being such a good user...and being so photogenic .... another thing that has really impressed me is the durability of the coating so far. This picture....

was taken two days ago. And this one was taken last night.

The batoning through the fatwood and the whittling and the little chopping I've done seems to have had little effect on it and the fatwood resin cleaned right using a little Lysol kitchen cleaner...and that also seems to have had no negative effects on the coating.


.

 

[Mistwalker]

Here are a few shots of it in different grips

 

[Pilot1]

Nice review. I have an RC-5 and really like it but its not an everyday woods knife so I just ordered an RC-4 Plain Edge in the tan like yours. I am looking forward to this knife sharing a similar role with my Barkie Bravo-1 and will do a comparison in the field when I get a chance.

I think the RC-4 is ESEE's sweet spot. The four inch or so blade is a great size for camping, hiking, hunting and just about anything that comes up in the field. Can't wait to use it and I'm sure I'll be as impressed as I am with the RC-5 which is my current survival/flying knife.

 

[Mistwalker]

Nice review. I have an RC-5 and really like it but its not an everyday woods knife so I just ordered an RC-4 Plain Edge in the tan like yours. I am looking forward to this knife sharing a similar role with my Barkie Bravo-1 and will do a comparison in the field when I get a chance.

I think the RC-4 is ESEE's sweet spot. The four inch or so blade is a great size for camping, hiking, hunting and just about anything that comes up in the field. Can't wait to use it and I'm sure I'll be as impressed as I am with the RC-5 which is my current survival/flying knife.

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it. I am really loving this knife. The size is perfect for the niche i wanted it for and it hadles really well. The tan is definitely my favorite color. I have four RAT/ESEE knives now...Izula, HESTs, and the RC4. I'm now stuck deciding which will be next...an ESEE5 or an ESEE6...I like certain things about each but figure the next will likely complete my "collection" of ESEE knives and need to think on which I like better and why.

 

[TheGame]

Glad to see another ESEE knife find its' way into a users hands. Thanks for doing the review, and keep up the good work.(The using the ESEEs', that is )

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey mistwalker,

Nice review. I think the RC-4 or whatever TH it's called now is a nice little knife. I got to handle one belonging to kgd. I might even get one, down the road, but the coating would go as it did with my RC-3.

I think it has the same sheath as my RC-3, and if so, it's an excellent sheath. In fact, that's part of the reason I like my RC-3 as much as I do.

Doc

 

[readyme]

Nice writeup.
I am trying to decide on a new camp knife (small chores and cooking) and am considering either the RC-3 or the RC-4. My only concern about the RC-4 is the blade thickness....was the a problem at all?
Is it possible to get somebody to post some shots with both the RC-3 and RC-4 in them?

 

[Mistwalker]

Glad to see another ESEE knife find its' way into a users hands. Thanks for doing the review, and keep up the good work.(The using the ESEEs', that is )

Thanks TG, glad you liked, I'm enjoying the knife a lot. I used an Izula earlier to give my youngest her first fire craft lesson...she's still a bit young yet (4) and not old enough to handle the knife... but she watches me all the time and asks a lot of questions... I had to start somewhere

Hey mistwalker,

Nice review. I think the RC-4 or whatever TH it's called now is a nice little knife. I got handle one belonging to kgd. I might even get one, down the road, but the coating would go as it did with my RC-3.

I think it has the same sheath as my RC-3, and if so, it's an excellent sheath. In fact, that's part of the reason I like my RC-3 as much as I do.

Doc

Thanks Doc, this one is an RC4 , I know because it says so .So far I'm fine with the coating...when it starts to wear I may remove it all though.

Nice writeup.
I am trying to decide on a new camp knife (small chores and cooking) and am considering either the RC-3 or the RC-4. My only concern about the RC-4 is the blade thickness....was the a problem at all?
Is it possible to get somebody to post some shots with both the RC-3 and RC-4 in them?

The 4 is 1/16 thicker than the 3, I chose the 4 for that reason. The 1/8 may be great for slicing but slicing is only a part of what my knives have to do. There are pics in threads in the RAT/ESEE forum that show them side by side, I'll try to find one later if I can.

 

[Col. Cornelius]

Good review.

I have the RC-4, RC-3 and the Izula - all plain edge.

They are very good knives for the money.

I really like pairing the RC-4 with the Izula for outdoor treks.

The RC-4 is about the biggest knife I will carry on a regular basis for hiking/camping/hunting.

 

[Rotte]

Nice review Mist. I like my RC-4...a lot. A no-nonsense knife with great capability. Oddly enough, I think I may like the smaller RC-3 even more. Go figure.

 

[dextersp1]

I used the RC4S as my only knife to prep supper the other night. Nothing fancy but the knife handled it very well...I am very pleased with it, I know it'll handle any camp cooking chores I may throw at it just fine.

How do you get the food smell off the knife before you go into the woods?

 

[Vivi]

Nice photos Mistwalker. Makes me wish I didn't get rid of the RC4 I had. I'll have to get another someday, they handle very well and carry comfortably. The package is surprisingly thin feeling when worn on the belt.

How do you get the food smell off the knife before you go into the woods?

Hot water rinse with some handsoap always does it for me.

 

[udtjim]

I liked the review, Great job. BUT, now I am hungry as hell, Thanks a lot.

I have come full circle a couple times on combo edges. In the start, I wouldn't buy anything that was not a combo edge. Then maybe a bit because of the anti combo edge that prevails here, I sort of turned against them. I like the looks and function of that particular combo edge because the blade is long enough to give you a fair amount of each rather than the other way around.

I probably would not buy this one because I already have the RAT-4 standard version. I will add that I like a good blade coating for the same reason that I like SS Knives. LOW Maintenance. I envy those this feeling sensitive enough to feel the drag of a coated edge, because sure can't feel it.

Gotta go eat now.

 

[readyme]

Good review.

I have the RC-4, RC-3 and the Izula - all plain edge.

They are very good knives for the money.

I really like pairing the RC-4 with the Izula for outdoor treks.

The RC-4 is about the biggest knife I will carry on a regular basis for hiking/camping/hunting.

Would it be possible for you to post a "family picture"...all side by side on a table or something?
Thanks

 

[Mistwalker]

Good review.

I have the RC-4, RC-3 and the Izula - all plain edge.

They are very good knives for the money.

I really like pairing the RC-4 with the Izula for outdoor treks.

The RC-4 is about the biggest knife I will carry on a regular basis for hiking/camping/hunting.

Thanks! I have an Izula and a couple of HESTs that are p.e., the only way they come I think, but I do like having at least one with serrations, The RC4 is plenty big enough that the serrations don't get in my way any and I love RAT's serrations.

Nice review Mist. I like my RC-4...a lot. A no-nonsense knife with great capability. Oddly enough, I think I may like the smaller RC-3 even more. Go figure.

Thanks Rotte, I love the RC4, I like the size and shape of the 3 just fine...I'm just not a big fan of 1/8 steel in knives I'm going to really use a lot. If it was 5/32 I'd already have an RC3 but as it is....it may be a while yet...if ever.

I liked the review, Great job. BUT, now I am hungry as hell, Thanks a lot.

I have come full circle a couple times on combo edges. In the start, I wouldn't buy anything that was not a combo edge. Then maybe a bit because of the anti combo edge that prevails here, I sort of turned against them. I like the looks and function of that particular combo edge because the blade is long enough to give you a fair amount of each rather than the other way around.

I probably would not buy this one because I already have the RAT-4 standard version. I will add that I like a good blade coating for the same reason that I like SS Knives. LOW Maintenance. I envy those this feeling sensitive enough to feel the drag of a coated edge, because sure can't feel it.

Gotta go eat now.

Thanks Jim, glad you liked the write-up. I really like having some serrations available. In an urban environment I don't mind them being on both my folder and my fixed.

The coating bothers or hampers me none at all. I've felt no interference from it at all. Different strokes for different folks though. I was once told by another carpenter that he would never use the Craftsman quick change drill bit system because it wasn't precision enough. I laughed my @$$ off because I have trimmed out a few VERY expensive houses and built some fairly complicated staircases...wearing out three or four quick change systems in the process....as I said, different strokes.

Sorry, can't help it I like to cook...just wait till the next HEST post