- Joined
- Jun 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,376
The RD7 is an awesome blade compared to a Rat7 or BK7. it will take alot more abuse & still be in one piece & Justin will customize one for you for very little extra! his knives are built to last!
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Rat7 or Bk7?
- Thread starter peripatew
- Start date
That's correct.
The RAT is coated, so the moist climate shouldn't be an issue. If you're going to be using the knife hard, which might remove some of the coating, keep it wiped down with Tuf-Cloth. Or get it re-coated.
The Pasayten is made out of a really good stainless. Obviously a very different experience, but if your climate necessitates it, there you go.
If you're not going to be using the knife real hard, I'd look at the RAT.
If you are, I'd look at the TOPS. 154CM is one of the best stainless steels around and will save you a LOT of maintenance.
When I got my RAT-7, I was considering getting a Ranger.
But the RAT was available to me much more quickly, it's a heckuva solid knife made out of real good steel, and I wanted the serrations.
One thing that's obvious from looking at the knives, but hasn't been specifically said, is that the RAT-7 is available with a very aggressive set of serrations. I've found that they can be very, very useful at times. And there's still plenty of plain edge available on the blade for chopping, etc.
I recently received my first Ranger, a custom RD-7, and it would be an amazing knife for twice the cost let alone what Justin is letting them go for. With Justin's customer service and bombproof blades you just can't go wrong with one IMO. I had a chance to put it through its paces this past weekend on a quick camping trip (unfortunately forgot the camera) and it holds an edge well and chops like crazy. The choil lets you choke up enough for finer work and it made short work of gathering a wood pile while setting up camp.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2003
- Messages
- 20,207
The TOPS Pasayten I own is significantly thinner (and shorter) than the Rat-7. Good cutter, but not a substitute for the two knives he asked about, much less a beast like the RD-7 (7" not counting the 1" choil).
The coating on the Rat-7 does nothing to protect the most important and vulnerable area -- the final bevel.
The coating on the Rat-7 does nothing to protect the most important and vulnerable area -- the final bevel.
He asked...it's stainless...
Didn't think he was asking for a list of big stainless choppers, not that many exist anyway. At least that I know of. Entrek, yes; maybe some others as well.
But a bg Cold Steel in AUS8? Don't know if it would be any better than the TOPS. Perhaps. I haven't tested it and really don't know.
I grew up around boats, ships, salt water. I know what a hassle it is to keep a carbon steel knife in good shape under those conditions.
BTW I keep all my carbon steel blades oiled or with Tuf-Glide or Rust Free.
Rust Free IMO is particularly good for long term storage.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2007
- Messages
- 39,266
Thanks, thats kind of what I thought although the info on coatings is new to me. I'll look at things a little differently because of that.