Rc-3 -4 -5 -6???

D

Dreadbeard

Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
4
Hello forum, after lurking across the various boards for the last week I have seen the light and decided to go with a knife from RAT Cutlery :D

I would love some tips/recommendations from someone will practical experience or friendly advice

The position is will be filling is my primary large bush/survival knife.

I want it to be able to perform well in the place of an axe or a saw for fire and shelter.

I would also like to be able to do finer work like take apart a fish or prep some bush tucker.

My Questions are,
How large should I go?
What are the pros and cons of serrated vs plain edge?

I live in Australia and would love some direction of an Aussie retailer or one that ships to Australia. I checked out several directly from the Dealers section of the RAT Cutlery site and the prices have rather large variations from site to site. Any retailer that really stands out of the crowd?

I appreciate any input you guys have, thanks for your time.
Regards, Dread.:thumbup:

As a footnote I should add that regrettably I cannot afford to buy them all, I need to narrow it down to just the one.
 
If the laws in your area allow, I would reccommend the RC-6. Chops well, handles nicely for finer tasks and is just a great all around knife.

I prefer plain edge but thats kind of personal taste.

By the way, welcome to BF!
 
Dreadbeard said:
Hello forum, after lurking across the various boards for the last week I have seen the light and decided to go with a knife from RAT Cutlery :D

I would love some tips/recommendations from someone will practical experience or friendly advice

The position is will be filling is my primary large bush/survival knife.

I want it to be able to perform well in the place of an axe or a saw for fire and shelter.

I would also like to be able to do finer work like take apart a fish or prep some bush tucker.

My Questions are,
How large should I go?
What are the pros and cons of serrated vs plain edge?

I live in Australia and would love some direction of an Aussie retailer or one that ships to Australia. I checked out several directly from the Dealers section of the RAT Cutlery site and the prices have rather large variations from site to site. Any retailer that really stands out of the crowd?

I appreciate any input you guys have, thanks for your time.
Regards, Dread.:thumbup:

As a footnote I should add that regrettably I cannot afford to buy them all, I need to narrow it down to just the one.
Click to expand...

I bought an RC5 as my primary rough use knife and have no regrets. I have no hesitation at all to really wail on this knife because I know it will come back asking for more. Serrations are great for slicing through tape, rope, fibery green vegitation, etc but can get in the way when it comes to chopping and battoning and other necessary tasks. I will say that the serrations on the RAT knives are low profile and do not seem to cause any hindrance that many other companies' serration designs are plagued by. I got my RC-5 serrated and do not mind them. While knives as small as the Izula can be used for battonning and chopping, it is much harder on the hand. I'd recommend the Rc-5 or 6 as your primary bush knife. The Rc5 comes from thicker stock than the others and even that knife can be used for skinning and filletting, the edge is very sharp and contours well. You may want to look into something like an AG Russell Woodsman though, as a cheap quality skinner and fillet knife to complement your heavy duty bushcraft knife. They run for around 20 USD and are very high quality. Personally I went the two knife route-I bought a traditional Scandinavian Leuku from Koyote, which is scandi ground, has a finer edge and comes from very thin stock. Extremely lightweight and highly controllable. good for skinning, carving, etc. and then the RC5. Now I have the best of both worlds. I have been bugging Jeff about coming out with a thinner knife, maybe one day he will give in ;)
 
My RC-4 serves as an all-around general purpose knife. It is just big enough to do enough batoning for fire wood but small enough for pretty much everything else. If you are also carrying a folder or smaller fixed blade I'd say go with the RC-6. The extra length is an advantage for dealing with the bigger tasks of shelter building and light chopping. If you are only taking one knife I'd say go with the RC-4.
 
DB

I'll try to give some info without breaching the BF policy on deal spotting.

I am not connected to or vouching for this site (or their prices) but I have bought from them without problems and they are in Australia - http://www.cuttingedgeknives.com.au

Some good eye candy in Frank O'Reilly Sports 871 High St Thornbury, Melbourne but unfortunately they only have the ontario RAT models (not RAT cutlery :grumpy:) and they do not have a website - but you are a local.

Hopefully someone else who has shipped from US sites to Oz will come along and inform you of their experiences :cool:. Australian markups can sometimes be harsh!

Or you can consider upgrading membership (I've been a bit slack on that so far, I have to get more organised!) and make full use of the BF's exchange.

Happy hunting, my vote is for the RAT 5 or 6 depending upon whether you want a thinner slicing blade (6) or thicker blade (5 - although I'd try to hang off until I could get the kydex sheath which they are now offering). You won't find many bad reports about RAT cutlery in any size! :D

Edgyone
 
The RC6 would the great all around bushknife you are looking for. Great chopper, great for batonnig. However it can be a little bulky for chores like field dressing game or fishgutting. You need a folder or an Izula to go with that. The RC4 can do both type of chores quite well. It's not the badass chopper the RC6 is but it does the job just fine. So if you can only buy one RAT knife, I'd say go with the RC4.
As for dealers, KnivesShipFree are great folks. Maybe they're prices are not the lowest on the market but you get a helluva customer service and lightning fast shipping.

Welcome to the forum !
 
The RC6.

IMO, it's the perfect length and heft for the "only one knife" scenario.

The RC4 is OK, but it's just as thick as the RC6, so it won't slice any better, it has a smaller grip, and won't baton as easily as the longer blade.

It isn't ideal for cleaning small fish or skinning small game, but you can do it if you choke up. I'll assume you have a folder or something that could be used for that.

Later, you can get an RC3 or Izula for the small tasks.

Also, if properly sharpened, the plain edge goes through rope and such just fine. But that's a personal preference.
 
I'm ordering either an RC-5 or RC-6 today, having a little trouble deciding between the two. Maybe I should just go RC-6 & an Izula?
 
shotgunner11 said:
RC-5 is a great blade, I love mine, but my RC-6 gets 3 times the use if that helps you any.
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Well, whichever knife I buy will be my first RAT knife. I like them all so far, and that certainly doesn't help the decision-making process much. I think I'll just order the RC-6 for starters and kind of work my way through the lineup.
 
ridgeline said:
Maybe I should just go RC-6 & an Izula?
Click to expand...

do that.

to the o.p. i've only handled the rc-3, and izula. the 3's def. not a large fixed blade, although it can be put to good wilderness use, as has been shown in a few threads on this site. the 6 would be my choice, for the length and cutting ability. after the forum rc3, it's next on my list.
 
I plan on picking up an Izula and an RC-6 as well as the RAT Pack RC-3 before this year ends. I think it'll be an awesome bushcraft/survival setup, and depending on the Florida carry laws, the RC-3 will accompany me throughout my day on my belt.
 
If you're going to have a smaller knife for the fine work than an RC-6 is a great choice. But it this is going to be the only knife you carry, the RC-4 is better.
 
Mobile-eyez said:
I plan on picking up an Izula and an RC-6 as well as the RAT Pack RC-3 before this year ends. I think it'll be an awesome bushcraft/survival setup, and depending on the Florida carry laws, the RC-3 will accompany me throughout my day on my belt.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a solid plan, should be a pretty balanced trio of outstanding blades.
 
RC-6 with Rc-3 make a great combo. RC-4 if it will be solo. The Izula would just be icing on the cake.
 
The rc-4 will be a great all purpose knife for the bush. It can do just about anything you need it for while in the woods. I personally use the rc-5 most of the time because I love the 1/4 in thick blade and bow drivet. IMO its hands down the best survival knife.
 
In a word all over them. Buy one of each, PLUS get an Izula, which ever ones you don't feel is prefect for you, send to me! :)

I love my RC-3p, one of the best knives I have ever owned. And it is the only blade I use more then my Izula, or TAK-1. I don't yet have the others, so I can't really say, but if it is an RC knife, you really can't go wrong.
 
smcclown05 said:
My RC-4 serves as an all-around general purpose knife. It is just big enough to do enough batoning for fire wood but small enough for pretty much everything else. If you are also carrying a folder or smaller fixed blade I'd say go with the RC-6. The extra length is an advantage for dealing with the bigger tasks of shelter building and light chopping. If you are only taking one knife I'd say go with the RC-4.
Click to expand...

I haven't had much experience with my RAT yet but I agree with this. If it's your only knife I'd say RC-4. If it's your only one and you really feel you have to go big, get the RC-6. I just feel the RC-5 would be to thick to be an ideal do it all knife. Now if you have a smaller blade, the 5 or 6 would be fine. BTW, I love my RC-4, it's well balanced and tough. If I need something bigger, I'll use a hatchet, wire saw or folding saw.
 
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