RC-4 or RC-5? So confused.

S

singlemalt

Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Messages
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Hi guys. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am confused about which RAT to get. I want to get a knife that will work well for camping around the Midwest. I don't know if I will need to do any heavy batoning of wood, but you never know. I don't camp very often, but I want to make the right decision on a larger knife. I decided the RC-6 is probably too big for my purposes.

Whatever I choose, the 4 or the 5, it will likely be the largest blade I have with me. I have a SOG Aegis and am getting a RAT Izula (sweet!) and have a multi-tool that I can take with on various adventures. So I am torn between the 4 and the 5.

It seems like everyone loves the 4. But I hear much less about the 5. Do people feel that the 5 is too thick? Too large?

If I am stuck and in trouble and need to baton wood with my knife (not sure this scenario would ever happen) is the 4 too small?

Having said all of that, knowing that I will have the Izula and a multi-tool with me, what do you think would serve me best if I am stuck in the wild and need to rely on my larger blade for my major work and survival needs?

Thanks so much for all the advice!
 
RC-6
But since you think it is too big I would get an RC-4
The RC-5 is a little too think for my tastes
 
The RC-4 will serve you well for camping purposes ... I love mine.

RAT Pack #64
 
derrickd803 said:
RC-6
But since you think it is too big I would get an RC-4
The RC-5 is a little too think for my tastes
Click to expand...

+1 on this. After handling both the RC-5 and RC-4 I came to this conclusion. I love my RC-4/Izula combo, but if I hear the RC-6/Izula combo is great as well. If I didn't take a chopper of some sorts I would probably have picked the RC-6.

Remember the RC-6 is just under a inch bigger than the RC-5 while the RC-4 is almost 2 inches smaller.
 
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The RC5 is into 'sharpened prybar' territory at 0.25" thick.
The 4 and 6 are considered by some to be more efficient slicers, and quite sturdy enough as it is. Plus they weigh less.

btw, the 6 isn't much longer than the 5...a few people have picks of several of the knives side by side, maybe they'll post them up.
 
I am starting to get the sense that the RC-5 is just a beast and a fair amount of people kind of shy away from it. Not like they are afraid of it, rather that it is maybe a little too thick and heavy.

If the RC-4 can handle batoning of wood if the need arises, perhaps that is the way I should go.
 
Also well considering be aware that the RC5 and RC6 have exactly the same handle/grip length. Yes the RC5 will be a little thicker because of the 1/4' thick steel used. The RC4 has a shorter handle/grip which is much like the RC3 in length.

Some people prefer the larger handle because it fits them better.

I am sure that you will be very pleased which either the RC4, RC5 or RC6 for your purposes.
 
singlemalt said:
I am starting to get the sense that the RC-5 is just a beast and a fair amount of people kind of shy away from it. Not like they are afraid of it, rather that it is maybe a little too thick and heavy.

If the RC-4 can handle batoning of wood if the need arises, perhaps that is the way I should go.
Click to expand...

Maybe so but I don't think that anyone really designed it as a camping or hunting knife that most of us would want. I see it as a survival knife - period. If the SHTF and you need a knife that will help you out of a crashed vehicle or aircraft, can be used to dig whole in the ground, break out a whole in a cinder block wall, pry open a wood ammo crate in a huge hurry, or slit a man's throat and still be in on piece after all of that then the RC5 is the way to go in my mind. That is why my son has an RC5 in his go-bag in Iraq. His RC3 is attached to his vest or on his belt depending on the clothing of the moment and his Izula is aways in his pocket.

I suggest that for most of us the decision is between RC4 or RC6 - the RC5 is a different kind of tool all together.
 
If after looking at them, the five doesn't jump out as the only blade your interested in, it's probably not for you. The rc4 and rc 6 are both excellent. 6 isn't as big as it sounds
 
I picked the RC-4 and I am VERY happy with that decision!!

The RC-5 just doesn't appeal to me - too thick and heavy for what I use a knife for.

If I need something bigger than the RC-4, I will get an RC-6. Same blade thickness as the RC-4, 2" longer and still lighter than the RC-5.
 
Don't listen to them!!

RC-5 is the best choice!!!

can handle some finer slicing, but can also handle anything else you throw at it.

not that the rc-4 couldnt but um....rc-5 is the way to go.
 
For all around camp use I'd go with the RC-6. It is lighter than the RC-5 and has a long enough blade to split larger wood that the RC-4. It is also a good cutter and slicer. The RC-4 can do a lot, too. If you want the smallest package for a camp knife, it will do. If you want a heavy blade knife that sees a lot of hard use like batoning and such, the RC-5 is the most rugged of the three. It all breaks down to how much knife you want to carry.
 
I see the RC-6 as a great camp knife and the RC-4 as a great hiking/back country blade. Like Horndog said, the RC-4 is a lot of knife in a small package.

Personally I think the whole argument that the RC-5 is good because it is robust enough to take anything is rather silly. I don't baby my knives and I baton the crap out of them and yet I get along quite well with my koyote 3/32" thick blades. Even at 3/16", the RC-4 is over built to the extreme. Most of my blades are 1/8" thick and they do the same duty that the RC-4 does. I wouldn't worry about robustness at all on any of the RC-knives.

Get the one that you think serves you the cutting tasks you have in mind. Don't even let the thought 'will this knife break on me?' enter into the equation. It won't happen unless your intention is to do completely silly stuff - e.g. throwing them.
 
Thanks for all the great advice. After thinking about this some more and reviewing the comments here I think the RC-4 will suit me best. Hey, I can always get another RAT down the road! Thanks again guys.
 
Great choice......I have the RC4 and Izula combo and love it.......takes care of everything you might throw at them.
Congrats!
JT
 
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