RC-5 for combat purpose?

Dizwolf said:
Could you? Sure, it's sharp enough, it'll cut flesh. Is it going to be the most effective thing out there for that purpose? No. Too heavy, too thick, only sharp on one side, not likely to get deep penetration without some serious force. Even freshly sharpened, try stabbing a ham with it. I do love this knife, and if it's all I had on me, i'd use it... But I would much prefer a dagger if it came to that.
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Ok yes ,the dagger is a killer pur sang(think about the Roman gladius which was made for the stab,and did well conquering Europe).
But a Bowie doesn't any worse stabbing I would say.
Depending on which Bowie ,but there are some wicked ones out there.

and the Ka-Bar is also a good stabber I would say.
what about the Ontario RD6 or RD7?
thick blades but near the tip quite sharp ...
 
One advantage to "fighting" with a thicker knife is that while it will take more force to get penetration, that also means that it will leave a larger wound channel, which is obviously a good thing if your looking to end a fight ASAP. But the downside is that you need to exert more force, which will tire you out quicker. Just my $0.02.....
 
De4thStr1ke said:
One advantage to "fighting" with a thicker knife is that while it will take more force to get penetration, that also means that it will leave a larger wound channel, which is obviously a good thing if your looking to end a fight ASAP. But the downside is that you need to exert more force, which will tire you out quicker. Just my $0.02.....
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a wide blade being not too thick is the best in that case.
like the Cold Steel warhead .
that blade is quite wide and makes a big wound.

but any wide blade has this affect more or less.
 
While I'd like to have an RC5 someday, it looks like a "niche knife." The RAT lineup is impressive------------Izula to Jungla, with several stops in between. To me the RC5 appears to be RAT's answer to the BK2, which is also a very thick, stout, (heavy) sharpened pry bar. I've got the BK2, so I can speak on that. It's hella stout, and should serve a lifetime of batoning wood and prying/digging with its tip for fat wood. But IMO it's too short to be a good chopper, and doesn't have the reach through thicker wood for batoning. Therefore it's really over-built, and heavier than it needs to be. I don't own an RC5 (yet) but I think it may suffer some of the same symptoms.

While I'm not a knife fighter, and have to desire to be, I DO know I'd want a blade with more reach that's also a lot lighter and faster in the hand than a BK2 or RC5. They're both 16oz knives!
 
I have both an RC6 and a BK2.If I had to pick one for a combat survival situation,it would be the RC6,hands down...
 
GRIM 62 said:
I have both an RC6 and a BK2.If I had to pick one for a combat survival situation,it would be the RC6,hands down...
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because of it's length?not being so thick?

something like 6 inch blade is nice.

but much bigger than that and it starts to get in the way,too awkward/clumsy to work with, except for batoning or chopping(but a knife is not only about batoning).in my opinion.not handy when you have to walk around for many miles..
 
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52100 said:
Therefore it's really over-built, and heavier than it needs to be. I don't own an RC5 (yet) but I think it may suffer some of the same symptoms.
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It seems the RC5 was designed expressly to cut yourself out of a crashed airplane or helicopter, repeatedly. They're for sere instructors, and very very bad pilots.
 
Dizwolf said:
It seems the RC5 was designed expressly to cut yourself out of a crashed airplane or helicopter, repeatedly. They're for sere instructors, and very very bad pilots.
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That's exactly why it was built, for EESE useage. Any tool for that type of work needs to be overbuilt, because when SHTF you never really know what's going to happen next, and your gear needs to be able to keep up.
 
Do you guys seriously think the RC5 would have trouble stabbing someone?
You'd have no problem ramming it into someone, it's plenty pointy.

For that matter, there isn't anything I can think of in woodscraft, bushcraft or whatever you want to call it, that will break an RC6.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Do you guys seriously think the RC5 would have trouble stabbing someone?
You'd have no problem ramming it into someone, it's plenty pointy.

For that matter, there isn't anything I can think of in woodscraft, bushcraft or whatever you want to call it, that will break an RC6.
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Indeed it is, and even if you didn't wanna stab, I'd venture a guess that getting hit with the pommel wouldn't feel to good either. :D
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Do you guys seriously think the RC5 would have trouble stabbing someone?
You'd have no problem ramming it into someone, it's plenty pointy.

For that matter, there isn't anything I can think of in woodscraft, bushcraft or whatever you want to call it, that will break an RC6.
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I have no doubt it'd hurt the living hell out of anyone you hit it with. But when asked the question "would you wanna fight with it" the reply is No. My qualifications to say that are low. I do know if I go knife to knife, it's not want I'd want. It'd work. But so would a cinder-block sharpened butter knife.

I also think the RC6 is just near impossible to kill. It also flows in the hand. I'd prefer it to the RC5 under the OP conditions.
 
yes, so one thinks it's a bad 'stabber'/fighting knife.the other thinks it will do that job easily.

hasnt got the Cold Steel Tanto got the same thick point?

ok it it is not totally the same,but the Cold Steel Tanto is not looking very 'pointy'either.
or is that CS Tanto also considered as a no-good stabber?
 
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I a true combat situation an RC-5 would have no problem stabbing a enemy combatant. It's more than sharp enough at the tip. If I was still active I would have no problem with using my RC-5 as my primary or secondary knife. I really just comes down to size, weight, and personal choice.
 
333rm said:
I a true combat situation an RC-5 would have no problem stabbing a enemy combatant. It's more than sharp enough at the tip. If I was still active I would have no problem with using my RC-5 as my primary or secondary knife. I really just comes down to size, weight, and personal choice.
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this sounds like someones who has knowledge from the field.

what about the length?

ok some details then,(dont want to sound as a freak,but then we know better why it will work or not).

going for the neck will be an easy job for the RC5.
it can squash the neck vertebrae like an egg.

but what about a fatass in a some thick clothes.
will the knife penetrate through all these layers of fat/clothes deep enough to do vital damage...
 
I would say pick the knife that can do the things that you plan on doing most the best. I doubt that you'll be stabbing people the most.

Any knife can be used as a weapon. Cutting flesh and stabbing it really isn't all that hard and I think WWAAAAAYYYYYY too much time and effort goes into making knives to do it.

Get the knife that will do the best job at what you do most often.
 
noviomagus said:
going for the neck will be an easy job for the RC5.
it can squash the neck vertebrae like an egg.

but what about a fatass in a some thick clothes.
will the knife penetrate through all these layers of fat/clothes deep enough to do vital damage...
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*sigh*

Look...If you're not likely to be in a knife fight... don't worry about this. If you were going to war, I'd say discuss on, but I don't think that's the case. If you're worried about self defense, well the RC sure as shit isn't an EDC, so forget it. So unless you're going to be joining the Mil and haven't been to basic yet...in which case, wait until after your training to pick a knife... I'd worry more about things you're likely to do with a knife, than mall ninja scenarios. I'm not trying to be mean, but It sounds like you're losing realism.

If you are in common situations where you feel you need a knife for self defense, you need to go get trained. That training will tell you what type of knife you need.
 
shotgunner11 said:
I would say pick the knife that can do the things that you plan on doing most the best. I doubt that you'll be stabbing people the most.

Any knife can be used as a weapon. Cutting flesh and stabbing it really isn't all that hard and I think WWAAAAAYYYYYY too much time and effort goes into making knives to do it.

Get the knife that will do the best job at what you do most often.
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Well said, very good advice! :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
A lot of the knives that the guys are using over there are 1/4 thick, or very close to it, and around 5-7 inches long. They may weigh a little less due to use of some different metals and grinds. Marine Corps K-Bars are .25 inch thick and about 7 inches long, Green Beret Yarborough is .220 and either 5.5 or 7 inches long. Some do have more of a flat grind than the RC-5, but not all. Personal choice is what it all comes down to.
 
stoffi said:
Except the TOPS Tom Brown Tracker...

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You can stab with the Tracker. I know this because I watched the Hunted.
 
333rm said:
A lot of the knives that the guys are using over there are 1/4 thick, or very close to it, and around 5-7 inches long. They may weigh a little less due to use of some different metals and grinds. Marine Corps K-Bars are .25 inch thick and about 7 inches long, Green Beret Yarborough is .220 and either 5.5 or 7 inches long. Some do have more of a flat grind than the RC-5, but not all. Personal choice is what it all comes down to.
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Ya I guess so.
in the end like it is said, all knives stab.

most stabs by the way ,are done with kitchen knives.
 
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