RC-5: It's Not Just for SERE

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
My daughter went camping over on Jekyll Island last night with her friends. Naturally, I had to provide the tent, firewood, provisions and such. It was one of those last minute things. I didn't have time to get things right so, I let them wrestle with putting up the tent last night (teenagers have more energy anyway). But today they needed firewood, baking potatoes, and other stuff. I gave them what I had split last night, but they needed more. So I grabbed the RC-5 that was handy, and split some more wood for them. Then I loaded it the jeep and headed over to the campground.
camp001.jpg

camp004.jpg

camp007.jpg

camp008.jpg

The RC-5 has to be the best darned 5" blade wood splitter I have used to date. I figured I could split some more over at the campground and teach the yoots how to use a knife. When I got there, may daughter Linda had the fire going. She knew how to use the palm fiber tender and kindling to catch the bigger stuff. I was pleased. The silly girls even got the tent up right.

camp012.jpg

camp009.jpg

I guess the campground is alright. A little crowded for me.
camp014.jpg

camp020.jpg

But across the road from the camp was Clam Creek. It's a pretty place to hang out on a mild Saturday.
camp017.jpg

camp018.jpg
 
bagbyknoter said:
cool place looks beautiful
Click to expand...

Yes, Jekyll is pretty, but they discourage us locals from visting there. It used to be a State Park when I was young. Families would picnic at the beach and stuff. Now the politicians have been bought off by developers and they want to turn it into an amusement park for the wealthy complete with expensive hotels and high rise condos. Like we need more of those. They charged me $5.00 just for the toll to get over there today. I am happier to be back at Camp Horn Dog on Blythe Island. Made it back before sundown :D

camp023.jpg
 
Great photos, but I agree with you...would much rather be at Camp Horn Dog!
 
Usually the girls camp out back. No one bothers them and they can hoot and listen to their horrible "music" to their hearts content. But Linda wanted to go to a "real" campground. I offered to drop her off at the Altamaha WMA and let her rough it, but she declined. At least she can make a fire, pitch a tent, and knows how to use her SAK. I do what I can. My other daughter goes into the AF soon and is looking forward to SERE school. I was just testing out her knife a little today. :D
 
HD: when she gets to SERE school she'll see quite a few of those RC-5 knives ;)
 
R.A.T. said:
HD: when she gets to SERE school she'll see quite a few of those RC-5 knives ;)
Click to expand...

She just signed a six year contract. She scored well and has been working out. She wants the Airborne Battle Management Systems Specialist career, which is a flying job that will require SERE training. I got her a tan RC-4 for carrying, but she may find the RC-5 sharpened prybar and woodsplitter useful at SERE school. She already has a "bolt Knife" I got her years ago. Bonnie will love the Air Force. She is so excited that she made the grade. I guess I should not be surprised that both girls love the outdoors. I raised them by myself.
 
I love to see young kids striving for what will be a very challenging job in the military, and not just sitting on their butts waiting for something to come along.

It looks like you've done a fine job with your girls.

Congrats.... :thumbup:


Horn Dog said:
She just signed a six year contract. She scored well and has been working out. She wants the Airborne Battle Management Systems Specialist career, which is a flying job that will require SERE training. I got her a tan RC-4 for carrying, but she may find the RC-5 sharpened prybar and woodsplitter useful at SERE school. She already has a "bolt Knife" I got her years ago. Bonnie will love the Air Force. She is so excited that she made the grade. I guess I should not be surprised that both girls love the outdoors. I raised them by myself.
Click to expand...
 
I agree with you about jekyll, me and the wife were killing some time waiting to depart on the emerald princess ll, we forgot jackets so decided to ride down the road and pick up some, I almost shit when I was told it would cost me, just to get in to jekyll, I then decided to just go elsewhere, but we got them there after he told me I still had to pay to just turn around to leave! I will not ride down that road again, I know low budget backwood rednecks like me are not welcome.
 
Horndog,

My stepdaughter joined the ChairForce and she is in security forces training (she thought it was cool she would get to handcuff someone and shoot the M9) She wanted medical services, but she went in on an open contract. It's all good, I had her pretty much prepped that even if she is loading missles she is still doing more than her friends are. She took to the idea when I told her to try to get on K-9. She studied large animal science at a vocational high school and I have two K-9s at home, so I think she will go for it. I am so proud of her I wrote my other kids out of my will (just kidding).

The funny thing is she wanted to go camping before she went in a a last adventure. Her mother dropped a pop up and We cooked fish and left the kids to sing and listen to thier crappy music. They had a blast.

That is really a beautiful spot.
 
Hi there.

I actually dont find the RC5 to be that great of a splitter. I guess mileage may vary, but I like the RC6 better.

I do not like the steep sabre grind on the RC5 and the junction between the flat and the primary gind. Notice how the coating wears at that interface... Thats because I tend to find that it binds there.

I tend to prefer a full flat grind to split with. Maybe its my technique.

And kudos to all who serve or who are just starting there military career.

Have a good weekend.

Ret
 
That's awesome that your daughters both love the outdoors! Mine is only 7 but she likes camping and hiking a lot. Hopefully, that will continue! In fact, this year she started her first fire with a firesteel :)
 
The RC-5 is a great knife! It's my favorite out of all my RAT's. Thanks for the pics and yeah it does suck they keep building over all the great campgrounds and wilderness. That's great to hear that your daughter is going into the Airforce and will be going through SERE. That's 100 times more than what any other kid is doing these days. I wish I had an RC-5 when I was still on active duty in the Corps.
 
retzius said:
Hi there.

I actually dont find the RC5 to be that great of a splitter. I guess mileage may vary, but I like the RC6 better.

I do not like the steep sabre grind on the RC5 and the junction between the flat and the primary gind. Notice how the coating wears at that interface... Thats because I tend to find that it binds there.

I tend to prefer a full flat grind to split with. Maybe its my technique.

And kudos to all who serve or who are just starting there military career.

Have a good weekend.

Ret
Click to expand...

I find the thicker RC-5 splits wood better than my RC-6, unless the wood is over 5" thick, of course. The saber grind does fine for a splitting wedge. The thinner flat grind on the RC-6 works better for slicing and well enough for splitting. Overall, I prefer the RC-6 as a knife.
 
333rm said:
The RC-5 is a great knife! It's my favorite out of all my RAT's. Thanks for the pics and yeah it does suck they keep building over all the great campgrounds and wilderness. That's great to hear that your daughter is going into the Airforce and will be going through SERE. That's 100 times more than what any other kid is doing these days. I wish I had an RC-5 when I was still on active duty in the Corps.
Click to expand...

One thing about beating on the RC-5. You don't need to be gentle with it. It is without a doubt the strongest RAT blade I have used. It is not likely to break.

Yes, I am so very proud of my daughter, Bonnie. She is much tougher than she looks (she is a petite blond). She actually made the high school varsity wrestling team. Not the womens team, but THE wrestling team. She lost more matches than she won, but she showed me that she was no quitter.
 
Congrats on the knife, the girls, and them joining the Military. I got a few female friends in the AF who did their SERE course and enjoyed it. They said 90% of it is MREs but they do have to kill a rabbit, clean and dress for cooking to eat one day.

Thats one thing about the Marines I wish they would make everyone of us go to is some kind of woodland survival course. Our SERE school is a little on the hardcore side with the main focus on the escape and evasion. It's a have to for some MOS's and units but not many go to it. Pilots complete a certain degree of SERE but not he top level.

I've got a few boys who have gone...never fails, the "enemy" always catches the student and gives them a solid roughing up in the process. They go through some real stuff in the course. I'm going to try to get on a Mountain Warfare/Survival course or SERE before the end of my contract. Deployments are training just take up so much of my alotted time though

I remember camping with teenage girls back in the day......man.....goodtimes
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top