Ok, so last week I got this beast. I really haven't had a whole lot of time to play around with it, but I have handled it enough to get a feel for it.
First impressions? It is heavy, came decently sharp, and the sheath rocks. This is my first experience with the RAT serrations, and I must say, I HATE serrations...but I think that I could learn to really like these a lot. What a brilliant design. As a side note, when doing chopping into soft wood, if you hit it just right, the cut looks like a rippled Lay's potato chip.
I have big hands and this is by far the most comfortable grip on any RAT I have handled. Not that I have a problem with any of the others, this this is just that nice. The canvas micarta is grippy and good looking. Wouldn't change a thing with it.
Fit and finish are what I expected. Perfect. Just a really good looking knife. The sheath is a perfect fit and nicely built. Looks to be tough. The first strap is frayed a little bit from drawing the blade, but it would take a LOT of draws to hurt it to where it is no longer useful. The leg strap even fit...but it is a little snug.
The only gripes that I have with it are all just personal preference. I love the knife and the sheath, but it really isnt something that I would be able to find a use for. The sheath is too "tactical" for me (but it is supposed to be!) and the damned thing is just overbuilt. Seems like it would be THE ideal knife for the purpose which it was designed.
For my personal use, Ill probably stick to the RC4 and the upcoming RTAK...but I might just end up with one of these someday too...just because it is sooo cool.
I know that I have just the place if I end up with this in the giveaway, because a good Marine friend just got shipped to Afghanistan a few weeks ago and I told him that he would be receiving a proper knife from me. The RC5 is the one. He will find a proper use for this monster!!
A few crappy pics of her with my well loved SOD while I was finding morels the other day.
Got a lot more than this little guy...but got lazy with the camera!
Thanks for the opportunity. This was very, very cool.