RC5 or RC6?

M

mlu359

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Camping/survival/digging/hacking/chopping/battoning/cutting/ general hard usage.

Dont suggest any other knives please. The RC5 is thicker than the RC6. It looks more suited for camping/survival.

What do you think?

And why doesnt the RC5 say RC5 on the blade like the rest of the RAT knives?
 
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The RC6 profile, balance, and ergonomics allow me to do everything I need to with ease. The RC5 I'd only buy if I needed to pry open metal drums.
 
Below, for scale comparison, are a KaBar, Gerber LMFII (Yuck!), RAT RC5, and Buck Nighthawk. I don't like serrations so the LMFII, a gift, is my least favorite. The second place is a tie - the KaBar & Nighthawk. The RC5 is easily my favorite - and was chosen over the RC6. It's a poor man's Busse wannabe. YMMV.

IMG_3518.jpg


The RC5 has a great feel - great quality/even better price!

Stainz
 
Stainz said:
Below, for scale comparison, are a KaBar, Gerber LMFII (Yuck!), RAT RC5, and Buck Nighthawk. I don't like serrations so the LMFII, a gift, is my least favorite. The second place is a tie - the KaBar & Nighthawk. The RC5 is easily my favorite - and was chosen over the RC6. It's a poor man's Busse wannabe. YMMV.

IMG_3518.jpg


The RC5 has a great feel - great quality/even better price!

Stainz
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The RC5 really is a beautiful knife.
Why doesnt it say RC5 on it like all the other RAT knives?
 
Most people say the RC-6 is more useful for a wider variety of tasks. It's also lighter. You don't have to worry about breaking either. For me it would be the RC-6 hands down.
 
The problem with most large knives is that you can't choke up on them very well. What I mean is that the index finger is usually placed a bit too far away from the cutting edge, thus making any fine carving pretty much useless.

The RC-6 on the other hand, has a choil so that you may do this. I own one and I'm happy with it (but not ecstatic); but I'd have to say that a Fiskars M95 is more useful and also more comfortable to use (I own one of those too). I think the handle is the biggest downfall on the RC-6, because it has edges that become uncomfortable after extended heavy use (particularily when chopping), which the knife is made for.
 
mlu359 said:
The RC5 is thicker than the RC6. It looks more suited for camping/survival.
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The RC5 is more suited for survival and the RC6 for camping - in my opinion.

Keep in mind the purpose of the RC-5 - it was designed as a downed pilot's survival knife and is meant as a last ditch survival tool. Not as a camp knife. It isnt light, it isnt quick - its a sharpened prybar. I sold mine pretty much right when I got it. With that said it will do most of what you ask, but not all of them that well. If you are dead set on the RC5, buy an Izula to pair with it - that way you will be covered for small cutting and slicing jobs with almost no weight added.

However, between the two I would definitely take the RC-6 and feel pretty confident that its thickness would hold up to whatever you could throw at it. I'd still add an Izula. Two is one, right?

With that said, I'd actually go for the RC3mil over both of them paired with a small hatchet - if I lived in the south I'd opt for a machete over the hatchet.

Rambling on, if you are preparing for a real survival scenario, why not get a good hatchet, machete or folding saw to add to your kit? Crap, combined an RC-4 and Gerber sliding saw are lighter than the RC5 and would prepare you for most anything. They are invaluable tools and this is your survival we are talking about! :D
 
The RC5 is large enough to clean branches off a log - and chop a small tree down. It is stout enough for some serious work with a medium+ sized hand, like mine. The RC3/4 seem too small - not sure about the RC6 - in the handle - too thin, too - to do lots of intensive work. As a 'one tool' for camping or survival, I think the RC5 is my best choice. I have better 'bushcraft' and hiking knife choices, to be sure. Camping in a tent - fixed camp - steady need for firewood, etc, I'd choose a camp hatchet and smaller knife. I'll always likely have a pocket knife, too - for kitchen and 'fine' duties.

Before I was enlightened... I thought an old KaBar and a SAK was all I needed. Sometimes, even earlier, I camped with a 5"-6" hunting knife my mother bought me with 'H&H Green Stamps' while I was in HS in the early-mid sixties. Odd what you 'make do with', isn't it? Today - when I am less likely to need them - I have a selection. There are some great Bark River Knives that do quite well for 'bushcraft/camping', too. All in all, however, I can't think of a camping trip I've made where that RC5 - and a pocket knife, like a Benchmade 710, Buck 110, Kershaw JYDII, Spydie Native, or Vic SAK 'Farmer', wouldn't have sufficed.

It'd be great if the OP could handle both the RC5 & RC6. BTW, no 'RC5' on the knife... but, I think it's being 1/4" thick and having a fairly wide blade, not to mention it's ~1 lb weight, may give it away. Good luck!

Stainz
 
I believe the markings are different because the RC-5 is actually the "SERE" model...but I could be wrong.
 
TrailWolf said:
With that said, I'd actually go for the RC3mil over both of them paired with a small hatchet - if I lived in the south I'd opt for a machete over the hatchet.
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I have been looking into getting a Rat Knife... actually I'll probably end up with 2. Why do you recommend the rc3mil... specifically the mil? I looked at their website and cannot tell the difference between the mil and the other rc3 except that the mil was only for law enforcement and military at one time.
 
Go for the 6. The 5 is overkill for just about anything, unless you just REALLLY like to misuse knives or something.

I have the RC-3 Mil, I can't even think of what is actually different from the regular RC 3, except that it has a sharpened, glass breaker pommel. And it only comes in one blade/handle combo. Love that knife, though. Great size for me.
 
kvwpwr said:
Why do you recommend the rc3mil... specifically the mil? I looked at their website and cannot tell the difference between the mil and the other rc3 except that the mil was only for law enforcement and military at one time.
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Simply because its the only RC-3 variant that has canvas micarta handles and I love the feel of canvas micarta :D

The other two RC-3s sport linen micarta or orange g10.

I actually really wish the RC-6 came with canvas micarta - I've considered re-buying an RC-5 just to swap handles with my RC-6 and then sell the 5 off again...

I'm picky about my handle material ;)
 
What is the difference in feel between the canvas and linen micartas? I do really enjoy the handles on my RC3 MIL, but I have no direct comparison of anything next to it. Any wear/stain benefit to either handle?

I've heard the canvas micarta can be more prone to staining, if you use it for skinning or something, not sure on the accuracy of that, though. However mine has only seen light, dry use, so I can't say.
 
TrailWolf said:
Simply because its the only RC-3 variant that has canvas micarta handles and I love the feel of canvas micarta :D

The other two RC-3s sport linen micarta or orange g10.

I actually really wish the RC-6 came with canvas micarta - I've considered re-buying an RC-5 just to swap handles with my RC-6 and then sell the 5 off again...

I'm picky about my handle material ;)
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The regular TAN RC-3 has canvas handles. I'm also a big fan of Rat's canvas micarta.
 
goodeyesniper said:
What is the difference in feel between the canvas and linen micartas? I do really enjoy the handles on my RC3 MIL, but I have no direct comparison of anything next to it. Any wear/stain benefit to either handle?

I've heard the canvas micarta can be more prone to staining, if you use it for skinning or something, not sure on the accuracy of that, though. However mine has only seen light, dry use, so I can't say.
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The canvas has a more secure, grippy feel. Some cubicle dwellers call it abrasive.:D

I've never had micarta of either linen or canvas stain. It could happen though. It does kind of slowly darken over time. With each use and subsequent scrubbing it looks just slightly darker than the last.
 
If one really wants an RC5, but likes the choil on the RC6, one could cut one out on the RC5 quite easily. Granted, it wouldn't be a collectors item, but an upgraded survival tool.
 
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