RTAK 2, Got one!!!

W

wade

Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
493
I got a RTAK 2 for chiristmas and it is amazing!!! Its very well balanced, has great chopping power, and very comfortable in your hand. I reprofiled the blade to about 20degrees and its shaving sharp. I used the hell out of it too. I cut down a few trees that were 10in, then limbed them. We also went wild pig hunting and i used it to butcher 4 pigs, I was surprised at how well it suited the task. For such a big knife it didnt seem "too big" for butchering. I also chopped some of the leg bones with it and it would cut right through in one chop and the thing stayed sharp the whole time. Ill post some picts when I get my camera working. Just wanted to let everyone know its one hell of a good knife for $100 and I would recomend it to anyone looking for a big chopper/outdoor blade.
 
I had one of the first RTAK's and liked it except for the handle. I understand that the new ones are better. Great outdoor tools.
 
Been thinking of getting one of those.
The look of the handle on the first version is what held me off,
but the 2nd version looks pretty good.
Look forward to seeing some pics of the knife in hand.
 
Been thinking about getting one myself. Waiting to hear some reports about performance though. Thanks TEXASTACTICAL.

ON-RTAKII.JPG
 
wade, go out and chop something. Then, give us a report. :D
 
Found the specs for those interested...

Specs:
* 16.5 inch overall length
* 10.25 inch blade w/ drop point
* 3/16" thick 1095 Steel
* 56-58 Rc. Hardness
* Full flat grind
* Mil-spec phosphate finish
* Lanyard hole
* Canvas Micarta ergonomic handle slabs
* Ambidextrous Cordura nylon sheath w/ lashing holes for attachment or paracord storage
 
Heck, when I found out that Bill over at Cumberland Knife Works has them, I ordered one. Impressions to follow next week...
 
I really like the look of this one, gonna have to hold off though, I recently got a Tops Armeggeddon, a Busse FBM and with another FBM on the way, I got some choppers to play with..
 
I had my RTAK2 out in the wet woods today. Took a couple of new knives with me and the RTAK2 performed great :) I used an old hard and dead cedar for testing a few blades on and the RTAK2 was right up there with the Fiskars axe and my FBM. It's lighter weight gave it a slightly less deep of a cut but also let it be easier on the arm. They are definitely great performers :) The 1st version of the Ontario/RAT RTAK did similar service. These are very underated knives in my opinion. The RTAK2 fixes the issues a lot of folks had with the RTAK's original handle shape. It's very compy and secure without being agressive to the user's hand.
 
Bill Siegle said:
I had my RTAK2 out in the wet woods today. Took a couple of new knives with me and the RTAK2 performed great :) I used an old hard and dead cedar for testing a few blades on and the RTAK2 was right up there with the Fiskars axe and my FBM. It's lighter weight gave it a slightly less deep of a cut but also let it be easier on the arm. They are definitely great performers :) The 1st version of the Ontario/RAT RTAK did similar service. These are very underated knives in my opinion. The RTAK2 fixes the issues a lot of folks had with the RTAK's original handle shape. It's very compy and secure without being agressive to the user's hand.
Click to expand...

Bill, thanks for the report. :thumbup:

Glad (since I already ordered the knife :D ) that it was positive. Am looking forward to receiving my RTAK II this week.

You tried a Becker BK-9? Another lighter blade that I like, and I'm wondering how the BK-9 and the RTAK II stack up.

Also, what were your impressions of the FBM?
 
The FBM was the "best" performer I had yesterday. Mostly due to the little bit O weight the 1/4in thick blade has over the 3/16 RTAK2. Both held their edges against the same amount of cutting on the same log(kept things as equal as I could) I would give the nod to the FBM based on the extra weight and more contour handle scales. It does obviously cost a LOT more than the RTAK2 because of the added features. I don't have a BK9 anymore but I would say that it would have held it's own with the other two in the chopping arena. Long term I would think the INFI would hold it's edge a bit longer than the RTAK2 and the BK9 and that is where the true advantage would be IMO. The RTAK and BK however would hold their edges just fine and in the end be easier to sharpen so there's always going to be those trade offs :)
 
Got my RTAK II in the mail today, and in a separate package, received a Ranger RD-9 as well.

Was amazed at how the RTAK II seemed so much larger than the Ranger. However, the Ranger is a discernibly thicker knife, so it should make up for some blade size in the width department. Both are very comfortable in hand, and while I never owned the original RTAK, I can say that the handle changes certainly seem positive.

Here's a shot of them with some other choppers. Hope to add a couple more to the mix pretty soon.

Choppers.jpg
 
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