RTAK or Ranger Knives RD9?

I have both and while they are alike in size I think they are diff also I think it depends what you main type of cutting will be. Vegitation and leaves and such or hard items involving wood and such. Neither is a bad knife but I would give the go ahead to the RD cause it could be used on more diff things and the customer service is second 2 none from Justin and Jen.
 
the CT and BR.
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I tend to collect a lot more than I use knives, but last weekend I finally got around to putting my Swamp Rat Battle Rat to practical use. I used it to limb out some trees in my front yard, mostly sweetgums. I chopped off small limbs that were close to the ground.

The Battle Rat cut these limbs very well. I can't complain about the cutting efficiency. However, the Battle Rat is very blade heavy, and I found myself getting quite tired fast. Also, I was not wearing gloves and the handle rubbed a pretty good blister under my small finger.

Next time I plan to use my Cold Steel Trailmaster for the same kind of work. I am interested to see if the better balanced Trailmaster will induce fatigue as quickly as the Battle Rat.
 
I have a couple of rd7's one hollow and one flat ground both nicely finished and Justin was very good responding to all my questions. There's not actually that difference between the thickness on mine both of them being very solid and with quite thick cutting edges so they'll probably not be able to slice better than say a kabar. Having said that the hollow ground one is one of my favourite knives so i'm more likely to reach for that even if it's not particularly suited to whatever i'm doing I just like it so much.
I also have a d2 rat7 this is one of the newer coated blades I originally got satin one but when it arrived it was bent. I mentioned this on jungle training forum and Jeff Randall one of the designers of the rat line of knives got in touch with Ontario and arranged for me to send it to them for replacement and even offered to pay the cost of shipping it back to them. I was hoping for another satin finished blade but they were already out of stock an it was only when they began the run of coated blades I got mine. I receive emails from various people in the company explaining and apologising for the delay so i'd have to say their customer service was pretty good.

Chris
 
I have an RD7 too and wrote one of the reviews on Justins site and I still stand by what I wrote, the RD7 is an incredible workhorse of a knife, but not for fine slicing! As others have mentioned, Justin will go out of his way to make the knife as you want it!

Bo
 
Just wanted to say Thanks to everyone for the comments and support.

Eric H

There are a ton of great blades out there so what ever you decide I am sure you won't be dissapointed. Happy hunting.
 
I've placed my order with Sage Creek Outfitters for a tan-handled RD9. Can't wait to get it!
 
knifetester

I am indeed back in the states. Just got back on 1 July. Don't know how long I will be back for this time. Should be long enough to get caught up though. Or at least I hope.

Eric H

Thanks for your confidence and I hope you enjoy the blade. I have to talk to Scott on Tuesday so I am sure your blade will be one of the things we will be talking about. If you want or need anything just shot me an email and I will get back to you asap. Thanks again and I hope everyone has a great 4th!
 
The RD9 would smoke the RTAK in every department except really heavy chopping with the Ontario reprofiled. Ontario is notorious for having poor quality control, IE: one blade RC62 and another of the same model RC55. I've heard of a Bolo that could not be sharpened with stones! Their factory edges are not quite up to speed (one section will shave, but another may be blunt), and the handle is not really all that comfortable, plus, it comes with a crappy sheath. Get a RD9, the materials, warranty, sheath and craftmanship make it a wonderful knife. Justin is a nice guy and will do everything in his power to help sort out any problems you may have. If you have to buy the RTAK, make sure you do it in person and get a new sheath made, as well as reprofiling and checking the RC. Notice: there are good RTAK's out there, and you may be able to find a good one at a gunshow, but I wouldn't mail order one.
 
That's quite a condemnation of Ontario for a few bad blades - something not unique to any number of manufacturers.

"The RD9 would smoke the RTAK in every department except really heavy chopping"

I imagine it would be a lot closer to the other way around, given the thinner edge on the RTAK.
 
averageguy said:
That's quite a condemnation of Ontario for a few bad blades - something not unique to any number of manufacturers.

"The RD9 would smoke the RTAK in every department except really heavy chopping"

I imagine it would be a lot closer to the other way around, given the thinner edge on the RTAK.
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That is why I said "reprofiled". It is not that Ontario is that bad, but I would personally rather have a Ranger knife that I know will work and be the right hardness. :D
 
averageguy said:
That's quite a condemnation of Ontario for a few bad blades - something not unique to any number of manufacturers.
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The amount and extent are unique to Ontario, not only have I seen an insanely high defect rate, I have returned blades and got defects again.

It is also fairly easy to adjust the edge profile on a knife yourself, and fairly inexpensive to have them reground custom if you want to do that route.

Justin is making the RD series in different profiles so get one that suits what you want it to do.

-Cliff
 
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