RTAK test with pics

G

guncotton

Joined
Aug 25, 2006
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34
I went camping over the weekend with family and friends. I thought it might be a good time to put my RTAK through some paces. The only tree you were allowed to cut where we camped was Honey Locust. The first thing needed was a corner pole for a tarp rain cover. The selected tree was about 2.5 inches in diameter and the RTAK made short work of it in half dozen strokes or so. The large handle needs a little getting used to. The handle is the only thing I would change and probably will. A little more work and it was limbed and ready for use.

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Next I used a Gransfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Axe to chop down about a 3-4 inch Honey Locust down than I used the RTAK for limb removal. The trunk was easily cleared of limbs.
Edge retention was good while it quickly lost it’s ability to shave it was still plenty sharp for general cutting.


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Next I split some wood the first one I split was somewhat green while the piece in the picture was a dry seasoned piece. Both had knots about 2/3 of the way down. Splitting required a little help from a friend’s camp axe, which I used as a hammer striking the front of the blade to drive the blade . After a few dozen strikes, the knife had a few very small nicks on the spine hardly worth mentioning. The silver on the blade is magnesium from my fire starter. Clean up was done with warm water and an SOS pad. Despite the oversized handle the knife gets a thumbs up as a good utility no frills knife.

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If you have never cut Honey Locust be very mindful of the thorns which can get 5-6 in length and are sharp as a needle. :eek: :eek:


Guncotton
AKA Bors
 
guncotton said:
If you have never cut Honey Locust be very mindful of the thorns which can get 5-6 in length and are sharp as a needle. :eek: :eek:
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I was waiting for some of the pictures to download and had already read much of your report, and started thinking to myself, "That blamed fool must have gone and cut down the wrong kind of tree. Nobody can work with Honey Locust without at least mentioning them damn thorns!" :D Just saved it for last, I see. :p
 
Yep, I had quite a few holes in me when I finished LOL ouch. First time working with the stuff ouch again.

I'm not sure what would have been worst the indians catching you or the damn Honny Locust.
 
I would watch it with using the hammer to baton the balde. You'd be better off, and more safe, to use anouther piece of wood. the way you did that is a recipe for disaster.

By the way, the RTAK was discontinued earlier this year. For the very reason you stated. The handle ergonomics (or lack there of). They have redesigned it (RTAK II), but the price tag is a little higher (for that reason).

The new RTAK II is much closer to Randall's new designs, and the swamp rats, etc.

With that said though, I really like the old RTAK. I have one myslef. Very good quality, and serviceable. I like it much better than my becker BK9.
 
Cliff Stamp

How does the RTAK compare to the Bruks on the felling, limbing and splitting?
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The RTAK really doesn’t compare well to the Scandinavian Forest Axe. My SFA was brand new and felled the tree with little effort and a couple of swings. But remember the RTAK is a knife not an axe given the choice between the two I would always choose the SFA over the RTAK for felling and limbing. However If the RTAK is all that you have it’s quite capable of felling small trees and what not.


Rev_jch

I would watch it with using the hammer to baton the balde. You'd be better off, and more safe, to use anouther piece of wood. the way you did that is a recipe for disaster.

By the way, the RTAK was discontinued earlier this year. For the very reason you stated. The handle ergonomics (or lack there of). They have redesigned it (RTAK II), but the price tag is a little higher (for that reason).

The new RTAK II is much closer to Randall's new designs, and the swamp rats, etc.

With that said though, I really like the old RTAK. I have one myslef. Very good quality, and serviceable. I like it much better than my becker BK9.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you in using another piece of wood to baton the blade. I wanted to see how well the blade would hold up to a rather severe beating hence the reason for using the hatchet poll. The RTAK is Spartan in appearance; simple in construction, quite tough and after the last weekend I think a good choice for a bush knife.


Guncotton
AKA Bors
 
I agree, its an excellant bush craft knife.

Works well most anywhere, despite it being created for a jungle enviroment.
 
Thanks for the pics, I like my RTAK alot and have found it to be quite adequate at limbing and doing bushcraft.
 
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