RTAK Type knife

M

MikePerrin

Joined
Feb 26, 2001
Messages
849
ANybody that has been clamoring for the RAT Cutlery large knife similar to the old RTAK or RTAK II here is your chance to contribute to the new 10" RAT blade. If you have used one of the old ones we would like input as to what you would like to see incorporated into the new design. We have already thought about canting the handle a little more to the blade so there is a little more anlge from straight but only like a couple of degrees more. Post away guys and let's see what you have on your mind! Mike
 
sd550 said:
Make the handle the same size as the one on the RC-6.
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Yep - the RC-6 has perfect handles. Dare I say it - maybe consider 1/4" thickness. The great heft will improve chopping at the expense of speed and use in jungle vegetation. Still, it seems most folks - including the rat cutlery team prefer machetes for jungle.

Also go with an RC-6 style molded sheath. Lots of rivets for multiple attachment and lashing options to packs. This one is most likely going to live its life riding in packs.

Can't wait to see an RC-RTAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Make the TAK first.
It was and is the best. It deserves to be made by RAT Cutlery/Rowen.
 
I want RTak, and I think 1/4 sounds good. I like the thick blades for the heft. It may weigh more, but it will definitely be king of the woods, bar none.

I agree with the RC 6 handles as well.
 
Wow, I've been catching up on older posts (I'm currently on pg 39 going back to around Aug/Sept 2008) and just read a thread where you guys stated there were no foreseeable plans to produce an RTAK style knife since you were busy with the RC-5, RC-6 and Izula. Great to see that the RTAK is back in the works as the RTAK II has been on my wish list.
I just got my RC-6 last week and my RC-4 and Izula just arrived today, so I have to keep a low profile for a while before my wife kicks me out!
 
TheGame said:
I want RTak, and I think 1/4 sounds good. I like the thick blades for the heft. It may weigh more, but it will definitely be king of the woods, bar none.

I agree with the RC 6 handles as well.
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I agree with all of the above. I look forward to another great RAT.
 
I use my RTAK 2 and Kukuri for similar tasks and appreciate the design features of both knifes. I've always thought that a high quality, micarta handled Kukuri would be a great field blade.
 
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We've always viewed the machete type knives as being used long periods of the day and therefore thinner and lighter to prevent fatigue. You can see how a 1/4" thick version would get unwieldy after swinging it overhead for a couple of hours. But maybe most users here use one briefly , under 30 minutes or so at a time and a small part of the day total. There is an arguement to be made for more weight available on the downstroke to chop better if the blade design isn't a wedge that gets stuck on every lick. We can revisit this idea and see. No promises.
 
I agree with making it lighter. A good forward balance and a thin edge will overcome lack of mass in a sizable chopper, and if anything extreme thickness can prevent the blade from biting as deeply.

I also think that the slight forward cant in the handle sounds good, but make it incredibly subtle or else it would interfere with general utility. And RC-6-type handle (with round pommel) also sounds good, but let's see it in canvas, maybe with a divot like the RC-5! :D Another point of note would be a little bit of taper to the "bolster" area of the handle, much like on the RC-3/4 for thumb placement when using it as a draw/push knife.

I would also like to see a molded sheath, but perhaps with the option of an Eagle one as well? I think they both excel for different modes of carry, both of which would be handy for this style of blade.

Make sure it keeps a nice point to it for versatility! As much as a lot of folks enjoy goloks, I think that a decent tip is important in an OPM, since it's able to function both as a small and large blade if done properly. I don't object to the idea of a choil, for instance.
 
I would like to get away from the 2lb beast.... I love the RTAKII but never used it unless car camping due to the weight factor....
I would love to see something along the Original Livesay RTAK design, perfect in weight, excellent design.I know it was not a wood chopper like RTAKII was but I prefer a slightly lighter big blade for packing around with a kydex sheath
perfect Spec's for me :
10" Blade
17 1/8" Overall
Blade-.1875" Thick
 
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I have a RTAK and really like the weight as is. The RC-6/RC-5 handle is a great idea. An improved sheath similiar to the RC-5 would be nice.
 
The sheath design will definitely be improved. Jeff and I rarely sheath a big knife/machete when we are in the field. It usually stays in the bottom of the boat or stuck in a tree or the ground somewhere when not in use. But I know a lot of folks, military and LEO like the MOLLE sheath and ability to lash it to various carrying configurations. The only problem with a hard sheath like the RC3 or RC6 is it gets a little pricey on stuff that big. But I will look into it and see what sheathing opetions we can come up with. WOuld you be opposed to Kydex rather than the injection molded type that RC3,6 has?
 
Nope, ,I think the kydex would be fine. I am one of those that likes the Molle lashing, but on a knife this big I doubt it would ever be lashed to anything anyway. I am referring to the origonal RTAK sheath. It basically did not feel secure to me, plus the quality wasn't there. I would just like something a little more substantial.
 
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I'd prefer the molded sheath, but kydex would be fine as long as it was still nice and sleek. My biggest gripe with kydex sheaths is that they often end up on the broad side, which limits their usefulness to me.
 
I think a little recurve to the blade would be great - get the weight forward for chopping, not as much as a kuk, but maybe something along the lines of the Becker Brute, or even a little less.

I think moving the handle a few degrees would be great. I also think a smaller handle than the RTAKII would be good, I thought the handle on the RTAKII was too big and boxy.

I think .188" or .210 would be a better thickness than 1/4", the gain in speed offsets the loss in mass in my opinion - besides you can still abuse a 3/16" a lot!

I like the idea of a kydex insert cordura sheath with a pouch for a multitool or PSK. Maybe you could offer a sheath that would house a RTAK/Izula or RTAK/HEST combo - I have seen a number of posts with an Izula riding piggy back on an RC4 or RC6.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I'm not a fan of recurves for general use blades...nor do I think they fit the RAT aesthetic. Just my thoughts on the matter, though. I'm not sure what Jeff or Mike think, but I find a recurve makes it more difficult to utilize the base of the blade of fine tasks.
 
MikePerrin said:
The sheath design will definitely be improved. Jeff and I rarely sheath a big knife/machete when we are in the field. It usually stays in the bottom of the boat or stuck in a tree or the ground somewhere when not in use. But I know a lot of folks, military and LEO like the MOLLE sheath and ability to lash it to various carrying configurations. The only problem with a hard sheath like the RC3 or RC6 is it gets a little pricey on stuff that big. But I will look into it and see what sheathing opetions we can come up with. WOuld you be opposed to Kydex rather than the injection molded type that RC3,6 has?
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I pretty much treat a machete in the same way. Most of mine don't even have sheaths, so whatever you come up with would be fine by me.:thumbup:
 
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