RTAK Type knife

I haven't used the old one, but I'm really looking forward to the new RC version.
 
.275" thickness
satin finnish
convex edge

Basically it would be nice if it was similar to a Swamp Rat M9 LE / Fusion Battle Mistress, but available to buy:)
 
alaus said:
.275" thickness
satin finnish
convex edge

Basically it would be nice if it was similar to a Swamp Rat M9 LE / Fusion Battle Mistress, but available to buy:)
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I like thick blades, but I think that is a little over thick. .25 I like, but .275? That is a little thick. However, that is only my opinion on the matter.
 
My viewpoint:
.210" thick, 9" long, convex grind, satin or black finish, RC-5 handle with slightly rounded sides. IMO a 10" blade is getting to be a short sword.
 
Make the TAK first.
It was and is the best. It deserves to be made by RAT Cutlery/Rowen.
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I would buy a few RTAKII if they were made by RC & Rowen (2 users, 1 safe queen, like all RC models). I prefer a thicker blade. Swinging a heavy knife only makes you stronger, we are MEN, we can take punishment. Some folks say .188 others .25, maybe split the difference and go w/a .200 thick blade. Or introduce a RTAKII w/original specs and also a golock style blade (.25 thick). In the end whatever you do, IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME!! :thumbup:
 
Yeah I can't wait either. I'm looking forward to buying something new from RC & Rowen. I was looking to get a Bark River Golock (which I heard were great tools) but I feel like I'm being impatient and should wait for RC to come out with their new 10+ inch chopper. RC/Rowen, you have a great following of loyal customers. The product you market will in all probability be highly successful, your distributors are sold out almost every time I look online. Do you have a plan or time line of projects in development? I'm just curious to know, and will hold off in order to buy your knives. Sorry, patience is not my better quality.
 
I think with the amount of pressure that's been building it shouldn't be TOO far off...I hope. :p
 
RtakII with the blade cant and smaller handle would be perfect, as well as the better kydex sheath. Mine is great but handle is a little to wide, use a large size glove.
Golok would be great as well.
 
Honestly, I love the size and weight of the RTAKII. I'd like the handle to be just a little smaller, but other than that, I dig it. The weight of that blade pulls it through the air and through branches like a laser. I think that without the weight, it wouldn't be quite as good of a chopper. I also like the blade width as it lets it carry a lot of the weight without being too thick. The thickness of the Ranger RD9, for example, keeps it from moving through wood as easily as the thinner RTAKII, but the RTAKII feels like a heavier swing giving it much more momentumumum. The only things that I would really change would be the handle size and NO CHOIL!. The choil on that knife is beyond absolutely useless. I never use that sucker for tight work. That's why i have the rest of the RAT Cutlery line. Even if I did, I still wouldn't want a choil. If the edge came further to the handle (with the absence of the choil) there would be no reason to choke up to get a better grip. So here are my specs:

1) Same basic blade shape as the RTAK-II (meaning a machete type with an aggressive, slightly tactical outline and tip)

2) Flat grind with either regular edge or convex (I'm going to convex it when I get it so if you want to save me the trouble, cool. If not, no big deal)

3) More human size handle. Not too much smaller as I like a big handle, just not "Andre the Giant" big.

4) NO CHOIL!:mad:

5) Usual coating on the blade. OD green with an canvas micarta handle would be my choice.

6) Canvas micarta handle. Orange G10 is fun and would be a cool option, but I personally don't want it. I know that Dobbsy does though. ;)

7) No fancy pants recurves or anything. Its not as easy for me to sharpen in the field. In my opinion, recurves are more for looks than anything else. People say that it's to maximize the cutting area on the blade. POOP! Gimme a straight edge bevel.
 
One more thing... DO NOT MAKE IT 1/4" THICK! DON'T DO IT! I know that everyone else here is out of their mind and thinks that this is what they want. NO! :mad: The thinner blade on that RTAKII moves through everything twice as good as any of the 1/4" thick or larger blades that I own. I know that a Khuks are great choppers and that they are thick as bawls. They also weigh 90lb. and there are already plenty on the market already. I recommend HI.
 
Handle is way too wide on RTAKII. Please make a more normal sized handle.
 
Dylside said:
One more thing... DO NOT MAKE IT 1/4" THICK! DON'T DO IT! I know that everyone else here is out of their mind and thinks that this is what they want. NO! :mad: The thinner blade on that RTAKII moves through everything twice as good as any of the 1/4" thick or larger blades that I own. I know that a Khuks are great choppers and that they are thick as bawls. They also weigh 90lb. and there are already plenty on the market already. I recommend HI.
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+1 :thumbup:

I want it in a straight edge without super thick stock. I, however, don't understand the anti-choil crowd. I like being able to choke up on a knife to do precision work. It increases versatility without a decrease in funcionality. But then again, to each his own. :) I also agree with human-sized handles. I have small hands and have been glad that the RATs I have handled have been very small-hand-friendly. :cool:
 
I'd go with a 9-10'' blade .25'' thick
I'm not interested in thinner blades for a chopping knife.
In my experience a good chopper needs weight and strength to last
 
You can gain mass without additional thickness by putting it behind the cutting edge, rather than to the side of it. Machetes do this all the time. A 1/4" thick knife would lose a lot of penetration during the cut due to extra displacement of material. They don't need weight and strength to last, but rather quality materials, heat treatment, and build. Weight distribution is key, however. ;)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
+1 :thumbup:

I want it in a straight edge without super thick stock. I, however, don't understand the anti-choil crowd. I like being able to choke up on a knife to do precision work. It increases versatility without a decrease in funcionality. But then again, to each his own. :) I also agree with human-sized handles. I have small hands and have been glad that the RATs I have handled have been very small-hand-friendly. :cool:
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I'll change your mind about the choils. You're coming to Blade, right?
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
You can gain mass without additional thickness by putting it behind the cutting edge, rather than to the side of it. Machetes do this all the time. A 1/4" thick knife would lose a lot of penetration during the cut due to extra displacement of material. They don't need weight and strength to last, but rather quality materials, heat treatment, and build. Weight distribution is key, however. ;)
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Correct. Moving a knife blade through wood is the same concept as moving a boat through water. How do you make a paddle boat such as a kayak or canoe faster through the water without reducing weight? You streamline it by reducing the amount of resistance and displacement encountered in moving forward. If you take any two objects that weigh the same amount and make one slightly thinner than the other, the thinner of the two will move through any form of resistance, such as air, water, or wood faster than the one that is thicker. The trick is to find the thickness that lets you stay as thin as possible without compromising the amount of displacement necessary so that the knife doesn't bind as easily from the pressure on both sides (friction) or have a significant loss of strength. It's true that a 1/4" thick blade will have more strength than a 3/16" blade, but the question becomes, "is it necessary?" The answer is no. What is the purpose of the big chopper? It's purpose is to chop wood and other like materials, cut though brush and vine, and to turn my chicken over on the campfire grill. If I want to cut and pry my way out of a downed airplane, I'll reach for my RC-5, Busse, bla bla bla. If I want to cut through jungle brush, kudzu, and make camp shelters for the rest of my life with what boils down to a really durable machete/camp knife, I'll reach for my (soon to be created) RAT RC-10 with its 10" long x 3/16" thick x 2.25" wide blade and feel happy knowing that 3/16" is more than substantial for a good machete/camp knife.
 
Dylside said:
I'll change your mind about the choils. You're coming to Blade, right?
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Unfortunately no. I went to SHOT with my coworkers, and I'm on a one show per year budget. (Being a college student sucks, too. :D) Feel free to persuade me though. I've just never had one cause me any trouble yet. ;)
 
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