Sharpened Folding Pry-Bar!

Even the strongest folder, makes a poor fixed blade. No matter how robust the knife seems, it still has a built in weakness. It's a novelty for sure and may have it's uses, but........ is it worth the expense, for the actual utility you receive from it. From the testing done on it in the link above, maybe it is.
 
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Interesting thread. It's hard to believe the Italians would create such an ugly knife. But it does look very useful, utilitarian, and robust. It might be the perfect gift for my son-in-law who is always borrowing my tools and breaking them.
 
Can't believe Elen stated that the blade doesn't cut anything. Mine has chopped a board in half, rope and many other objects that looked like they needed cut up. The tip would be better with a clip point or something else maybe. Stays very sharp though.
 
trentu said:
Can't believe Elen stated that the blade doesn't cut anything. Mine has chopped a board in half, rope and many other objects that looked like they needed cut up. The tip would be better with a clip point or something else maybe. Stays very sharp though.
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Some have called me pretty harsh on occasion. ;) Sure, the RAO cuts. But so does a butter knife, although not quite as "well" as a RAO. But let me put it this way: I have a 3€ Mora that outcuts the RAO after a 60 second sharpening. I'll say the RAO chops better, though, but then it's much heavier and larger than said Mora. :D
 
I've been carrying a new toy recently, an Extrema Ratio MPC (Multi Purpose Combat). Not quite as robust as a Rao, but it makes a Mora look like a splinter by comparison.

They are different style knives for different purposes. I prefer knives that slice well. I don't often need a knife to dig and pry and chop. But there really truly are folders that can dig and pry and chop. They have their uses, and when yoiu need them, they can be lifesavers. In those situations, Moras just don't cut it.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I've been carrying a new toy recently, an Extrema Ratio MPC (Multi Purpose Combat). Not quite as robust as a Rao, but it makes a Mora look like a splinter by comparison.

They are different style knives for different purposes. I prefer knives that slice well. I don't often need a knife to dig and pry and chop. But there really truly are folders that can dig and pry and chop. They have their uses, and when yoiu need them, they can be lifesavers. In those situations, Moras just don't cut it.
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Yeah, and the RAO is the best chopping folder that I know of. Perhaps the new Cold Steel kukrilike folders could chop better, but I have no experience with them. Someone else here probably has - would be interesting to see how they'd compared them with the RAO. Though I'd guess the RAO is better quality...

But that said... if I knew I needed a chopper, prying tool and a digger, I wouldn't take a folder. A fixed blade designed for that beats the RAO cleanly, and will be cheaper, too. :)
 
It’s not my cup of tea, but I do like Big Blades and that thing is huge.

It has some very interesting features, like the locking pin and the ability to carry in the “fixed blade” mode.

I can see where it would be a useful tool to some.


Now give me a version with a high tip and some belly, or even a slight drop point, and I might be looking to try one.
 
I can see it as a very niche product because it seems to work very well for the owner.
I also think with that threaded lock it would be as tough as a folder could get.
However I agree that it seems just wrong that the Italians would make something that freakin ugly. Actually all the ER knives are awful looking with terrible edge geometry and also totally over priced.
 
I find the idea of a "fixed blade" that can be carried, folded up on a belt, really intriguing. We all realize that carrying around an ax, a bow saw, a shovel, a crowbar and a good blade will allow for the perfect tool in all situations; however, not many of us can realistically pull that off. A lot of us though could manage to tote around an RAO.
 
I like the idea Rock!

My first two tours I carried a early busse Satin Jack, which served me well, and I switched to a Scrapper 6 on the next two. It is a pain in the ass though to carry a fixed blade anymore at all though with all the crap we have to tote. For the next tour I was thinking of yanking the fixed blade.

Any advice?
 
Big Mike said:
It’s not my cup of tea, but I do like Big Blades and that thing is huge.

It has some very interesting features, like the locking pin and the ability to carry in the “fixed blade” mode.

I can see where it would be a useful tool to some.


Now give me a version with a high tip and some belly, or even a slight drop point, and I might be looking to try one.
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Maybe I will have something special for you if you will be a good boy. Stay tuned Mike ;)
 
Fieldtestornothing said:
I like the idea Rock!

My first two tours I carried a early busse Satin Jack, which served me well, and I switched to a Scrapper 6 on the next two. It is a pain in the ass though to carry a fixed blade anymore at all though with all the crap we have to tote. For the next tour I was thinking of yanking the fixed blade.

Any advice?
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I've been carrying my Mad Dog PATAK that has a 5" blade for quite some time in uniform (over 10 years). I have tried bigger knives, but anything over 5" is just too much of a pain in the arse when getting in and out of vehicles and helos. I wouldn't forego the fixed blade altogether as they are (with a quality sheath) the fastest blade to deploy with gloves. My plan is a small fixed blade on the belt and the RAO on the IBA...I'll keep the larger fixed blade in the ruck for when I get on the ground and can throw it back on the belt.

Take a look at RAT's RC4 (military can get the MOLLE sheath adapter); I've been quite happy with the design (Mine has the orange handle, so it's not the best option for the IBA:o). Biggest issue is just getting enough room for a fixed blade...and I was never able to wear a drop leg holster or sheath knife when traveling as the always got hung up and it was always a tight squeeze in a Blackhawk with a couple 300 pound contractors flanking you :eek::D A large fixed blade takes up a lot of room that competes with ammo pouches or IFAK...it's always a compromise, so you have to find the most optimum solution for your own needs. Even if you have to downsize your fixed blade that would still be my primary as they are the easiest and fastest to draw...even over a pocket folder if you’re seated.

The RAO makes a good argument for a duty blade where you can't fit a decent sized fixed blade, but it's still a folder and the design isn't really an effective hunting blade, but that's not the intended purpose.

ROCK6
 
I still don't know Elen's definition of sharp. We took the RAO out today bowhunting. When we got a small doe I handed the RAO to my friend. We skinned and quartered the deer with ease. We thought the chisel point would not work well but it busted through joints like butter. We did the whole doe with this knife and never had to sharpen it. Even after chopping the pelvis in half. I think this is the best large folder I have ever owned.
 
trentu said:
I still don't know Elen's definition of sharp. We took the RAO out today bowhunting. When we got a small doe I handed the RAO to my friend. We skinned and quartered the deer with ease. We thought the chisel point would not work well but it busted through joints like butter. We did the whole doe with this knife and never had to sharpen it. Even after chopping the pelvis in half. I think this is the best large folder I have ever owned.
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Hmm. That actually sounds pretty good to me. Have you reprofiled the blade? Or did I just get a really poor one? :confused:
 
ROCK6 said:
We all make mistakes :D Luckily there's no rank amongst knife-love’in brethren

ROCK6
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I don't think it is a mistake - you seem to really like your job and take it seriously - we need that in leadership.

I will try to forgive you for going into the wrong branch... (former Marine here... ;) )

TF
 
ROCK6 said:
RAO-5.jpg


ROCK6
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I just got looked at funny for swearing out loud.

it's frigging huge!


ROCK6 said:
Here you go Doc...I must say that I really like this design! It's an Ambi setup that allows you a lot of options on carrying.

JeffLawSheath-3.jpg


JeffLawSheath-1.jpg


ROCK6
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that's just awesome! I was thinking of something like that a while ago.
 
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