Steven Dick's "On The Point"

R.A.T.

R.A.T.

Randall's Adventure & Training
Joined
Feb 4, 2004
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In the January 2010 issue of Tactical Knives. Great column but I think someone here must have hurt his feelings for him to dedicate the whole column to SERE :D The RC-5 got another mention though. Hell, I thought the article he did on the 5 was a good piece.
 
I agree, I thought the article was very well written, showed a well balanced look at the knife.

I also agreed with his point about people who know little to nothing about SERE trying to educate those who have "been there" what it really stands for. I think he was a little irritated, especially considering that anyone who knows him or reads his columns knows that he's been around a time or two, and knows what he's talking about. I personally haven't done half the stuff he (or a lot of the guys on here for that matter) have done, and I wouldn't have the stones to try to educate any of you guys. But that's just me... I'd rather shut the hell up and learn a thing or two. :D

Oh, and Jeff, I'm dying to know what the inside joke is that was referred to later on in the magazine (about the fuzz sticks).... anyone else with me? ;)
 
Nino, the art guy for TK thinks fuzz sticks are used too much in testing a knife, thus not a valid test. So, he is always ribbing me about it when I do put that in an article. Obviously he has never spent any time in a wet jungle environment tying to make a fire from scratch. Down there you better have a machete or knife that will peel thin slivers of wood if you're ever going to think about getting a fire going (or a helluva lot of gasoline). I suppose a lot of people think there are some magical tests that haven't been done and need to be done for articles. IMO, fuzz sticks and some of the typical bushcraft techniques are the few things that aren't BS in this market.
 
But, to heck with all the articles. The coolest thing in this issue are the two ads we have in there!
 
That's for answering, I was just curious.

I agree with you, fuzz sticks are not only a good test of a knife, but something that should be practiced. Last camping trip I decided to see if I could build a fire using fuzz sticks, my Izula, and what brush I could find before the others in my group could get it started using a lighter. It was cold and damp, so while they were still trying to get a dry piece of grass to light my fuzz sticks were burning nicely, and I was well on my way to a good fire. That solidified in my mind the need to always be able to use primitive fire skills. Not only are they usually more versatile, but I get a bigger kick outta using them than some fancy, state of the art gadget. I have fun using a fuzz stick and ferro rod.... call me crazy. :D

EDIT:

I saw the ads too, and really liked them, especially the one with the helicopter. Really well done and got the point across, plus it was just plain cool looking. :)
 
Fuzz sticks rock! I use to think they were gimmicks in the world of pine stumps where I live. First course I took from the Peruvian Air Force they had their old Camillus sheath knives out scraping sticks for the thin slivers. That was 15 years ago. Since then I have traveled with about every Indian tribe and remote village there, they all use that technique. It works.

Ref the ads: I'll beat the RAT drum a bit here. YOU BET THEY ARE COOL! :D
 
The new helicopter ad will read: "IN THIS BUSINESS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING, BUT YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BRING TO THE DAY" Maybe I should add in small letters "a fuzz stick" :D
 
R.A.T. said:
Fuzz sticks rock! I use to think they were gimmicks in the world of pine stumps where I live. First course I took from the Peruvian Air Force they had their old Camillus sheath knives out scraping sticks for the thin slivers. That was 15 years ago. Since then I have traveled with about every Indian tribe and remote village there, they all use that technique. It works.

Ref the ads: I'll beat the RAT drum a bit here. YOU BET THEY ARE COOL! :D
Click to expand...

Experiences like that should be enough to tell anyone that it's a good skill to learn. Sadly, some people don't really listen to logic, do they?

Dude, those were friggin' awesome! Haha, I may be going a little overboard here, but I actually cut them out and put them on my file cabinet at work. People gave me some strange looks, but I love it. Adds a little personal touch to my office. :D
 
You know you're doing good when people give you strange looks!
 
R.A.T. said:
The new helicopter ad will read: "IN THIS BUSINESS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING, BUT YOU DO KNOW WHAT TO BRING TO THE DAY" Maybe I should add in small letters "a fuzz stick" :D
Click to expand...

Maybe add something like this," RAT, we bring the fuzz to the stick ":)
 
yea i never really needed fuzz sticks... i learned it .... but im from NC ... if there isnt pine some ones clear cutting..... but i know how useful they can be... but i also know lots of people the first time they try a ferro rod is when its raining and there wet....

i know you think of the rc5 as an ugly ducking of the line... but lots of people love it... i love mine ... but i agree with you i find my rc3 more effective most the time... dont have a rc6 its on the list... after a mora.

I need to pick up an issue of blade.
 
Jimmy Dunn and I are teaching a 5-day school next week on tracking, navigation, rope work, survival, etc. In other words, general Woodland Operations. I'm taking my folder and a Tramontina machete to do it all. I could easily get by on an RC-3 but I want the students to see that in this area a 5 dollar Tram will out-work all the cool stuff they will be bringing for the class.
 
Wish I could go to that class Jeff! I leave to go down to southern Alabama on the 4th for a month though and have a ton of stuff to do to get ready for it.
 
R.A.T. said:
no one would print it :D
Click to expand...

You should try branding a toilet paper with your articles, nothing worst than stuck on the first day in south america with a nice welcome diarrhea and have nothing to read, so you don't have to worry about finding a publisher and you can actually make one of your articles useful :D . I remember in africa, yesterdays newspaper was todays asswiper.

Seriously if you find nothing to do I'm sure a lot of people would like to read your point of view on a 5$ machete in the jungle compared to what you see most of your students come in with.
 
In all seriousness I have written about machetes a lot on the past and still try to sneak in a plug for the cheap machete in a lot of my articles. I am passionate about machetes (and I guess fuzz sticks) but machetes don't have the cool factor that other knives do. I could write story after story about high speed operators in South America but it would get boring quickly since the "cool" cutlery that most all of them carry are machetes. With that said, I do carry a folder or fixed blade down every so often and get them to use it for a week and give me feedback.
 
I just paid $10 for my new wood handled Tram. I still thought it was a good deal for what I got. Could have bought the plastic handle one cheaper but I already have 2 of those. One in each vehicle tool box. :D
 
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