Tools of my Trip

[XMP]

Well, I got to go on a nice 4 day trip to the woods over the last weekend. It was a combo trip: first, some backpacking by myself, then I hooked up with my wife and daughter (6) and my three siblings and there spouses and children.

On the backpacking portion of the trip, I brought along a couple of old favorites: a Busse SFNO and my RAT3. I usually have a SAK or a LM, this time it was the LM. I left straight from work so I had the Strider PT in my pocket, so it came along almost accidentally. Then I brought along the RC4, to give it a chance in the woods.

I was very impressed with the RC4. It was very comfortable to use, very sturdy, yet still an excellent cutter. I used it for firestarting chores, food prep and to make a walking stick. It is definitely destined to be one of my favorite wood's blades. The only thing that is wasn't very good at was generating sparks from a firesteel. I think the new RC coating is almost too slick for this. Of course, this is excellent for protection, but not so good for sparks. The old phosphate coating on the RAT3 is far superior for producing sparks from a firesteel. Overall though, that is a minor complaint to an superior knife. In fact, if I was going to go lightweight with only one blade the RC4 would be what I'd choose at the moment.

 

[XMP]

Plans A (firesteel), B (match), and C (lighter) for firestarting. Fortunately, this trip was fairly dry, so plan A was sufficient for all the firestarting.

 

[Rockywolf]

Hey Bro, where did you go?

 

[XMP]

For the second half of the weekend, which was much closer to the car, I had a few additional tools to play with: my GB small forest axe, Vic farmer, and another fairly new knife to the stable -- the ScrapYard Dumpster Mutt LE. I hadn't used the DMLE yet in the woods either. It is virtually indestructible (.25 thick, a little thinner than the combat grade). The handle is very comfortable:thumbup:. Because of the thickness it makes a great baton-wedge for a somewhat smaller knife and it produces fuzz sticks and curls well. It isn't however nearly as handy as the RC4 for most woodcrafting tasks. Definitely a good knife, but unless you are a person who batons alot with a smaller knife (I usually use the SFNO for this), then the RC4 is probably a better wood's knife IMO.

 

[XMP]

Hey Bro, where did you go?

We were at Lake Maria state park. It was very nice until my truck got hammered by the golfball and baseball sized hail.

 

[mneedham]

XMP,

Sounds like fun (except the hail), nice blades!

 

[tonym]

So I take it you had a good time:thumbup:
I also love taking my RC4 along on my treks, its always a toss up between that and the BRKT fox river. Tomorrow I plan on taking alot of the new blades I just got, It has been awhile since I got out.
Thanks for the pics and reviews.:thumbup:

 

[norcalblacktail]

Cool pics XMP.

 

[XMP]

Cool pics XMP.

Thanks, but I do wish I was a better photographer. (I don't even know how to post full-sized pics).

 

[XMP]

So I take it you had a good time:thumbup:
I also love taking my RC4 along on my treks, its always a toss up between that and the BRKT fox river. Tomorrow I plan on taking alot of the new blades I just got, It has been awhile since I got out.
Thanks for the pics and reviews.:thumbup:

Yes, I did have a good time. I enjoy time alone in the woods, and it is fun to try to teach all my nieces and nephews (0-8 yrs/old) some basic skills.

I have the same problem (obviously) deciding which of my blades and gear to bring along on any particular trip. But I'm pretty sure that the RC4 will become one of the "can't leave behind" blades. Although when Rat Cutlery comes out with (I'm anxiously waiting) the tan blades with the green canvas micarta handles, I plan to get two of them and strip one. I love green canvas (like on the old Ontario RATs) and a stripped blade with a patina will look good and work better on a firesteel.

 

[tonym]

Yes, I did have a good time. I enjoy time alone in the woods, and it is fun to try to teach all my nieces and nephews (0-8 yrs/old) some basic skills.

I have the same problem (obviously) deciding which of my blades and gear to bring along on any particular trip. But I'm pretty sure that the RC4 will become one of the "can't leave behind" blades. Although when Rat Cutlery comes out with (I'm anxiously waiting) the tan blades with the green canvas micarta handles, I plan to get two of them and strip one. I love green canvas (like on the old Ontario RATs) and a stripped blade with a patina will look good and work better on a firesteel.

Your right on the stripped blade looking great, I saw one stripped by someone on their forum here.
However their OD colored blades are peaking my attention! I am going to be getting the RC4 in that color for sure!

 

[XMP]

I love the look of the OD blades too, but I'm not a big fan of orange handles and I like micarta better than G10 as well. I'm hopeful that someday they'll make the OD blade with black or green canvas micarta handles.

 

[tonym]

Green canvas with od blade would look great, but I would wind up loosing it.

 

[3wolves]

Uh-oh, you said you like the RC-4 better than the Busse! Run for your life before the hogs see this thread!

 

[XMP]

Uh-oh, you said you like the RC-4 better than the Busse! Run for your life before the hogs see this thread!

Not exactly, I still love my bigger Busses, especially the SFNO (although for a Busse its a mid-size), but I'll confess that the RC4 is more ergonomic for my needs than the smaller Busses. Now, if I could get an RC4 in INFI I'd be in Hog AND RAT heaven.