Fixed Blades Part II

[zenheretic]

Some of you may remember my Randall Rat 7 that I purchased to celebrate my 4000 post. I used it a bit in the back yard for a quick test run. Great knife, but I found the length a bit short for the most efficient use of energy in extended brush clearing.

This past weekend, I came across an Ontario "Raider" knife that I purchased some time ago and forgot about (it must have fallen off a truck as the price was ridiculously cheap). It has better length so I took into the yard an reduced a great stack of brush into more manageable parcels. I think it the bare minimum for someone who anticipates a lot of knife slashing in his/her future. I found the thinness of the grind was especially efficient in my garden labors. I actually like the handle shape better than the Rat7...even with its low tech materials.

Knife: Spec Plus Survival
length: 10 inches.




Minor note, the top edge is sharpened!

[smcfalls13]

Zen I agree with you. For yard work I use a 14" chopper. 10" would still you useful, but the Rat 7 just looks too small to get any decent chopping in.

Fun part about the low tech materials is they're inexpensive. You won't mind destroying that Ontario

[zenheretic]

Zen I agree with you. For yard work I use a 14" chopper. 10" would still you useful, but the Rat 7 just looks too small to get any decent chopping in.

Fun part about the low tech materials is they're inexpensive. You won't mind destroying that Ontario

Yeah 14" seems about perfect. The 10" has a very small "sweet spot" for chopping thick stuff. You should get easier momentum with the larger blade...I'll have to track one down unless a FB 14" Spydie is in the works...

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha zen' bro,

Nice functional knives...the RTAK I got looks sorta like that Raider ya got there. Lemme know if you manage to get that "white stuff" off the blade...I got some of that on my RTAK and can't remove it.

God bless

[smcfalls13]

Aloha zen' bro,

Nice functional knives...the RTAK I got looks sorta like that Raider ya got there. Lemme know if you manage to get that "white stuff" off the blade...I got some of that on my RTAK and can't remove it.

God bless

Microfiber cloth. Takes pretty much anything off of a blade, without any chemicals or other nasty stuff.

[zenheretic]

Aloha zen' bro,

Nice functional knives...the RTAK I got looks sorta like that Raider ya got there. Lemme know if you manage to get that "white stuff" off the blade...I got some of that on my RTAK and can't remove it.

God bless

Your cold must have a fever component that is clouding your clear thinking. That white stuff is known as dirt. It washes off with a magic substance known as soap, the kryptonite of young boys everywhere, and water.

[DAYWALKER]

Your cold must have a fever component that is clouding your clear thinking. That white stuff is known as dirt. It washes off with a magic substance known as soap, the kryptonite of young boys everywhere, and water.

Aloha zen' bro,

Boy...you truly are a wise aaaaaa*ahem*, man! However, no fever thankfully, but I do believe that "stuff" to be sap...I have used that "kryptonite" on the DIRT, but I think that sappy stuff I left on the blade of my RTAK too long...

Microfiber cloth. Takes pretty much anything off of a blade, without any chemicals or other nasty stuff.

Will try that Scott...hope that cloth is stronger than Kryptonite!

God bless, and Lava you guys

[zenheretic]

Heya Daywalker, if it is sap and you can't remove it easily, think of it as nature's Tuffcote.

[224477]

Zen, I still like the RAT7 better

[zenheretic]

Zen, I still like the RAT7 better

Yes me too, for looks... But I found the longer blade more useful for actual field work.

[jaislandboy]

Nice photos ZH.....I've recently acquired a RAT-3 and TAK both with D-2....the RAT-3 was razor sharp and I was most impressed with "the whole package" including a very snug fitting kydex sheath....
However, my TAK arrived about as sharp as a butter knife.... So I've had to spends some time doing some edge reprofiling.....and now i'm happy.....but I realize that both offerings are a tremendous value in fixed blades.....I've read some of Cliff Stamp's comments/reviews pertaining to the inconsistencies with these R.A.T. knives......did your RAT-7 arrive sharp (like your Temperance )?