I just like softer carbon steels, Larry. Easier to maintain - especially while out and about backpacking. And the RAT blade I had experience with came with a really dull edge.

Maybe there have been improvements since RAT split with Ontario Cutlery?

Hi Thomas

> I can't imagine myself carrying a loaf of bread on the trail. The weight would be
> greater than my shelter!
We only do that in Europe. We usually buy bread every one or two days (often first thing in the morning), and eat most of it with European cheese and jam at morning tea and lunch times. It doesn't last long, let me assure you!

> I've needed to dig a hole in the hard, hard Ohio dirt
I can understand this problem all right! We get plenty of that here in Oz.
I would never ever use my knife for that, but I have found an MYOG titanium trowel to be extremely good even in the hardest soils.

Cheers

I checked out the Gossman website. Those look like some nice knives! From digging through google it looks like the PSK is priced similarly to the Izula and that his knives are somewhat revered. I like.

Concerning your RAT experience: From all the accounts I've heard of it sounds like the RAT knives are coming from the factory with a fine edge these days. So those problems should be a thing of the past but it's a shame you got a bad one.

However, with the PSK in the game it's a tough choice now. I still figure the Izula will win out for me since I assume it's a bit lighter because of the more skeletonized handle.

Someone mentioned coming from Blade forums to here. I made a similar journey and must say I'm constantly amazed when people bash going light because it isn't safe when they or someone else on their forum is praised for going into the woods with a knife, some flint, a wool blanket, and not much else. The only difference I see between some of these bushcraft kits and what many ultralighters carry are choices in material and insulation. The components are often very similar other than that (barring things like a small axe of course).

>We only do that in Europe. We usually buy bread every one or two days (often first thing in the morning), and eat most of it with European cheese and jam at morning tea and lunch times. It doesn't last long, let me assure you!<

That sounds excellent and it sounds like the weight will be carried very close to your center of gravity while it's with you. In your stomach!

Edited by veriest1 on 11/16/2009 14:25:07 MST.

The guy may be weird, but it's good advertising!
I really want one of those knives. I can't really think of a use for it, but so what!
I'm sure it will be better at cutting twigs for my Bushbuddy than my Ladybug. :)

knivesshipfree.com only charge $12 shipping to the UK (most charge around $30-35) so i don't have an excuse not to buy one, do i? :)

Yeah, that guy is weird. Did you see the other video I linked to where the guy cuts a 4x4 piece of lumber up with one and then shaves with it?

Your reasoning for getting one is the same reason I want one of their larger models... like an RC-5 or something.

Sorry for the double post. I wanted to make sure Dave saw this.

Apparently early on in the life of RAT as a semi custom knife company they were having Ontario produce their products. Due to a lack of quality control on the part of Ontario they severed their ties with them and moved on. Apparently Ontario Rat knives became known for having poor tempering... or a complete lack thereof. I wouldn't be surprised, given what I've read, if one came sharpened like a butter knife out of the Ontario batch.

Now they are made for RAT Cutlery by ROWEN (someone said by hand but I'm not sure on that) and since then their reputation has soared.

Good to know. Maybe I got a lemon.

Still, even if the knives are of identical quality now, I'd prefer to go with the Gossman. I like buying direct from small businesses. I can pick up the phone and talk to Scott Gossman if I have any questions.

In any case, I've got an Ontario TAK-III that I'd be willing to sell you cheap. ;)

I'll have to pass on the Ontario....

There is something to be said for going with a custom knife where you can talk to the craftsman; even versus a semi-custom blade where the designers can be contacted. It's still not the same as getting to talk to the person who actually forged the knife.

I can't comment on the Ontario version, as I have no experience with it.

My new ESEE/RAT Izula arrived sharp enough to dry shave hairs off my arm, with the grain, without any tugging. The from-the-factory edge effortlessly shaves slices off of office paper.

"Benchmade 530"

thats a sweet knife for such a low weight. Now if it was only a spring assisted blade.

> "Benchmade 530"... thats a sweet knife for such a low weight.
> Now if it was only a spring assisted blade.

Spring not really really needed. If it's clean and and lubricated it easily opens one handed with a simple flick of the thumb and wrist.

--Mark

"Spring not really really needed. If it's clean and and lubricated it easily opens one handed with a simple flick of the thumb and wrist."

I am sure it does, but I hate thumb openers. Spring assist (with a kick) is the closet I can get to an auto with out the cost or weight.

> Now if it was only a spring assisted blade.
Illegal in some places.

I find opening the Benchmade 530 to be very easy, when clean and properly adjusted as OP said.

Cheers

Frank, on my 530, I just pull back on the blade lock and the knife opens about least 20* and then its just a slight flick of the wrist and its open and locked.

When I first brought it home I would open it this way and my son thought it was a "switch blade". Of course he wanted to try, to no avail. I told him it was custom made especially for me, it work only because it knew my hand- and because of this, he was not to use it. He figured it out after a couple of days- I still don't let him use it though.

I also hate thumb openers, that is why I purchased this knife (among other reasons).

Edited by bestbuilder on 05/21/2010 17:31:05 MDT.