Big fixed blade knife

[bullets]

haven't pulled the trigger on it... but I have been considering an Ontario RAT-7 or RTAK 2.

I pulled the trigger on the RKAT II. It is a sweet though heavy 16.5 inch camping knife for $85.00.
The smooth micarta handle fits my hand perfectly.
http://www.ontario-knife-store.com/onta ... ade-knife/

I have seen lots of good reviews on-line for the $200.00 Buck Hoodlum but have not pulled this trigger.

[Pezhead]

If you want really big a saw a whaling knife with a cut down handle at the gun show on Saturday.

[Jbotto]

Love my Cold Steel SRK. My favorite part is the generous handle.

[Hanns]

Had an older Cold Steel SRK back when they still used the Carbon V steel. Great knife, held a wicked sharp edge but I didn't like the squishy handle as much. It moved around when I was really working the knife. The handle is only held on with the brass hollow rivet through the handle, I've read of people pulling the handles off under really hard use. Had it for years and ended up selling it to a buddy. Got a lightly used Mad Dog ATAK 7" blade. Razore sharp doesn't even begin to describe it. Fits great in the hand, will cut anything I want it to and still hold it's edge. Kinda ruined me for any other fixed blade knife now. Not a pic of mine but gives you the idea.

[Ranger01]

I personally use a Ka-Bar for both my big and small fixed blades, have for years. But if I ever get some kick around money I'd go with either the RAT-7 or the Reeves Green Beret (aka Yarborough)...

[Ranger01]

Welp, I got some money and decided to go with the Ranger RD-4 from Ontario... It's a beast of a knife, just needed some sanding on the grip to fit my hand, and it's gonna need a new sheath.... Otherwise it's a damn good knife for $52.

[Pinnacle]

I am going to get a Becker Campanion for the bug out bag. I like a solid slab of Steel with handles - simple as hell but effective and the Becker knives are a bargain for the performance.

[bstrawse]

Had an older Cold Steel SRK back when they still used the Carbon V steel. Great knife, held a wicked sharp edge but I didn't like the squishy handle as much. It moved around when I was really working the knife. The handle is only held on with the brass hollow rivet through the handle, I've read of people pulling the handles off under really hard use. Had it for years and ended up selling it to a buddy. Got a lightly used Mad Dog ATAK 7" blade. Razore sharp doesn't even begin to describe it. Fits great in the hand, will cut anything I want it to and still hold it's edge. Kinda ruined me for any other fixed blade knife now. Not a pic of mine but gives you the idea.

I have a Mad Dog Pygmy ATAK (about 1 1/2" shorter) - it's one hell of a knife.
b

[GeekyGunman]

Would this count as a sufficiently big knife?
http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/catalog/ ... 3239fc5113
(This is just the one I have, they have plenty to choose from.)

Damn mean knife, freaking indestructible.

[JoeH]

I've narrowed it down to the:

Cold Steel Leatherneck
Ontario RAT 7
Ontario RTAK II
Becker BK7

Street prices range from $55 - $90.

[cigartim]

I have the rat cutlery RC7 which is like the ontario rat 7. Rat cutlery (or ESEE knives) made the rat series knives for ontario. I HIGHLY recommend this knife. I just took it up to the bwca for a week and its performance continues to impress me. I beat the heck out of it and it never missed a beat.

[Pinnacle]

I have a ESEE-4

About a 4" blade (which is STILL TOO BIG for game animals - especially Deer) Micarta handles and a Kydex sheath and a jump attachment - just about as big a knife as I want to carry in the woods. If I need to "Baton" wood, I have an AXE - Knife is the wrong tool... I recommend that you carry a small axe in the woods (Gerber - its light and does the job)

I love the guys that go out in the woods with a HUGE knife that is totally impractical.... When you break it batoning wood for no particular reason you are going to be pissed.

[Ranger01]

I have the rat cutlery RC7 which is like the ontario rat 7. Rat cutlery (or ESEE knives) made the rat series knives for ontario. I HIGHLY recommend this knife. I just took it up to the bwca for a week and its performance continues to impress me. I beat the heck out of it and it never missed a beat.

Other way around, RAT designed the knife and always made them. Ontario approached them to make a budget version of their knives. RAT said ok, but after a while decided to back out due to Ontario not following RAT procedures 100%. Ontario wouldn't stop making the knives, RAT couldn't do much about it except make them stop using the name and logo of Randall's Adventure Training. Ontario dropped the name except for the 3 letters RAT and the lost the logo. People still made the connection and would call RAT about their Ontario knives so RAT Cutlery changed their name to ESEE to try and avoid the connection.

[cigartim]

I have a ESEE-4

About a 4" blade (which is STILL TOO BIG for game animals - especially Deer) Micarta handles and a Kydex sheath and a jump attachment - just about as big a knife as I want to carry in the woods. If I need to "Baton" wood, I have an AXE - Knife is the wrong tool... I recommend that you carry a small axe in the woods (Gerber - its light and does the job)

I love the guys that go out in the woods with a HUGE knife that is totally impractical.... When you break it batoning wood for no particular reason you are going to be pissed.

I disagree. I find axes too heavy to carry when hiking and camping, and they are only good for chopping. I have done lots of batoning (in addition to several other tasks) with my 7" knife and it has not been damaged at all. Also, I do have a very particular reason for batoning. After it has been raining for a day or two and everything is soaked it is impossible to get a fire going unless you can split wood to get at the dry inside. I encountered this situation several times during a particularly wet trip to the BWCA this spring. My "HUGE" knife allowed me to stay warm.

that being said, I do not use my large knife on game. I have a 2 1/2" knife for more precise work.

I don't lug any tool around in the woods just because. Each must earn its passage through utility.

[Pinnacle]

Got it. For me an axe has earned passage.