The good news: I’ll be at Blade Show on Friday and Saturday. This is actually my first Blade Show. I’ve had schedule conflicts for years, but this year Blade Show took priority, because...

More good news: I won’t be empty handed. The prototypes of some new versions of the RSK will be on display at the Benchmade booth.

The bad news: The Benchmade Doug Ritter Fixed Blade will not be one of them.

The good news: While frustrating, as will eventually be revealed, this will end up being a really good thing for all concerned and well worth the wait. Really! I promise!

More good news: The Benchmade Doug Ritter Fixed Blade is not the only fixed blade I’ve been working on. I’ll be splitting my time between the Benchmade and Camillus/Becker Knife & Tool booths! Some folks prefer smaller knives and some prefer larger knives. I aim to please. If I’m not at the Camillus booth, ask to see the prototype RSK MkII/BK12...

Looking forward to meeting any of you attending.

Crap, that means I gotta buy more knives.

Any chance of sharing some of the prototypes with your loyal forumites after the show?

Also, to clarify, I interpret what you're saying is that a Ritter fixed blade knife is likely coming - just not as soon as you had hoped. Correct? Any hint of timing (weeks, months, ...)?

My prototypes are never sold. At least not anytime soon.

The Benchmade DR Fixed Blade, which has been widely rumored to be in development, is still not ready to show. The Becker/Ritter RSK MkII/BK12, a much better kept secret and itself a few years in development, should be entering production shortly ("shortly" being a relative term. <~>). At least should be available for holiday season.

Any pics that you can show us?

Sorry, but no. I expect that someone will post pics on Blade Forums or the Benchmade Forum this weekend.

Just to play devil’s advocate:

I’ve got a LeatherMan Charge Ti clipped in my pocket, a Mora and a Gerber Sportsman’s saw in my CamelBack. What is a RSK going to add to my survival situation?

Absolutely nothing and everything. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You can read about the RSK MK1 at http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk1.htm.

If it floats your boat, great, if it's not the sort of thing you would find useful, that's OK. too. Knives and sharp stuff are extremely personal items. I, personally, don't find a Mora satisfies my needs, but there's nothing partcularly wrong with it if you want a small, relatively thin fixed blade without a substantial guard and what I find to be an insubstantial, not particularly ergonomic handle. I prefer my folders and fixed blades to have a more substantial handle, more substaintial guard and more substantial blade. Some folks prefer an even larger fixed blade, a la the BK&T line, and the RSK MkII/BK12 is designed to satisfy that person while still keeping to my blade design philosophy. Knives are all about "different strokes."

I sure hope that it's going to be in that wonderful high carbon steel that the Becker line is famous for... My Beckers seem to hold an edge forever, love that stuff.

Yes, it will be offered in 0170-6.

Wrap your using hand in a big fluffy towel and turn off the lights. Now access and use your 3 tools.

Hmmm...so what will it be?

We can infer that it will be a 12" chopper that will probably retain the handles and coating of the Becker line. What will the RSK part be? Handles packed with goodies? a small companion knife? a "survival sheath" design? Sharpeners, flints, strikers?

Hmmm.......Can't wait to see the pics

For the non knife maniacs, where's the show at ?

Thanks, Dave

Atlanta, GA June 3-4-5

As the commercial says, "not exactly"... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> just two days to go and I'm sure someone will post the specifics before I can. Stay tuned...

ok then, integral beard/mustache trimmer?

I guess it wouldn't need a small companion blade since we already have RSK I & mini. Mirror polished flat near the hilt for signalling? Laser etched portrait of Doug for morale support? or a big "DON'T PANIC" logo <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I love that "Don't Panic" idea. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Put that on and it's sure to be a winner. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OK...so the necker is #11, so the number isn't necessarily indicative of blade length...hmmmm....

Here's the pic! Middle knife is Doug's new creation.
New Becker/Ritter knife

I don't want to brag or anything <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />, but if this is really the new Ritter survival knife it meets my exact specs:Reply
It is not unlike the Ray Mears knife but, I am sure Mr. Ritter won't disappoint us <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, it will be more affordable. It seems to be extremely rugged with the Becker steel, scales and finish. The protruding tang and thumb rest are also features I really like. If it comes with a synthetic sheath the knife will be able to withstand the hardest use in all climates. And as a side note: since the Becker scales are easily removable and the black finish is also applied to the tang, this could also be the most compact full size survival knife ever.

It looks good to me too. The other Becker knives didn't seem to be quite the right shape- this one does. It looks boring, but I think a classic shape will. It just looks right.

I stole these specs from a post Doug made at Bladeforums:

Blade Style: Drop point, high grind
Blade Length: 6 inches
.188" 0170-6C carbon steel or CPM S30V stainless
Becker Trademark GV6H handles
Black epoxy powdercoat or stonewashed
Variable Balance: Neutral or blade forward (Magic!)
Sheath: Ambidexterous, ballistic nylon with Kydex insert, storage pocket

Can one of you knife nuts please explain what is meant by "Variable Balance: Neutral or blade forward (Magic!)", specifically the "variable" part?

I am presently about 2 months in to a 4-year wait for a new Randall 25-6" Trapper, and I bought a BK10 Crewman with the intention of using it as my hunting/survival knife. But I confess I'll have to take a hard look at the S30V version of the BK12.

Regards, Vince

Only thing I can presume with wariable balance is weight in the handle, and by shifting its position, or removing it completly, balance is adjusted.

Bogdan

I posted the same question over at Bladeforums. No reply as of yet. I am now guessing that it simply means that the 0170-6C carbon version is neutral balanced, while the S30V version is blade forward. If this is wrong I'm sure somebody will correct me.

Regards, Vince

Here is Doug's reply to my query at Bladeforums, which I hope he does not mind me reproducing here. Looks like Bogdan was on the right track:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349884&page=3&pp=20

"Some folks prefer a neutral balance, other prefer having blade forward. Using a very simple method, which I cannot yet reveal, we can offer both options in the same knife, allowing a user to adjust it to suit their own preference. This concept is not new, but our very simple, low cost and easy to use implimentation of it is, hopefully. We are in the process of doing the necessary deeper and more thorough intellectual property research as we speak."


Regards, Vince

Vince, I remember a version of the Fairbairn Applegate dagger that had weights in the handles that you could move and remove to adjust the balance.
Boker, maybe? Anyway, I wonder if this is similar to what Doug is doing.

But then where will I cram my fish hooks and snare wire? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, it sounds like it should be interesting.

Regards, VInce

Norad, I presume when you remove the weight there will be space for few small items. Anyway I don't like using knife handle for a kit, so that won't be a problem.

I thought about weight issue, lighter knife is always better choice, and usualy I prefer weight forward balance, which if we are corect in guessing is achived by removing the weight, so that solution will be nice. Obviosly more neutral balance will bring weight a little up, but on the other side, from my experience in knife testing and design, even small weight difference on the end of the handle will move balance a lott. So aded weight should be small.

Bogdan

In a follow up post over at Bladeforums, Doug noted that there were cutouts in the tang,
so that suggests that there might be room for a few items in the handles.

Doug, can you throw us a bone - pics, specs, ETA, anything?

There is a link to a pic of the knife in my earlier post.
Middle knife, and the file is hosted here on Doug's site.

Thanks, I saw the Camillus/BK&T knife.

Ooops.
Need to read before replying.
Hey, if you do find a pic, let us know, thanks.

Nope, sorry.

I just ordered my Ritter RSK and was reading on Blade Forums that S30V steel in the Ritter knife is chipping on small tasks. I am wondering, is this a problem, should I have ordered this knife? Some on blade forums state this steel is hyped and overrated. I hope I didn't make a mistake in this purchase.

Hahaha, I just got done reading the same looooooooooooooong thread over at BF. I wouldn't worry about it. I have had a couple large RSKs and one small RSK (have a large one in my pocket right now) and the only one that ever chipped was the one I used on a ROCK!! Even the rock only made a tiny chip that came out with a little sharpening. Most of the replies in that thread IIRC were talking about microscopic chipping. Even the guy that started the thread wasn't willing to give up his RSK afterwards... what does that tell you? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> There are certainly other steels that are less likely to chip than S30V but those steels have other weaknesses. For example they may be less stain/rust resistant or not hold their edge as well or be more likely fold/bend. If you find the steel that does perfectly in all these categories please let me know cause I want to buy stock in the company making it. Once you find that supersteel then if you find someone using it in knive, let me know when you find a lightweight model with and AXIS lock and an extra wide drop point blade because I will want to buy a couple. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> If you're not happy with your RSK then put it on Ebay. It will sell for what you paid minus shipping before you can bat an eyelash at it. That should tell you something too. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Whew! they had me worried! I had just ordered the large RSK a day or so before I saw that thread based on the good reviews on this forum and the fact that I had a previous benchmade with an axis lock and loved it. I didn't think so many would buy the RSK if it was junk! Can't wait to get it, it comes next week ups.

1. We have sold over a thousand RSK knives with S30V, most of which are being used as everyday carry knives, many in hard use situations and this is the first report of a problem such as this from the field. Whatever problems others may have had with minor chipping and S30V, it is not an issue we have seen in our knives. We have had only a couple knives returned for an edge problem. One early on, we were never able to find a problem with and I have continued to use it as an EDC myself since we got it back. One, recently, came from the factory with a small nick in the edge, which we insisted on replacing, even though the owner didn't think it was all that much of a probelm because, as he put it, the minor nick would sharpen out the first time it was sharpened. That's it. So, whatever issue there may be, it hasn't been endemic to the RSK MkI knives from Benchmade. Whatever the anomoly with this knife, we'll find out what it is and try to ensure it doesn't happen again. Meanwhile, we've sent him a replacement.

2. If for any reason you aren't happy with your new RSK Mk1 knife, Aeromedix will refund all of your money, including shipping. I'm pleased to say we haven't had to do that very often.

Hope this answers your question.

I appreciate your response Doug -- I didn't know what to think after reading that thread on BF. I am sure I will be pleased with the knife and would not hesitate to return it if there was a problem. I expect I will receive a quality product based on my previous experience with Benchmade, and by the way I purchased your psk a few weeks back and it is my constant companion now. Like I said in my other post, I can't wait to get the knife. thanks again.

Well if s30v steel on dougs knife is the same as s30v steel on my sebbie you can sleep tight. I managed to abuse that steel to the point I felt bad and didnt casue any damage. The only way I put a mark on it is when I opened a container of industrial strength drain cleaner and that etched my blade which was repolish by Chris Reeve during sebenza look upgrade.

7k7k99,

I've had my RSK forseveral months, and I just love it. It's been my EDC since I got it. I don't think you'll find a better knife for the price which contains both the S30V steel and the axis lock. I'm patiently awaiting the release of the Benchmade-Ritter fixed blade. HTH.

I have had several S30V knives from 3 different manufacturers so far (3 knives from Benchmade, 1 knife from Al Mar and 2 knives from Chris Reeve) and I am very pleased with the S30V steel. Pleased enough that I have a large regular Sebenza (this will be #3) in route to my house as I type this. Believe me I am not a wealthy man and would not spend $420 on a knife with steel that I did not have confidence in! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Of course I also like the carbon steel on my $9 Mora, the laminated steel on a couple $8 Moras I used to have and the A2 on the CRK fixed blades that I have owned. However those aren't stainless (well the laminated Mora is debatable). I have a Spyderco Salt with H-1. It's an interesting steel. I don't think it will ever chip. I know this because it seems to fold very easily. If they don't chip then they fold and if they dont chip or fold then they rust. Okay not litterally and not in all cases, but the point it that it's all a compromise. You give up one asset to gain another.