Do take a good look at Doug's RSK Mk3. I've had mine for several months now and it is a truely fine knife. Just the right size - and not too heavy. I really don't like the big pry bar knives - they are just too heavy to carry around. If needed I'll bring an axe or hatchet instead.



If you haven't already read about the RSK Mk3, you can do so at http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk3.htm .

Several of the knife forums have a lot of stainless bashing. The truth is that stainless does have its benefits. S30V is apparently what is called semi-stainless - I assume because of a higher carbon content. Any knife will corrode under the right conditions. It is nice to know that the S30V blade will easily survive being wet for a few days without any long-term effects - and this isn't an unlikely event when enjoying the great outdoors.

For the same reason, I tend to avoid leather sheaths - as much as I like leather.

Actually, that's not true: yes you were trying to be rude and you succeeded. I'll live. So will you. I gave you not one example of a "prybar". I did not recommend the RAT7 except to mention it as one of the Ontario series that is made with D2.

Your praise of Dozier's D2 as if it's hardening at over RC61 is a miracle is funny to me. Ok. He does well with D2 steel. Buy it and move on. A person considering a $400+ knife (regardless of how much "CNC" machining brings the price down, hehe I've gotta smile here) does not generally post a "what do you think?" question in a survival forum.... any more than a person considering purchase of a racing motorcycle would query General Motors Corp. Not that folks interested in survival don;t know alot about knives but, rather, why not query in forums specifically dedicated for that?

I offered you an alternative to D2, for at the time I was beginning to think you might not be aware there are other fine steels out there, easily as good as Dozier's for practical purposes, and I suspect now that I was right.

As I said... if you didn;t want a response to your question (read your original post), you should've just bought the knife and came in here to tell us about it. On the other hand, if you wanted a response to your question.....................

Sounds like somebody got his feelings hurt. My apologies to everyone on the forum for triggering his angry response and sorry he had to show it to everyone that way. Regardless of what he thinks, I didn't mean to be rude, just objective.

I do not participate in knife forums. This is the only internet forum I participate in. I simply wanted an appraisal of the knife as a survival/general use knife. The edge-holding is important for me, as S30V doesn't hold it as long as D2 could when treated in this way.

I, for one, accept your apology.

But please SImon, read your initial post (and your response to mine).

Good luck with the knife. You'll certainly be getting a good one. Dozier is well-respected in the blade forums..... both his knives and his presence there. In fact, as with any famous knife-maker, he's almost "exalted".

You guys are giving me a headache!!!

Stretch, they are just words on a monitor screen and you took them the wrong way by taking things too personal <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll treat you with kid gloves from now on.

what exactly is meant by the "prybar knivew" term?

I think I know, but not sure.

Is it that the RATs are very thick and heavy?

"Sharpened prybars" to quote DR himself:

"beefier and larger survival/hunting knife or "sharpened prybar" with a 3/16-inch (4.75 mm) to 1/4-inch (6.34 mm) blade that has become popular in recent times and which is prefered by many military-oriented survival instructors."

""sharpened prybar" style knife, like a Becker, RAT or Busse."

http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk3.htm

For a fixed bladed knife I prefer VG-10. In practice that means a Falkniven. F1 for choice. Fairly tough with a sharp spine that works well with a ferronium rod or a Doan mag block. Easy to sharpen as well.
WM-1 if you need a very small pocket blade or a neck knife.

Simon,

I have a Master Hunter, and it is a fabulous blade. The only thing I can think of that would improve it is some thumb ridges on the spine of the blade. I have a lot of knives, including several mentioned here already, but if you like D2 (and I do) then Dozier is the way to go.

You won't be sorry with your choice.

Greg