RTAK II On Sale Today!

[JShirley]

Sam and I are justifiably proud of the Camp Defender knives, which are serious, no-frills gear, but if you're looking for a very large knife for the outdoors, it's hard to find a better deal than the RTAK II, which can often be found for a little over $100 on Amazon. If you choose the right version (older ones were 1095), you get 5160 steel and green canvas micarta handles. In a nutshell, you get an over 16" knife with my favorite steel and handle material, from a trusted US knifemaker. I compared the RTAK II with a tomahawk built by one of our members, with my own Camp Defender as a control, a couple of years ago. Review here.

The RTAK II is on sale today for $80 on Amazon. Shipping is free for Prime members. The RTAK is a bargain in a really big knife when sold for around $100. I don't expect to ever see it at this low a price ever again, so get one quick if you've been thinking about it. (Choose the one sold by Makais to avoid sales tax.)

 

[Kookla]

I had the original RTAK in 1095. Looks like the RTAKII fixes the main issue I had with it which was the handle. Regardless, I beat on that blade- ended up giving it to a friend. That's a good deal and thanks for posting it.

 

[JShirley]

I was surprised to see it that low. The handle is a little blocky for my medium-small hands (I'm 5'6"), but that can be corrected with some sandpaper in short order.

 

[BLB68]

(Choose the one sold by Makais to avoid sales tax.)

Unfortunately, it's Fulfilled By Amazon, so coming from an Amazon warehouse. They'll charge tax on it. Thanks for the heads up on the deal though. Wish I had the cash to grab one.

 

[JShirley]

Order Summary
Items: $79.99
Shipping & handling: $0.00
Total before tax: $79.99
Estimated tax to be collected: $0.00
Order total: $79.99

Nope. If you compare the various prices, you'll see if tax will be charged on a purchase from a particular seller. I actually put it in my cart to verify that there was, indeed, no tax on the Makais-sold one.

 

[bannockburn]

JShirley

Thanks for the heads-up. Have been looking for a decent camp knife and that's a great price on it.

 

[JShirley]

Sure thing.

Like I said, it's a great price at the usual Amazon price~ this is an amazing one.

 

[CoRoMo]

Wonder why multiple Amazon vendors all have this product on sale like this. A couple on ebay, Walmart has it at $79.99, newegg, Sears, all following suit.

Manufacturer product push?

Wonder how long this sale will run.

 

[JShirley]

Pre-Black Friday push?

I know I did all my Christmas shopping early. I hope M wants another knife for Christmas...!

 

[CoRoMo]

If it will only last till this Thursday... is all I'm hoping for!! Come Thursday, I'm buyin'.

 

[Citadel99]

Thanks a lot. Now I am $80 broker... Plus out for a kydex sheath.

Mark

 

[JShirley]

I hope it works well for you. The included sheath is not bad.

 

[Citadel99]

Wow. That's a big honkin' knife...

Mark

 

[JShirley]

Right? I think this is about the largest knife one can practically use, unless you keep it in your vehicle or home.

 

[CoRoMo]

Mine arrived at my office just now.

Three surprises...

• Does not have the RAT Knives triangle logo on the blade. Just plain like this.
• It was not at all sharp, not at all.
• Wow, this thing is huge!

 

[JShirley]

Sorry about the sharpness. Mine was dull shaving sharp when I got it.
Yeah, it's big.

 

[Citadel99]

Going on a camping trip with the family Sun-Wed. Went ahead and battoned some cedar into kindling strips. Was pretty impressed with how well it worked. Will be a great camping knife/tool, I think.

Mark

 

[JShirley]

Mark,
How sharp was yours on arrival?

 

[jmr40]

Based on this thread I ordered one. I envision using it more as a short machete than a large knife. Once sharpened I think I'll like it. About 1/2 of the blade nearest the handle is just OK sharp. From there to the tip it is not at all sharp. I haven't had a chance to do much with it, but I don't think I can help it with stones. I may have to use a file to get it close then finish with stones.

 

[Kookla]

Wonder if they were marked down due to the lack of sharpness? My old RTAk (original model) came shaving sharp when I got it.

 

[C0untZer0]

There are a lot of older (2013), failure vids on YouTube for the RTAK II.

Is that with the 1095 do you think?

 

[Gordon]

Ha, in the test notice how our Camp defender kicked butt. !

 

[JShirley]

Mine was 2013. I don't think the sharpness affected the price~ some of Ontario's stuff is silly cheap right now.

Count, I'm wondering exactly how the failures happened. Batoning?

 

[C0untZer0]

I think most of the failures were batoning, although one YouTuber swears he was using proper technique / wasn't wacking it on an angle, wasn't striking the tip. Two failures were chopping / hacking tree limbs.

I did more reading in the comments sections and it was the 1095 steel. One poster claims he knows the problem: full flat grind.

The unground portion on a saber ground blade, for example, will absorb most of the baton shock. In FFG, all shock and stress goes to the weakest part of the knife -- the edge.

Another poster claims there were two versions of the 1095s - one version known to chip.

In all cases Ontario replaced the damage blades and the replacements seem to still be going strong.

 

[JShirley]

Huh. Few different issues, including greater stress due to leverage on a long, thin for length blade + batoning.

I had the 5160, in any case.