Ranger Knives RD 6 w/Nylon Sheath

Ordered this knife almost a year ago but held off on a review until I had a chance to really use the knife. This review reflects my opinions AFTER any initial thoughts I had about it. First, though, the specs: SPECIFICATIONS Overall Length: 11.625" Blade Length: 6.625" Cutting Edge: 5.625" Blade Width: 1.625" Blade Thickness: 0.25" Blade Material: 5160 Hardness: 53-55 RC Blade Style: Clip Point Blade Grind: Flat Finish: Black Edge Type: Plain Handle Length: 5.00" Handle Width: 1.50" Handle Thickness: 0.80" Handle Material: Black Micarta Weight: 1 lb. 0.06 oz. Sheath: Nylon Knife Type: Fixed Blade Brand: Ontario Knife Company Model: RD-6 Model Number: 8675 Country of Origin: USA Best Use:Tactical First the good. This is a HEAVY knife, so if weight is an issue for ultralight camping/hiking, this probably isn't going to appeal to you. But the knife is heavy for a reason--it's a TANK and looks bombproof. Full 1/4" thick steel stock in 5160 spring steel. This knife is about as tough as you can make a knife. Using it in a variety of camping and wilderness settings for a few months now, it's extremely robust and can handle just about any type of task it's applied to. I've cut through rope, nylon webbing, seatbelt material, industrial zip ties, flex cuffs, and even used it to process and prepare a rack of ribs for cooking. In all of these the blade cut effortlessly and took zero damage. For processing wood, it's much better than it would seem. The full flat grind makes it great for slicing and cutting and shaved paper-thin curls off hardwood with ease the same way a Japanese woodworkers chisel would. When building a mesquite fire for some ribs (mesquite being one of the densest and hardest woods in North America) the knife was able to cut some birch bark thin slices of mesquite off a very hard seasoned log like a hand joiner. The weight itself is very beneficial for chopping, and it chopped through a 3-inch thick log of mesquite in a handful of strokes. The point is very nicely tapered and the spine remains thick all the way to the point, preserving piercing capability AND tip strength. The Micarta looks very very well finished, smooth with a bit of texture and very solid feeling. Fit and finish is almost perfect. The balance, also, is great for this knife. It's actually very handle heavy but on a knife this heavy it makes it feel somewhat lighter, since the center of gravity isn't on the blade itself. The edge was originally very sharp, but after reprofiling it and sharpening it to scary levels, the edge seems to have stayed just as sharp after a few months. I've only had to strop it periodically to revive the edge. The not-so-great. As I sad before, it's a heavy knife. Really heavy. It's heavier than even the Becker BK-2 which is another knife people often say is very heavy for a belt knife. I personally don't mind, but if you're not wearing a sturdy belt or carrying it on something like a pistol/cartridge belt, it does weigh your pants down. I use a riggers belt so it's not an issue for me. The only other thing I'd find might need improvement is the blockiness of the handle scales. It's a very blocky handle and while the shape of the handle is great, it's a very two-dimensional shape and the corners aren't rounded nearly enough. Being as thick as it is, it just makes if feel that much blockier. Overall, it's a great knife, truly more suited for tactical use (it's great for breaching and entry) but the blade geometry also makes it an awesome survival knife overall. Great value for the price and I ended up buying a second one to keep in my vehicle.

(Look for update at the bottom) I first of all my knife came in the package dull! I mean so dull it struggled really hard to cut thin and thick paper. The edge it came with seemed really really small. But I will sharpen myself no big deal. The edge you get is the edge you put on it. But aside from that miniscule out of the box issue. Its a super duper strong knife! I went straight for batoning a really hard log wood. For hours. Held up like it was nothing. Even accidentally hit the knife on brick. No dents in the knife. This is exactly what I wanted. A super durable large blade that's not too large but plenty large enough to get any bush crafting/survival task youd throw at it. I wanted a knife that could potentially save my life and if I had to depend on this knife for the remainder of my life I would be happy and confident to live off this knife. One other caveat I found was that the other ontario ranger rd-6 knives has a silver logo vs the gold one on mine and even some others didn't have one at all. So, idk what that means. Definitely did concern me. But one thing I know, is it is strong. (Update):it's 2022 and I've used this knife extensively. The knife has held up really well. I have made modifications. I sanded down the handle so it's smaller and firs in my hand better. Best decision ever. I also cut the top and bottom edges off the sheath and burned the edges so it doesnt fray, makes it a better sheath and a bit more compact. The knife is Sooo strong. I have used this knife in so much batoning and feather sticking. I sharpen all my knives and have sharpened this knife with the lanky sharpening system and also wet stones and electric Sharpener and grinders. And this knife works well being sharpened in all those methods. Also keeps its edge pretty well. I'm satisfied with this knife. And after taking it through much abuse I am confident this knife will last the rest of my life. The more I use it the more I realize YES this is a good knife. Remember people. The sharpness of the knife is the edge you put it on it. The factory doesn't make it an obligation to make it razor sharp. The quality of the knife is not based on the edge that comes from the factory Because if you actually use your knives you're going to HAVE to sharpen it yourself anyway. Unless it's just a toy for you. Learn to sharpen your knives. Having the knife is only have the process. You must know how to hone your own blades. I updated some pictures. The knife has paint that's wore off but that's only natural when you baton all the time.

I ordered this knife as an all around knife for use in a bug-out bag. It is a beast - 1/4” spine makes for one hunk of steel and it has a decent factory edge (I personally will be sharpening it a bit more). I would have no issues trusting the durability of this knife for chopping and batoning. On to the not so great: the sheath sucks - just a nylon sheath with plastic insert. Nicer custom leather or kydex sheaths are easily found. Another issue: I did not care for the handle geometry at all - the overall shape is okay, but way too blocky on the edges, so much so as to cause pain when chopping or gripping firmly. It can be fixed fairly easily if you have a Dremel and can use it with a fair amount of skill. Using a rough sanding drum on the dremel, the micarta handle scales easily sanded down and are now much more comfortable. Overall, I’d recommend the knife for someone looking for a fixed blade that can take a beating, and who doesn’t mind a little work to make it comfortable.

This is a full 1/4" blade, super heavy duty. When considering a bush craft blade there were many options. Ultimately cost and frequency of use were my two main decision factors. I didn't want to spend $180+ on something that would only see limited use 8-12 times a year. Ontario Knife Company rose to the top. The edge profile is nice and simple, easy to maintain. Blade was sharp enough for feathering work right out of the box. I liked the 5160 carbon steel material. The knife length and thickness lends itself well to batoning tasks. The sheath is worthless, very bulky and not very user friendly. I crafted my own from Kydex. The grip scales are "blocky" as others have said, but easy to customize with a Dremel and 3/8" sanding drum. With a little effort, you can make the RD6 perfect for you. I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

Great for the money. Unused so far. I've used many cheap and pricey knife/tools over 40 years. I think this is unavailable, but the "nightstalker" should be same quality. In hindsight the 7 inch model would have been better for MY use. This is still a workhorse. Some don't care for the thickness it's meant to be all around worker. Fillet with a fillet knife, skin with a Skinner, chop with a hatchet or axe. If you only want one knife to carry, this CAN do most chores "OK". Not the end all, or best thing out there, just a good, out of box sharp, well ground, bulletproof tool

Much has been written of the knife's quality so I'll not ruminate. Understand, however, that this a very BIG,HEAVY KNIFE. The handel is so thick that it perfectly accomodates my big hand-I wear 2x-3x gloves-so its not for every one. Not because of lack of quality, but for its gracious size it will be too large for some. I whet it exactly 10 times and it is so sharp that it compares to the pre-china-stainless steel of Old Schrade products ( Uncle Henry, Old Timer, etc) and the Old german Boker Treebrands , and yes its shaper than Cases in general. The sheath is made of heavy-duty nylon with a ballistic insert for safety and carrying reliability. It has a smart belt-loop in that the hilt lay 1 1/2 " below the top of the loop. It has two 1/4 " grommets on either end on either side of the sheath for various carry positions and configurations. It also has heavy stitching throughout. It has 2 heavy-duty black snaps to secure the knife itself in 2 differing positions. Its like a an Esee knife or a Tops knife on a budget price - mine was $83.

What made Hank Aaron so good? Consistancy! That has been my experience with Ontario knives too! Having the RD4 (no longer made) and the TAK1 I wanted a heavy duty beater. Presto the RD6! While the sheath is not super it is functional. Plus, I also swapped out the handle scales with new ones from The knife Connection. Yeah it was not super sharp out of the box either. That is no deal breaker. Not when you get a quality piece of steel for a reasonable price! My 'Choppa" Lol

Haven't bothered to measure the grind angle, but it isn't 40 degree inclusive(blade medic wont work). Sharpen it with a pocket stone instead. Its 5160, stays sharp after heavy use. Back of blade is good for a ferro rod, but you will have to strip a section of coating to make it work. Handle and micarta scales fit the hand perfectly, but I also wear XL gloves. With smaller hands you'll likely have to sand the scales down.

super solide

Very Good Quality, High Carbon 5160 Spring Steel Bushcraft Knife!! I absolutely LOVE this knife!! The RD-7 and 9 have been discontinued and that is a shame. Ontario seriously needs to work on their marketing skills because I didn't even know that there was an RD-7, but I know where there are 2 in stock and I will be getting one!! This knife is perfect for small tasks as well as a good chopper. I think the best thing about the Ranger Series is that you can totally customize them, like ditch the sheath and get a Kydex or leather sheath made for it. You could take a Dremmel and totally customize the Micarta scales by reprofiling them. The Blade on this knife is thick and stout, and since it is made with 5160, Spring steel used in vehicles, you can use it as a pry bar without breaking it because spring steel 5160 is flexible and won't break like stainless steel would. A great survival knife in my opinion ad I will be buying more for my bug out bag and friends!