INFO
"I LOOOOOOVE my Ritter fixed blade. If you haven't purchased one yet, please consider doing so. From looks alone it is a beautiful knife (especilly the handle) with a very classy sheath (gray lettering on black - I like that it looks less military than the Becker sheath), but it also handles well and is sized just right, at least for my camping needs.
The handle is the part that surprised me. You've got to see it in person to really appreciated it. It is relatively smooth, but has real mild ridging that is both practical and beautiful. I have big hands (I'm 6'5" tall) and was concerned that the handle might be too small for me, but it feels great in my hand.
I should also mention that I'm happy with the low weight of the entire package. Since I'm usually carrying a fair amount of gear with me already I am not a fan of heavy knives." - Ken Kortge Grayslake, Illinois
The Doug Ritter RSK Mk3™ fixed blade is Doug's first fixed blade design to reach production and it is a direct descendant from the very successful RSK Mk1™ folder. The RSK Mk3™ is a medium-sized lightweight fixed blade with premium steel designed for practical survival, hunting and everyday utility use. The 4.5 inch (11.43 cm) CPM S30V blade is a bit over an inch longer than the full-size RSK Mk1™ folder, but is otherwise similar to that well-received design in many respects.
Doug's aim was to produce a practical utility, survival and hunting fixed blade with a superior level of performance at a price that would be, if not cheap, at least affordable, just like the original RSK Mk1™. "Good value" is what we strove for, in a fixed blade knife that you could bet your life on™.
After the remarkable success of the RSK Mk1™, enthusiasts almost immediately started asking for a fixed blade. Easier asked for than delivered, it turned out. But, like the folder, I was motivated by the thought of being able to recommend a lightweight fixed blade knife that I didn't have to make excuses for. There were very few lightweight fixed blades I could recommend and none without some reservations, particularly any that were affordable or on the smaller end of the size scale.
From my perspective, fixed blade knives designed for survival, utility and hunting use can be broadly divided into three categories, small, medium and large. "Small" fixed blades tend to be replacements for folders with blades from 2 - 3.5 inches for those that don't mind the carry restrictions of the required sheath and size compromises they entail and who prefer a fixed blade for the added strength and other attributes it brings to the table. "Medium" fixed blades run from 3.5 - 6 inches, on my scale, and I consider fixed blades over six inches to be "large."
The RSK Mk3™ falls into the middle of the medium range at 4.5 inches (11.43 cm) for the blade. I find this length ideal for most purposes, big enough to get the job done and it provides more utility than a typical folder, but not so big as to be overly bulky or heavy.
The RSK Mk3™ has proven adept at all the normal survival camp and hunting chores, such as making survival shelters, splitting wood for fires, skinning game and the like. It is just the right size, in my experience; a perfect compromise in size and weight between a typical folder carried for wilderness use, such as my RSK Mk1™, and a larger and much heavier fixed blade.
Conceptually, this knife falls between the lightweight Mora style fixed blade with its traditional Scandinavian narrow chord and thin blade, favored by many traditional survival instructors, and the 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.
The blade profile is once again the traditional drop point that I prefer with a wide chord that carries plenty of metal to the tip for strength. Despite using thicker steel than the RSK Mk1™, 0.140 inch (3.56 mm), the wide chord and high grind allowed us to keep virtually the same edge geometry that so many have found to make for such a great slicer. The thicker steel provides added strength and rigidity, but it isn't so thick that it favors brute strength over everyday functionality, like some larger and thicker survival and utility blades do. The high grind does trade-off some potential stiffness and ultimate strength that a lower grind might provide in exchange for better slicing ability, a practical compromise in my opinion.
There is enough belly to the blade, a wee bit more than the folder, so that it is adequate to use for dressing game, but not so much that it interferes with overall utility. The edge profile is very close to that of the RSK Mk1™ folder that has proven so popular with hunters and guides in Canada and Alaska where it has dressed out lots of moose, elk, caribou and the like.
Blade steel is the same superior Crucible CPM S30V high-carbon stainless steel we have used in the RSK Mk1™ folder. Our experience with this cutlery "super-steel" has been very good overall with well over 3,000 RSK Mk1™ knives in the field (as well many times that number of S30V Benchmade knives, to say nothing of Chris Reeve, Spyderco and others who have tens of thousands of these blades in the field undergoing plenty of hard use). It has lived up to the hype of superior edge-holding, toughness and corrosion resistance compared to other stainless cutlery steels. Prototypes of the RSK Mk3™ withstood considerable hard use in survival field testing without any problems surfacing.
The blade is hardened to Rc 58-60 where it keeps an edge extremely well while retaining sufficient toughness for the sorts of use this blade will see. Contrary to popular myth, I haven't found S30V difficult to sharpen using ceramic, diamond or even carbide sharpeners (I leave carbide for quick field sharpening as it doesn't produce as fine an edge as I prefer). For that matter, in order to test sharpen it beyond the occasional touch up, we had to actually dull it by abusing it. In normal use it's not needed anything more than a touch-up.
This knife will stand up to quite hard normal outdoors and survival use, including batoning to split wood, but it is not a "sharpened prybar" style knife, like a Becker, RAT or Busse. In exchange, this knife is quite a bit lighter for its length, only 5.7 ounces (161.6 g). Lighter weight means it is more likely to be carried, which in turn means is is more likely to be there when you need it. For pilots especially, weight is always a consideration, but anyone carrying a load any distance may appreciate a lighter weight tool. If you are interested in a big, heavy brute of a knife, this knife is not for you.
Please allow me a short rant: Just because a knife has "survival" in its description or name, doesn't mean it can withstand any absurd abuse some idiot comes up with. These are ridiculous and infantile expectations bred by over hyped marketing, Hollywood and ignorance. Rambo is not reality. You always need to respect the limitations of your tools. With rare exceptions, knives are not meant to serve as prybars or hammers. They are primarily cutting tools and lighter weight knives are primarily slicing tools. A lightweight knife will never be a replacement for a crowbar, axe or hatchet, though it may be quite capable of keeping you alive in virtually any situation. This is not to indict larger and heavier knives; they have their place and many prefer a larger knife. If you want to pry or chop with a knife, you definitely want a larger, heavier and thicker blade. Any knife can be broken or damaged, even those "sharpened prybars." The Doug Ritter RSK Mk3™ is a knife that will take care of you, if you take reasonable care of it and use it responsibly.
Blade (and tang) finish is my strikingly beautiful, but very practical "stonewashed" tumbled finish that also serves to seal the metal's pores for added corrosion protection and strength. The result is a subdued finish, but one that is smooth and just barely lustrous. The finishing media and process was designed expressly for me to get the exclusive finish quality I desired. This is a very subtle finish that is difficult to capture with the digital camera I have, it looks much better in the flesh. As many RSK Mk3™ users have discovered, this finish holds up very well and doesn't show minor scratches much at all. It's the perfect finish for a practical using knife.
The ergonomic handle shape is evolved from the RSK Mk1™ handle originally designed by Mel Pardue, with a slightly longer effective grip length and a bit wider to fill the hand better. Without the restrictions dictated by a folder's mechanical requirements, there is a true half guard, which eliminates the necessity for many of the other gripping artifices that help make the Griptilian folder so easy to hold onto, but which aren't necessary with the RSK Mk3™. A thumb ramp with eased light jimping (ridges) is integrated into the tang at the forward part of the handle and the jimping is carried forward on the spine for added control. The thumb ramp eases over onto the spine, eliminating any abrupt change that might be uncomfortable under hard use.
Without the pivot mechanism to deal with and a slim half guard, your hand is much closer to the blade edge, improving control for fine blade work. On this size knife I see no reason to give up any useful edge length to a full-sized finger choil with little appreciable gain.
There is no "bird's beak" or abrupt drop at the aft end of the handle as that tends to limit the size hand that would find this mid-sized knife comfortable. Someone with very large hands will still be able to use this knife with a full grip. There is enough downward curve and swell to the handle to ensure a good grip when pulling on the knife, even in slippery conditions.
The ergonomic sculpted black G-10 aircraft grade composite handles are three-dimensionally CNC machined with very shallow vertical ridges for a secure grip. The contours follow that of the Griptilian handle for the most part, but without the checkering. The multiple layers of the woven G-10 composite are very apparent with the three-dimensional machining and provides a touch of class to this otherwise very utilitarian knife. Proof, I suppose, that utility doesn't have to look dull or boring.
In heavy use without gloves, the smoother handles are less likely to raise a blister and will be more comfortable over the long haul. The full tang extends slightly past the end of the handle in case you need to hammer on it for added penetration, providing some protection for the scales. A lanyard hole sized to accept parachute cord is included. The handle scales are each attached with a pair of black coated Torx-head machine screws into press-fit brass tang inserts.
Balance is neutral, which is exactly what you want with this size knife. It will never be a chopper, it's not large enough or heavy enough, so no need to carry extra weight forward.
The sheath is black ballistic nylon, tactical style, with an ambidextrous molded plastic insert. It is fitted up for multiple carry options and is MOLLE compatible (but, is NOT designed for inverted carry). The Doug Ritter logo is embroidered on the face in dark gray thread for a subtle tone-on-tone effect (much less noticeable in real life than it appears in the photo). The retention strap has a snap closure and a reinforced thumb break for quick and easy release.
The front (left side) of the blade is laser-etched with my Doug Ritter mark and S30V. The reverse is laser etched with the Benchmade USA logo and model number.
The Doug Ritter RSK Mk3™ is made in the USA and is covered by Benchmade's Limited Lifetime Warranty and their exclusive Lifesharp® Service. The sheath is made in China.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Doug Ritter RSK™ Knife goes to support the non-profit Equipped To Survive Foundation.
OTHER INFO and FEEDBACK
"Have had the newest Ritter design for about 4 days now. When it first arrived, all I could think was "fugley", didn't look like I'd expected, better, a ginormous MK2 folder (3.5") design in a fixed blade (4.5") with G-10 scales and stonewashed blade finish.
The flat ground S30V blade looked like it was zero ground then finished with a very narrow primary grind on the edge. The result is a scary sharp edge that just melted through newsprint (no, I didn't touch it up when it arrived).
The G-10 scales complement the blade and handle extremely well. Just plain feels good without the bulk or hotspots of other designs. Just textured enough for a grippy feel.
The physical weight is great also (5.7 oz.), balances just a bit behind the half guard for perfect heft. Love the S30V. Full tang construction with a slight bulge at the lanyard hole perfect for hammering without bunging up the G-10 scales. Extended thumb ramp makes scalpel like cuts easy. Just enough blade belly to easily handle skinning or caping tasks.
The tactical molle style sheath is adequate with multiple rigging hook and loop style flaps. Sheath feels like it weighs nearly the same as the knife. Only dissapointment was the lack of a front loop to attach an additional multitool, folder, stone, etc. (going to attach a hook and loop strap around it to take care of this...).
Long story short I love the knive! Nice to have a FB knife in G-10 scales, with S30V steel, full tang construction, stone washed finished without having to pay custom prices $$$$$ Nice job Doug!"
"TJ"
Denver, Colorado
I LOOOOOOVE my Ritter fixed blade. If you haven't purchased one yet, please consider doing so. From looks alone it is a beautiful knife (especilly the handle) with a very classy sheath (gray lettering on black - I like that it looks less military than the Becker sheath), but it also handles well and is sized just right, at least for my camping needs.
The handle is the part that surprised me. You've got to see it in person to really appreciated it. It is relatively smooth, but has real mild ridging that is both practical and beautiful. I have big hands (I'm 6'5" tall) and was concerned that the handle might be too small for me, but it feels great in my hand.
I should also mention that I'm happy with the low weight of the entire package. Since I'm usually carrying a fair amount of gear with me already I am not a fan of heavy knives.
Ken Kortge
Grayslake, Illinois
I am extremely pleased with my RSK (series # 042). I used the knife heavily around camps in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area. There is nothing this knife can’t handle from slicing foodstuffs to fire-building. I appreciated the high, flat grind when I used the RSK to clean 5 fish. This is indeed a very nice tool.
Gary Freiermuth
Hastings, Minnesota
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