Ratmandu vs Flak Jack opinions

ironwagon

ironwagon

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Oct 23, 2015
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While there are so many reviews out there on the RMD there don't seem to be any on the FJ. They look pretty similar, besides the FJ a bit longer, but I am curious about what the owners of both have to say about the two. Too me, the FJ looks like a lil bro or cousin of the HR's. :)
Pics of them would be great to see as well!
 
I have a couple FJs, and a "couple" of RMDs... and variants. I like them both. Also an Axe Hammer. The Flak Jack and Axe Hammer have practically the same grip and scales. In fact, the sheath I have for the Axe Hammer fit the FJs. In any case, FJs balance well, are quite sharp, come from Busse with thinner edges than the RMD, and just feel bada$$. But, for some reason, I seem to prefer the RMD as a general working knife. I always felt the choil for the Axe Jacks was oversized. I understand why (I think). I think it is to accommodate individuals that are almost always wearing some kind of gloves (high-speed/low-drag guys?). But for me, it just swallows my index finger. And for the most part, I prefer fixed-blades with finger choils on them.

The RMD is, for me, that knife that can do just about anything. Some things better, some things not as good, but its size and heft will let it work its way through.

The FJ is just a little too long, balanced differently, and just SEEMS like it would be more of a fighter than a general-use blade, or survival knife.
 
Thanks for that brother! I seen an FJ listed on another site and have been debating if it was worth giving it a try. I like the RMD and have had quite a few, but just don't seem to hang on to them too long.:rolleyes: The different flavors keep me swimming:D
 
ironwagon said:
While there are so many reviews out there on the RMD there don't seem to be any on the FJ. They look pretty similar, besides the FJ a bit longer, but I am curious about what the owners of both have to say about the two. Too me, the FJ looks like a lil bro or cousin of the HR's. :)
Pics of them would be great to see as well!
Click to expand...
0358B687-81C6-4032-ABF4-5B55ED219E41.jpeg

Quick group shot :-)
 
Personally I don't care for the Flak Jack because the handle is extremely uncomfortable for me. Very tall and boxy. I actually preferred the cutting ability over the RMD but the handle was a deal breaker. The RMD is still a great blade though and with the comfy handle is a no brainer for me.
 
I cannot speak for the FJ. I do have a JH10 and love the feel of that handle. However the RMD is just perfect in my hand. I have a desert sage/black canvas RMD. It was my first Busse/kin blade. I can pick up all the blades in my collection one at a time, admiring their unique qualities. The res-c of the B8 and B11 are awesome in hand. The TGULB and TGLB are just cool and comfortable. The Infidu saber grind is just a little thin in the handle. The Infimandu FHFG has handle slabs that are a hair too blocky. Then I pick up that RMD and it just melts in my hand. It almost feels magnetized to my hand. It’s perfect.
I would like to see the RMD come back to the Swamprat site. I would grab another just like this as a backup.

68D56F6E-45B3-4B46-BF7A-9652BEBF77BE.jpeg
 
Thanks for the replies fellas!! I agree with y'all about how well the RMD feels in the hand and even with choil usage. It is big enough, but also small as well for a wide variety of applications. That's probably the reason that I keep coming back to them as they are a pretty bullet proof design overall. The Busse and kin are some of the best designed blades in the land and are so very addictive to keep "trying" out the different ones. If only they had a big store!!:thumbsup::cool::p:D:rolleyes:

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I went the opposite way a lotta folks did... I had a Flack Jack, but it just didn't do it for me, so I moved it on.
Awhile later, I grabbed my first RMD one of the new Mega RatManDus, and I'm in love with that porky little RAT!!!!
 
I want to like the Flak Jack, but it's just enough off for me to not really care for it as a whole. I found that while similar in appearance to RMD, it's a completely different beast and seriously a lot bigger in footprint. I do like the blade shape of the Flak Jack a lot though, but overall it's just a bit more than I want from a 'belt knife'. I say this being able to really put any knife on the belt, but I mean in the sense of something that will carry reasonably well for most people including myself.

Boss Jack is about the same blade length, for instance. This knife carried for me beautifully in my time spend EDC'ing it in years past, the handle being a small enough footprint makes big difference. RMD is about the same in this respect, but the FJ is just a little too much of a good thing for this. I'd see it working beautifully carried on some sort of plate carrier vest setup though, but I have no experience with this sort of kit. Also, the pommel can be a bit of a problem with the skull crusher and can cause injury to the person carrying it. This causes me to not want to carry anything with this feature personally.
 
I'm a big RMD fan and have too many.
I prefer the AXE Hammer blade or SJTAC to the Flak Jack it just looks aesthetically more pleasing too my eye . The scales don't have enough width for me it seems to thin. I'd love one with like Magnum scales . It would be near perfect IMO but I understand it's made that way for a reason.
 
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