The 5 inchers are favorites of mine for carry. Sometimes I'll grab a 4" or a 6" blade knife, but usually it will be a 5". Left to right we have the RAT Cutlery RC-5, Ranger RD-4 (which is really a 5"), Al Mar SERE Operator, Scrap Yard S5, SOG Team Leader, Swamp Rat Ratmandu, and Camillus AF Pilot Survival Knife.


The Team Leader is nice in Duratec 20cv, but the Zytel handle is way too rough textured for me, The SERE carries super flat and discreetly, cuts well, and is made of S30V steel, but like the SOG TL, it is not exactly a hard use knife. The Scrapper 5 is just about perfect. It is light, tough, has SR101 steel and has that most comfortable mudder Res C handle. It's my favorite of the light 5 inchers. The AF knife is an old favorite in 1095 with a leather washer handle, but it required some serious work to get a nice edge on it.

The RC-5 is a beast of survival knife, designed by AF SERE instructors. I find the large micarta handle to be very comfortable. Unlike most 5" blade knives, the RC-5 with its .25" thick saber ground blade of 1095 steel can chop. But it is heavy, over a pound, and that's a lot for a 5" knife. The Swamp Rat Ratmandu remains my favorite heavy 5" knife, not as heavy as the RC, but with a bit of heft. The micarta handle is perfect for my hand, and that SR101 steel takes and holds an edge very well. The Ranger is another overbuilt .25" thick monster of 5160 steel with micarta scales. It is heavier than the Ratmandu, but just a bit lighter than the RC-5. It's a good knife, but for some reason, I never carry it.

I used to carry my Dumpster Mutts, especially the Urban Mutt, but the mudder grip fits my hand so much better than the small Busse and SY handles, so I sold my mutts and gave them good new homes. My best lightweight 5" knife is not in the pics, but we all know what it looks like. It's my new Scrapper 5 LE. I sold my Busse BATAC. I just didn't like the feel of it. I haven't actually used the LE, but knowing that it will do everything the S5CG will do makes me pretty sure it is the best of the light weight fives.