Surprise him the Ratmandu and include a note that if would like something different from your options that he can trade, no hard feelings. If it were me, I would take the 511. I like the ratmandu, but unknown and/or extreme temps plus extra weight make Res-c my go to.

While the regulartor is bad-a and the 711 is a nice camp knife, both are far too big and heavy IMO.

i voted for R6... proabably more because that's what I want but if i have to carry one around all day probably be the RMD or 511. 5" seems to be plenty of blade for heavy utility/edc tasks without the extra mass getting in the way for lighter task like cutting a string or something. I also think that 5" of razor sharp 101 sees more than capable of making a mess of anything that needed making a mess of...

From the choice you have given I'd go with R6. Size is about perfect, IMHO, and it's going to take on just about everything. If going with res-c I'd probably suggest the War Dog, big enough for utility tasks an seem so be just the right if it ever came to falling back to a knife in a fight...

I would also agree that if the War Dog was included in the vote I would have chosen it in a heartbeat... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

my mo five eleven is a great knife........ but if he has large hands or gloves on the handle could be to small. my impact gloves are size medium so i dont have big hands but with the light weight gloves the handle is to small.

I voted 511. I have never served but I do wear a tac vest and gear much the same. I don't want any more weight than I have to for a knife that will be carried a lot and used seldom. Yes the handle is too small for me as well but that makes it take up less room and it gets in the way less. That is the reason why I personally carry a Yadkeeper Combat Grade. I have a friend who went to Iraq and a mutual friend gave him a YardHook I think. He said it stayed in his ruck attached to the personnel carrier for his whole tour. Too heavy for daily carry and he is a big guy.

I emailed a friend's son from the 10th Mountain (I think I remembered that right) in Afghanistan and he advised that most of his unit carry knives in the 4-light and thin 6 inch range. FYI

I voted Rodent 6, though I just got mine, but I would let him choose which one works best for him. That said, it has enough length, not too heavy, and when I served, we abused the heck out of our knives, so the hard pommel is likely a plus.

Thanks for all your responses. I will be ordering a spec ops sheath for the Swamp Rats and make up a tan kydex for the muddy 511, and let him choose. He is on the short side, so the 511 will probably fit well. The Ratmandu may be the best compromise for all around utility. The R6 might be my choice, If I was him. But it will be up to him.

good call and thank him for his service from all of us here at the yard.

Indeed!

Good plan Hooker, I would say the two top choices are the RMD and the R6.

And Yes, tell him from a Retired Chairman (AF) Thanks for his willingness to go into harms way from all of us.

Oh, by the way, with the changes you made to the choil of the 511, the size issue of the handle is less important.
I did something similar, and it improved the knife by a huge margin!