Anyone know the history of the TAK 1?

Discussion in 'ESEE® Knives and Gear' started by WOODSDEVIL, Feb 7, 2022.

  1. WOODSDEVIL

    WOODSDEVIL Member

    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    479
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Central California Coast
    I've always admired the OKC TAK 1, which I seem to recall having a RAT triangle emblem originally. I was wondering if anyone can give me the history of that model...is it the first RAT knife? When was it introduced? Was it a joint design by Jeff & Mike? I see there is a TAK 2 come out now. . .did Randall's have any input on that one? Thanks much for any info!
     
    The Marsh Gorilla likes this.
  2. shaneadams90

    shaneadams90 ESEE Knives Marketing Director Staff Member

    Messages:
    2,217
    Likes Received:
    7,361
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    30721
    Pretty sure that was a design by @Jeff Randall and @Mike Perrin .. that was before my time so maybe one of them will chime in at some point..
     
  3. erik

    erik Member

    Messages:
    727
    Likes Received:
    1,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.E. Kansas
    I don't remember the history of it - if it was designed before or after the split, but it was one of my favorite knives for quite a while, especially the D2 version.
    If ESEE had made one with no choil, I'd have been in heaven.
    the only difference I know of between the TAK1 & 2 is the wood scales instead of micarta.
     
  4. Mike Perrin

    Mike Perrin Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    569
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    USA
    We hate naming knives. It is always a chore. So the first in that line was the RTAK. SO we decided the next would be the TAK. And if we had followed suit the next one would have been the AK then the K but then what? SO we abandoned the idea after the TAK.)
    Mike
     
    Adventurer, Strigidae, erik and 2 others like this.
  5. Andy the Aussie

    Andy the Aussie Administrator of the Century Staff Member

    Messages:
    12,766
    Likes Received:
    18,541
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    I still have an RTAK around here somewhere. And a RAT5.... I need to find the 5 as I think it would make a good permanent addition to the gear box in my TLC.
     
    Strigidae likes this.
  6. Rustingshack

    Rustingshack Member

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    18
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Wyoming
    I've been lookin at the tak too. The utilitac have any relation? I got one and its a.nice little knife.
     
  7. Caleb O

    Caleb O Member

    Messages:
    1,262
    Likes Received:
    4,581
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Arizona
    Joe Pardue (Mel Purdue’s son) designed the OKC Utilitac. So guessing no relation to ESEE/RAT.
     
  8. anomad

    anomad Member

    Messages:
    161
    Likes Received:
    296
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    NC
    So where does an RTAK2 fit in? My example is a very good knife, regardless of pedigree.

    [​IMG]

    This time of year is great for doing some vegetation management. One of the things I enjoy is killing big ass vines growing up into the canopy. It works great for that. Cut out a section about eye level so you can see it's a dead vine.
    Just remember to spray down the blade if it's poison ivy you chop. They are a very woody thick and hairy vine when mature. I wear safety glasses when I think of it too. I need to be more disciplined about that.
     
    Strigidae likes this.
  9. erik

    erik Member

    Messages:
    727
    Likes Received:
    1,064
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    N.E. Kansas
    The Junglas is sort of an RTAK3 -- it had a few refinements that made it more comfortable to use, even though they weren't particularly easy to spot as a casual glance.
    OTOH the RTAK2 has been through several significant changes over the past 10 years -- different steels, different thicknesses - so it's not really the same knife it was when they split.
     
    The Marsh Gorilla and anomad like this.

Share This Page