Developed by survivalist enthusiast and knife advocate Doug Ritter, the Hogue DR RSK MK1 G2 series folding knives are a top choice for those looking for a rugged and reliable EDC and field companion
text by Dexter Ewing; photos by Marty Stanfield, Marty Stanfield Photography
There are numerous choices available for anyone looking for a single-blade locking folder for outdoor or general hard utility use. Honestly, there are countless brand options that are well-known and well-loved. Little wonder that choosing one out of many can be confusing.
Let me help.
The Hogue Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 G2 folder should be at the top of your list of folders to investigate. It’s a purpose-built folder that was designed by someone who has walked the walk and talked the talk.
Doug Ritter is a long-time survival enthusiast and noted authority worldwide on the subject matter. He has written numerous articles on survival optics and about knives in general; however, Ritter is best known for founding Knife Rights — the NRA equivalent for knives. Ritter and Knife Rights fight to help create laws in favor of responsible knife carry and ownership in the USA, and to ensure that knife owners everywhere are educated regarding knife laws.
Ritter came up with his own knife design that he would personally carry and use. He had a list of parameters or features that he found desirable in a working folder for outdoor survival use. These include:
- One-hand opening
- Locking blade with a secure and strong blade lock
- Pocket clip
- Fully ambidextrous (clip, lock, and blade opening)
- Traditional wide-chord drop-point blade shape, 3 to 3.5 inches long
- Composite non-slip handle/scales
- Effective finger guard
- Lanyard hole
- Premium grade stainless steel blade that holds an edge
- Quality construction beyond reproach
- Made in the USA
By working with existing products to develop his design, costs would be kept to a minimum. Ritter chose the handle from the Benchmade Griptilian because it fit all his required characteristics for a using folder. In 2004, Benchmade came out with the Ritter RSK Mk1. This folding knife design basically used the handle from the Benchmade Griptilian Axis Lock mated with a specially designed drop-point blade with a saber grind and made from premium CPM S30V stainless steel for maximum edge retention. The handle was rounded and had excellent ergonomics, and the use of Benchmade’s Axis Lock provided a rock-solid blade lock strong enough to withstand repeated heavy use yet was easy to release and close the blade one-handed. This special configuration was sold exclusively through Ritter’s website, Equipped To Survive. Those in the know, ordered one.
The Hogue Ritter RSK Mk1 G2 takes Ritter’s original folding knife concept to the next level by delivering improvements that make it more user friendly.
The most significant change is an upgrade in the handle material. Gone are the injection molded lightweight handles. Instead, Hogue uses G-10 or their own Gmascus (G-10 with two colors to create an exciting visual texture, sort of like Damascus). This gives the handle a more solid feel and a better in-hand grip quality.
The blade steel of the first Hogue versions was Bohler M390, then a switch to CPM 20CV, then finally a transition to CPM Magnacut, which they currently use. Magnacut offers unprecedented edge holding ability and is regarded as the best blade steel on the market now. The rest of the design pretty much remained the same as the Benchmade versions, retaining the crossbar lock because of its strength and ease of use.
Blade length is 3.4 inches for the regular size and 2.9 inches for the Mini version. The smaller one is great for EDC applications, and the larger one is a good field workhorse, leveraging its Magnacut steel and the excellent grip quality of the G-10/Gmascus material.
The handle is very comfortable. It’s rounded in profile and contoured so it fits the hand quite well. The milled-in ray pattern on the surface not only enhances the visual appearance of the knife but also helps in obtaining a non-slip grip in all weather conditions.
The integral lower hand guard helps to index your grip and prevent your hand from sliding forward. It also provides a point for you to choke your grip for added control.
I have used a fair share of folding knives on the market today, and I can attest that the grip of the Hogue Ritter RSK Mk1 G2 includes among the most comfortable handles I have ever used. It lays in your grip naturally and, due to the contour, it eliminates hot spots during extended use.
This is a user’s knife, I tell you!
The Mini RSK Mk1 G2 pretty much has all the advantages of the large one except with a more compact size that is more pocket friendly and exhibits a lower profile. If you need a good EDC folding knife that is built well, functions well, and will hold up, this is the knife for you. Because it is more compact, expect a lighter footprint. It is also good for those with smaller hands.
Regardless of what you cut with your Hogue Ritter RSK Mk1 G2, this is a highly efficient cutting tool that can handle any cutting task asked of it.
Whether you are a hunter, outdoorsman, DIYer, or a knife user who likes high performance knives, putting the Hogue Ritter RSK Mk1 G2s to work for you is a wise choice. The knives are available in multiple handle color options, including black or jade G-10, purple Gmascus, and green Gmascus. There’s also an automatic opening version as well.
