Hi, I'm trying to decide between the Ontario Knives RAT 5 or RAT 7. Is there anything that would be A LOT easier with the RAT 7 that I could not do with the RAT 5? I'm leaning toward the 5 because it is 2007, and I don't feel comfortable walking around with a 12" knife on my side - the rat 5 will draw enough attention. But if the rat 7 is by far a better all around survival/camping knife, then I would go with that. What are your thoughts?
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5" or 7" fixed blade?
- Thread starter MaineEdge
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Personally, I would choose the 5" (or smaller) knife for general carry. I don't feel a 7" blade really gives enough leverage/weight advantage in chopping or slashing to make it worthwhile. Mid-length knives are kind of "too much of one, not enough of the other". Heavy work calls for a bigger knife, a machete, a hatchet or tomahawk. The smaller knife will be handier for most uses and as you mentioned, might not draw as much unwanted attention as a larger blade.
If it's your only knife, and it's for wilderness type of carry, I'd go with the Rat7. It can do some modest chopping. Just yesterday I pounded it through a 3 inch cherry branch, all the way through. No problem, took about 5 to 7 good whacks. The extra inches give you a little more spine and a little more front weight.
If you already have a larger chopper for the bigger tasks, then the Rat5 should be fine. If this is your one single wilderness knife, get the Rat7.
If it's EDC, I'd look for something else as both are going to appear a bit hefty for walking through the local shopping Mall.
I really don't believe you will be hiding the Rat 5 from sight, they are pretty much going to look the same in their sheaths, while on your side.
If you already have a larger chopper for the bigger tasks, then the Rat5 should be fine. If this is your one single wilderness knife, get the Rat7.
If it's EDC, I'd look for something else as both are going to appear a bit hefty for walking through the local shopping Mall.
I really don't believe you will be hiding the Rat 5 from sight, they are pretty much going to look the same in their sheaths, while on your side.
I second the RAT 5, you dont need 7" in most cases. 5" will still give you enough blade for some light battoning in a survival situation but wont draw nearly as much attention on the street. If you look around you will find that the most popular baldes have a blade size anywhere from 3-5 inches.
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I own both the RAT-5 and the RAT-7, so here is a brief comparison:
RAT-5 relative pros against the RAT-7
1. It is a more comfortable carry.
2. It is more balance neutral.
3. The five is easier to manipulate with its shorter blade.
4. The sheath pocket is just as large as on the 7.
5. There is a "skull crusher" or "glass penetrator" on the end of the tang if that floats your boat.
RAT-7 relative pros against the RAT-5
1. The longer blade is better for batoning than the 5.
2. One can more easily and safely get two hands on the blade for something like scraping.
3. The blade is not as stubby, so it probably penetrates a little better.
4. It can do light chopping, and though not ideal, better so than the 5.
5. The end of the tang is rounded, and therefore a much better hammer than the 5.
I view the 5 as a fighting/utility blade and the 7 as a utility/fighting blade, if that makes any sense.
In 1095, I think I like the 7 better. If the 5 came in D2, that'd be my favorite.
RAT-5 relative pros against the RAT-7
1. It is a more comfortable carry.
2. It is more balance neutral.
3. The five is easier to manipulate with its shorter blade.
4. The sheath pocket is just as large as on the 7.
5. There is a "skull crusher" or "glass penetrator" on the end of the tang if that floats your boat.
RAT-7 relative pros against the RAT-5
1. The longer blade is better for batoning than the 5.
2. One can more easily and safely get two hands on the blade for something like scraping.
3. The blade is not as stubby, so it probably penetrates a little better.
4. It can do light chopping, and though not ideal, better so than the 5.
5. The end of the tang is rounded, and therefore a much better hammer than the 5.
I view the 5 as a fighting/utility blade and the 7 as a utility/fighting blade, if that makes any sense.
In 1095, I think I like the 7 better. If the 5 came in D2, that'd be my favorite.
I like my 4’’ knifes as much is i like my 7’’ ones. When on a outdoor trip I belt-carry a 3'' or 4’’ one. But if SHTF a 7’’ or larger knife will be handy for making a quick shelter and chopping fire wood (and fight off those nasty grizzly bears
) You can do the same with a 4’’ and the saw of a SAK, it takes a bit more time but is also a lot safer.
Go for the RAT-5 for walking around and get a chopper for playing around! Also think about the Ontario TAK, made more for outdoor-use and less for war like the RAT-5 does. IMO a BK7 is a better option then the RAT-7 but that is a discussion that already takes years…
) You can do the same with a 4’’ and the saw of a SAK, it takes a bit more time but is also a lot safer. Go for the RAT-5 for walking around and get a chopper for playing around! Also think about the Ontario TAK, made more for outdoor-use and less for war like the RAT-5 does. IMO a BK7 is a better option then the RAT-7 but that is a discussion that already takes years…
powernoodle
Power Member
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I am fortunate to own both. Note that the same handle is used on each knife, so after first getting used to the RAT7, the RAT5 seems to have a smallish blade/handle ratio, if that makes sense. Also note that the sheaths are either identical in size or very close. A sheathed RAT5 is pretty much the same size as a sheathed RAT7.
Purely subjective, but I find the 7 to have better feel and balance. I suspect that someone smarter than me would opine that the larger blade of the 7 would be superior for chopping, receiving a baton strike, etc.
cheers
I would agree with skunk. If its your only knife for wilderness "stuff" then definetly go for the RAT 7. But if you al ready have a hatchet, or a Bigger knife, than get the RAT 5. I carry a BK7, and a victorinox Fireman which is for my smaller cutting tasks. The BK7 is for the larger stuff, When I dont feel Like carrying the axe.
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I'd go with the 5. Although I really like my Becker 7, I usually carry a 4" fixed blade when I wear a knife. Chopping will lean in favor of the rat7, but not enough to sway my opinion. Besides, there are much easier ways to shorten a stick, than chopping it with a 7" blade.
I will be carrying the knife on my belt for hiking, camping, and hunting (will attach it to a pack when I have one). I don't know if I will ever need a knife for heavy chopping, as dead dry wood is easy to find in the northeast. Would a RAT 7 really batton or chop that much better than a RAT 5 or a TAK? I will also always have one of my EDC knives, probably with a 3" blade for smaller work. So I don't know how big to go with my fixed blade. I don't want to hike with a big heavy knife in plain site (its 2007), but if I will already have a smaller blade for fine chores like skinning or preparing food, and making small tools, then what size fixed blade would be the most useful?
The 7 will certainly Baton better as the wood gets thicker merely due to length.
Take for instance, a 4 inch diameter piece of wood.
If you bury the Rat7 into it, hilt against the log, you have a full 3" of tip area to pound once it's buried deeper than it's width.
With the Rat5, you will have 1 inch of blade tip sticking out.
But, figure out what your top 3 uses will be. Then go from there.
To your points, they will be relatively the same size, and if you are hiking camping no one is gonig to pay attention...OR...if they are the type that would pay attention to it, both will get their attention equally.
The 7 gives you more blade, a little more chop for the buck.
Only your uses will dictate what's best.
You really can't go wong with either.
I have the answer: GET BOTH!! :thumbup: :thumbup:
Take for instance, a 4 inch diameter piece of wood.
If you bury the Rat7 into it, hilt against the log, you have a full 3" of tip area to pound once it's buried deeper than it's width.
With the Rat5, you will have 1 inch of blade tip sticking out.
But, figure out what your top 3 uses will be. Then go from there.
To your points, they will be relatively the same size, and if you are hiking camping no one is gonig to pay attention...OR...if they are the type that would pay attention to it, both will get their attention equally.
The 7 gives you more blade, a little more chop for the buck.
Only your uses will dictate what's best.
You really can't go wong with either.
I have the answer: GET BOTH!! :thumbup: :thumbup:
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- 3,330
The Rat 7 is really the RAT 6.5. Held side by side, the profile is not dramatically larger for the 7 than the five. I still maintain the 7 is the more utilitarian piece, especially for its rounded tang.
And yes, on the wet deadfall that you find and rip the heart out of in the wet PNW woods, an extra 1.5 inches gives one the option of more quickly processing bigger timber. When splitting some soggy deadwood it is sometimes very advantageous to have a good portion of the blade sticking out of the wood so that the blade can still be effectively batoned.
Don't get me wrong, I love both, have both, and will keep both, but it really boils down to what you expect to use one or the other for. It's all preference because they are both great tools and great values.
And yes, on the wet deadfall that you find and rip the heart out of in the wet PNW woods, an extra 1.5 inches gives one the option of more quickly processing bigger timber. When splitting some soggy deadwood it is sometimes very advantageous to have a good portion of the blade sticking out of the wood so that the blade can still be effectively batoned.
Don't get me wrong, I love both, have both, and will keep both, but it really boils down to what you expect to use one or the other for. It's all preference because they are both great tools and great values.
The tip is actually even with the end of ruler, it's the angle of the pic that makes it look a little off.
