Bladetech Ratel, first look, mini-lockback, Tim Wegner design.

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Jun 30, 2004
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I just received my new Bladetech Ratel from New Graham for roughly $25 including shipping. And like it's namesake, the African Honey Badger, the Ratel is small and tough. The frn handle looks like the same handle used on the Mouse lite, also a Tim Wegner design. Like the Mouse Lite, the Ratel blade is just 2" in length and is AUS8 steel. No weight given on New Graham's website. But on my scale, it comes in about 2 ounces, very light.

The Ratel has a clip point hollow ground blade compared to the Mouse's flat ground skinning blade.
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Update, new 2009 Bladetech sheet says it's flat ground. http://www.blade-tech.com/New-Products-c-324.html - click on "download 2009 catalog" and look at new 2009 products addendum- looks hollow ground to me. The bevel stops half way up. Thought flat grind meant spine to edge, no matter. It's a great knife with either grind.

The ergonomics of the Ratel are solid as well as its fit and finish. The knife, while small, is comfortable over a wide range of grips - sabre, hammer and reverse grip. There is virtually no blade play either vertical or horizontal. The reversible ambidextorous clip, screw construction, and lockback mechanism without a Boye Dent are all solid.

The strangest thing to me about the Ratel is the lack of information about this wonderful little knife. I ran into it by accident checking what was new on New Graham's website. But have been unable to learn anything about this great knife elsewhere. It's a Tim Wegner design, made in Taiwan, and imported to the US. Comes in pink, black and grey FRN handles. Beyond that I can't really find out much about it. I can only hope that this wonderful little knife shows up at more vendors while I await the much anticipated arrival of the G-10 Spyderco Dragonfly. Will try to get some more pics up in a few days along with some performance experience.

Verb
 
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Very interesting. Thanks for the heads-up. I like my Mouse Lite, but am not a huge fan of the blade shape / tip and have a feeling that I would use a Ratel a lot more.
 
Great looking small knife. I almost picked up a Mouse the other day.
I'll look into both now. Thank for the heads up.
 
Any chance of a picture of it closed so I can see the gap (if any) between the handle and the back of the blade? -- Bear
 
Ordered the pink one from new Graham last week, it will be perfect on my wife's keyring.
I choose it because I like so much my mouselite (440 C).
 
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