ESEE Avispa vs Rat1 in D2

J

JustSomeGuy

Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
535
I'm trying to decide between the Avispa and the Rat1. I'm leaning towards the Avispa because of the framelock and the fact that it's thinner, but I've seen some reports of sticky locks on the Avispa. Is that a widespread issue, or is it just the usual vocal minority inflating the problem?
 
I don't own either knife, but I've heard for years the Rat-1 is a great knife for the money.
 
I've owned both, multiple times. The Avispa is much wider closed but thinner. I find the blade of the Avispa to be more useful. But the Avispa is uncomfortable to hold open with the pocket clip on. The rat is not a bad knife but too thick in the blade and tend to split oranges instead of slicing, bit thick and heavy to carry also.

If you are looking at a long and thin FFG folder there are a lot of better options. Check out Ruike 801, absolutely amazing for $30.
 
Theres a pocket clip issue with the avispa. With the knife set up for right hand tip up carry the pocket clip puts a lot of pressure on the lockbar. I ended up lightly filing the detent ball and it fixed the issue for me.
 
There is a problem with the pocket clip resting on the Lock bar on the avispa. Also, I found it to be too thin and uncomfortable for outdoor use, the lock bar was a little sticky and difficult to disengage.

I haven't had a Rat 1, so I don't know about the comfort of carrying one. I did have a Rat 2 and it had great ergonomics.

I would prefer the Rat 1 over the Avispa any day.
 
A picture always makes a thread better. I find larger handles more comfortable. Weight is a non issue for me.

ZyAVCo1.jpg
 
I significantly prefer the Rat 1 to the Avispa. That said, I like the Zancudo a lot better than the Rat 2. Strange world.

Two other alternatives would be the aforementioned Ruike P801 if you don't mind 14c28n rather than D2 and the Steel Will Cutjack if you dig a flipper and can spend a few bucks more.

Seriously, the $30-50 price range seems to have gotten crazy competitive in the last year or two.
 
I bought a RAT 1 because of all the great things you hear about it here. Great knife, smooth and good ergonomics!
 
The blade of the Rat1 is thinner than the bade of the PM2 or the Manix 2. Mine is a great slicer. Very good ergonomics and solid lockup with smooth function, including flicking, and good fit and finish. A bit heavy at five and a half ounces, but I have the limited edition with g10 scales. Fine knife knife.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I significantly prefer the Rat 1 to the Avispa. That said, I like the Zancudo a lot better than the Rat 2. Strange world...
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Same here. I like the blade shape and frame lock of the Avispa, but it just feels too thin in hand. It might carry better for you though. Also, I took the pocket clip off of my Avispa, but prefer the Zancudo with the pocket clip.

Personally, I don't like how far the blade edge is from where my finger rests behind the guard on both knives with a hammer grip.
 
Interesting observation for me, I wonder how many of those sticky lock complaints are from people carrying tip up. This would not be a concern for me, as I carry tip down.
 
I own both and find the Avispa great for everyday carry since it's so thin and easy to carry. If I was doing a lot of outdoor work I would use my Rat-1 as the handle is more comfortable.
 
If light/slim EDC is a concern, you can always get a Rat 2. If not, get the Rat 1, extremely good quality materials and finish for a $30 knife, one of the best I've seen. I own both and rotate them in daily carry, though I've not tried the Avispa so cannot offer a comparison.
 
I had a couple rat 1 knives. They were amazing slicers.

My only complaint was they were AUS8, which I could make silly sharp with ease, but needed constant edge maintenance compared to my s30v knives.

Now that they have a D2 option, I might give it a try, but I'll be drilling the liners out if I do to get the thing lighter because they are bricks in stock form, but the liners are solid with no lightning.
 
I saw a YouTube user video where he make abused use of Rat 1 and Spyderco Tenacious. I believe the Rat 1 steel is Aus-8, pretty similar to Tenacious 8CrMov13. I don’t know D2.
 
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brasileiro said:
I saw a YouTube user video where he make abused use of Rat 1 and Spyderco Tenacious. I believe the Rat 1 steel is Aus-8, pretty similar to Tenacious 8CrMov13. I don’t know D2.
Click to expand...

Watching that chap brings this image to mind. It is interesting, nonetheless. The Rat-1 took a lot of lateral force at the end.

I have both the Rat-1 and Avispa, both in AUS8. The pocket clip issue aside (I just took the damn thing off the Avispa), the Avispa is a very slicy blade indeed. It works very well for fine food prep. On the other hand, the Rat-1 is a much more comfortable handle, to me at any rate. In D2, the Rat-1 would be pretty hard to beat, although the AUS8 is very well done, again only in my opinion.

If I were taking one folder camping and had a good fixed blade, I might be tempted by the Avispa, purely for food prep. But if I had to take only one knife, and it was a choice between these two folders, regardless of steel, it would be the Rat-1. The Avispa is just more uncomfortable to use for prolonged periods, and I can live quite well without fine julienne vegetables. YMMV ;)

BTW, what the bleeding heck were they thinking with that Avispa clip?! That is the sort of mistake that would cost most people their job...
 
The Avispa is a good slicer indeed, I sliced off the tip of my thumb last week with it lol. I had it to a mirror edge and it cut so fast I didn’t realize it.
 
Resurrecting an old one. Yes, the Avispa carries better. Feels better in pocket when you're NOT using it. Rat-1 feels better in use.

Agree about the clip on the Avispa. If they could have designed it to contact the frame 3-4 mm lower, to touch the frame UNDER the frame lock, rather than resting ON the frame lock, it would be fine. It's a serious design flaw that could and SHOULD have been remedied early in production, and would have required little more than a slight shift in the clip mounting holes.
 
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