Fallkniven F1 or RAT-5

S

Squeezymo

Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
315
Ok, I apologize for this thread it is probably the third on this subject, but push came to shove, and I need to make a decision on this within 1-2 days. My old camp/hike knife is out of commission and I need a new one to go hiking in a week and a half. Good thing is, I have finally narrowed down my decision to 2 choices. I will try to make it simple.

I am going to get the Fallkniven F1 or the Ontario RAT-5. I will be using this knife for camping/hiking/survival/protection (not from people, but from mountain lions. There are a bunch up here)

Fallkniven F1:
Pros:
-Good steel
-Great reputation
-Convex blade (good because I have no sharpening experience)
-Good price

Cons:
- Blade a bit small 3.88" (Protection issue)
-Convex edge (I don't want to screw it up and not be able to resharpen it)

Ontario RAT-5
Pros:
-Perfect size
-Pretty good steel (so I assume)
-Great price (slightly cheaper)
-Great looking sheath for vertical carry

Cons:
-Notches on top of blade go too far, uncomfortable for push cuts
-Not much feedback on this blade

Ok, you guys faithfully will help me make this decision. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave your opinions on both knives instead of saying just one is great. But hey, I'll appreciate as much input as possible, seeing as I'm going to place my order tonight! :eek: For some reason I'm leaning towards F1 because... it seems to have a magic to it

Thank you guys.

-Squeezy
 
since no one has replied yet I guess I will drop my 2 cents.
My cousin has the RAT-5 and loves it. But the micarta handles are a bit squarish in the hand though beefier than the slimmer handle of the F1.

The F1 will insulate your hand better in the cold.

RAT is really good about replacing your knife if it ever has any problems -- I know that.

I agree there is a sort of magic to the F1 but there is also a kind of ruggedness to the RAT-5 that I like as well.

RAT sheath really isn't all that great -- cousin's seam is coming undone in a corner and hasn't been long at all. But I am sure RAT will do something about that if he writes them.

Just some thoughts to chew on.
 
Well.Other than the blade length there's the type of steel.The rat 5 is carbon steel where the F1 is stainless.If your going to spend a long time in damp or salty areas the Stainless F1 would be a better choice.I have both knives and really love each of them.So terrain should be the best deciding factor.
I don't carry either as a primary knife.I carry them as a back-up to a larger knife that I would use in such dire circumstances.
Though, the S1 would be a closer match to the Rat-5 in terms of blade shape and size.
 
Hmm, good responses. I will be in Arizona. Not much water here, rust isn't that much of an issue.
 
If rust isn't that much of an issue, I'd go with the RAT 5.

I have an F1 (and an S1), and the F1 is IMO a bit on the small side for an all around camp knife.

And the Ontario is a very good blade.
I have a RAT 7; and had a TAK1, RAT3, and RTAK II and can personally vouch for the
toughness and quality of these knives.
 
Wow this is the exact opposit of what I expected, I figured more people would vouch for the F1. Well the tides have turned!

I still will wait for more responses but now the RAT looks a lot better
 
Have you considered the Fallkniven S1? Same good quality as the F1, but with a longer blade.
 
Jos said:
Have you considered the Fallkniven S1? Same good quality as the F1, but with a longer blade.
Click to expand...

Possibly, but it's a little more expensive

In addition I have heard the S1 is a bit unwieldy. I considered that but the feedback on the S1 wasn't as good as the ffedback on the F1 for some reason
 
I would go with the F1. I don't think relying on a knife against mountain lions is a very good idea - bring a firearm if you can. If you can't, then I don't think one inch of blade length is going to make an enormous difference. The F1, in my opinion, has a much better design than the RAT. That ridiculous choil on the RAT is the antithesis of good knife handle ergonomics - the F1 on the other hand, doesn't have such a hindrance to effective use on it. About the sheaths, I don't see how the RAT's cordura sheath is any better - if anything, it's a little fragile. The F1 has some options on the sheaths, and the leather ones are the ones you don't want if you intend to do some tip up carry tricks.

The steel on the RAT is good, tried and true 1095. It does rust pretty easily, though. Go with what you feel fits you best. If you're the kind of guy who likes choils on small to medium knives, then go for the RAT. If you're looking for a more practically designed knife, then it's the F1, if you ask me.
 
Elen said:
I would go with the F1. I don't think relying on a knife against mountain lions is a very good idea - bring a firearm if you can. If you can't, then I don't think one inch of blade length is going to make an enormous difference. The F1, in my opinion, has a much better design than the RAT. That ridiculous choil on the RAT is the antithesis of good knife handle ergonomics - the F1 on the other hand, doesn't have such a hindrance to effective use on it. About the sheaths, I don't see how the RAT's cordura sheath is any better - if anything, it's a little fragile. The F1 has some options on the sheaths, and the leather ones are the ones you don't want if you intend to do some tip up carry tricks.

The steel on the RAT is good, tried and true 1095. It does rust pretty easily, though. Go with what you feel fits you best. If you're the kind of guy who likes choils on small to medium knives, then go for the RAT. If you're looking for a more practically designed knife, then it's the F1, if you ask me.
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Hmm that is true the choil is a little outrageous.

And a note about the mountain lion thing. That is the least determenant factor in the knife choice. I haven't been attacked by a mountain lion before, nor do I plan to, but the extra inch in blade length would be for mental security.

excellent site reccomendation, rifon2 :thumbup:
 
Elen said:
I would go with the F1. I don't think relying on a knife against mountain lions is a very good idea - bring a firearm if you can. If you can't, then I don't think one inch of blade length is going to make an enormous difference. The F1, in my opinion, has a much better design than the RAT. That ridiculous choil on the RAT is the antithesis of good knife handle ergonomics - the F1 on the other hand, doesn't have such a hindrance to effective use on it. About the sheaths, I don't see how the RAT's cordura sheath is any better - if anything, it's a little fragile. The F1 has some options on the sheaths, and the leather ones are the ones you don't want if you intend to do some tip up carry tricks.

The steel on the RAT is good, tried and true 1095. It does rust pretty easily, though. Go with what you feel fits you best. If you're the kind of guy who likes choils on small to medium knives, then go for the RAT. If you're looking for a more practically designed knife, then it's the F1, if you ask me.
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I agree that I definitely wouldn't count on a blade against a big cat. lol I guess it's better than nothing though.

I strongly disagree about the handle ergonomics on the RAT-5. I couldn't like it more. For me it's the prefect size, shape, and everything else for a woods blade. Love it. Sheath is a hunk of crapola though.
 
JackBauer24 said:
I strongly disagree about the handle ergonomics on the RAT-5. I couldn't like it more. For me it's the prefect size, shape, and everything else for a woods blade. Love it. Sheath is a hunk of crapola though.
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Yeah, I should've chosen my words a little more carefully. The handle of the RAT-5 itself isn't bad at all in my opinion. The ergonomics only go bad when you choke up on the choil - then, they're awful. Well, of course, one can choose to not choke up on the choil - but then, things you're trying to cut will invariably get stuck in the choil, very annoyingly, and your precision will suffer because the cutting edge starts very far away from where your hand is. That's the problem with choils, really.
 
okay I don't want to take this thread in a different direction but it is relevant to the RAT-5 question.
I am having trouble understanding how many seem to find the choil on knives such as the RAT-5 or SRKW Howling Rat useless or a nuisance. I choke up on my Howling Rat for smaller whittling tasks, etc. And keep my hand on the handle for stronger cuts and batons. What am I missing? It would be cool if someone who is in the non-choil camp could post pics or something of how it can be awkward to use.
A friend of mine was trying to explain to me that choils are a waste of edge because "that's not where you put your finger for the most effective use anyway." This guy knows his knives, but I still don't get it!
I always thought this was a plus the RAT-5 has over the F1, at least for me...
 
OK... I promised I wouldn't do this, but now I may change my purchase to the S1 for $20 extra, seeing as I may get the best of both worlds. I just don't know if my order will come with a sheath that has tip-up compatability.

It's near imperative I have a secure sheath, and preferably tip-up. I do a lot of hiking and climbing, and need a solid sheath for that, and if I wear the knife on my pack strap, tip up, it will protect the knife better.

Seems to me F1 is too small and Rat-5 has the choil that I didn't factor in. i don't think I'd like that thing.
 
Squeezymo said:
OK... I promised I wouldn't do this, but now I may change my purchase to the S1 for $20 extra, seeing as I may get the best of both worlds. I just don't know if my order will come with a sheath that has tip-up compatability.

It's near imperative I have a secure sheath, and preferably tip-up. I do a lot of hiking and climbing, and need a solid sheath for that, and if I wear the knife on my pack strap, tip up, it will protect the knife better.

Seems to me F1 is too small and Rat-5 has the choil that I didn't factor in. i don't think I'd like that thing.
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The S1 is definitely a great choice.
It'll do everything you need it to, and more.

Razor sharp convexed edge, virtually indestructible blade, reasonably comfortable handle (handle comfort is obviously a subjective thing) -
a real winner in my book.

It's available with a couple of different sheaths, one of which should suit your purposes re tip-up carry.
 
meh. I just don't like the handle on the S1.

On an unrelated and likely pointless note, my fire steel fits through the lanyard hole on my RAT5 to the point of making hella sparks. lol
 
The S1 is my personal carry knife in the woods.It has been with me on every trip for the last 2 years without any complaints.I carry mine in a spec-ops combat commander sheath as I wasn't too hot on the stock sheath.That and I like to carry a multi-tool ans a lighter with me as well.
 
Squeezymo said:
Ok. I am going with the S1 for a little extra because of the sheath option and the "best of both worlds" thing.

Two sites I can order from:
$114.95 random site I've never heard of:
http://premiumknives.com/ShopSite/Fallkniven_S1SK_Forest_Knife.html

$126.95 from Knifecenter
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=SWEDS1K


Should i go with cheaper site, or $10 extra site that I've heard of?

the cheaper site comes with 2 sheaths but requires 10-14 days shipping
Click to expand...

I highly recommend www.newgraham.com as well as www.knifecenter.com
Both are terrific, reliable dealers.

(I'd avoid premiumknives)
 
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