First Impressions Rat 1

afishhunter

afishhunter

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Messages
14,420
I finally broke down and bought a RAT 1.
It has a satin finish plain edge AUS 8 blade.
Green FRN scales/covers.
I bought it at my local Walmart.

I must admit I am impressed.
It feels as sturdy as my Buck 110 and Old Timer 7OT and 6OT.

The blade is centered, and has no wobble in any direction, opened or closed.
It was also sharp enough to shave arm hair, out of the hang package.

I have not used it very much yet, just whittled a feather stick so far.
I believe it will meet my needs for a folding hunting and camping knife.
It should also be a wee bit easier to clean post deer than my 110 and Old Timers are.
(No, I have no intentions nor desire to take it apart.)

Next Ontario purchase will be the 499 JPSK. :)
 
Nice score. One of my favorites. Would be neat if Wally World picked up some other Ontario folders.
 
By the way, since we have a small and medium Rat, how bout a large? I am thinking about a 4” blade with slightly beefier liners. Would anyone else be on board for that?
 
Congrats on the Rat-1!

If you really want to try the same folder in better blade steel, the rat1 in d2 is 37.95 at knifeworks
The smaller 3” rat 2 in D2 is 32.95! The d2 steel holds an edge forever it seems!

Hope the 499 works out—the leather will need to be treated as it comes unstained, like the 498. Some neetsfoot oil or some other leather protection product will give it that professional look. I think the Air Force trusted their pilots to put the work into it, whereas the marine corps and us army was taking no chances on handing unfinished leather to a grunt or leatherneck!
 
Yonose said:
Congrats on the Rat-1!

If you really want to try the same folder in better blade steel, the rat1 in d2 is 37.95 at knifeworks
The smaller 3” rat 2 in D2 is 32.95! The d2 steel holds an edge forever it seems!

Hope the 499 works out—the leather will need to be treated as it comes unstained, like the 498. Some neetsfoot oil or some other leather protection product will give it that professional look. I think the Air Force trusted their pilots to put the work into it, whereas the marine corps and us army was taking no chances on handing unfinished leather to a grunt or leatherneck!
Click to expand...
The 499 will work out. I had one back in the mid 60's to mid 70's. I have no idea what happened to it after I graduated High School.
After looking at the Walmart version today, I'm going to pass on that one. I want the full military version.
 
Glad you're liking it! The Rat 1 is just a well designed knife that punches above it's paygrade. Glad to see it getting more competition from brands like Ruike and Steel Will, but it still holds up just fine.
 
afishhunter said:
The 499 will work out. I had one back in the mid 60's to mid 70's. I have no idea what happened to it after I graduated High School.
After looking at the Walmart version today, I'm going to pass on that one. I want the full military version.
Click to expand...

I didn’t know Walmart sold the 499. If you look around, at least 1 website has the real deal for about $30 I believe. What I meant to say was, I hope that you enjoy it! Of course, I know you will! I’ve got quite a few OKC knives, one I don’t have that’s based on an original is the trench knife, Mark1 I think it’s called?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top