First RAT

Liveitloud

Liveitloud

Joined
Jul 1, 2006
Messages
2,901
So I have been lurking around for awhile and have been interested in ESEE knives. I figured it would be another fixed blade that I would pull out and go "eh" it's okay. Well I scored an older RAT-3 in D2 of the exchange a few days ago and it came yesterday. I really like this knife. Still reading and learning so I guess this is the old Ontario Randall knife. I have never seen so many names surround a knife company. :)

Anyway this knife is awesome. I was surprised at the compact, thin width of the knife. It really carried easily and I have finally found a knife I can tote around at work without getting stared at like I have 9 heads. Knife came pretty sharp and fits in the Kydex sheath very well. Took a quick crappy shot with the cell phone. Will take more pics when I have time. Sorry for the quality.

Rat2.jpg
 
Great knife designed by RAT but made by Ontario.

Kind of confusing at first, which was part of the name change to ESEE Knives. People confused the Ontario RAT and RAT Cutlery.
 
I'm sure you'll enjoy your new knife. But I have both the RAT-3 (D2 also) and the ESEE 3 (1095 -- all the ESEE's are 1095, IIRC).
IMHO, the fit and finish on the ESEE is better (especially the blade coating).

The only thing for you to do now is get the ESEE 3 and compare for yourself!
 
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Congrats! I'd suggest you get an izula-II if you like that, then get a 4 and a 5!

Also, if you like serrations get a 3 serrated! I just did!
 
Funny you would mention it but I have already been looking at them. I want something to bang around in the woods and I think the 1095 might take the abuse a bit better than the D2. They tend to be a bit more brittle for a lack of a better term. This knife really does feel solid though.

Took it to work and opened up some boxes, broke some strapping material and tore up some zip ties. It's a knife I definitely get the feel that I don't have to baby it. I cut up some chicken a bit ago with it and was surprised how easily it sliced. I figured I would get some drag from the coating on the blade but got none at all.

As I was looking around today I noticed that they sell a metal clip to go on an Izulu sheath. Does anyone know if it would adapt to the 3? It seems wider and stronger and might not create as much back and forth movement as I am getting with the plastic clip.
 
Liveitloud [/QUOTE]As I was looking around today I noticed that they sell a metal clip to go on an Izulu sheath. Does anyone know if it would adapt to the 3? It seems wider and stronger and might not create as much back and forth movement as I am getting with the plastic clip.[/QUOTE]

No the Izula is a lot smaller.

try here: http://www.the-knife-connection.com/ratcushcaac.html

they have an entire collection of sheaths and extras for ESEE knives.
 
I have an older RC-3MIL (Rowen made), and an even older RAT-3 (Ontario made), both in 1095. I mainly got the RAT-3 for a comparison on size after a discussion on another forum, because even though the Ontario handle felt a bit shorter...definitely like the newer handles better...the blade seemed a hair thicker, which it is. I have put the Rowen made knife through some rough paces with no issues at all. Every time I think about taking the Ontario out I get in an argument with myself going back and forth over the good experiences I had in the past with Ontario made survival knives with great heat treats to some really negative experiences I had with some Ontario SpecPlus knives with really bad heat treats. I guess maybe part of me just wants to keep the RAT-3 as it is for the sake of history...either way I carry the 3MIL a good bit. It took a while for me to develop the confidence in it that I have now due to my first experiences with ESEE knives being Rowen made RC-4, Izula, and H.E.S.T.s...all of which have thicker blades. The 3 has a bit more flex than I prefer in a knife for a lot of my knife use but it's definitely a very capable tool.
 
So this weekend I split some wood, removed several small limbs from a peach tree and just all around banged this knife up. Came back in and washed it up and figured it would at least need a touch up. Slid right through copy paper and didn't drag one time all the way down. I am really super impressed with the abuse this knife is taking and just shrugging it off.

Now I am really interested in an ESEE. Looks like there are lots of new stuff coming out. What does one have to do to get a pack number?
 
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