Is the rat 2 the best edc quality knife for the budget?

If you'd like to checkout an OTF knife on a budget, I've heard good things about Lightning brand. I think they can be had for around $40 at BladeHQ.
 
Steve6387 said:
I don't own any real expensive knives (by forums standards, I guess) so maybe what Dave_M says is true about not going back once you had better. I just don't have a desire to spend more on everyday knives that do what I do with them.
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A nice knife doesn't exactly mean an expensive knife. My point was, once you own something of a high quality, lower quality knives stand out and you aren't going to want them. No one who has owned Benchmade knives all their life, is going to want to buy a gas station special, because they think it's good quality.

That being said, there are plenty $30-50 knives that are great value and are very good quality for the price range.
 
If you want a switchblade with a smaller blade, get a Boker AK74. Well under the price point you are looking at. And like the RAT folders, it is in AUS8.
 
DAVE_M said:
A nice knife doesn't exactly mean an expensive knife. My point was, once you own something of a high quality, lower quality knives stand out and you aren't going to want them. No one who has owned Benchmade knives all their life, is going to want to buy a gas station special, because they think it's good quality.

That being said, there are plenty $30-50 knives that are great value and are very good quality for the price range.
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Thank you for clarifying. I see what you are saying and that does make sense. Now, I need to just stay away from higher quality knives for fear of what that will mean to my wallet :-)
 
If we're talking pure EDC utility/practicality, it's hard to beat a SAK, imo. The Ontario RAT folders represent excellent value in the modern one-hander category, to be sure, but even my CRKs can't do as much as my SAKs... :eek:

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-Brett
 
I carry a Rat 2 in my right front pocket. I think it would be hard to find a better general purpose one-hand-opening knife without spending more money (which is the best compliment I can give any knife).

However, since your budget allows for more expensive knives, you might be able to find something you'd like better than the Rat 2.
 
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Steve6387 said:
Thank you for clarifying. I see what you are saying and that does make sense. Now, I need to just stay away from higher quality knives for fear of what that will mean to my wallet :-)
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Just remember, quality doesn't have to be expensive.

Spend $20 on a Victorinox Alox Cadet, carry it for a few weeks. If you don't like it or think it's a nice/good quality knife, I will buy it from you. ;)
 
I think AT THAT PRICE, the Rat 2 is reeeeally tough to beat. The Skyline is an absolutely fantastic knife as well, with probably slightly better steel, but a hollow grind. I prefer FFG myself, and I like the belly on the Rat slightly better.

They're awesome. I've gifted several.
 
I'll admit that the RAT 1 & 2 are on my list of "knives to get." But right now, my most common EDC loadout usually consists of a Victorinox Super Tinker, and a byrd Cara Cara 2 (either in FRN or G-10). I've really come to rely on the lockback (as opposed to liner lock), and while the steel may not be at the same level as the Delica or Endura (8Cr13MoV, as opposed to VG-10), it's still IMO well worth the cost (which is EASILY within your projected budget). I'd say it's worth at least a look (my personal fave is the G-10 CC2).
 
My favorite sub $30 knives are the Rat1, Ontario Utilitac II (which I have bought 3 of, and curently own 0 as I keep giving them away to buddies carrying crappy dull knives) the Lansky Responder (flipper and thumbstuds, zip tie wave works well on it AND its decently treated 440C, killer knife), Cold Steel Eland, and CS Shanghai Shadow (fixed blade dagger, huge, and was $25 on ebay) but they are all kinda large. For smaller folders I really like the Kershaw Zing, CRKT Drifter, a 5.11 2012 promo knife I got from a Tsa sale, and CRKT Stiff Kiss fixed. You cand find lots of good traditional folders on the bay for under $30 too, I really like the old Camillus ones.
 
I'm still on the fence about a rat 2 lol. I'm scared to buy with how popular they are right now. By the end of the year they will probably release better steel or a partial SE rat 2. *cross fingers.
 
I think I know what you are trying to say....

Get a Rat 1 or 2, whichever you prefer and then check out a 4" Cold Steel Ti-Lite if you can still get one in AUS 8 inexpensively. It sounds like a Ti-Lite might be to your liking from what I think I read in your original post.

Good luck.
 
From what your budget sounds I'd say check out the Buck 722 at WalMart, I have a 722, same thing but slightly larger handle. The 721 is sure to fit you. Some early production reviews trashed it as well as the 722, but the 722 I recently acquired is great, I assume Buck corrected the problems. Also just checkout Buck's website. The prices listed are much higher than street so don't freak. You could probably find what your looking for in your price range.
 
i got a RAT2 , very cool little knife , is or not a best one i do not know , but i know it good enough .:thumbup:
 
Had a Rat 1, left it at work on purpose for someone to take home.

Instead of PB washers it has cheap flimsy plastic that will tear or get worn out from debris, once that happens the satisfying butter smooth deployment goes away. YMMV.

As far as sweet knives at a low price HK knives made by Benchmade can be had for good prices, including an OTF the HK Turmoil for under $200. Nut-N-Fancy gave a solid review on this one on YouTube.

Google is your friend.
 
Honestly and I don't mean to sound like a jerk but from reading your many threads/posts you sound very much like a young kid who is trying to impress a young lady with a fancy knife. My best advice is to save a little up and in two or three months you will be able to buy two decent knives and both be much happier for the purchase.
 
needler420 said:
Rat one is too big and too much knife for what I need. I need to pick the dirt out of my fingernail and cut my seat belt if had to in emergency.
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If you are in such a bad wreck that you are required to cut your belt to get out of your vehicle for fear of further injury, you are Very likely going to be dazed by the airbag, if not the accident itself. Due to that you wouldn't likely be in any shape to wield a knife near soft tissue and organs.

Firestrike: washers are an easy replacement, you can get them for under $2 for 10 at a few knife stores online.
 
Another good way to go if you have a tight budget is the Buck bantam series. You get lots of size and color options so there pretty much has to be something you like. They're not expensive and are decent quality. That way, if you need two, you can get different sizes to handle different situations.
 
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