Is there a better $25 knife on the planet than the RAT-1

I too ordered the new Izula folder from Blue Ridge Knives, designed by Esee. The "Zancudo" is a great sub $30 knife but not as nice as the Rat 1 for the money. I got the orange one and the biggest difference I noticed is the scale seems really cheap on the Zancudo compared to the Rat. I wasn't aware there was a difference in quality in FRN. Just my opinion.
 
It's my prized "do anything and don't worry about the consequences" knife. Yard work. Makeshift mechanicing. Electrical. Plumbing. Truly not making any of this up. Great knife you can drag through the mud, muck, and unmentionable matter and it shines...
 
RAT l and RAT ll are both excellent knives and great values. So is the Dozier Folder. The RAT ll and Dozier Folder alternate time as my EDC with the Byrd Meadowlark showing up every so often just for something different.
Actually a lot of pretty good knives out there around the $30 price point.
 
It depends on what you're looking for. For what it is (a pretty robust medium-large manual folder), the RAT-1 is hard to beat at that price. For general utility, I'd say the 2 and 3 layer varieties of SAKs are probably among the best you'll find at that price range.
 
I'd say there are a whole mess of best bang 25 buck knives out there. I have a bunch sitting in my drawer...ambitious, drifter, opinel, rough rider trapper. I like those aas they are great cutters and disappear in the pocket.
 
For about $20.00 the CRKT Drifter with Stainless handle is the best there is. 8CR 14MOV steel and frame lock is solid!
 
perchjerk said:
The izula folder hasn't been release yet
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Let's hope the price point is equally attractive as "big bro's".

izula-folder.jpg
 
I love my RAT 1 and highly recommend it as a knife at this price point. If a person is open to slipjoints, then I think a Vic SAK is another great option. I've been using SAKs since I was a kid, and in my opinion, they're a lot of knife for the money.
 
Hale Storm said:
I too ordered the new Izula folder from Blue Ridge Knives, designed by Esee. The "Zancudo" is a great sub $30 knife but not as nice as the Rat 1 for the money. I got the orange one and the biggest difference I noticed is the scale seems really cheap on the Zancudo compared to the Rat. I wasn't aware there was a difference in quality in FRN. Just my opinion.
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Not an Izula folder, and since I have both the RAT II & the Zancudo, both in orange, and after a careful inspection of the scales on both under a magnifying glass, they (the scales) are identicle insofar as material, appearance, and finish; which makes sense, since they are both manufactured by Paul Lin at his knife factory in Taiwan.;)
 
I showed my Rat 1 to a police officer once and he raved how nice it felt, solid! Showed the same guy my sebenza and he opened it, said cool, and handed it back. Still have my Rat 1.
 
If the Rat 1 is just like the Rat II except 20% bigger then it must be great.
I really like my Rat II with od green and black blade.
I plan on getting the Rat 1 soon too.
I'm really happy with everything Ontario/Rat did with this. The Aus8, blade shape, size wt, color options etc.
 
The Rat 1 is a nice knife and among the best bang for the buck contenders, but for me the real G10 and Spydie hole on the Tenacious win out over the plastic scales and thumb stud of the Rat 1. And as I keep bloviating about in other threads, I am quite fond of Kershaw's extensive <$25 lineup and prefer many of those to the Rat 1. However you look at it, though, the Rat 1 has to be high on just about anyone's budget list.

 
Acesn8s said:
Along with giving out a WOW to the Rat-1, I would give a WOW out to both the Joe Pardue Utilitac II, and the Kershaw Tremor. They are all winners in their class at less than $30.00.
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I actually have all three of those knives. For heavy duty use in my contruction job, I wouldn't want to live on the edge of difference between the RAT1 and the Tremor. These are excellent work knives, regardless of price. Their blade designs are great and although they function differently, they both have their strong points that to me make their utility value equal out.

The RAT1 with its open frame construction is easier to clean out. Its flat ground blade will get reall sharp, and I don't worry about goofing up the edge because it is so easy to sharpen.

The Tremor is a better slicer, no doubt. With a semi hollow ground edge, this will take a laser edge with little difficulty. However, the steel doesn't hold it well for that long. When I try to clean this knife out it is a pain because of its nearly closed construction. So no gooey solvents or sealers, no tar or caulk use for this knife. While the edge is thinner and not as sturdy as the RAT1, if I just use it as a knife, no problems as the edge stays plenty well for an EDC work knife. I love this knife.

The Joe Pardue UT2 is the least heavy built of the group, but still a fine knife. The fit is and finish on the one I got was great, and the action butter smooth. It is just small enough and the blade edge fine enough (another FANTASTIC slicer) that I don't carry it as a work knife. Unless that is, I am doing carpentry work all day. The grinds on this knife get the edge so fine that it is great for any trimming of molding, sharpening my pencils (25 times a day), cutting trim package banding, opening adhesives, etc. Another great knife.

The other large knives I carry to work cost significantly more ( $100 or so ) and don't perform significantly better. All three of those will stand on their own merits and make great working knives.

BTW, I have a Tenacious. Least favorite because the slab sided blade allows for the least fine cutting. Nice knife no doubt, but again, the slab sided blade into a wide handle takes up way too much pocket space for me by the time I attach my phone case and occasionally a tape measure to my pocket. None of those worries with the other three mentioned above.

Robert
 
I cannot say this emphatically enough: I DO NOT CARE AT ALL FOR THE RAT 1.

I have small hands, and this was way too large. I flicked it open a few times, and quickly sold it.


The Rat 2 came out, and OOHHHH WHAT A KNIFE!

Fits me like they knew my hand size, fit is like a sports car purring 0-60 in a matter of seconds. Terrific edge and easy to touch up.


In all fairness, it is not quite as good as my small sebenza.
 
For the money I have a few that I like the feel in hand a little better (I have small hands) Vantage select small and large less than $25 each. My SRM 763 was $18, & has been getting a lot of pocket time lately while I wait for my Mini grip to come back from Benchmade with new omega springs. I only paid $15 for my tremor. My friend is a dealer, and I think I got it for less than his cost. I also like the feel of the tenacious better. Paid$34 today, and just ordered a Cryo for about $27 today.
 
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