is thier going to be a rat folder

pimpnugget

pimpnugget

Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
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i just wanted to know if there is going to be a rat cultary folding knife if there is please some better steels and metrails
 
pimpnugget said:
i just wanted to know if there is going to be a rat cultary folding knife if there is please some better steels and metrails
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dude. just, dude.

also, 1095 is a great steel for everything except a dive knife, why would you want them to change it?
 
We like 1095 a lot. Great steel and it holds costs down. With that said, we would probably go to a stainless steel on a folder since it has moving parts that could rust could and potentially cause some problems with the function, unlike a fixed blade.
 
pimpnugget said:
i just wanted to know if there is going to be a rat cultary folding knife if there is please some better steels and metrails
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din said:
dude. just, dude.

also, 1095 is a great steel for everything except a dive knife, why would you want them to change it?
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fivefold said:
Have you seen this?

http://www.knifetests.com/ratrc4dtest.html

It may not be the the next boutique steel, but really,what more do you really need?
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R.A.T. said:
We like 1095 a lot. Great steel and it holds costs down. With that said, we would probably go to a stainless steel on a folder since it has moving parts that could rust could and potentially cause some problems with the function, unlike a fixed blade.
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no guys i was talking about the aus8 used in the rat 1
 
Hey go easy on the guy, I'm pretty sure he understands that the rat1 is not made by Rc, if he knows of its existence and is still asking if there will be a rat cutlery folder and he is suggesting better materials than the previous non rat cutlery rat1. I may be mistaken in assuming that the rat1 was designed by Mr. Randal as the first rat knives were.
 
The problem is some of these steels have to be imported. Some you can't get in this country. So, we will go with something readily available in the USA once we do our folder. In all honesty, what's wrong with 440C. I've had a lot of knives made from it and the steel works great, IMO.
 
R.A.T. said:
In all honesty, what's wrong with 440C. I've had a lot of knives made from it and the steel works great, IMO.
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I'd be real happy to see the folder in 440C. It holds a good edge and it's been used for dive knives, it's so stainless. Not so many years ago, it was a supersteel. If RAT can get it for a reasonable price, it's a great choice.

Folders tend to get carried in pockets and that subjects them to corrosion more than a sheathed fixed blade. They shouldn't be used for prying or other really heavy-duty uses so the extra strength you'd expect from a high-carbon steel isn't as critical.
 
You make great points, Esav. I don't know why 440C seems to have gotten a bum wrap in this industry.
 
FWIW, I've been told that AUS8 is just an Asian version of 440. Not sure if it's supposed to be 440A or 440C.

If you really want a stainless knife, 440C is a good choice, IMO.

I think it gets a bum rap because people often can't sharpen it well, and it can be brittle if left too hard (i.e. it isn't as tough at high Rc as many of the "super" steels).
 
The industry chases the latest and greatest. For practical purposes, many knives continue to use an older generation of effective and less expensive steels.

A few companies have gotten into boutique runs, experimenting with exotic steels that aren't going to be economical in the long run. This is good for the industry as a whole, and will eventually find new standby products.

Since RAT is into work, not glitz, 440C is a very good choice.
 
I think the reason why it's gotten a bad image is because of all of the cheap flea market knives made out of it. The steel isn't bad, just a lot of commonly found knives made out of it are.
 
You may be right, especially since a lot of those cheap knives may only be saying they are 440C, while actually they may be 440A or 420J2. :)
 
And even if it's the real stuff if invariably has a crummy heat treatment. Without a proper one you can't unlock the potential of the steel.
 
There's the rub.
Just like so many crap knioves are made of 1095 with a crappy heat treat so there's people who will decry 1095 all day. Same with 440C -- it has to be done right, or it will suck.

When I first got started as a tool & die maker, I worked at a medical plant making needles. ANYTHING that touches the final product after it goes through the sterilizer, can only be touched by stainless. 440C was used quite successfully as one of our most extensively used tool steels. It held up, and held up well. But the heat treat was done right.
 
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