I've been tempted by the dark side. Solutions ?

Wowbagger

Wowbagger

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2015
Messages
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. . . first off . . . be gentle . . . "This Is My First Affair"
(that's a jazz song title for you younger people)

OK so I have been wasting a great deal of time the last few days trying to track down THEEEEEEE Rat II (or Rat I) that I want. Obviously I want the D2.

My preferences because they make too much sense not to have these :
  • Bare metal clip because the black paint comes off fast
  • More texture on the scales. People say the standard "Nylon / FRN / "G-10"" is still a bit slick and the Carbon Fiber is glassy and even slipperier.
  • Not a nock off
Actually I would really like these Washboard scales
31hX2fbTJEL.jpg

if I could find some aftermarket scales but $ is a bit tight right now so I can't really pay $70 for some scales for my $40 knife.

I have even considered getting the Rat that comes with the glassy Carbon Fiber scales and filing texture into them or at least scrubbing them with sand paper.

Then, dammit, I run across this . . . for $20 no less . . . It is pretty much what I would make the knife into. Why can't Ontario offer something like it ? (see preferences above)
How "evil" is Canku ?
Is there any chance they have licensed from Ontario to use this Rat knife design ?
. . . I'm dreaming . . . right ?

A knife dude has got to do what I knife dude has got to do . . .
but will you speak to me in the morning ? ? ? ? :( :( :(
51W69ilNrEL._SL1010_.jpg
 
Why not nab both and do a scale swap? I don't know how well it'd line up or anything, so maybe that's a horrible way to waste $20, but this way you have the real McCoy with the type of scales you're after.
 
McFeeli said:
Why not nab both and do a scale swap? I don't know how well it'd line up or anything, so maybe that's a horrible way to waste $20, but this way you have the real McCoy with the type of scales you're after.
Click to expand...
. . . hmmmm . . . and the unpainted clip . . . I'm liking it . . .
 
McFeeli said:
Why not nab both and do a scale swap? I don't know how well it'd line up or anything, so maybe that's a horrible way to waste $20, but this way you have the real McCoy with the type of scales you're after.
Click to expand...
And I would have the cool black screws the Real one comes with.
Oh man . . .
 
Wowbagger said:
. . . first off . . . be gentle . . . "This Is My First Affair"
(that's a jazz song title for you younger people)

OK so I have been wasting a great deal of time the last few days trying to track down THEEEEEEE Rat II (or Rat I) that I want. Obviously I want the D2.

My preferences because they make too much sense not to have these :
  • Bare metal clip because the black paint comes off fast
  • More texture on the scales. People say the standard "Nylon / FRN / "G-10"" is still a bit slick and the Carbon Fiber is glassy and even slipperier.
  • Not a nock off
Actually I would really like these Washboard scales
View attachment 939299

if I could find some aftermarket scales but $ is a bit tight right now so I can't really pay $70 for some scales for my $40 knife.

I have even considered getting the Rat that comes with the glassy Carbon Fiber scales and filing texture into them or at least scrubbing them with sand paper.

Then, dammit, I run across this . . . for $20 no less . . . It is pretty much what I would make the knife into. Why can't Ontario offer something like it ? (see preferences above)
How "evil" is Canku ?
Is there any chance they have licensed from Ontario to use this Rat knife design ?
. . . I'm dreaming . . . right ?

A knife dude has got to do what I knife dude has got to do . . .
but will you speak to me in the morning ? ? ? ? :( :( :(
View attachment 939300
Click to expand...
I highly doubt they have permission. I googled them and it looks like they make a clone of th zt 0855 also. I would rather have the real deal so personally I wouldn't but it but it's a free country, do as you please.

Btw, the rats factory plastic scales are a little slippery.
 
As long as the knife is legal for you to buy , how is it anybody else's business ? But you already know what some busybodies will say . So if you care , don't buy . :rolleyes:
 
How about stippling the factory Rat scales for more grip and using paint thinner or sand paper to knock off the black clip paint.
A friend of mine has stippled a few polymer frame hand guns and they definitely have plenty of grip.
 
The painted clip should be no problem with some quick strip paint remover. Sorry I couldn’t be more help on the scale problem.

I wouldn’t give one penny to a company making clones. I also would not judge you if you did.
 
PWatkins said:
A friend of mine has stippled a few polymer frame hand guns and they definitely have plenty of grip.
Click to expand...
I had to look that up. I was picturing you meant drilling very shallow dimples into the surface. But you meant using a soldering iron or wood burning tool right ?
That's a thought. :thumbsup:
Thanks !
 
GB940Rookie said:
I wouldn’t give one penny to a company making clones. I also would not judge you if you did.
Click to expand...
You all are more tolerant than I expected.
And thanks GB

I can probably buy some thicker scale material in very small quanty; I haven't looked into it and I'm not that excited about making all new scales; the knife doesn't turn my crank like my Grail Urban Trapper did / does. (I put a bunch of time and work into rehandling that big time and am glad I did).

I was just feeling like getting something with D2 to try that out and I am really drawn to the closed shape of the Rat I and II; the rounded ends and clean way the blade is enclosed for in the pocket. Kind of reminds me of my Ouroboros.
 
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If they’re willing to steal a design from Ontario, what assurance do you have that the clone is D2?

I’ve handled a Ganzo Rat 1 clone (with a stolen Axis Lock, no less) and if I recall the screws and hardware don’t line up quite right when held side by side with the real thing.

I don’t think the CF handles on a real RAT are an option to modify because I think they’re the laminate with GFN underneath.

Why not just buy a real D2 rat with plastic handles, go at the handles with a rat tail file to create an anso pattern and then dye the plastic to personalize it?
 
Hackenslash said:
I’ve handled a Ganzo Rat 1 clone (with a stolen Axis Lock, no less)
Click to expand...
That's where I saw it !
sorry . . .
I was searching and driving my self nuts just now because I had seen one other version of the Rat with a bare metal clip on it. I was thinking it was an original but sprint run or some such.
Must have been the one you refer to.

That's right I did see one with an axis lock and come to think of it it had a bare metal clip. That was tempting too but what chance would I have getting a spring when I broke one ?

I don’t think the CF handles on a real RAT are an option to modify because I think they’re the laminate with GFN underneath.
Click to expand...
That's been puzzling me. Nick Shabazz thought they were like that. Then he took them off to do a rebuild and found the pattern on both sides of each scale as if they were real carbon fiber through and through but he said they still looked wrong. The descriptions I see say G10 carbon fiber like they were not solid CF.

I don't need CF but the one vendor only had the II D2 in CF. I could get the I D2 in FRN / G10 what ever. I was about to order that when I saw the fake Rat II and got off on this whole get both thing.

I'll probably get the Rat I D2 (which they call the handle just "Black Nylon") and use it until I can't stand the scratched up black clip and strip and polish it some.
By the time I am over the slick scales I may be motivated enough to start filing or stippling. I'm sure I will take a couple of quick stipples as soon as I get it to see if that is an option.

You guys are helping !
I may pull the trigger any minute now. I had decided originally to get the bigger one. After all it is no bigger than a Para2. Then I was thinking I could compromise and get the smaller one for all that rat hole just discussed.
 
Hackenslash said:
Why not just buy a real D2 rat with plastic handles, go at the handles with a rat tail file to create an anso pattern and then dye the plastic to personalize it?
Click to expand...
you're right of course.
And the surface of the anso pattern on the fake I posted a photo of is looking pretty slick and plasticy to me.
I may as well do my own filing / texturing.
 
:mad::mad::mad:Yes Luke , YES ...FEEEEL the power of the Dark Side ! :eek::eek::eek:

 
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