Killed my Rat II

Salt

Salt

Joined
Nov 27, 2013
Messages
213
Preface:
This was not intentional
I understand "use the right tool for the job"

I was out walking the dog on the back 40 and decided to mess around a little and see if I could get a fire going even though everything was soaked from yesterday's rain.

I tried to split a small limb with my Rat II and after about three whacks with another limb it felt loose, like the lockup was shot with a lot of blade play.

After popping it out I saw the cause- bent liner lock.





I wasn't trying to destroy this knife and I understand that this is not a task this knife was designed for but I honestly expected it to do the job, and certainly not fail after only a couple whacks.

Had to resort to plan B - let dog make fuzz sticks



I suppose now I need to start looking at some fixed blades.... That dragonfly From TOPS looks appealing.
 
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Seilu said:
That's crazy
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Agreed. Are liner locks weaker than say compression or axis style? I wouldn't use a folder for something like this usually but you never know when you might need to and you never know what knife you'll have on you.
 
Salt said:
Agreed. Are liner locks weaker than say compression or axis style? I wouldn't use a folder for something like this usually but you never know when you might need to and you never know what knife you'll have on you.
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Most people would say never baton a folder with the lock engaged. As for "strength" yes liner locks would be slightly easier to make fail than say a triad lock, compression lock, or axis lock, but in normal practical use people would never be able to tell
 
spyderco lover said:
Most people would say never baton a folder with the lock engaged. As for "strength" yes liner locks would be slightly easier to make fail than say a triad lock, compression lock, or axis lock, but in normal practical use people would never be able to tell
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I wouldn't know how to baton a liner lock without the lock engaged
 
Salt said:
Agreed. Are liner locks weaker than say compression or axis style? I wouldn't use a folder for something like this usually but you never know when you might need to and you never know what knife you'll have on you.
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There is a decent review on YouTube of a BM Grip (axis lock) being used to baton through a limb and also being pounded into a log tip first. The lock held just fine.
 
I'm glad you didn't get hurt, you can always replace a knife. Sit ewbu sit, good dog.
 
Salt said:
Agreed. Are liner locks weaker than say compression or axis style? I wouldn't use a folder for something like this usually but you never know when you might need to and you never know what knife you'll have on you.
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Much much weaker. the parts of the lock that are stressed are all hardened on those and won't "give" at all. A compression lock is 3 hardened pieces of steel (or ceramic) and the axis lock is a steel bar wedged between 2 hardened steel liners and a hardened steel blade. A triad lock is a hardened steel lockbar wedged in a blade with a hardened stop pin added. With a frame or liner lock the lock is a spring tempered (softer) piece of metal, it doesn't matter how big or thick the locking bar portion is, the piece that's going to "give" like the cutout you see on a framelock, is bendable, so if you put a lot of force on it, it will bend. That's part of why I don't get why people rave about how "strong" their ti frame lock knives are, when if they tried to do something like this to one, a similar case would happen.
 
Krav said:
I'm glad you didn't get hurt, you can always replace a knife. Sit ewbu sit, good dog.
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I will be replacing this knife with a non-liner lock knife for sure.....

I was able to bend the lock back enough to close it.

Anyone want a broke Rat II for free??? Just pay shipping and it's yours!
 
Interesting way of making fuzz sticks ;)

What is the liner and blade thickness of the RAT2? equal of the RAT1?
My RAT1 had a blade thickness just under 3mm (0,118inch). Liners at 1,5mm (0,059inch)

I'm debating between a RAT2 and Esee Zancudo for edc. Would love a smaller RAT but considering the lock failure of your RAT2 my eyes go to the (slightly stronger?!?) Zancudo.
 
pietje said:
Interesting way of making fuzz sticks ;)

What is the liner and blade thickness of the RAT2? equal of the RAT1?
My RAT1 had a blade thickness just under 3mm (0,118inch). Liners at 1,5mm (0,059inch)

I'm debating between a RAT2 and Esee Zancudo for edc. Would love a smaller RAT but considering the lock failure of your RAT2 my eyes go to the (slightly stronger?!?) Zancudo.
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Not sure of dimensions.

The blade of the Rat II was fine, even after everything the finish was hardly marred and there were zero chips in the blade.

I wouldn't use this failure as any serious means of judgment when considering an EDC knife. This knife would be great for opening mail, cutting open boxes, really cutting most things. I just wouldn't feel the greatest using this in a Get home Bag or relying on it as a sole blade out in the woods.

This Knife is great for what is was probably designed for, just don't expect it to exceed it's limitations.
 
I batoned with my Spyderco Persistence though fire wood. The fasteners were jarred loose, but the lock never failed. It has a liner lock too.
 
oh yeah bro...101 other variables considering a blade purchase! Trustworthy above the explicable limitation goes heavily in my book....even in a budget folder for apple pealing/box cutting/screwing around type use.

Just found the blade thickness: RAT2 3/33 inch / 2,4mm
 
Salt said:
I will be replacing this knife with a non-liner lock knife for sure.....

I was able to bend the lock back enough to close it.

Anyone want a broke Rat II for free??? Just pay shipping and it's yours!
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Ill take it off your hands!!
 
Do yourself a favor and grab a Swamp Rat knife. I didn't see any mention of frame lock knives. I'm a fan of those.
 
I would say this seems to be less of a fault of the knife but more of a wrong tool for the job. When batoning I would say the ideal ratio is half the blade length, making the job easier and providing less risk of failure. If the first pic is the actual piece of wood your splitting then I would say you picked the wrong knife. Even I you had gotten it in you would have had to work at it and possibly broke the tip as that would have been all that was led to hit.

Kevin
 
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