knife decision

C

cecyt1300

Joined
Nov 21, 2006
Messages
48
Hey guys-

I am relatively new here and am really enjoying reading the different forums. After reading a bunch of posts I have really coem to like the Fallkniven F1 and the Ontario Rat 7 (actually the Tak and the Rat 5 as well).

I know how to use the search engine and have read good things on these knives. I want both of these knives but am fairly broke for the next couple of months, so getting either of these will be major purchase for me.

So my question is have any of you used/owned both of these? Or do you still? if so, which one is your favorite? For a general work knife around camp: for cutting cord, making shelters, starting fires, etc.

I know the perfect camp knife scenario has been covered repeatedly, but I was curious what you guys thought of these two compared to each other?

Oh, since i want this for a camp knife I am askinghtis in the wilderness forum. if it shold go somewhere else, sorry for putting it in the wrong spot.

I hope you all have Happy Holidays!! And thanks for a great forum :D
 
cecyt1300 said:
Hey guys-

I am relatively new here and am really enjoying reading the different forums. After reading a bunch of posts I have really coem to like the Fallkniven F1 and the Ontario Rat 7 (actually the Tak and the Rat 5 as well).

I know how to use the search engine and have read good things on these knives. I want both of these knives but am fairly broke for the next couple of months, so getting either of these will be major purchase for me.

So my question is have any of you used/owned both of these? Or do you still? if so, which one is your favorite? For a general work knife around camp: for cutting cord, making shelters, starting fires, etc.

I know the perfect camp knife scenario has been covered repeatedly, but I was curious what you guys thought of these two compared to each other?

Oh, since i want this for a camp knife I am askinghtis in the wilderness forum. if it shold go somewhere else, sorry for putting it in the wrong spot.

I hope you all have Happy Holidays!! And thanks for a great forum :D
Click to expand...

First they are not the same class:
Rat 7 has 6.5" blade
F1 has a 3.8" one
So they fit quite different roles: Rat 7 is kind of a scaled down chopper, F1 is kind of a "small knife" on steroids.

Steel:
Rat is carbon
F1 is stainless

My guess is that craftsmanship will be a lot better on F1 then on RAT 7.
My guess is that F1 will be a lot sharper OTB, RAT 7 will have to be reprofiled to be really efficient.

I'd say RAT7 isn't big enough to be a real chopper, if you want a rat, you should choose a larger one or a smaller one (if there's one).
 
I use a RAT-5 as my primary outdoors general purpose blade. The fit and finish is in the good, but not great category. Mine came acceptably ground and sharpened so I don't know why one would have to reprofile any RAT. It only needed some touching up. The knife is a tough bugger to boot.

I have owned an F-1 in the past. I like the RAT-5 better. The handle of the standard F-1 never impressed me much.

The RAT-7, like just about every 7 incher on the market, is a marginal chopper. You really need to get into the 9"+ blade class to get the necessary heft for decent chopping.

I use a Roselli R850 axe for field chopping and carry knives that are used as cutters. For knife tasks, the RAT-5 excels and the RAT guys at Ontario are stand up guys above and beyond the call.
 
I've seen this question before, And seen the anwsure before, the F1.
Plus I find anyway, It looks better, more.... Woodsy'. Again, Chopping isnt going to be good, If its just chopping go for 9", but the F1 will make a nice belt knife.
 
cecyt1300 said:
For a general work knife around camp: for cutting cord, making shelters, starting fires, etc.
Click to expand...
Do not have the F1 but have owned and used the RAT7 for quite awhile now and have found it to be very good for an all around type of knife. Sure it ain't a heavy chopper, it was never meant to be.
It's a fine cutter tho'.
For your intended use it would work just fine.:thumbup:
 
The F1 is supposed to be a very fine knife. I do not have one (yet).

I agree that they are like comparing apples and oranges. You will need to figure out what your scope of use will be, and which one fits your personal needs best.

I have the RAT-7. Good value for a dollar. Large enough to do light chopping, if need be. It came nicely sharp, a few strokes on a ceramic rod and it was shaving sharp. No reprofiling needed!

I agree with Whitefoot, the RAT-7 is a good all-rounder. It's not going to chop a tree down like a hatchet would, but I don't get the feeling you could easily break it trying. It seems to be pretty sturdy for it's size and thickness.
 
I am getting myself a RAT 5 for x-mas, I think it will be a great all around bush knife. I was too generous to myself this year!
 
Liam, your going to like that RAT-5 , Iv'e had one for a year now its a do-it -all , Ive chopped down small poplars with mine
 
cecyt1300 said:
Hey guys-

I am relatively new here and am really enjoying reading the different forums. After reading a bunch of posts I have really coem to like the Fallkniven F1 and the Ontario Rat 7 (actually the Tak and the Rat 5 as well).

I know how to use the search engine and have read good things on these knives. I want both of these knives but am fairly broke for the next couple of months, so getting either of these will be major purchase for me.

So my question is have any of you used/owned both of these? Or do you still? if so, which one is your favorite? For a general work knife around camp: for cutting cord, making shelters, starting fires, etc.

I know the perfect camp knife scenario has been covered repeatedly, but I was curious what you guys thought of these two compared to each other?

Oh, since i want this for a camp knife I am askinghtis in the wilderness forum. if it shold go somewhere else, sorry for putting it in the wrong spot.

I hope you all have Happy Holidays!! And thanks for a great forum :D
Click to expand...


First off welcome to the W&S.S forum. If you want advise from people that have actually used knives for some outdoor purpose:eek: you've come to the right place.

I can't speak for the RAT. I can tell you that the Fallkniven is an excellent choice. Used it for all general camp chores, cleaning trout, and my Brother used it to field dress a deer. Takes and holds an excellent edge (for stainless steel) and feels like an extension of you hand when using it. I didn't care for the sheath (flap over) it came with. You can order it with other styles such as: kydex, and a leather sheath that hangs from a leather loop and bit. Good luck in your search, it's half the fun;)
 
Thanks tarmix, for the welcome! And thanks everyone for your input. :)

I completely forgot the blade lengths were so different on these babies. I guess I was thinking just in terms of which one I wanted first. I have a hatchet for chopping, at least for now. Maybe I'll get a "chopper" knife at some point. Since I have a Gerber with about a 4 inch blade my instinct is to get the Rat 7 first so I have something in the next size up category. Plus, I just like knives, so you can't have too many, can you? I can't wait till tax return time so I can buy something. ;)
 
maybe if you look through the trading forum you might find that someone has what you want and you have what they want and you can trade with them . as long as you can afford to pay your postage costs
 
My 0.02 worth. Comparing a RAT7 and an F1 is not apples to Apples. A better comparison is a D2 TAK-1 (or better yet a D2 RAT-3) to the F-1. I have both the TAK-1 AND THE RAT-3 and they are tough, sharp (both will shave) and very usefully. If they made a D2 RAT-5, I would buy it today. I do not own but have read enough to know that the F-1 is a very good hunting/survival knife. I chose American made over Japanese made. I also do not like the top false grind on the Falkniven's, I prefer flat spines for battoning. If I were to get a Falkniven, it would be the S-1. I have talked to several Elk hunters who claim it is as advertised, the best hunting/survival knife ever made. I may have to get one some day.
Ron Athay
 
Get the rat-5 it is a great knife and one that i use a lot. I am in the timber
30 the 50 hours a week average. i use a rat-7 to. but the rat-5 is a more general purpose knife i think. you will not be sorry.
hope this helps
Bryan
 
I wanted to thank all you guys for your input. Right now I am leaning towards an Ontario Rat 7 first.
 
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