Ontario Rat 1 - Philosophical Meandering

Niall88

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2022
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390
Sep 26 Update:
Again, I am even further impressed by this Ontario Rat 1. I tend to like natural stonewashed finishes or silver/stainless hardware. Not too into black. This is a cheap knife so I thought I would experiment with sanding the black 'paint' off the clip. But no, this under $40 Ontario Rat is not produced with just a painted black clip. It took about an hour to sand the black off, down to the natural steel. I don't know?...Powder coating, epoxy paint, not sure? But very impressive! So here is my Rat 1 with stainless hardware I got off ebay, and the clip taken down to its natural steel. I did not work too hard on this project so you can still see the logo a little.

Ya, ya, I know most of you are way ahead of me, and I am in the stone ages, but I will mention it just the same. I cannot talk myself into spending money on an expensive titanium bit driver, although they are sooooo sexy and I want one. When I travel to Hawaii, always bringing a knife or two with me, I dont want to carry a bit driver and an assortment of bits. So I just ended up getting this CRKT bit driver for when I travel and it is self contained with all the bits inside. Fantastic little tool if any of you have not seen this yet? Yes, a bit driver slighly longer in length is easier to hold and use. But this size works great and is portable. Just for any of you who may not have seen this before?


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Aug 29: I have my EDC knives sitting here on the shelf in my office. Medford, Spyderco, Demko, Spartan Blades, M3 Tactical, Microtech. Just for the heck of it, I bought another Ontario Rat 1. I have owned one previously but gave it to a girlfriend who lusted after it. I get this Rat in my hand again, sitting in my car outside the post office, and this deep, uncomfortable, philosophical question starts pulsing through my mind and heart? I could buy 18 Ontario Rats instead of 1 Medford. About 6 of them instead of my Spy Millie. 23 of them instead of my Demko. Eight of them instead of my Spartan Blades Pallas. And I start wondering to myself...who really uses an EDC knife so darn hard, so intensely, that they would ever require super thick slabs of titanium (Medford, Spartan, Chavez, Doc Shiffer, Les George, etc.), and overly thick super steel blades? I am philosophically cogitating, little drops of sweat on my brow...If I could overcome my clinically diagnosable knife addiction, my unending need for variety, the Christmas-like fun I derive from opening a package when a new knife arrives, wouldn't my $39.00 Ontario Rat really take care of most, if not all of my daily EDC tasks? And if I ruin one, I have 6 more to go before equaling the price of my Spyderco Millie. 17 more to go before equaling the price of my Medford! Any of you ever have this dilemma? What do you think?


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I collect "budget" knives so I avoid your conundrum. I love a $30 folder, so many quality knives to choose from at the lower price points. We live in a golden era for inexpensive knives. My most expensive production knife is my Rat 5. My Delica is my second most expensive. Never spent over $100, except for a custom from Seamus Knives at a knife show. The Rat 1 is a classic and a damn fine knife. Enjoy it!
 
When you consider what you get in a Rat 1 or 2, it’s hard to rationalize most other expensive knives other than to say, I just wanted one.
I have a number of other knives, all practical, but the most expensive is in the mid $200’s as I recall (Emerson) and that is a user too.
 
I collect "budget" knives so I avoid your conundrum. I love a $30 folder, so many quality knives to choose from at the lower price points. We live in a golden era for inexpensive knives. My most expensive production knife is my Rat 5. My Delica is my second most expensive. Never spent over $100, except for a custom from Seamus Knives at a knife show. The Rat 1 is a classic and a damn fine knife. Enjoy it!
You are by far wiser than I am!
 
Arguably the rat 1 or 2 can take care of anything a knife would ever need. They are superb. Mora is the same for fixed blades.

But that doesn't mean other designs shouldn't be part of a collection. Having a range of prices makes it fun and interesting. There us a place for a budget beater, and a place for a refined piece of art.
 
Is that sarcastic? ;-)
Yes, and sorry, a little bit! Jack Handy is an old SNL character/skit.

Your math works out and your ponderings are a bit rhetorical.

Rat I is a great knife...enjoy!
 
To the OP, I just bought a Ontario Rat 2 and I really think it is great and it has completed my EDC: Rat 2, SAK Tinker, Streamlight Microstream flashlight and SAK Rambler. Those and a good pair of slip joint pliers in my bag is all I really need for anything I am likely to encounter in a normal day. Nothing wrong though with a knife addiction either, there are worse ways to spend money that is for sure. Don't overthink it, it is nice to have some options and like you said it is fun to get a new knife no matter how much it costs.
 
I think variety is the spice of life. I can’t imagine a world with only Rats (wait, yes I can and I have $15,000 in the bank.) but seriously, I like my unnecessarily thick slabs of titanium and stainless steel, rollin on bearings
 
I think variety is the spice of life. I can’t imagine a world with only Rats (wait, yes I can and I have $15,000 in the bank.) but seriously, I like my unnecessarily thick slabs of titanium and stainless steel, rollin on bearings
Arrrgh! I hear you loud and clear!
 
Yes, and sorry, a little bit! Jack Handy is an old SNL character/skit.

Your math works out and your ponderings are a bit rhetorical.

Rat I is a great knife...enjoy!
No worries, I am not overly sensitive, I like the blade sharp!
 
To the OP, I just bought a Ontario Rat 2 and I really think it is great and it has completed my EDC: Rat 2, SAK Tinker, Streamlight Microstream flashlight and SAK Rambler. Those and a good pair of slip joint pliers in my bag is all I really need for anything I am likely to encounter in a normal day. Nothing wrong though with a knife addiction either, there are worse ways to spend money that is for sure. Don't overthink it, it is nice to have some options and like you said it is fun to get a new knife no matter how much it costs.
Very practical and zen attitude. I will have to give that a try for sure!
 
And to make the Rat 1 even more competitive, mine has the D2 steel.
That s an outdoors working knife.
 
Need and want.

In all honesty I had all the knives I would ever "need" in life long before I discovered Bladeforums. What happened now is that I found a bunch of knives that make *me* happy. I don't need to try and justify my purchases to anyone but myself so I don't. I think the Rat1 is a great little blade (yes I have one) and would serve most people admirably for their folding knife needs.

Knives are one of my hobbies and a few of them are my tools.
 
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy. 🤓
Ha! I just watched a bunch of short Jack Handy vids on YouTube. Hiliarious! But I got the sense that your message to me was a subtle way of saying that I "was full of shit." I am not insulted.
 
I wanted a partially serrated blade and they only seem to come in AUS 8. Is Aus 8 decent?
It's good enough, d2 will hold the edge longer.
Both are budget steels but thats just a term. Aus 8 and d2 will get it done.
 
Ha! I just watched a bunch of short Jack Handy vids on YouTube. Hiliarious! But I got the sense that your message to me was a subtle way of saying that I "was full of shit." I am not insulted.
No, not at all! Just that you answered most of your questions. :thumbsup:

Glad you got a chuckle!
 
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