Ontario Rat 1 - Philosophical Meandering

Niall88 said:
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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Hi! I agree with you... Also I found a very similar wandering in BladeForums knife reviews, recently : https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/steel-will-barghest-am-i-crazy.1891066/
 
As much as I love all of my finer and more luxurious (and more expensive knives), if I'm being honest with you (and myself), my Victorinox One hand Trekker is all I really need in a folder (and more actually).
 
Ahh the famous quality vs quantity discussion. Not that inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean decent quality of course.

Buy what you like, when you like. If you want a $1,000 knife and you won't miss house payments or feeding the kids in the process, go for it. There are plenty of choices out there for any and all budgets. One thing about this hobby. You need to find what works for you. If you have 20 knives all under $50, so be it. No knives under $500? That is ok too.

Personally, I dabble in the $40-125ish range. I'm comfortable there. YMMV.
 
The major problem with the Rat 1 is the blade stop pin. The standoffs acts as the blade stop pin. The force of the blade gets absorbed by the 2 x tiny scale screws that screws into the standoff collar. The steel liners does not support the force on the standoff as it does not go into the steel liners. The "stop pin" on mine broke just by witling wood and caused metal fatigue on the 2 x tiny screws. Luckily you can take one of the many other standoffs and replace the broken one.
 
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The day I got mine was the same day I received a nice ZT. After using them both for that first hour I had many similar thoughts. A Rat 1 and Swiss Army knife would do the trick for a lot of us.

After covid kicked off, at the end of our first activation, I bought a number of Rats and had them engraved for some of the soldiers…they loved them!
 
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Niall88 said:
Yes, that was mine as well. First time I have bought less expensive knives, and I am very impressed. It is putting through drastic transformation changes in regards to being attached to expensive knives! (New age language for entertainment purposes!)
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Yes Sir... it is yours. I forgot to mention. Good and realistic view, good thread. Keep continuing!
 
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I have tens of thousands of dollars worth of edged tools and knives I've collected over 30+ years. I am very much in the "want" and not "need category when it comes to what I purchase.

I think the Rat is a great edc blade that will serve well even those of us who make up all manner of "need" for our $600 pocket knife.

In all honesty, dropped in the middle of the woods, I would much rather have a 3 layer Victorinox SAK than even my nicest and most highly fit and finished pocket knife. Furthermore, in my day to day, the SAK would handle everything and more I would most likely need. While I will most likely still have a Benchmade or Microtech of CRK in my pocket today at work, I will NEVER disparage someone carrying a good budget folder like an Ontario.
 
FrannaM said:
The major problem with the Rat 1 is the blade stop pin. The standoffs acts as the blade stop pin. The force of the blade gets absorbed by the 2 x tiny scale screws that screws into the standoff collar. The steel liners does not support the force on the standoff as it does not go into the steel liners. The "stop pin" on mine broke just by witling wood and caused metal fatigue on the 2 x tiny screws. Luckily you can take one of the many other standoffs and replace the broken one.
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Are you sure about this? The dis-assembly pics I’ve seen show the stand offs have shoulders that fit into the liners.
 
I’ve often contemplated picking up a RAT1. Even though they can be had for @ $40 , I’d just hope the fit and finish is decent. But I’ve heard good things.
 
Niall88 said:
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...
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Niall88 said:
What do you think?


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I think it sounds like someone is hiding their knife purchases from their wife/girlfriend, lol...
Not saying you are, but I definitely got that impression from your post...

For me, I appreciate inexpensive quality as much as I do more expensive pieces of craftsmanship, just in different ways. Since I recently purchased another half dozen Moras, I too am about due for a new Rat or Dozier folder.
 
Plan A: Thin the herd to one really nice knife in each category.
Then I buy a $32 Chinese Case, and can’t put it down.
Plan B: Scrap plan A
Observation: Never rely on “things“ to make you happy. (but they can)
Never try to live another’s dream. (but it’s useful to learn)
If in doubt…don’t
Know you’re not alone in this situation.
 
I think Andy the Aussie Andy the Aussie nailed it, need versus want.

Knives are no different than watches, cars, food, clothing, etc.

A Timex keeps time, Applebee's can fill your belly and a Toyota Camry will get you around town - they are "good enough." Some choose to get dressed up with their wives dressed to the nines, strap on a fine Swiss watch take in a play or musical and enjoy a meal prepared by a culinary master.

There are plenty of good enough knives and no shame in carrying or using them; for others they choose to carry the "finer things." There is a quality of "pride in pocket" that comes with carrying a "luxury" knife.

Those decisions can only be made by the individual, no shame either way.
 
I agree with much of your thought process. If we are all being honest, very few people, if anyone, needs more of a pocket knife than the Rat. No one really needs more than a couple of knives at all and no one really needs to dedicate time, energy, and money to come here and chat about them. That said, putting usage aside, its fun to both collect them and talk about them, so why not.

P.S. I have lots of knives and the Rat1 makes it in my pocket nearly every day. My dad almost always carries one that I gave him as well.
 
FrannaM said:
The major problem with the Rat 1 is the blade stop pin. The standoffs acts as the blade stop pin. The force of the blade gets absorbed by the 2 x tiny scale screws that screws into the standoff collar. The steel liners does not support the force on the standoff as it does not go into the steel liners. The "stop pin" on mine broke just by witling wood and caused metal fatigue on the 2 x tiny screws. Luckily you can take one of the many other standoffs and replace the broken one.
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You are most likely more perceptive than I am, and I am not arguing. However, the stop pin on the Rat has a 'collar' on both sides that fit snugly into both steel inner liners. There really is no substantial force going into the actual screws holding the stop pin, as the steel liners are absorbing most all of that force from the blade. Am I wrong?
 
jstrange said:
I agree with much of your thought process. If we are all being honest, very few people, if anyone, needs more of a pocket knife than the Rat. No one really needs more than a couple of knives at all and no one really needs to dedicate time, energy, and money to come here and chat about them. That said, putting usage aside, its fun to both collect them and talk about them, so why not.

P.S. I have lots of knives and the Rat1 makes it in my pocket nearly every day. My dad almost always carries one that I gave him as well.
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Now I don't feel so alone with my attitude. You summed it up pretty well!
 
Wolverine666 said:
I’ve often contemplated picking up a RAT1. Even though they can be had for @ $40 , I’d just hope the fit and finish is decent. But I’ve heard good things.
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Here is a strange thing. You take apart a Hinderer, at when i did it a few years back, and you are lucky of the stands offs dont spin on one side. When you take the Rat apart, they actually took the time to put a "D" shape into one side of the steel liner so the stand offs dont spin. Another factor for respect for this little gem.
 
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