Ontario Rat-1 sprint run??

1

1badcj_7

Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
122
So, I am sitting here watching TV playing with some of my knives(all over $100) and I grab my $30 Ontario rat-1 and flick it a couple times and I realize something.. This knife opens as smooth or smoother than every knife in my collection! Better than the my Manixs, my 4 Benchmade axis lock knives, my ZT's, Para2's, everything! It locks up bank vault tight, and its just sooooo silky smooth! So I started thinking, wouldnt it be sweeeeet if they'd make an upgraded materials version of the Rat-1, like 154cm, s30v, s90v, zdp189 blade steel, g10 scales and polished skeletonized stainless liners. or even a Rat-1 Ti-framelock or mini Rat1:cool:!!!!

I think this knife has an incredible amount of unrealized potential. Just wondering what other people think because it seems as though Ontario could be a serious competitor against the best knives in the "knife game". I cant wait to hear if you all agree or if you think I'm just delusional!
1badcj_7
 
I love the Rat1. I would likely purchase an Elmax variant. G10 sounds good. Don't care for polished liners. Maybe stonewashed.
 
I love my rat 1. One of my favorite EDC beaters because I am not impartial to heavier knives. If they did make a sprint run with upgraded blade steel/finish, a well done Ti-lock and g10 I would be on board 100%.
 
I bought this knife to beat the crap out of in my construction job and have to say I have done just that for the last 18 months or so. The knife is still as solid as a rock, and has years of hard work left in it. They got this one right.

The only thing I would improve would be to offer the knife with a little bit better steel. Not the top line designer steels, but something that holds and edge well and sharpens easily. With the AUS 8 of today's model, I can easily dull it in an hour or so if I am really using it. However, it can easily be sharpened with just a few licks on my 600gr chef's rod, so that makes it a good trade off. If the blades is clean, I frequently run it over the rod while cooking dinner.

I have been surprised at how well this knife has held up under all kinds of nastiness during use including exposure to solvents (I clean tar and butyl caulk off the blade and handles with charcoal lighter fluid frequently) and light prying and heavy cutting of all kinds of materials. If this one actually wears out I will probably just go get another one.

Robert
 
I would love to see the rat 1 in something like 1095, CPM 3V, D3, (or whatever else you can think of that would work well in a folder). I freaking love that blade geometry.
 
Best knives for the money out there IMO. I have expensive stuff, but the Rat is the only one I have multiples of.

The best part is, not being afraid to USE it.
 
Good idea, how about brown or green canvas micarta scales with D2 tool steel.... or... blue textured G10 with M390. I don't want them to change it to a frame lock, I love frame locks, but why mess with a good thing?

On another note, I also own the Utilitac II and that thing is sweet too! I think of it as a poor man's ZT0350.
 
I agree, I like it so much I gave one to my father in law and a few other family members. If you ever take one apart you will see how detailed and sturdy the construction is. Another suggestion would be to try out their other folders like the utilitacs. They are also overbuilt, silky smooth and cheap.

As far as a custom Rat 1; ad textured micarta and the rest is good in my opinion.
 
I agree. If the Rat 1 were offered with S30V and G10, the Paramilitary 2 would have some real competition! Both knives are very similar in size and handle shape. The Rat 1 has a slightly longer cutting edge.
 
how do we actually get ontario to do a sprint run of CPM S30V or CPM M4? I think the scales are just fine, we just need a better blade steel.
Steel_Chart_8_A.jpg
 
I'm still thinking, for myself that I would like a grippier hand grip. The thing is though that Ontario already makes this type of knife, it just isn't a better RAT 1. It is the Spec Plus Folder. It has a 1095 blade and runs about $75, which I'm thinking is about what and S30V with G-10 grips RAT 1 would cost.
 
... but the spec plus folder looks like tacticrap. it's nothing like the rat 1.

potential improvements for us to vote/decide on:
1) blade steel (1095, D2, D3, CPM S30V, CPM M4, M390, etc)
2) grips (G10, Micarta, better texture for existing nylon handles, etc)
3) better lock? (thicker linerlock, Ti framelock, etc)
 
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I love my Rat1 and one with better scales, steel, ect. would be great.
But, I probably wouldn't have bought one anyways for 2 reasons.

The Rat1 is probably the best value I've seen which makes me overlook the thing that bothers me the most about it.
It's not made in the USA.

A higher quality of scales and blade would rise the cost quite a bit, and if it was still made in Taiwan it would lose appeal at least for me.

But that's just me though, because Cold Steel sells tons of higher priced knives.

I must admit I've been tempted to make some G10 scales for my Rat, and yes, a better steel would be nice too.
So a better quality material Rat that's made in the good old USA would be sweet, but I'd probably still stick to my cheap on anyways for EDC.
 
Cheap knife "improved" by adding premium steel, fancy handle materials and better lock: all adding up to a high price? What's the point?
 
Poez said:
Cheap knife "improved" by adding premium steel, fancy handle materials and better lock: all adding up to a high price? What's the point?
Click to expand...

Agreed. Not the same knife anymore. Who wants a $150 Rat1? Let them make their $30 world beater, they are good at that. Plus they made the Retribution which was EPIC. If I want a nice, tough, liner lock with better steel and G10, I'll buy an 0350 from ZT.
 
Yeah, I know the Spec Plus looks like tacticrap, I never said it didn't. It isn't a RAT 1 either which I've already said. I'm thinking about getting some G 10 and making my own scales for it. The big problem is that a dozen guys aren't going to get Ontario to make a sprint run.
 
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