Ontario Rat 1, why so attractive?

B

bergholz

Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
180
Hey guys, brought my Rat1 to work with me today and thought I would snag some pics for you. From some reason I love this knife. I don't know if its because of is strength (built like a tank). Simple lines, classic drop point blade, or maybe because its so affordable. It opens smooth and quick, locks up nice and solid..... the only bummer is the scales. They get kinda slippery when damp. (Maybe a mod soon) All in all a great knife and I really enjoy it. It feels like I have a folding fixed blade in my pocket when I carry it! :-) Anyways on with the pics!

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Hmm,looks like a good work knife! I'm hesitant to carry my good folders to work ever since I started roofing, maybe I'll grab one of these.
 
Ha, that pallet saran wrap was always a good cutting test for me. If I could cleanly cut it without having to touch the plastic with my hand, it was sharp enough :D

I need to pick up one of those Rat 1 folders.
 
The RAT-1 is a great outdoors folder, I've had one for several years, and just recently got the new orange handled one.

One of my top 5 folders.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
The RAT-1 is a great outdoors folder, I've had one for several years, and just recently got the new orange handled one.

One of my top 5 folders.
Click to expand...



Got one of those orange ones myself, great for out door usage. I keep the black handled one for edc. I think that will be the one I try a new handle design on ;-)
 
I consider it one of the BEST $30 knives available today ;)

ibute21 said:
Hmm,looks like a good work knife! I'm hesitant to carry my good folders to work ever since I started roofing, maybe I'll grab one of these.
Click to expand...
 
I don't get good experience with aus8a...
As my test shows, my aus8 blade and victorinox, both at 56hrc and 20 degree, my Vic out cuts the kabar dozier hunter...
each knife after cuts cardboard, will have the paper slicing test ( like Ankerson's test)
the victorinox cut 2 boxes and still shave hair off my arm, of course still slice through paper like butter.
the kabar dozier cut 2 boxes and still got the working edge on it, only can shave with the belly, but can still slice through paper, well not as good as the vic tho.
So, does it mean anything, anything at all? Does the full flat grind or the hardness of the Ontario rat 1 make it any better than kabar dozier, or... my Victorinox?
 
Dao.Hung_105 said:
I don't get good experience with aus8a...
As my test shows, my aus8 blade and victorinox, both at 56hrc and 20 degree, my Vic out cuts the kabar dozier hunter...
each knife after cuts cardboard, will have the paper slicing test ( like Ankerson's test)
the victorinox cut 2 boxes and still shave hair off my arm, of course still slice through paper like butter.
the kabar dozier cut 2 boxes and still got the working edge on it, only can shave with the belly, but can still slice through paper, well not as good as the vic tho.
So, does it mean anything, anything at all? Does the full flat grind or the hardness of the Ontario rat 1 make it any better than kabar dozier, or... my Victorinox?
Click to expand...

Actually, I have a Kabar Dozier and though its a good knife, I do find the steel seems a bit softer than other AUS-8 knives. A lot of it has to do with the heat treating process. The Rat 1 in my opinion has a fantastic heat treatment. It holds a shaving sharp edge for quite some time during normal edc use. I'm also Very keen on the full flat grind. I feel it makes a strong blade an excellent slicer as well. True, its by far not the greatest steel.... but I think Ontario did a good job with it.
 
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bergholz said:
Actually, I have a Kabar Dozier and though its a good knife, I do find the steel seems a bit softer than other AUS-8 knives. A lot of it has to do with the heat treating process. The Rat 1 in my opinion has a fantastic heat treatment. It holds a shaving sharp edge for quite some time during normal edc use. I'm also Very keen on the full flat grind. I feel it makes a strong blade an excellent slicer as well. True, its by far not the greatest steel.... but I think Ontario did a good job with it.
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no doubt ffg is good...
No, don't get me wrong I still use my kabar and find it good, especially for the price!
but maybe because of the grind on it, or the heat treatment, or both that affect the performance :P
I'm lookin for a ffg dive knife, but it's nowhere to be found...
 
I have three with different color combinations. Love em. What I did because all mine were super hard to deploy is I disassembled each one and took a dremel tool with a fine filing cone and slightly radiused out the ball detent. I took a minimalist approach to it so as not to defeat the whole mechanism, and reassembled the knives. Now I have 3 folders that are easier to deploy and are in constant edc rotation. ZT 0200 in my left pocket for two legged predators, and one of my RATs in my right side pocket for everything else. I can't recommend a better knife for the money-even without the mods that I performed.
 
kickplate69 said:
I have three with different color combinations. Love em. What I did because all mine were super hard to deploy is I disassembled each one and took a dremel tool with a fine filing cone and slightly radiused out the ball detent. I took a minimalist approach to it so as not to defeat the whole mechanism, and reassembled the knives. Now I have 3 folders that are easier to deploy and are in constant edc rotation. ZT 0200 in my left pocket for two legged predators, and one of my RATs in my right side pocket for everything else. I can't recommend a better knife for the money-even without the mods that I performed.
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Did you ever do anything to the scales? Im looking for possible pattern idea I can work into the frn with my dremel.... Or something like that. I wonder how difficult it is to get some G10 and work it into shape.
 
Yep, the RAT-1 is a very good knife and the price just makes it even better. Its quite comfortable to carry for a larger folder, feels good in hand, and I love that blade shape. I don't mind the 'slick' Nylon 6 scales; the ergos and jimping are enough to provide a good secure grip.

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True, the jimping is probably the best out of any knife I've had. I just get sweaty hands quickly when working with knives.... actually dropped it twice now. Lots of sharpening after that :-(
 
bergholz said:
True, the jimping is probably the best out of any knife I've had. I just get sweaty hands quickly when working with knives.... actually dropped it twice now. Lots of sharpening after that :-(
Click to expand...

Maybe try a lanyard on your RAT? :)
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
The RAT-1 is a great outdoors folder, I've had one for several years, and just recently got the new orange handled one.

One of my top 5 folders.
Click to expand...

i still love mine!! easy to sharpen and holds edge pretty well. its not exotic but the damn thing works!!! its very rugged as well.
 
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