Ontario Rat 1?

fetzer85 said:
FYI, all our financial situations are different. A $30 knife may be nothing to you and me but quite a bit to someone else. The more you can respect that the better off you'll be. :thumbup:
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fetzer85, longbows been a respected veteran here for a longtime and from what I've seen has always been respectful in his posts---I don't think there was any malice in his statement at all;)

Great knife regardless of the cost...

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Paul
 
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longbow said:
It's only like 30 bucks or so. I don't know why you just wouldn't spring for it? keepem sharp

PS if you don't like it you aren't a ton of dough
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Longbow is right on target. The knife costs the same as one dinner out with your girl at a mediocre restaurant.
I don't see his post as anything negative. He said, in effect, it's a great knife for the price, which is what everyone else here is saying also. I have a RAT1 and a couple of RAT2's; I like them so much that I use them as gifts.
 
Killtation said:
I'll get down to the point (No pun intended). I want a Rat 1 and have for months. I'm finally about to pull the trigger but just saw some reviews saying it develops blade play rather quickly and some videos showing the lock bending or snapping under medium usage.

This question is to the owners of the Rat-1 that have actually used it.

Does this knife hold up over time and in what ways?
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Bladeplay!!!?? HA! My cousin beats the hell out of his. Chopped, pried, used it like a hammer, dug, dropped, screwdriver, thrown etc. Pried so much the tip broke off.
He's headed onto year 2 now with the broken tip and all. Rock solid as my ZT 200. Blade isn't bent and I centered it for him. If it didn't have a broken tip and scratches, it would be like new.
He has made me cringe, watching the blade flex when he pried so hard with it. Even after that, it didn't have play and wasn't loose. It truly is astonishing what it has handled.
The fact that it costs $30 is stealing it. Paying $50 would be stealing it.
It's a fantastic knife. A bit of a pain to disassemble, but it can be done.
Don't even think twice. Buy 25 of them, although 1 would last your whole life.
 
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Hah, wow. Thanks for all the help, guys.
Also, Longbow's right. 30 bucks isn't a ton of money but it's not often i get a chance to blow that much on a knife. I'm in college at the moment pursuing a degree in IT.

I'm definitely buying one soon, I'll let you guys know how it goes. I'm still drawn towards that Pink handle/black blade combo but will probably end up getting Black on Black and just stripping the blade when it looks too bad.
 
fetzer85 said:
FYI, all our financial situations are different. A $30 knife may be nothing to you and me but quite a bit to someone else. The more you can respect that the better off you'll be. :thumbup:
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The OP said he has spent hours upon hours researching this knife. Even at minimum wage job you could buy the knife by working a few extra hours. To OP....buy the knife!!
 
Angus McGunnigle said:
If these don't sell you on this knife then nothing will.

get one.
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I've watched those videos a couple times each during my hours of research. They are the single most impact in me wanting the knife. I love the armed forces and still plan on enlisting in the Army after college. (Hopefully my ROTC will still count for advanced rank) So i love that it can stand up to the abuse a soldier can put it through.

My mind is made up now. I'm definitely getting one, I'm just still deciding on color. xD
 
I've had several over the last few years, and none ever developed any blade play...vertical or horizontal. I've always used them as my beater knives but not "abused" them. I use a knife to cut things. I would highly recommend them...one of the best bang for buck values in the knife world. Oh, and get the satin blade :)
 
I have several, including one of the original single post reversible thumbstuds, and it's seen years of carry and use and still locks up as solid as ever.
 
I held off on purchasing a Rat I for a long time because, at least to me, it is so 'plain' looking (or, not sexy). However, I ended up getting one eventually, and I love it. It fits very nicely in the hand and is by far one of the smoothest non-assisted opening knives I own (this is the knife the started me questioning my prior preference for assisted knives... and, as i have mentioned here before, I cannot understand why Ontario feels the need to come out with an assisted version of this knife this year, when the non-assist is SO excellent). I have since purchased another Rat 1 and a Rat 2, and am considering purchasing another Rat 1 (DAMN addiction!).

I still am not clear if mentioning this is a problem, but I figure it shouldn't be, since they are a paid dealer member. I would recommend that you check out http://www.knifeworks.com/, only because they have a far larger selection of Rat 1 and 2's than any other place else I have seen, including a number exclusive versions.

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:thumbup:I think I'm going to buy a rat 1 & 2 after this thread.
 
rsngfrce said:
I held off on purchasing a Rat I for a long time because, at least to me, it is so 'plain' looking (or, not sexy). However, I ended up getting one eventually, and I love it. It fits very nicely in the hand and is by far one of the smoothest non-assisted opening knives I own (this is the knife the started me questioning my prior preference for assisted knives... and, as i have mentioned here before, I cannot understand why Ontario feels the need to come out with an assisted version of this knife this year, when the non-assist is SO excellent). I have since purchased another Rat 1 and a Rat 2, and am considering purchasing another Rat 1 (DAMN addiction!).

I still am not clear if mentioning this is a problem, but I figure it shouldn't be, since they are a paid dealer member. I would recommend that you check out http://www.knifeworks.com/, only because they have a far larger selection of Rat 1 and 2's than any other place else I have seen, including a number exclusive versions.

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Wow, thanks for the link. That Tiger Striped one is beautiful.

Krav said:
:thumbup:I think I'm going to buy a rat 1 & 2 after this thread.
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Glad my thread helped someone else out. =D Well, wasn't me, all of the fine members who posted their experience with this particular blade deserve the credit.
 
I've been debating on treating myself to the Rat 2 or a mini grip for my birthday, as bad as I want a mini grip this knife seems to good to pass by, I've read nothing but positive things about it, and plan on getting the black blade, black handle, also a pink handle, satin blade combo for the girlfriend. Like others have mentioned for the price it's a steal and you really can't go wrong.
 
I bought one of the first generation of this knife, with the non-tapered thumb stud. I EDC'd it for over a year and a half, and a few years ago I was STUNNED to see how inexpensive they had become, I think I paid almost $70 for that one and never regretted it for a moment. It's seen some pretty hard use- not batoning, for sure, but it hasn't been babied, and occasionally I've done things like use the back of the spine as a screwdriver- zero problems. It's not a featherweight for it's size, and some have issues with that. The weight doesn't bother me at all, it's fine. I dislike black blades and almost never consider them, so that is not an issue.

I became so fond of this knife that even though my usual EDC cost over $250, this is the one I carry in the glove compartment of my vehicle as a back-up just in case I forget to pocket a knife when leaving the house. I've never felt inadequately equipped carrying it. There are plenty of "cheap knives" that I'd be embarrassed to hand to someone- this is NOT one of those. Everyone I've handed it to has been impressed.

If they're changing it I'll be buying at least one more before that just in case it doesn't work out well... but this one will probably outlast me. Come to think of it, I should get a couple for gifts. I only wish that someone in the US made a knife at this price point that I could praise as highly.
 
RP13 said:
I've been debating on treating myself to the Rat 2 or a mini grip for my birthday, as bad as I want a mini grip this knife seems to good to pass by, I've read nothing but positive things about it, and plan on getting the black blade, black handle, also a pink handle, satin blade combo for the girlfriend. Like others have mentioned for the price it's a steal and you really can't go wrong.
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My birthday is actually in 3 days. Another reason i was so eager to finally decide upon ordering. I placed my order a few minutes ago. Rat 1 Black on Black, plain edge. Took a bit of searching around but i even got a good deal on it. ($27.20 with free shipping.) I'll let you guys know how i like it. I'm fairly sure i'll love it and it'll replace my current EDC.

Edit: Or i could just carry my EDC as a backup... then again... i already have a backup.... and a traditional 3 blade as a backup for my backup. 4 knives would be silly... or would it?
 
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Killtation said:
My birthday is actually in 3 days. Another reason i was so eager to finally decide upon ordering. I placed my order a few minutes ago. Rat 1 Black on Black, plain edge. Took a bit of searching around but i even got a good deal on it. ($27.20 with free shipping.) I'll let you guys know how i like it. I'm fairly sure i'll love it and it'll replace my current EDC.

Edit: Or i could just carry my EDC as a backup... then again... i already have a backup.... and a traditional 3 blade as a backup for my backup. 4 knives would be silly... or would it?
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Happy early birthday, mine isn't until April, I'm fighting the urge to wait until then to make my purchase. cost a little bit more up in Canada but still fairly reasonable.
 
Killtation said:
My birthday is actually in 3 days. Another reason i was so eager to finally decide upon ordering. I placed my order a few minutes ago. Rat 1 Black on Black, plain edge. Took a bit of searching around but i even got a good deal on it. ($27.20 with free shipping.) I'll let you guys know how i like it. I'm fairly sure i'll love it and it'll replace my current EDC.

Edit: Or i could just carry my EDC as a backup... then again... i already have a backup.... and a traditional 3 blade as a backup for my backup. 4 knives would be silly... or would it?
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Happy early Birthday. $27.20 with shipping is a good price based on my searching. I just ordered one of the KnifeWorks exclusive Venom Green handle/Black blade models... like I really needed it....
 
Killtation said:
My birthday is actually in 3 days. Another reason i was so eager to finally decide upon ordering. I placed my order a few minutes ago. Rat 1 Black on Black, plain edge. Took a bit of searching around but i even got a good deal on it. ($27.20 with free shipping.) I'll let you guys know how i like it. I'm fairly sure i'll love it and it'll replace my current EDC.

Edit: Or i could just carry my EDC as a backup... then again... i already have a backup.... and a traditional 3 blade as a backup for my backup. 4 knives would be silly... or would it?
Click to expand...

Happy early Birthday. $27.20 with shipping is a good price based on my searching. I just ordered one of the KnifeWorks exclusive Venom Green handle/Black blade models... like I really needed it....

(EDIT: CRAP! They are out of stock on that one...)
 
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