Ontario Rat 2 or Benchmade Mini-Grip

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raja

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Nov 2, 2005
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I'm considering getting an Ontario Rat 2 or Benchmade Mini-Grip and would appreciate your comments on the two knives. How do the two compare and which one would you get?

Thanks for your comments.

Raja
 
Being a Grip fan, I would say go for the Grip Mini. You can get it custom from Benchmade's site in various colours, blade steels and shapes. They are rugged knives that stand up pretty well to just about anything. The Rat will be a lot cheaper than the Grip though.
 
I own a full size Griptilian 550HG and a Ontario RAT1.

Both are identical to their full size brothers except slightly smaller.

Between the two I would def go with the mini Grip over the RAT 2.

Just my personal choice and you really can't go wrong with any Griptilian, just amazing for the money.
 
I'd go for the Mini-Griptilian. I own a full sized one and love it. It carries well in the pocket and I find that the thumbstuds are placed perfectly.
 
An addition to the my previous post, the steel on the Grip is better, but you pay the price. I picked up my full size 551 Grip at a gun store for $89. I have seen the RAT 2 going for $25. The custom Mini Grip will start at about $125 going up as high as $145, but they run anywhere between $75 and $120 on most of the retail sites.
 
Rats are good knives. But they are budget knives.

While they are good a lot of their appeal is the price/quality ratio.

If you are willing to spend grip prices, get the grip.
 
Styg said:
Rats are good knives. But they are budget knives.

While they are good a lot of their appeal is the price/quality ratio.

If you are willing to spend grip prices, get the grip.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I was going to say. The RAT 1 and 2 are great folders, but the Griptilian has better steel and overall fit and finish (plus the AXIS lock is cool, even if it isn't stronger than the liner lock on the RAT).
 
Both are great knives. Rat is a budget knife as mentioned above. Aus 8 vs 154cm etc. The Rat 2 is a great knife to start up with and has more clip carry positions if you prefer tip down. In addition it is easier to replace due to costs compared to the Mini Grip which is at least double the price of the Rat 2. However the Mini Grip has various handle and steel options so you can really make a knife suited to your preferences. I would go with a Rat 2 for starting up and Mini Grip if you want to upgrade. Can't go wrong with either knife.
 
It sounds like what you want is the mini grip but wonder if its worth the price difference. My advice, after having collected knives for many years on a very small budget, is to save up and get what you really want. The mini grip is a popular knife for good reason; it and the delica are probably two of the most practical and versatile folders on the market, and they've served many people well, including myself. I'd go mini grip, and if you don't like it, sell it and get the rat.
 
Mini Grip all day, you can find them for around $60-$65, definitely worth the extra $$, IMO of course
 
I appreciate all of the comments. mlanghornes hit the nail on the head - about wondering if the price difference is worth it for the mini-grip. Based on the comments, it sounds like it is.

Thanks,
Raja
 
Mini-Grip is one of my favorite EDC knives. Very compact, rides comfortably in pocket, great blade profile and steel, comfortable in hand, and Axis lock. The RAT-2 is a good knife at less than half the cost of a Mini-Grip, if cost is a factor.
 
Have both, Mni is much better IMO! Better lock better steel better grip! And it is lighter and smaller! Much better EDC!
 
My Ritter Mini Grip is one of my favorite EDC's.
So whether you're getting the regular or Ritter doesn't really matter, I would get the mini grip.
It has a better steel, a good feel, a great lock, and works for just about any EDC uses it may see.
It feels good in the pocket and hand. It looks good, and is really just a great little knife.

The RAT is a good knife, especially at the price. It has a nice feel, but if choosing between the two, I would pick the mini grip for overall EDC.
 
Mini Grip is likely the best way to go, but if you don't mind me suggesting a possible alternative... check out the Cold Steel mini recon 1 (mini, not micro). I prefer it's lock to the rat 2 and the mini grip, and it's between both in terms of price, and for general edc it will get the job done. In any case, you'll end up with a pretty good knife.
 
I might be the only one voting Rat II, but really IMO it's the way to go and I have both. Lock up is solid, deployment is lightening fast, blade steel is adequate if you are using it for EDC and not construction or military deployment, and I love the FFG. The grip on the Rat II is more than adequate for me (though admittedly the grip on the mini-grip is better) and you can't beat the price. I barely carry my Mini-Grip (and I do love my mini-grip), because I love that my Rat II stands up to all tasks asked of it while at the same time I do not care much if I lose or break it due to low replacement cost. Just my two cents.



 
Rogue Bowie - Thanks for posting the pictures that helps. I'd like to have opinions on the Spyderco Persistence compared to the Rat 2 if anyone would provide a comment.

Thanks,
Raja
 
As much as I love "grips", I'd take a RAT II over the mini-grip.

For me, I find the handle ergo's better, and their AUS8 is just fine, I doubt the average users will notice any real difference between it and 154cm.

My RAT II has gone everywhere with me since I got it, and it's just about that perfect "small enough/Big enough" EDC, especially when I'm in a place where "whipping out" a ZT0561 will cause a panic. :)
 
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