Ontario RAT-7, Cold steel recon, or ka-bar 1095

C

creedc

Joined
Feb 8, 2012
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i have been looking at all the top knives and these three keep popping up!! i can't decide which one i want. i don't want the ka-bar just because it's famous. i want a knife that is best at chopping and is not gonna chip on me. which knife is better overall, is basically what i'm saying ...please help!!
 
I personally like the CS recon scout best out of those three. I have seriously beat on it harder than I should have, and it has performed better than I deserve.

I assume you mean recon scout and not recon tanto?
 
I have no experience with any of those other than the USMC. The USMC is a great knife, but it is NOT a chopper. Don't get me wrong, its a great blade, and I love carrying it, but its not a chopper by any stretch of the imagination.

Look into the Becker BK7, it is a modern interpretation of the USMC, and a better chopper by a large margin.

My only other insight is that I hear people say that the ontario RAT series handles isn't the most comfortable, but I haven't tried them myself.

Good luck with whatever you do :).
 
I have the Ontario Rat-7 in D2. I put a wicked edge on it when I got it and it has stayed sharp through lots of chopping, usually clearing old logging roads while hunting. Pretty basic knife, but definitely tough. Does a nice job when batoning oak for firewood, too.
 
I'm a fan of the Ontario knives. Very rugged, tough and off the beaten path. I have an RD7, RD9 and an RTAK II.
The sheaths suck, last week I was careless and upended the knife in its sheath, it slipped down and knicked my finger.
I hope to get some kydex sheaths for them, there is a company (Ridge Knife Shop) on line that stocks a sheath for the Rat 7.

pete
 
creedc said:
i want a knife that is best at chopping and is not gonna chip on me.
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out of the three choices you listed i would probably go with the RAT-7

if you're looking for a hard use fixed blade around 7" (i assume your price limit is around $100), also take a look at these:
becker bk-7
ontario RD-7
ontario RBS-7
condor varan
 
jimnolimit said:
if you're looking for a hard use fixed blade around 7" (i assume your price limit is around $100), also take a look at these:
becker bk-7
ontario RD-7
ontario RBS-7
condor varan
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For a production knife in the 7" range, i'd straight-away choose a Becker BK7. I *do not own one*, but i sure would choose it if i were looking for something in that length. I have a Cold Steel Trailmaster (9" + blade length) and wish i'd bought a Becker (though i'd choose the BK2, but that's my personal opinion/preference).

My Cold Steel Trailmaster - the Recon Scout's bigger brother (identical except for blade length) - is an otherwise great knife, but after buying/using i learned there are 90-degree angle grinds at the blade/tang junction which are susceptible to stress risers and premature fracture at those points. I put alot of stress on my field knives and even though i am super careful, i'm very concerned about the high-potential for blade/tang junction fracture.

No thanks.

I need to trust my field knives *absolutely, without reservation* - that when i'm truly in need (hypothermic, hungry, etc) it won't catastrophically fail. The Cold Steel Recon Scout and Trailmaster designs do not allow me that level of confidence.

The Becker BK7 is highly-regarded by many for a blade in that length. The Ka-Bar is no slouch and i have used one before and see many in use/abuse, but it's more of a fighting-knife/all-purpose knife than one specifically designed for field use like the BK7 is.
 
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do you prefer the RTAK over the rat-7? i feel like it might be too big for carry.
 
If you're not tied to the idea of a 7 inch blade and are willing to go just a bit bigger, a Becker BK9 would be a good choice. It always comes very highly recommended.
 
Planetcat said:
I have the Ontario Rat-7 in D2. I put a wicked edge on it when I got it and it has stayed sharp through lots of chopping, usually clearing old logging roads while hunting. Pretty basic knife, but definitely tough. Does a nice job when batoning oak for firewood, too.
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I only feel comfortable heartily recommending a tool I use, not one I heard or read about.

I have the same RAT 7 in D2, and have exactly the same thoughts and experience. I like it well enough that I scrounged up the cash to buy a second one in case something happens to the one I am using now. One thing is for sure, I won't wear it out!

Robert
 
I would also suggest the becker bk7 or bk9 instead of the ontario rat knives. I snapped a rat7 in d2 chopping a couple of years ago, ontario replaced it and i sold it right away. If you have a little more money to spend the esee knives are much better if you want the same style as the ontario rat knives, with much better fit and finish and really good sheaths. The esee6 can be bought for around 110 and is a great knife.
 
cricketdave said:
I would also suggest the becker bk7 or bk9 instead of the ontario rat knives. I snapped a rat7 in d2 chopping a couple of years ago, ontario replaced it and i sold it right away. If you have a little more money to spend the esee knives are much better if you want the same style as the ontario rat knives, with much better fit and finish and really good sheaths. The esee6 can be bought for around 110 and is a great knife.
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This, but not because I have had the same experience, but because of the number of stories that I've heard about things like this. Don't get me wrong, they're good knives, but I've heard more "bad" things about them than I have the Beckers.

For that matter, I haven't really heard of anyone breaking a Becker other than intentional breakage (think noss style stick it in a vice and beat on it with a hammer stuff). I also really like the Becker handle, but thats a personal preference.
 
creedc said:
so becker wins!!
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Well, I think that if you want a 7 inch blade, the BK7 is a good choice, I would prefer the Cold Steel Recon Scout Bowie because it packs more power and has a good carbon steel as well. Becker has another knife that is better than both the Cold Steel and its own BK7 , In MY OPINION...the BK2. It wasn't on your list, but just skip the BK7, or buy both the BK2 and the BK7...
I think you would find that the BK2 is so much better at everything, except maybe carving up tomatoes at home, that you wouldn't go into the woods with out it.
 
Barbwire68 said:
I have never owned a RAT7 so you will have to ask others. D2 is a great steel but maybe not meant for big blades and should be kept at about 4 inches. It may be too brittle for a 7 inch knife.

SNIP

The RAT is cool but D2 may be too brittle for a survival knife that is that long and heavy.
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Don't take my word for it. This battle over D2 has raged on for years here, the "someone knew someone that told someone else that they heard something" about D2. Mostly the ruckus has been started by folks that have never used D2 knives of any size. Bu they have heard things.... they think they saw a video....

I have the RAT 7 in D2, and did the same thing this guy did after I watched his video. Since I honestly wanted to see if it would stand up to hacking away before I took it out camping, I chopped an old, really hard piece of 4X4 oak in half. No, the blade wouldn't shave when I was finished; far from it. But it still cut cardboard fine. I proceeded to drop it point first into a stump from shoulder height (held the knife out at shoulder length and dropped it on the point) about 20 times. The stump was hard enough that from about 5" the knife wouldn't go in more than a 1/4 - 3/8 inch, but it stuck and there was not point deformation. I have walloped the crap out of my D2 knives (I have several) and never had a problem. I have used a couple of them too hard to think it is just luck.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvEkdJJ9wuk

You can't think that knife was abused or babied when you see what he did. Blunt has a pretty good reputation for his tests and opinions.

I am not saying that a D2 is the best bet for anyone. I am not saying that there aren't better choices than the RAT 7 for you. But if I hadn't taken a chance and tried it out for myself with the knife in my hand to my own satisfaction, I would have missed this really nice knife.

BTW - I wouldn't discount what cricketdave said. If he said he broke one, I certainly believe him. No production knife is perfect - none! I was glad to see thought, that Ontario made it right. For years folks "had heard" about how bad their customer service was to deal with. I had a small problem with one of my Ontarios when I bought one, and then I messed up the screws and nuts holding the scales on it. Like dave, they fixed me right up.

There are even instances *gasp* of broken Beckers and Kabars... Get on youtube and dial in the broken knife videos. Plenty of ammunition to make a case for or against just about any knife steel, or even a lot of knives, for that matter.

Robert
 
Just to be clear, D2 works fine in bigger knives, Ontario had some spotty heat treats a few years ago and I had the bad luck to get one. Not a condemnation of all ontario's or all D2. I do like the Esee versions better simply for the fit and finish and the much better sheaths. Now I mostly carry Busse knives camping and backpacking simply because I find that they take a better edge and hold it longer than 1095.

cricket
 
if you can afford it too, look at the A1 by falkniven, vg 10 laminated. I would also recommend the becker 7, but switch out the handles for micarta slabs which you can buy for it.:thumbup:
 
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creedc said:
i have been looking at all the top knives and these three keep popping up!! i can't decide which one i want. i don't want the ka-bar just because it's famous. i want a knife that is best at chopping and is not gonna chip on me. which knife is better overall, is basically what i'm saying ...please help!!
Click to expand...

None of them are going to be great choppers, all of them are too short and too light for serious chopping.

Something heavier and in the 9" + range would work better.

You would wear yourself out chopping with a light knife.

However get a light folding saw and carry any of the those 3 and you would be set for the field.
 
I can picture myself looking at the 3 also. That Becker 2 seems ugly, but the hype is tremendous.
 
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