Ontario Rat II - comparisons, mini-review, and lots of pictures!

I don't think I'll be trying the ESEE. I'd prefer to have a scale on both sides so framelocks are a no go for me.

I have the RAT's more aggressive big brother in the Utilitac II and it's my favorite folder currently. So much so I'm going to buy a few more at tax time and have G10 scales fitted to them and the blades Cerakoted.
 
I've had my Zancudo just over a week now and I'm not a big fan, mainly due to my sticky lock. I've been opening and using it numerous times a day but it's still at a point where I usually can't disengage the lockbar with just my right thumb.

Alnamvet68, those RAT 1 camo scales look pretty awesome. Did you buy them or make them?
 
fetzer85 said:
I've had my Zancudo just over a week now and I'm not a big fan, mainly due to my sticky lock. I've been opening and using it numerous times a day but it's still at a point where I usually can't disengage the lockbar with just my right thumb.

Alnamvet68, those RAT 1 camo scales look pretty awesome. Did you buy them or make them?
Click to expand...

Trust me fetz, the Zancudo will break in properly in due time...it's a "sticking point" if you will, of the knife. As for the G10 scales, I'm not at liberty yet to say who makes them, but when it's time, I'll be happy to announce where to get them.;)
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Trust me fetz, the Zancudo will break in properly in due time...it's a "sticking point" if you will, of the knife. As for the G10 scales, I'm not at liberty yet to say who makes them, but when it's time, I'll be happy to announce where to get them.;)
Click to expand...


Are you at liberty to address my question in post #38 ?
 
Alnamvet68 said:
As for the G10 scales, I'm not at liberty yet to say who makes them, but when it's time, I'll be happy to announce where to get them.;)
Click to expand...
Making me wait...ok...but stop posting those pics in so many threads then! You're making me curious...:p
 
d0nut said:
Are you at liberty to address my question in post #38 ?
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not....but what the hey, I'll give it a shot. The Zancudo, and the soon to be released bigger brother Avispa, are giving consumers who have been thinking about buying a low cost, high quality knife such as the RAT I & II, a choice. Both knives are manufactured by Paul Lin, in Taiwan, using identical materials, AUS 8 steel, and priced the same. With the introduction of the Zancudo, and subsequent sales where several on line retailers ran out of stock due to high demand, it would be fair to say that had not the Zancudo been an option, the RAT's would have been a clear choice. You cannot go wrong with either brand, but it is safe to say the Zancudo has cut into the sales of the RAT II.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Maybe, maybe not....but what the hey, I'll give it a shot. The Zancudo, and the soon to be released bigger brother Avispa, are giving consumers who have been thinking about buying a low cost, high quality knife such as the RAT I & II, a choice. Both knives are manufactured by Paul Lin, in Taiwan, using identical materials, AUS 8 steel, and priced the same. With the introduction of the Zancudo, and subsequent sales where several on line retailers ran out of stock due to high demand, it would be fair to say that had not the Zancudo been an option, the RAT's would have been a clear choice. You cannot go wrong with either brand, but it is safe to say the Zancudo has cut into the sales of the RAT II.
Click to expand...

Fair points. I don't know enough about the Zancudo to speak to it's quality but it seems [on paper] that it's very comparable to the Rat II in almost every regard. I would imagine it comes down to aesthetic differences for some people. Blade shape, clip shape, color choices, etc. But I could be very wrong, what do I know? :p
 
Well, it may have cut into sales, but I'd like to think it would even out. For the price they're going for, why wouldn't you just get both? I'm still waiting for my Zancudo to show up, but I love my RAT 1. Fit, finish, blade, ergos, it's all there for me. I expect similar performance from the Zancudo, honestly. It's good to know they're going to be on par in quality.
 
I can't fault my Zancudo at all as far as quality, but I have found that after having mine awhile, I have reverted back to the RAT II, because the Zancudo is really not a good fit for this southpaw.

The pocket clip is not reversible, but that is not a huge deal, but there is slightly less room between the thumbstud and the frame lock, making it a little harder to get a good position on the thumbstud, and (at least on mine), if you look close, the stud on the side for right handers, is noticeably taller than the one on the side for left handers, and I can't see a way to reverse them???

Because, without the pocket clip attached, the Zancudo is so thin, and otherwise a VERY stout little folder, I'm gonna use mine for a small PSK knife, and cary RAT II's EDC.
 
d0nut, great job on your review (and pics) back in July. I'm just seeing this thread for the first time but I enjoyed the read.

No interest here in a Zancudo but I may check out a RAT II sometime.
 
addylo said:
d0nut, great job on your review (and pics) back in July. I'm just seeing this thread for the first time but I enjoyed the read.

No interest here in a Zancudo but I may check out a RAT II sometime.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind words :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top