Quality Comparison..Benchmade NRA Snody vs RAT-3

Tolly

Tolly

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Jan 1, 2006
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Okay guys, here's the dealio. I have been looking for a good 3.25"-4" fixed blade to buy to put in one of my small B.O.B County Comm bags for quite a while. I am wanting to stay around the $60-$65 range and I can buy both the Benchmade NRA Snody(440c) and the Ontario RAT-3(1095 steel) in that range. These are the two knives I have narrowed it down to so far but nobody near me carries either one of them so I have never had a chance to handle them and check out the quality of the two knives. I was hoping some of you who may have some experience with one or both of them might chime in and give your thoughts or pros and cons of these two fixed blades. Also, I am not opposed to looking at something else, these are just the two that I have seen so far that I feel best fit my needs as a small fixed blade B.O.B. knife. Thanks in advance.
 
I like the RAT 3, just be aware that the handle is pretty thin side to side.
Great for low profile carry, but if you've got big hands (like I do) the handle might be too small for ya.
 
I have the Snody and love it. feels great in the hand. Comes really sharp and just seems a perfect size !!!
Mr Snody actually replied to me on here about it ( maybe you can find it ) and said that everyone who comes to his shop and holds one ends up buying one !
 
I've not handled the NRA Snody, so I'm not able to make a recommendation on the knife.
I do have a Benchmade Fixed Resistor and an Instigator designed by Snody; they are excellent knives.


Some other ideas:

The Beretta Loveless Hunter is a heckuva nice knife for about $45.
Made in Japan.

One of the nicest small fixed blades around that doesn't get a lot of attention is the Blackjack small hunter. AUS10 steel, also made in Japan, 3 inch blade with a 4 inch cocobolo handle and a great leather sheath. Very well designed knife with a BIG 3 inch blade.

For about $75 you can get a Buck Alpha with Rosewood handles and a 154CM blade, it's a fantastic deal at that price.

I'd also look at the Entrek Badger, a total winner of a knife, also in the $75.00 range. Great B.O.B knife - Kydex sheath, very very tough and strong knife with Micarta scales. Some would say the steel isn't as "good" as the RAT 3, but the Entrek makes the RAT 3 look like a toy. IMO.
 
I can only speak for the RAT3. I have the D2 and it is an awesome knife. Great for edc alternate to a large folder. The multi position sheath is great. The guys over at RAT put a lot of thought into this little package. The customer service is second to none. The whole line of RATs is great you should check them out.
 
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It's fine bro ! Kinda like a Cordura with a plastic insert. Seems decent quality and does it's job. Has the NRA logo stitched on the front.
 
Okay, I don't actually own either one, but I've been looking at both as possible purchases in the near future. So, with that in mind, here's a couple of thoughts. first, on the handles. . . The Snody looks super comfortable - As long as you're only going to use the knife in a standard grip. Just about any other way you hold it it looks like that point behind the choil could be really uncomfortable. Someone mentioned that the handle on the RAT-3 was kind of thin, but that could be easily remedied with new scales or a cord wrap. With the molded handle on the Snody you're pretty much stuck with what you see. Secondly, on the blade shape. . . The Snody has that slight re-curve to the blade. It wouldn't be too big of a deal to either include a sharpener in your kit that could accommodate that, or find a nice rounded stone in a creek or river, but the blade on the RAT-3 would be just that little bit easier to maintain.

So, overall, I think the RAT-3 would be the better choice. Someone else who has actually used both knives may come along an totally shoot me down, but there's my opinion for what it's worth (probably not much ;) )
 
Your probably not far off the mark Salamander, I have never found myself needing to hold my Snody any other way but I guess it could be awkward.
I have also never been away long enough to have to sharpen it in the field but I imagine I could do if needed.
It also comes down to maintenance and how corrosion resistant a blade you would need.
There are very few stainless knives out there that I would swap my Snody for, maybe a Fallkniven based on others reports.I use mine as my winter ( wet season) EDC so to me for that purpose I would take it over a RAT 3 !
 
I don't own a Snody NRA, but the design looks very nice, and it is a Benchmade, so the quality should be there. I do however own a RAT-3 in 1095, and it is a great small fixed blade. I doubt you could go wrong with either.
 
Y'all are gonna love this...I just ordered both of them. I'm such a knife whore!:D :D :D
 
Tolly said:
Y'all are gonna love this...I just ordered both of them. I'm such a knife whore!:D :D :D
Click to expand...

Congratulations, a wise choice.
(Happens often after a good discussion re: various choices in a BF thread. ;))

Please post your thoughts on the knives when they arrive!
 
Rat-3 will do you good. I like the belt clip over the Tek-lok. Easy on and off.

Another suggestion: If it's going to spend most of the time in a BoB, why not get a Mora?
 
I like Snody designs. He gets out of the box but still turns out a useful tool. A lot of the Benchmade/NRA knives are a bargain. The other sneaker, IMHO, is the Benchmade Rant drop point-- a good all-purpose knife that reminds me of the Fallkniven F1.

I would consider moras for a BOB. They are cheap enough to have them in several kits.

I found a guy selling SOG Field Pups on Ebay for $29. I think that's another good all-purpose design for kits.
 
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