I've had a Rat 1 for a while now it is my truck knife. The knife I keep in my truck for when I might not have my pocket knife on me, it happens, not often but it does happen. Used it just yesterday to break down 3 large heavy cardboard boxes all boxes were 1 ft wide, by 3 foot tall and 6 foot long, cut 8 fairly thick plastic zip ties, about like the ones the fed's use for hand restraints. That was an average day of use for that knife and the thing is rock solid, just like the day I got it.
Trust me on this, you got a dud. Get you another one, you will like it, I promise you. Some of the best money you'll ever spend.