Rat 7 Vs. CS LeatherNeck Round Two!!!!

[NeedItCheaper]

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So I have finally been able to test out the Rat 7 now that Ontario has sent me a new blade. For those who followed my last post about the Ontario BlackBird, I did not receive $20 for shipping and handling this time. It just goes to show Ontario was treating me with kid gloves because I broke there baby. Obviously the Rat 7 is more of a bastard child.

For a while now I have been searching for my perfect hiking blade. I have my Ontario SP50, which is the most amazing chopper and baton worthy blade ever. But it is too damn big. Then came the CS LEatherNeck, and for $50 I could never ask for more, but the Ergo's aren't the best, and I wanted something more baton worthy. Then I got the BlackBird, which is a great knife, but just not enough once I actually started using it in the field. So I went back to my CS LeatherNeck. And then I found the Rat 7 online, everyone who reviewed it had nothing but the best to say. So it seemed like a no brainer to get. Below is my comparison.

First came chopping, the original thing that stopped me before. And it passed. It did not beat out the CS LeatherNeck, but the LeatherNeck has near 15 degree edge. So I re-profiled the edge ad brought it down to 20 degrees, and it performed about the same. Ergo's are better, the shock to the hand is far less, and the angle is better, slightly forward so I don't extend my wrist out farther. Definitely less fatigue with the Rat 7.

Next came shaving, the second most used function I do. And although I loved being able to choke up on the blade, ergo's once again are superior to the LeatherNeck, but the LeatherNeck just kept winning. Yeah, I know, a 15 degree edge will beat out pretty much any 20 degree edge. We'll call it a draw.

Then batoning, I was very suprised here. In every way both knives performed the same. I really thought the Rat 7 with it having way more steel would be better. It just wasn't, it bent as much or more on the batoning. It didn't mess up my baton as much, so plus one for that, but when the black bend with the knots, it makes it harder to baton, and it just didn't have more resistance than the LeatherNeck. But I will say Ergo's again and again won out, the Rat 7 had so much less shock.


Finally came the tip test, last on my list. Here after a few short runs the tip broke on the LeatherNeck. I was stabbing deeper than I was with the Rat 7, so I got out my baton and hammered the tip of the Rat 7 as deep as the LeatherNeck, and did my tip test. And while the tip didn't break, it bent. I bent it back with the same stab hole I made(much better to use a hole in wood than a vise, trust me on this). I'm gonna call that a draw too.


In Conclusion: Meh, I like this blade, but it to me it really isn't worth the money. I paid $80 for knife, $40 for sheath for a grand total of $120. For my LeatherNeck I paid $50 even for knife and great sheath, best value to date. I would love for this knife to be made out of SK5, because Ontario made this blade way too soft. Just doesn't get as sharp, and is not performing that much better. . In the end I am still rolling around the moutains with my Ontario BlackBird hoping I can find my perfect blade soon.

 

[Sulaco]

You could have bought a Junglas and sheath for what you paid for those and not had any of the troubles.

I've chopped and baton'd to no end with mine and never done anything worse than the very occasional rolled edge which is easily brought back when I get it home.

The last time I used it, I was splitting very well seasoned oak and hickory that was almost too thick for me to hit the tip of the blade. One piece probably took me the better part of ten minutes to get through (huge knot) and while the blade was working through the knot, it was bent so bad it made me cringe. It's perfect afterwards.

But even if it hadn't been, they'd replace it no questions asked - forever.

 

[NeedItCheaper]

You could have bought a Junglas and sheath for what you paid for those and not had any of the troubles.

That's my Ontario SP 50. It's a little more than 8.5 inch blade and even that's too big.

 

[blame it on god]

I have a leatherneck tanto. Very comfortable handle, but the plastic sheath dulls the blade. Visible edge deformation from putting it in the sheath even after I re-profiled it to 25 degrees. I have ZERO faith in it.

 

[Planetcat]

I love my RAT-7 in D2. Upholds batoning impact and holds it's edge for a very long time. I am surprised you would consider it for hiking. I'm not in terrible shape and hunt in the mountains a lot, but find that knife to be too big and heavy to hike a lot with. It stays close by on the ATV or jeep, though. It's hacked it's share of fallen tree branches that blocked the road. I agree it's a bit pricey once you add the kydex sheath, and I find the handle blocky and uncomfortable. I do love that D2 though.