RAT Heat Treat?

[Dr. Pepper]

This is basically a rewritten post that was originally posted over in the general forum. I am seeking input on the heat treatment of the Ontario RAT series 1095. I need to know if it is hard for edge holding or soft for toughness. Various vendors seem to quote different RC factors for these knives.

Everyone keeps saying how easy they are to sharpen so that makes me wonder if they are terribly soft.

I am wondering how a Rat-3 1095 for example would hold its edge dressing/skinning a deer. I was assured on my other post that it would be sufficient. I appreciate and accept this intuitively but I am still curios about a comparison.

How do they hold an edge compared to other well known real use value brands like Kabar or even Buck (stainless I know but most people are familiar with them).

If this is a redundant thread overall I am sorry, I am posting here in this forum trying to find the people who use the RAT knives.

Thanks,

 

[cz75b]

I've cut branches with my RAT-3 for 45-50mins. After that the knife was still extremely sharp. It didn't shave, but it could still slice newspaper!!
How about that for edge holding? It's fine for me.

CZ

 

[Macchina]

As far as dress 1 deer, it'll hold up great! Not many knives can dress multiple deer and stay razor sharp. I had a TAK in 1095, and it held a great edge against wood for weekend hikes. I even thinned the edge a whole lot to about 25 degrees included. I would strongly recommend an Ontario, they are very nice knives with realistic thickness (.1875 instead of the much thicker outdoors knives).