RAT Knives from Ontario...Your Thoughts.

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey again everyone,

The RAT-5 and RAT-7 look like they would be a pretty good knife to hang off of your belt. From looking at a few knife retailers it looks like the RAT-7 sells for about $110 or so.

What's the thoughts on these knives, especially the RAT-7? Are they a good buy or would you save up a bit more and get one from the Busse sister company? Are they even being made anymore?

Thanks for your opinions and time.

Nala
 
The Busse group are Busse, Swamp Rat, and Scrapyard.
You could also look at Ranger, and Ka-Bar also has similar knives.
 
I really like the RAT series. I think they are a good compromise between a slicer and a chopper.
 
I have only a RAT-3 and I like it....it's a pretty suave little knife. I've considered the RAT-7 in 1095 and may get one someday as soon as I cure this Bark River syndrome. I like the Ranger RD7 too....tough choice betwixt the two.
 
IMO:

RAT3: Great little knife; handle was too narrow for my hand.
RAT5: No experience with this one.
RAT7: Bought one in D2 and was not happy with it. Edge was dull out of the box.
Exchanged it back to the dealer for a RAT7 in 1095 which is a great knife. Especially for the price.
Mine was nicely sharp right out of the box.
RTAKII: Huge knife, terrific value in a big chopper, very easy to recommend.
 
One of the issues with all knives out of Queen and Ontario is that their sharpening is spotty at best. Sometimes they are hair poppers and sometimes butter knives.

The RAT knives are excellent knives, but you will likely have to sharpen it.
 
okbohn said:
One of the issues with all knives out of Queen and Ontario is that their sharpening is spotty at best. Sometimes they are hair poppers and sometimes butter knives.

The RAT knives are excellent knives, but you will likely have to sharpen it.
Click to expand...

This appears to be true, from my own experience and from reading all the related posts here on BF and elsewhere.

If you're going to be buying a Queen or Ontario, I highly advise buying from a dealer who will check the sharpness for you.
 
Only experience has been with a Rat 3 and seemed to have good fit and finish, good size overall i liked it. Of course i also traded it without any real use but that's not the knifes fault. ahgar
 
I am a big fan of the RAT-3, -5 and -7. No need to hold out for more spendy knives, IMO.

The handle on the 5- is the same as the one on the -7, and though I have one of the former and 2 of the latter, I really don't see much point in the -5. I am biased, tho, as I am much more used to the feel and balance of the -7.

Current project of mine is to strip the blade coating on one of the -7's. I'm a fan of that naked steel look.

:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top