I've been meaning to compare the new vs. the old RAT serrations for a while now, and FINALLY got around to doing it! My RC3 has the new RC Serrations, my RAT3 has the older small tooth serrations (found on the RAT3, RAT5, and Model 1), and my RAT7 has the older large serrations (found on the TAK, RAT7, and RTAKII).
I used the RC3/RAT3/RAT7 to cut six different materials: 1.5" wide web strap, 1/4" nylon rope, 1/2" nylon rope, 1/2" manilla rope, 550 cord (parachute cord), and 1/2" vinyl tubing. One end of the material was clamped to a bench, and each cut was made about 1/2" from the clamp.
I found that my results were always in the following order (best to worst): RC3, RAT3, RAT7 - or - RAT7, RAT3, RC3. The RAT3 always held its own in the middle - whereas the RC3 and RAT7 would alternate from best to worst, depending on the material being cut.
On the Webbing, the RC3 was hands down the most efficient cutter, leaving a nice clean cut. The RAT3, being more "toothy," really frayed the web strap, but not as much as the RAT7.
The 1/4" Nylon rope showed similar results - the RC3 cutting must efficiently, with the RAT3 and RAT7 "hanging up" and cutting less efficiently.
The 1/2" Manilla rope, the results were inverse. The RAT7 was much more efficient, with its toothy serrations sawing through the rope leaving a very clean cut. The RAT3 performed very similarly to the RAT7. The RC3 still cut very well, but took more effort than the RAT7/3.
I used the RC3/RAT3/RAT7 to cut six different materials: 1.5" wide web strap, 1/4" nylon rope, 1/2" nylon rope, 1/2" manilla rope, 550 cord (parachute cord), and 1/2" vinyl tubing. One end of the material was clamped to a bench, and each cut was made about 1/2" from the clamp.
I found that my results were always in the following order (best to worst): RC3, RAT3, RAT7 - or - RAT7, RAT3, RC3. The RAT3 always held its own in the middle - whereas the RC3 and RAT7 would alternate from best to worst, depending on the material being cut.
On the Webbing, the RC3 was hands down the most efficient cutter, leaving a nice clean cut. The RAT3, being more "toothy," really frayed the web strap, but not as much as the RAT7.
The 1/4" Nylon rope showed similar results - the RC3 cutting must efficiently, with the RAT3 and RAT7 "hanging up" and cutting less efficiently.
The 1/2" Manilla rope, the results were inverse. The RAT7 was much more efficient, with its toothy serrations sawing through the rope leaving a very clean cut. The RAT3 performed very similarly to the RAT7. The RC3 still cut very well, but took more effort than the RAT7/3.
