Which is Better the Rat 1 or the Utilitac II

I don't think they really compare other than in price/material. They are cometely different shapes and [atleast to me] are designed for completely different jobs. The Rat-1 is a general EDC style knife, the 'tac 2 is a hard user/down and dirty kind of "beater" knife.

I don't know which one's really "better" but I can say my round handle utilitac sees way more use than my rat-1 (and I just sold my rat-2).
 
I don't think one is actually better than the other. I have both and really lean towards the Rat1, fills my hand better then the Utilitac. I just rec'd the Utilitac but just doesn't do it for me like the Rat. I actually have three Rat 1's only due to different scale colors :thumbup:

Paul
 
I must like the Utilitac II more as I have two different Utilitac II's, but just one Rat 1. I have used the Utilitac's more often then the Rat 1. I'm also a little disappointed with the relatively late lock-up on the Rat 1. I think I'm just nit picking with the late Lock-up, it's not really an issue, and I like them both for sure.
 
They are all similar construction and materials. I would say the "better" one is the one that feels better in your hand and/or meets your purposes. For me its the Utilitac. I have big hands and both Utilitac handles fit me better. That being said I do like the blade shape and grind of the Rat 1 better for edc.
 
yerscattergun said:
I've heard the Coast FX350 blows em both away...
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I definitely don't think so, I have all 3 (actually I have 2 'tac's) and the rat-1 and the 2 utilitac's are here at the house and part of my EDC rotation but the FX350 was delegated to horse trailer use where it's used almost daily by the farm hands that work with my little sister. Nothing wrong with it and it hold up well to a bunch of non-knife people beating on it the time but the steel 9Cr... is sub par to AUS-8 and it's just not the same level of F&F. I guess if your strictly comparing lock type the coast wins (stainless R.I.L vs liner) but I'd have to give the edge to the ontario's in every other aspect.
 
Yeah, I'm definitely going with the Utilitac II. Beefier blade and handle inspires more confidence, IMO.
 
I want to like the rat 1 more but like you said, I just feel more confident in the utilitac. It feels more solid. The rat 1 feel a bit more delicate. The rat is fine for edc but im not sure its something i would want to use camping or in a survival bag
 
I have the Utilitac black tanto point as well as a Rat 2 and like them both, aesthetically the Utilitac wind in my book but my Rat sees more use because it's lighter, both are wonderful knives worth far above their asking price, both are winners that I think everyone should have.
 
"better" is always a subjective question. I prefer my Utilitac II over the RAT I that I used to have and the RAT II that I now have. Both are fine but I like the beefier look of the Utilitac.
 
Just got my Utilitac II delivered today. Quite a nice knife. OPens smoothly with a resounding snap. Don't have any Rats, so I compared it to my Benchmade Volli. The Volli is perkier and snaps open with more authority. But $27.12 for the Utilitac versus $122.00 for the Volli. Could buy 4 Utilitacs and have money left over. Love my Benchmades but this new knife is going to be my EDC for awhile.
 
bisbob said:
Love my Benchmades but this new knife is going to be my EDC for awhile.
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Use the hell out of it, it's meant to be beaten on. When I first got my Utilitac it kicked out several knives to the drawer, including an Emerson Mini-Commander, Kershaw Blur, Buck Vantage and Gerber Firestorm.

It really is an awesome knife.
 
The RAT 1 has a better blade for slicing, and the Utilitac has a beefier blade. I don't really like FFG blades, so I would say Utilitac. However, the tradeoff for a thicker blade / grind is that you will have much more resistance from materials if you are running the blade through something.

I would say it comes down to personal preference and usage. I already have a slicing-task folder that is unfailingly in my rear right pocket (CS Tuff Lite), so I would go Utilitac every time no matter how many times you asked me. If I were to carry just one knife, however... I probably wouldn't get either and I'd get a hollow ground Manix instead.
 
Had Rat 1 but sold it cause blade was to thin for me although a great knife. First of hearing of the Utilitac but definately getting one blade is thicker which I like and both are aus8.
 
I've used my Rat 1 almost to death. I cut all of the carpet out of a (30' x 20') room with it, cut a ton of drywall, and cross-batoned it through branches with a rock. (Yes, I know, abuse. I wasn't a member of BF at the time of the rock batoning...)

After all of this, it sharpened right up and kept on kicking.

Rat 1 gets my vote. It is so much more than a light-duty EDC.
 
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