the Rat II Folder by Ontario

It arrived today and was waiting in our mailbox when we got back from the hospital. What a nice coming home present.

Blade Steel: AUS-8 Steel
Blade Grind: Full Flat Grind
Opening Mechanism: Reversible Thumb Stud
Carry System: 4-Way Pocket Clip
Handle: Ergonomic Nylon 6 Handles
Overall Length: 7"
Blade Length: 3"
Closed Length: 4"

OK, first thought. WOW they put the RAT I folder in a shrink ray. It seems to be that close a match for the full size (I have the original RAT I).

The handles seem to have the same texturing as the original. Not to aggressive or deep, but you can detect by feel there is some texturing there. The is some slight jimping on the liner lock up front where the finger groove part of the handle is, the part of the liner that you press to release it.

The open spine I think is a great idea on a knife that will see real day to day usage. It allows for a quick swishing under water and you are good to go at least until you can give it a really good cleaning.

The blade lock us very firm with no play on my sample. The liners are approx 1/16 inch thick, enough for a small blade like this. The LOCKING liner engages it's full thickness on the tang of the blade and actually stops with the flat side of the lock even with the flat side of the blade.

The Blade, again like the original has AUS 8 steel. Some like it some don't I don't have a problem with it. It Has dual thumb studs and jimping on the back of the blade on the "Thumb ramp". The back of the blade, the thumb ramp is not flat but is ground at a slight upward slope to further enhance the grip of the jimping, again like the original.

The blade itself is once more a carbon copy of the original Rat I. It is only thinner and shorter, I would guess somewhere Just a mite shy of 1/8 inch thick and is three inches long.

It's a nice drop point the does not drop down abruptly but gradually over almost half the blade length. It has enough belly to work as a skinner and I wouldn't be afraid to any North American game with it, although I personally feel it would be best reserved for deer size game and smaller.

It's light weight. Something less than three ounces I would guess but for the size and weight seems like a sturdy little blade.

I would say the actual gripping area of the handle (from the "Finger groove" to the butt is right at 3 inches). When I grip it in a normal using grip the butt end hits about middle of my little finger.

The Clip is the same as the original but once again smaller and is marked with the Randall Adventure Training triangle. The blade as well has the mark on it.

So far I am impressed with this little $28.00 blade. We'll see how it does as an edc for me. I'd rather loose this little thing than a $350.00 small Sebbie.

*** As an added note, there isn't a sharp edge anywhere on this knife that shouldn't be there. The only sharp places I've found are the edge and the flat spine. Also the washers are bronze! I was expecting plastic/nylon, but nope they're bronze.

The size ok for you Randy?

Rich:

As a small edc I can live with the size of the knife. To me an edc will mean something different than the next person. MY edc uses will be cutting thread, string, rope, paper and cardboard. Cutting food items and opening up packages. The "Office" type stuff I guess you could say. But rest assured I still carry my Kbit and Umnumzaan for larger tasks and emergencies. But my every day use it for most everything will be Most of the time now the RAT II, at least for a while.

Do I wish it had a bit longer handle, yup sure do. But it isn't to small for my NORMAL every day uses.

I hope this helps.

I just did an eyeball inspection of the RAT II next to my Chris Reeve small Sebenza classic. The blade length is the same although the Sebbie's blade is thicker. The total width of both knives is almost the same and the length, well the RAT is just a smidgen longer! The Sebbie's blade does not have quite as much belly to the blade as the RAT, which could be good for a slicer.

Again, I hope this helps.

Randy

I think last I posted in this thread I was carrying a ZT 0551. Still like that blade, but for daily use I've switched to the Syperco Para2. Excellent and very versatile knife and I really like the lock more than the framelock on the ZT. I like the lock so much that I grabbed a Yojimbo2, but I still haven't gotten around to carry that one.

I'm developing a liking for the old school folders, like today's arrival:

I LOVE the pm2. My fav. spyderco and prolly the knife I've carried most in the last year.
I sold my last pm2 to fund other purchase, and boy to I miss it.
It's my goto smallish knife (unless there's sheeple around, then there's the dyad jr)

OK, after about a week and a half of carrying the Ontario Rat II folder, I am still impressed with such an expensive (OK OK, cheap) folder. I cut some up to an inch limbs the other day and it is still tight and sharp. Seems like they did OK on the heat treat. Hope it continues to function as well as my Rat model I folder. Time will tell.

I have used my C/S X2 Voyager to cut everything from baler twine to radiator hoses. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

YUP, but the "Toughest" thing I have cut is the limbs. I'm not counting the plastic ties and other assorted stuff you would normally think about using a pocket knife for. It DID slice a heavy duty garden hose pretty easily though.

I still prefer a fixed-blade! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I got to check out some nice folders this weekend. My cousin's son is 19 or 20 and been bit by the bug. Boy has some nice taste and some serious folders! I got to handle a large sebenza, hogue (sp?), spyderco southard, zt flipper and that Dpx folder and some others...nice!

I can see what the hype is on the sebenza...that is a beautiful knife! I like the Hogue a lot too and would probably grab a dpx at the right price...seems like a nice user/abuser.