My new Ontario rat 1

D

Dano1987

Joined
Jan 28, 2014
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I haven’t used bladeforums in years. This might be the wrong category. I have pretty bad ocd in general. I used to be a big spyderco guy especially because my mom worked for them in the 90s. But recently I got an Ontario sp2 fixed blade and fell in love with it. A good priced USA made knife. Then I got an Ontario rat 1 black blade partially serrated. I hear so much good things about the rat 1. Mine had side to side blade play out of the box and every screw was loose. I sent it back and the second one was the same. So I tightened the pivot with some thread locker but it still has slight side to side play. Unless I tighten it up to the point where it’s difficult to open. Also I think when buying a quality knife you shouldn’t be required to go and buy a ten dollar container of thread locker. Am I just being too picky?
 
I don't think so. I have had a couple and gifted one as well and they were in great condition, no problems. That particular knife is one you rarely hear mentioned with manufacturing problems.

You might have a seller that is sending out knives that someone has taken apart on receipt of the knife (one prominent YouTube channel host takes every knife apart as some kind test. ???) and then reassembles them. Up to factory standards using factory assembly jigs to ensure the quality of the final product, nope. I personally don't understand why anyone would take a perfectly adjusted knife that was working great (or better) and "break it down" without ever using it. But that's just me.

The other thought might be that your seller of choice may have received a bad lot/shipment of that knife. Send back the bad knives and switch vendors.
 
Did you buy it from a reputable knife store or from another place like the big river place?
I'm only asking this as there are quite a few knock offs around of this.
I would send it back again and get a refund, then buy from a reputable dealer.
My experience with the Ontario Rat 1 in AUS-8 has been that it was squared away, centered blade.
 
Your post made me a bit curious, so I went and pulled a coupla' mine. One may've had a bit of blade play, and I stress "may've" and "a bit" because it's so miniscule that I'm still not sure that it even does...and wouldn't have even noticed anything if I wasn't looking.

I agree with the assertions above. Beyond that, I love my RAT-1s, have had zero issues with 'em, and have never heard of anything like this. They have quite the following, and I assume it's well-deserved.

Good luck. I'm sure you can get this sorted.
 
Sorry to hear of your quality issues with your knife. I have purchased 4 over the years from established stores, gifted 3 and kept 1, no issues at all. It is a very nice knife for the money and one I enjoy. Good luck & hope it works out for you.
 
I’ve always been fond of the look of the RAT1. And most people claim that it’s a great knife for what you pay. I’d like to pick one up soon.

OP , I’d return the second one as well. And then buy from a different dealer.
 
I would be very interested to know where it was purchased, not one of four RATs I have (AUS8 and D2 versions of both the 1 and 2) fits this description.
 
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I just thought about a scale-swap I did on a RAT2. It has I think, four or five screws going down the scales, and the first time I did it, it was fitting of your description. I did a better job, and put it together properly, and now the knives (it was two, actually, scale swap) are just as fine as they were before tinkering. The RAT seems to be not harder but a little more complicated to take apart and put back together than, say, a Spyderco back-lock. I would highly consider that someone tried to take it apart and abandoned their project, especially if you got it on Amazon or the like, but even a "real" website can let one slip by like this, because it will turn out wonky if you don't do it right.

You should also post a picture if you can to help determine if it may be fake - they do fake the RAT. They fake the Cold Steel Mini-Tuff-Lite, to give you an idea. Really seems the vast consensus that this is just "off" somehow. Try to figure if it's real or try for a return, because either way it isn't right, you didn't get what you should have got, and you should experience the pleasure of a RAT.
 
D Dano1987 ... don't buy knives on amazon, too often fakes & bad quality

buy from known dealers for knife brands, they often publish them directly, but the bf sponsors tend to be better than most
I own several ontario knives and have not had a problem with any of them

share more details?
thanks
 
Hashishiin said:
I would be very interested to know where it was purchased, not one of four RATs I have (AUS8 and D2 versions of both the 1 and 2) fits this description.
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Same here, I also have four of them, AUS8 and D2 blades, great model, I use it hard. Never seen any blade play, new or used. I use my knives but don’t abuse them and they serve me well. As the others suggested, it’s important where you bought it from just to be sure that you don’t get fake one.
 
I wound up sending it back because the lock also would defeat with just a slight spine tap. It wasn’t fake.
 
Rats were historically made in Taiwan and had a good reputation. It appears OKC has recently moved production to China. Quality has likely suffered.
 
Chuck_Nunface said:
Rats were historically made in Taiwan and had a good reputation. It appears OKC has recently moved production to China. Quality has likely suffered.
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That's disheartening for sure. I have had three and all were/are excellent knives (one was gifted). In all fairness I think I got all three used, but like new, so I cant say with 100% certainty they came like that from the factory.
 
My RAT 1 & 2 (D2 blades) are both nicely made with no problems like that but I think the AUS version is produced in China and the D2 in Taiwan.
Which blade does yours have?
 
craytab said:
Where did you buy it from?
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Bought on Amazon but the seller was Ontario knife company direct. And it was Taiwan made. I liked it but the defective lock was a no go. I love Ontarios fixed blades I have an sp2 and just got a 499 but if I buy another Ontario folder it will probably be the automatic. Only thing about the 499 is it’s dull as a butter knife and the rivets in the sheath behind the sharpening stone pocket scratch the blade really badly.
 
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