Ontario Rat 2 (and Rat 1) questions

M

mcmc

Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
328
Hi all,

I edc a CRK Umnumzaan and Lg. 21; but I do like budget knives, especially for gifting. Used to be that the mini Grip was that knife - but I didn't realize they went above $100 some time, what in the world!

So I got a friend an Ontario Rat 2 - but had some q's:

1. Anyone have problems with tip up carry? I read a review on Amazon that someone accidentally deployed it and found the blade half-open - I figured it was either due to tight jeans, or the thumbstud (which is a bit big) catching like a wave feature...but was wondering if anyone else had seen this.

2. Do you guys find the blade and steel liners hold up ok to light soap and water washes, or just water rinses, without taking it apart to fully wipe down?

3. Any pivot or lube adjustment recommendations to be able to thumb flick - or just wear in? How long did wear in take for you guys?

4. Finally, long-term, hard-use reports in for the Rat 2? I know the Rat 1 already has a lot - even batoning, so I hear!

Thanks all! Depending on the replies to the above, I plan to maybe buy a handful of these for gifting before they also one day go above $100...
 
I have a Rat 2 so I'll play...

1. No but I pocket carry my knives now. Too many tore up pockets due to pocket clips so they sit in my pocketnow. Tip up, tip down, however I put them in. You could probably make a case that most pocket knives could open in your pocket under the right circumstances. I wouldn't worry about this.

2. Light soap + water on blade only usually. Easier to wipe down that way. I haven't found too many instances to clean the liner lock with soft and water. I remove lint and dirt with tweezers or compressed air from my compressor (or use the cans).

3. Depends on how it comes from the factory. This applies to all makers. Sometimes they are stiff and need lube. Others are loose and too much lube. If blade is off center from the factory, you might have to tinker with the pivot some. I generally find most knives are acceptable right out of the box. I don't remember specifically this knife and how long it took to break in.

4. Most of my tasks are usually every day cutting chores. Nothing too out of the ordinary. The Rat handles that just fine. I wouldn't baton with it but I wouldn't baton any folding knife for that matter. Sorry, no cool I cut open a steel door stories...

For the money, it might be the best bang for the buck out there. Have no worries, its a great knife and would make a great gift.
 
I carry a RAT 1 or RAT 2 quite often. I keep a RAT 2 in the Maxpedition bag that goes everywhere with me. Zero problems with either size RAT folder. Decent enough steel, sturdy, reliable.
 
Have a RAT 1 in my kitchen drawer for years, but almost never carry it (I EDC Millies). Do take it with me in my pack on holidays though.

Answers to your questions:

1. Unfortunately I carry strictly and solely tip-down. Even to such an extreme that I sold all my tip-up knives and never buy otherwise again.

2. Yes, no problem.

3. Don't remember. Flicks fine. I use Nano-Oil weight 10 for all my pivots.

4. Only have a RAT 1, but the 2 is exactly the same only smaller. Don't "hard use" them. Would never baton with a folder, especially not with the lock engaged (Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock may be the exception here). Personally I think you can categorize batoning with a liner-lock folder as plain stupid if not retarded.









If the RAT Model-1 or 2 goes over 100 USD it means the dollar collapsed :rolleyes:
 
I carry my rat 1 tip down, so no helpful insights there. I use soap and water to clean the blade, but haven't needed to do much to the liner. After the first week of owning and breaking in, the knife now opens very smoothly. No additional oiling or lubrication needed. I have had mine a couple months now and it's still sharp. No real hard use. Package opening, box cutting, a little whittling while in the woods, a little food prep. Mostly just edc stuff.
 
For the price, the RAT 2 may be the best folder out there.

I carry tip-up. Anyone halfway into knives who hasn't yet developed the "do it slowly/check first" reflex for sticking a hand in their carry pocket is lacking. If you have a noodle blade that's a risk, tighten it or send it back.

I wouldn't be afraid to wash the knife out...just be sure to dry it thoroughly. Won't taking it apart void the warranty?

Break in on the RATs didn't take long at all...nearly zero. You should be able to adjust the flick pressure to your liking. I set a knife to comfortably thumb flick open but I never put wrist into it. I want it to just reach lockup when I thumb fire it. No undue stress on parts...

Any folder used for batoning is on its way to being broken. Period. Hard use is just common sense. Know the knife's limitations---it's a $30 folder. And a good one.
 
Nice, thanks for the user experience stories and pics all!

Jeru, any particular reason you only like tip down?
 
EChoil said:
Won't taking it apart void the warranty?
Click to expand...

I seriously doubt it. I took the one I had apart many times to clean with no issues. Even in the remote and unlikely case the warranty was voided, the knife only costs $28. Shipping to and from OKC for warranty would probably cost just as much as getting a brand new one.
 
We have a Rat 1 and a Rat 2 in our family. Both are exceptionally well made knives. Honestly, if they had Elmax blades, they would be priced at about $150 each.

I can easily flick the Rat 2 with my thumb, but not the Rat 1. At least not yet. I haven't invested the time into adjusting the pivot precisely.

The satin blade is the way to go. I gave my girl a Rat 2 with a black blade, but it's paint, so it rubs off quickly. Satin looks better, IMO.

Beware, they will get screaming sharp! AUS-8 isn't a super steel (at least not anymore), but with proper attention, it will get as sharp as your skills will allow it. It is not a difficult steel for people to sharpen.

I'm fond of tip down carry myself because I've cut myself with a tip up knife. Other people prefer the tip up because, you know, quick draw or something. I find it doesn't really matter much for my purposes, but because of that one incident, I'm more fond of tip down. YMMV.

To date, we haven't had to hose out either knife, so I can't comment on the long term effects of that sort of thing except that I sharpen on an Edge Pro and use water as a lubricant. The knife doesn't get soaked or anything, but there is probably a drop or two inside at the end of the process and we've never had any corrosion problems. I do tend to put just a drop of BreakFree on the pivot, but that's more for a nice smooth deployment, not really with the intention of protecting it from corrosion. On the other hand, we are in the desert and not near any salt water. I would not trust AUS-8 near sea water, not bare anyway. I'd oil it up fairly often.
 
Here's an old picture of my Rat 2 with black blade. NeilB is right, just get the satin finish as the black paint does disappear.
Fantastic knife. I carry tip down for above stated reasons and it just feels right that way for me.
These are terrific knives.


 
mcmc said:
Nice, thanks for the user experience stories and pics all!

Jeru, any particular reason you only like tip down?
Click to expand...

You're welcome. And no, not a particular reason other then I just really cannot stand carrying larger folders tip-up...!? Unfortunately! :( I really wish I could carry tip-up since 90% of the knives are strictly tip-up and I have tried (try to train myself) really hard to get used to it, but I couldn't, unfortunately. Sold all my smaller clipped and tip-up knives in the end. I like my one-hand opening folders with a blade between 3.5 and 4 inch and I am GUESSING that the main reason why I like tip-down, is because of my Xtra Small hands... I am EDC'ing Millie's in my right back-pocket for about eight years now. And a SAK in my front. Grabbing a knife tip-down at the top out of your pocket, your thumb (or middle finger) is already next to the opening hole when grabbing it...
 
Two Rat II's and a Rat I here. Zero issues with any of them. All were easily flicked out of the box. My lady's Rat II took a trip through the washer and still flicked easily. I did end up having to break that one down to remove some surface rust from the liners though.

They are very solid knives for the money. I don't think you have to worry about the price sky rocketing on the 4 main configurations (black/black, black/satin, pink/black, pink/satin). Some colors are harder to find than others and often demand a premium, though.
 
Gave my brother a Rat 2 last year, and it's a tough little SOB. Easy to open, fits great in my hand, priced very well, and just plain durable. I also tried out a Zancudo, but didn't like the sticky frame lock nearly as much.
 
Awesome, thanks for all the replies everyone. I ended up getting a Rat 1 and a Rat 2, and I definitely feel confident about these for gifts, so I will probably grab several Rat 2's for that purpose.

Does anyone have any pics of old and used Rats? =)
 
The Rat 2 has a four position (pre drilled/tapped holes) so you can carry it tip up or down at your pleasure.
Rich
 
Without repeating what's already been said, I agree with their comments as an owner of a pair of Rat-1s. My only complaint is that the AUS-8 rusts very easily for stainless.
 
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