Ontario Knife Company 8848 Rat I Folding Knife - EDC Knife (Black)

From someone who owns several knives, both higher and low end (think various Midtechs, Sebenzas, Zero Tolerance, etc), the Rat I is absolutely awesome. I still can't believe the price-performance ratio you're getting with this knife. A lot of people may think Taiwan made means it's garbage, but they couldn't be more wrong. Many high end Spyderco's are made in Taichung Taiwan, and they're better quality than the American made ones. It pains me to say that, but it's true. The fit and finish easily matches that of $100~ knives from other knife companies out there. Small details like the lockbar side liner being hardened, the standoffs are fitted into the liners for easy dis-assembly & re-assembly, the dual bronze and teflon washers, full flat grind, all make this knife a cut above the rest of the competition. I'll break down the pros and cons here:~+++PRO'S+++~+AUS 8 steel, slightly better quality than most of the Chinese made knives in this price range that use 8cr13Mov steel, easy to sharpen+Features both phosphor bronze & teflon washers on both sides of the blade pivot (This makes the knife wicked smooth when opening)+The steel liner on the locking side is hardened. This is not something you usually see on knives in this price range. What you get for that is aliner that will be much more resistant to wearing down from opening and using the knife, and as a result you'll experience less bladewobble or "blade play"+Fit and finish is unbelievably good for a knife in this price range. I would easily pay $60-$70 and still feel I got my moneys worth+Blade shape is great for EDC use. The full flat grind means this is a great slicer blade+Comes very sharp out of the box+All screwed construction, no cheap pins or rivets. So the Rat I can be easily dis-assembled to clean, lubricate, modify parts, etc. Only a torxscrewdriver is needed+The pocket clip is reversible in all four directions. Meaning no matter if you're a southpaw or a righty, you can carry the Rat I tip-up or tip-down+Flow thorough design. If it gets dirty you can easily use a can of compressed air to blast out any debris. Cleaning this knife is a breeze+PRICE. Plain and simple, you cannot beat this knife for $25-$30 dollars. Many people consider the Spyderco Tenacious (A Chinese made knifein the same price range) a better knife. From someone who has over ten Spyderco's and is a huge fan of the brand, this knife blows it outof the water.~---CONS---~-The nylon handles are a little too slick. They feel sturdy, but do not offer much in the grip category. There are custom handles available though-The jimping on the blades thumb ramp is only so-so. It works, but it's been rounded off more than it should have been. I'd rate it a 60/100-The knife weighs just under 5 ounces. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing for most people, however the reason I'm considering this a negativeattribute is because the steel liners are not skeletonized/drilled out. Meaning the metal liners could have had pieces on the inside cut out toreduce some of the weight. This is more of a missed opportunity than a Con, but I feel it should be mentioned-If you purchase a version of the Rat I or Rat II that has the black blade coating; be prepared for it to scrape and flake off in no time. It's just athin coating of black paint. it WILL come of with regular use. Higher end knives use stronger types of coatings (See DLC coated blades forexample). This is one area of the knife that the price really affects what Ontario can offer in the final product. I highly recommend goingwith the satin finish blade.CONCLUSIONI couldn't recommend a better knife in this price range. If you're on the fence, or just need an inexpensive knife for work or EDC, get this knife. If you're still on the fence I urge you to watch a couple video reviews on YouTube and see what other people have to say. Also, if you have not noticed already, there is a smaller version of this knife, the Rat II. There has been some confusion as to the Rat II being a newer model of the Rat I. They are identical knives except for the II being a smaller knife. Depending on your needs you may be better off with a smaller 3 inch blade than the Rat I's 3.6 inch. All in all this is an absolute steal for the price. Buy two, you wont regret it.

This is a modern variation on the "Buck knife" aka 110 folder or "folding hunter". In other words this is a WORKING knife, a UTILITY knife which doesn't sacrifice practicality for "tactical looks" or "assisted opening thrills", while including much-needed finger-sliding protection in the form of the finger guard towards the front.Now a little history to put things in perspective for this amazing sub-$40 folder. Once upon a time, pocket knives were "disfavored" by a hodge-podge of local laws and descriptions. It was tough to get much more than a slip-joint (non-locking) short-bladed folder that you could legally carry where it belongs, in your pocket.In 1963, though, Buck began internal development which revolutionized what we expected from, what we accepted, in folding knives despite anti-knife laws. Buck's internal mandate was to build a "folding hunter" that would be functionally as good for hunters and farm workers as as their fixed-blade approximately 4" waist sheath hunter.They did it, laws be darned, in 1964 with the 3.75" 110 Folding Hunter.In order to carry legally, they included a waist sheath.Eventually, municipalities and states came to their senses (not New York, of course), and allowed pocket carry of most folders. Today, we even get "assisted openers." Of course if you have a 110 in your collection - and as one of the last of the quality, budget, American made folders, you should - you recognize that the 110 is too darn heavy. (With the possible exception of the PaperStone edition.)Now let's take another detour through history.The next two huge technological changes in folders were the invention of opening holes (give credit to Saul Glesser at Spyderco) and the huge rush to "tactical" or at least "tactical looking" folders. Since the big, round Spydie hole was patented, other makers moved to thumb studs and disks and later smaller, oval holes. In terms of tactical folders, the blade designs became less useful for everyday chores like kitchen paring (and hunting) and more dramatically (theatrically?) aimed at last ditch fighting - despite the fact that modern armies prefer assault rifles over swords, and side arms over bayonets.Now we've come full cycle. The utility folder, again. AND THE RAT IS ONE OF THE BEST. Fat handle for easy grip. Thumb studs on both sides for ambidextrous opening. FFG (full flat grind) for cutting efficiency, with drop point for blade strength (ever seen Buck 110's with that pointy clip point broken off?). Edge lock for simplicity (I prefer lock-backs, but they are somewhat prone to dirt getting in the lock-joint, and theoretically subject to accidental release from pressure along the spine of the handle).Here are some pros and cons of this particular model:+ Satin finish (not stonewash) blade in classic drop blade says "working knife," not "tactical."+ On mine, a solid detent to keep it closed in pocket, but allow relatively easy opening. Very easy once you come off the ball-bearing.+ Comfortable handles.+ Easy to close.+ Incredibly sharp from the factory.+ Well-proven steel that holds its edge well enough, and is easier to sharpen than some harder steels. Well-proven toughness, not brittle.+ Cut-out at front handle is protective.+ Nice thumb-ramp for locating ("indexing") your thumb.+ Removable fasteners in case you every need to tighten them.+ Bronze, not Teflon plastic, washers are smooth for opening and more durable.+ Blade is centered and doesn't wobble.- Handle isn't very grippy at all. I recommend Gun Tape. But the smoothness helps pulling it off your pants seam if you use the pocket clip.- As with every folder I have except Spydies, if you are in panic mode the thumb studs are not reliable. The Spydie big hole is hard to miss with your thumb, and allows a more secure grip on the handle. You can test this yourself by taping up your favorite folder's blade with electrical tape (for safety) and having your spouse or roommate set a timer - when the timer goes off, your job is to get the knife out and open as quickly as humanly possible, without dropping it or flinging it around. As one reviewer noted, by reversing the pocket clip location you can improve your grip on the handle while opening.- Weighs a lot less than a Buck 110, but almost as thick.AND THE FINAL, HUGE, PLUS:This is a cheap (to buy) folder built like a $70 knife. The quality far exceeds the price. Also, as of the date of this review, it is made in Taiwan, currently a slight step up from the best Chinese folders (like Kershaws) albeit a slight step down from Seki City Japan.