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

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.

This company makes fine knives at reasonable prices. They are solid and reliable. Best of all, the RAT 1 and RAT II sharpen nicely. This is not the case for many other brands. The RAT 1 is a bit heavy, due to its size and solid construction. The RAT II is a smaller, lighter option. Highly recommend either or both.

This is probably the best value knife that you can buy anywhere for the amount of knife and the quality you get. The knife is really worth more that the current price Amazon is selling it at. Yes it is made in Taiwan but the quality control is excellent. I am not saying this is a perfect knife but it has stood the test of time and many including me think this is one of the top 5 EDC knives under $50.00 bucks. This is a Big Knife and it has a little weight to it, that is not a big deal but for some I can understand. I love the feel of the knife in my hands, the nylon 6 handles are okay, they do offer a bit of a grip but not like G10. The satin blade finish is really nice and I think AUS 8 is a decent steel for what you pay for the knife. I do treat all my knifes that might rust with FrogLube and keep them clean. That's just good maintenance. The clip is good, just enough bite to keep it from slipping out of the pocket but not enough that you have to pry it out. There are two issues though and really only one that I think is significant. First, I think I may have gotten one that has a stiff detent, mine was hard to open when I got it, but once you broke the detent it flew open. I gave a slight turn of the pivot screw and now it works well and the detent is manageable. It did move the perfect centering of the blade a little off but that is okay with me as it was only a little. Now the more serious one, I knew about this problem before I purchased the knife so I am not going to take any stars away from it because of this. The Blade in the closed position takes up almost the entire handle of the knife. If you rub lightly over the end of the handle curve you will not feel the blade at all, but if you apply pressure to where the fatty part of your finger starts to go into the handle you will feel the point of the blade on your finger. It could be a safety issue for a very small cut, it's possible. I carry this blade tip down so I don't think it will be a problem. That being said, I do really like this knife, I do think it's the best blade for the price, you get more than your moneys worth.

I ordered two of these knives based on reviews and research that I had conducted prior to placing the order. I gifted one and kept one for myself and I have this to say about it: Pros: - Razor Sharp - Tight lockup with no play. - Large size but slim profile. - Lightweight but strong. - Good price. Cons: - Liner lock is tab is small and recessed into the frame. This makes it hard and potentially dangerous to close with a single hand. (Might be personal preference issue) In short: This knife is extremely sharp, seems to be very well made and has a lot of quality for the price. Details: Both knives that I received were razor sharp out of the box and bubble wrap! I tested it by shaving hair off my left hand and it's still growing back. So it goes without saying that I absolutely love the sharpness. I gave it to my friend as her birthday/graduation gift and she absolutely loved it so that makes me feel even better. I can't speak for its ability when it comes to rust and corrosion resistance, durability and edge retention at this time. But based on what I can tell, it should be excellent and won't wear out anytime soon. The grip of this knife is fantastic and feels great in the hand. The knife is large but slim and ergonomic, the pictures don't do it justice. I thought it would be a bit smaller in overall dimensions but was surprised at how wrong I was. My previous EDC knife, a mirror polished SOG Fielder, felt just right but now...this is what feels "just right". xD There are holes on both sides of the grip for moving the clip for tip up or tip down carry for those who want to mess with it. I plan to leave it in its default position. I do have one major critique about this knife, but that might just be based on my own preference and opinion: The liner lock tab is WAY TOO recessed and small for a knife of this size and sharpness. I feel uncomfortable when I try to close the knife singlehandedly. The tab is also stiff and feels like I could easily cut myself if I pushed too hard on the spine of the blade and it swings down onto my finger or thumb. The blade glides open and shut very quickly and smoothly. I hope that the tab will soften up with use and as I handle it, I'll master the technique that will make it safe and comfortable for me. But the positioning and size of the tab are still of concern to me. Unless you have giant hands with long fingers, you might find issue with it as well. But if you close the knife with two hands, it's not an issue at all and it's very safe! I opened the knife and pushed down on the blade to see if there was any play in the liner lock. I'm happy to say that neither of my two knives showed any sort of movement when they were locked open. So this tells me it's pretty secure and wouldn't snap shut on me. So aside from this, all I can say is if you're considering getting this knife, go for it! The quality is there and it's very simple but functional design. It is money very well spent. I'm very hard to impress and generally don't write reviews for minor things. But I felt it was worth posting my experience if it helps someone. I hope Ontario Knife Company keeps making more QUALITY products like this. I don't want them to get complacent and make crappy stuff and rely just on name and branding to sell. I want to keep seeing good output from this company and after this, I'll definitely considering trying out their other products.

I've read all the reviews of the incredible RAT 1. It's true that this knife is made to high tolerances, has a razor sharp blade, it flips like a precision instrument, and you can't go wrong with an Ontario Knife Company RAT 1. This knife would be a fine folding pocket knife that could last the rest of your life. AUS8 sharpens very quickly and gets very sharp. I find that to be a very admirable quality in a knife steel. But, I don't think this will become be favorite my EDC knife. I know the history of the drop point blade and its awesomeness, but it has become too common. Everyone has one and if all your knife buddies put their knives on the table, most of them would be drop points. I prefer the Wharncliffe blade with a piercing point. My fave fold is the Blackhawk Be-Wharned. It's a self defense knife, but is a great utility knife, too. They may look a little menacing, but they do most EDC tasks more effectively. I will conclude that the RAT 1 is a great knife and will do everything well. It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest knives ever and the value is outstanding. It fits in the hand well and there are zero complaints. I, also, find the size is great for those with big hands and I don't find the weight as an issue.

Just to give you a perspective of what my opinion is based on: I've been collecting fun sharp objects (knives, swords, stars, etc.) off and on for over 20 years. I used to collect all types, but within the last year have just been collecting folding knives. Currently I have over 20 folding knives, made up of several different brands including Kershaw, Spyderco, Cold Steel, KA-BAR, Smith and Wesson, Gerber, Tac Force, Svord and Mtech. Based on my experience and research (which I have done probably too much of), the Ontario RAT is the best bang for the buck in the 25 dollar range. As others have said, the build and quality are easily above the cost. Keep in mind, however, that this solid build does mean the knife is a bit thicker than many knives in this range. This doesn't bother me a bit, but might surprise some that are looking for a smaller EDC (Every Day Carry). The RAT's satin straight blade and handle are simple, but still attractive and functional. The blade comes very sharp, locks up tight with no movement, and is a joy to use as a cutting tool. The handle is not small (again), but lends a very comfortable full grip - with a deep choil, giving a good no-slip confidence to your hold, and the scales (black handle pieces) are nicely textured with rounded edges - a "soft" but sure grip (not overly aggresive, so might be slippery if wet, I haven't tested). With a small amount of practice (as all knives need), the RAT is quick to deploy and close - one-handed. The clip is not too tight, easy to pull and re-pocket, situating the knife nicely - but I wouldn't do too many carwheels while carrying it. I mostly carry the RAT in my front right pocket, and because of the rounded edges and thumb stud, can comfortably reach into my pocket beside it (doesn't scratch your hand when sliding along the top of the knife). One of my friends has bought the RAT on my recommendation (the black serrated version), and is extremely happy with it. My RAT fills one of the top slots in my EDC rotation. I highly recommend this knife to someone looking for a full-grip, simple, high quality, solid EDC in the 20 to 30 dollar price range. If I were to recommend a knife in the 30 to 40 dollar range, I would recommend the Spyderco Tenacious (which I own as well). Edit 6/3/2014: I rescind my Tenacious recommendation after a couple more years using it, see my reply in comments below. I still, however, highly recommend the Rat!

I recently purchased 2 of these knives from Amazon. As a matter of fact, they arrived this morning.(Free shipping and 1 day ahead of the scheduled arrival date !) I searched YouTube extensively before making this purchase. All reviewers said the same thing, "Best bang for the buck on a EDC folding knife. Yes, it is made in Taiwan. No, it is NOT a cheap knife. I have numerous folding knives. My two Benchmade folders are in the $150-$200 range and I can tell you without hesitation that this Ontario Rat 1 folder for $27.00 is equal too or better than these two knives. I carry a folder every day. The Rat 1 is slightly heavier than my Benchmades, but the quality of the construction is on par with the Benchmade. This knife is RAZOR sharp right out of the box. The steel is okay, AUS 8. It's a little soft and will rust if left for long periods of time in moist areas. However, the Randall name spells quality. The pocket clip is adjustable. Simply remove the 3 screws and you can reposition it. The blade liner is metal and the blade tracks DEAD center in the handle. It has 2 studs for both right and left hand opening and textured black slab grip. I kept one for myself and gave the other one to a Marine buddy of mine. He could not believe the quality of this knife. His face lit up like a Christmas tree when I handed it to him. You really have to see this knife in person to really appreciate it. Do yourself a favor and go online to YouTube and type in Ontario Rat 1 reviews. Look for Nutnfancy and Openminded101 reviews of this knife. For $27.00 it's a no brainer. As a matter of fact, my wife was so impressed with this purchase that we are buying 3 more for Christmas gifts for our 2 sons and 1 son-in-law. And, if you don't like it, send it back to Amazon. My bet is that it will be in your back pocket. Enjoy !

In this review I will provide my thoughts about the Rat 1, and also give a brief comparison to the Kershaw Cryo G-10. First, I bought the Rat 1 to be used in the shop as opposed to being an EDC knife. I bought the bigger Rat 1 instead of the smaller Rat 2 because I wanted a knife that could perform heavier duty work. For the price, I will have to say that the Rat 1 is an exceptional value. Having G-10 on both sides of the handle make it very easy to grip and to use. The blade was unbelievably sharp out of the box and was perfectly finished. The knife opens easily with the thumbstuds that are placed where they can be reached easily. Opening the blade is a fairly smooth operation. I have fairly large hands so I appreciated the fact that I could easily get all four fingers on the handle when using the knife. I have no comment about the pocket clip because I don't intend to carry it around with me. Ditto for the weight. The Kershaw is quite different than the Rat. I would consider the Kershaw to be a great EDC because of it's size. The clip can be configured in four different ways, so everybody who uses it as an EDC should be satisfied. The one disappointment I had was that the blade was not exceptionally sharp out of the box. In fact, I would say that is was dull compared to the Rat. The Cryo only has G-10 on one side of the handle, so it's definitely not as comfortable to hold as the Rat; also, only about one half of my small finger fit on the rather short blade. If you've read any reviews about the Cryo, you're aware that the thumbstuds are basically useless for opening the blade. Interestingly, in the brochure that came with the knife there is a statement that the thumbstuds on this particular knife act as blade stops to prevent the blade from over extending. Actually, the main reason I bought this knife was to see how good the Speedsafe feature works. So instead of using the thumbstuds to open the blade you simply press down on a small flipper. It's quite amazing to see how well this works, but I am aware that not everybody wants/needs an assisted opening knife. For what this is worth, it's fun to open this knife. Maybe some folks would call it "cool". I'm not sure why this is not considered to be a switchblade knife, because it opens as fast as the switchblade I had when I was younger. In conclusion, I love the Rat and would highly recommend it. Although I like the way the Cryo opens, I'm not thrilled with the dull blade, the lack of G-10 on both sides, and the short handle.

creo que por la calidad, diseño precio, es una buena elección. El acero AUS 8 tiene muy buenas cualidades. Acero inoxidable, por lo que no tienes que tener demasiados cuidados. La puedes abrir y cerrar con una sola mano. el clip. Se puede poner en 4 distintos lugares (yo ser lo quite porque no lo uso en cinturón y la uso como herramienta de trabajo, por lo que tengo mas libertad de trabajo sin clip.) Tiene un filo de fabrica impecable. Compre un cuchillo Ray 5 que trae una funda con un bolsillo donde cabe perfectamente la navaja (rat 1) y un ferroserio, por lo que se complementan el acero alto carbono del cuchillo para hacer trabajos pesados con madera como batoneo y el inoxidable AUS 8 para trabajos finos o proceso de alimentos y para raspar el ferroserio (ya que el RAT 5 trae un recubrimiento de protección que no permite este trabajo. Esteticamente, es una navaja muy bonita, con un diseño sencillo y funcional. la recomiendo 100%

O Ontario Rat 1 é um dos canivetes mais famosos do mundo. Excelente canivete para uso diário (EDC), já vem de fábrica bem afiado. Ele é extremamente robusto, muito bem projetado e construido, porém sem frescuras "táticas". Sua trava é do tipo "liner lock", ou seja, é boa, mas exige atenção do usuário. O clipe de bolso pode ser aparafusado em 4 (quatro) posições diferentes. Feito em Taiwan com aço japonês AUS-8. Se você tem mãos pequenas, talvez prefira o modelo menor (Ontario Rat 2). Neste momento o "Rat One" está bem mais caro, mas eu paguei por ele (em 20 de junho de 2021) R$270,55. Por esse preço, ou por um pouco mais, vale muito a pena. Como bônus, você estará apoiando regimes democráticos, e isso não tem preço.

Ontario Rat-1, una buena herramienta para la Montaña y el Campo. Si prefieres navaja en lugar de cuchillo o en lugar de multiusos, esta es una buena opción para practicantes de Senderismo, Montañismo, Trekking, Escalada, Vivacs y Aventureros en general.

Ein Gutes Messer… Aber: Die Idee ein solches Messer zu bauen ist genial. Und auch das Qualität bei diesem Preis ist ausgezeichnet… Were die Ware nicht in einem Fernen Osten Land gefertigt. Das Messer war schnell und ordentlich verpackt Geliefert. Der Erste Anblick hat aber schon etwas die Freude gemindert. Und zwar der Maschinen Anschliff an der spitze war wörtlich "Maschinell". Ungleich, Schief und Wellig. OK da mit kann man Leben. Dan ging es aber Weiter. Der Schloss Stift, für die Fixierung der offener Klinke, Stand nach dem Ausklappen des Messers gleich in der Mitte. Und bei geringerem belasten beim Schneiden, fast am Anschlag gegenüber. Und das bei einem neuem Messer. ??? Gut, und das kann man noch dulden. Aber auch das war noch nicht alles. Die Klinke hatte zwar kein Wackle Spiel, ging aber etwas Schwierig auf. Der versuch sie einzustellen hatte Leder kein erfolg. Nachgeschaut im Internet Foren, fand ich raus das da zu zwei Ursachen gibt. 1. Kein Öl. 2. Falsch zusammen gebaute teile. Nun, habe ich das Messer zerlegt, um Ursache fest zu stellen. Und da war Plötzlich alles Klar. Die klinke sollte von beiden Seiten mit jeweils einer Kupfer-Messing Scheibe und einer Teflon Scheibe belagert sein. Ja eben sollte… Auf der rechte Seite fehlte das Teflon teil. Dum gelaufen. Jetzt war das Messer schon zerlegt. Natürlich bin ich kein Betrüger, und schicke so eine Ware nicht zum umtauschen. In Internet umgeschaut habe ich fest gestellt das es nicht nur bei mir solche "Überraschungen" der Fertigung von dem Fernen Osten gab. Bei manchen Käufer Welt weit, fehlen manchmal auch gleich zwei Teflon Scheiben. Bei manchen sogar auch die Kupfer Scheiben. Wo ich jetzt so eine Teflon Scheibe suchen soll habe ich noch keine Ahnung. Also wie gesagt ein gutes Amerikanisches Messer… Leider aber nicht aus Amerika und sehr schlampig gebaut.

O Rat I é um canivete relativamente barato e que serve muito bem para EDC. Extremamente robusto e o AUS-8, apesar de não ter a melhor retenção de fio, é muito fácil de afiar em qualquer superfície apropriada.