[Rprecision]

I am getiing ready to purchase a Rat-3 and its offered in the above selection. I'm not a huge knife guy so I dont know which to get ?

Please help

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=8389

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9956

Thanks

 

[Switchblade]

These pointers are right there on the KW website (you provided the link..)

"RAT knives have a full flat grind and 57-58 Rc hardness for excellent slicing and cutting efficiency. Choose between these steels:-
- D2 tool steel for longer edge holding and stain resistance
- 1095 high carbon steel for an almost unbreakable knife with razor sharp edge and ease of sharpening"

In the case of this particular knife, I would go with the D2 version.
What are your preferances, requirements?

 

[adam731432]

D2 tool steel

 

[ActionJackson]

Following is a quote I got off of another site from someone named Cliff.

Cliff Stamp
09-09-2002, 02:42 PM
These are two very different steels, pretty much night and day in properties. D2 is an extremely high alloy steel with a huge wear resistance and low toughness, while 1095 is a plain carbon steel with a very high toughness and low wear resistance.

Thus D2 can be expected to stay sharp much longer when cutting abrasive materials, and will take a more aggressive edge, the additional aggression however depends a lot on how you sharpen. 1095 is a much more rugged blade steel and the knife will tolerate a lot more pounding.

Neither are that corrosion resistant, D2 will tend to handle surface corrosion better, but tend to pit deeper than 1095 when it does rust.

 

[Rprecision]

I seen the recomendations I just wasnt sure how much of a differnce there was?

I have a benchmade auto stryker that I belive is D2 and the dam thing is sharp. I have never sharpened it so I didint know if D2 is hard to sharpen.

This is going to be a camping, hunting, fishing, general purpose sort of knife. I want something a little smaller then my other fixed blade. I bought a Becker BK7 a couple of years back that has been sitting in the safe. I love it to death but sometimes its nice to have something smaller, hense the rat

 

[drewfromden]

I'd probably go with D2, because of its edge retention.

 

[Gman1128]

I'd also go with D2. They are both great steels and you can't go wrong with either though.

Wile 1095 is tougher, d2 is still plenty tough. Being such a small blade, you don't need as much strength and unless you plan to just really beat the crap out of it, it will hold up fine.

Also, as said above, d2 holds a better edge, and in my opinion, this is more important then toughness for a blade of that size. 1095 is one of those steels that just beg for rust, so d2 will also be alot less maintenance as well.

 

[Rprecision]

I just pulled the trigger and ordered the D2. I'm exitited to see the knife, its my first Ontario knife

Thanks for the quick responses and helpful advise

I will post some pictures when it comes in

 

[baliguy76]

d2 keeps an edge really sharp and for a long time but is a tool steel so the need to keep the blade rust free comes with it so you should buy some metal polisher and rust remover same with 1095 carbon 1095 doesnt keep an edge as well but it is easier to sharpen my vote goes to d2

 

[Wild Bill]

Congratulations - D2 is the best bet. I'm getting ready to buy this RAT 7 on ebay. I'm thinking they'll take an $85 offer...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT&item=200221737694

 

[Rprecision]

If the Rat 3 is the knife i hope it is, I see more of thier collection in my safe

 

[rugercat45]

1095, by far, it can sharpen easily, and better, and if you spend and hour or two sharpening your blade every time it gets dull, you will get frustrated quick, I had a Benchmade ATS-34 AFCK, and it took hours to sharpen, and that is a touch up, so yeah, 1095, if it loses the edge, your'e back in a minute to sharp, so any edge holding loss is really only technical, it will stay sharper than a D-2 blade, the D-2 might keep an edge longer, but it won't be as sharp an edge, you see, so it's give and take.It is tougher too, heck, springs used to be made out of it.

 

[BuckBall]

1095 is all I ever want in a knife...has worked in my combat blades very well and I don't spend half a day sharpening, like you find with the newer steel.

 

[Semper Paratus]

I have a number of knives and D2 is, by far, my favorite blade material. The stuff takes a razor edge and is very strong/corrosion resistant.

 

[sublimepatriot1776]

Thanks everyone, had the exact same question. Plan to use it as my EDC knife and field sharpen it with a pocket Smiths medium stone, so 1095 is probably best bet. 1095 hasnt let me down in my Kabars.

 

[skifast]

I sold my last D2 knife yesterday. It may be a great steel, but I do not have the sharpening skills to maintain it.

 

[Amon81]

Well as I'm in the UK I like O1 as its easy to sharpen and is pretty much the standard. I'm not a massive fan of D2, I don't like the high risk of chipping the edge.

I'd go for the 1095, I've got a RTAC II and that holda a edge nicely and thats 1095.

 

[BadVorlon]

I gave a KA-BAR in D2. It's Very HARD steel. It holds an edge a long time but it is a bear to sharpen. (takes much more effort) I reprofiled the edge (little less steep an angle) and it took quite a while with a diamond hone.

I prefer 1095. just easier to work with.

 

[cadetdaddy]

Let us know how it works out. I have heard less than good things about D2 used in prolonged cold chipping or snapping. I thought D2 would be good with the edge retention, but I don't know now. I have an AG Russel folder in ATS 34 and it can be tricky to sharpen, but when I get it right I like it fine. Still waiting to scrounge the cash for a Koster Nessmuk in 1095.

 

[SeekHer]

What's the difference, about $25.00!

For that amount of money there would be no, absolutely no, question in my mind as which to take...D2

I have knives in it from a number of makers including my favourite, Bob Dozier and they are all extremly sharp, stay that way for a long time, are easy to touch up and/or resharpen, blood doesn't stain them,...