[Ghostrider247]

I have been looking at alot of knives lately for my next purchase. And I have read alot on the RAT or Randall Adventure Training Knives. There are also some you tube videos of reviews on these. I was wondering if any of you may have a RAT knife and what you thought of it. I am considering the RC-3 and probably the RC-6 as well. I think the RC-3 would be a great all around survival knife and neck knife, and the RC-6 would make a great primary knife.

Please note that I am not talking about the Ontario knives RAT.

http://www.ratcutlery.com/

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

Hi, yes I've thought about the smaller knife. It costs about 100 British pounds.
It has many good reviews and is proven to be a very durable tool without it been a crowbar (like a Fallkniven F1, although my brother in-law finally worked out how to put a sharp but not hair popping sharp edge on it).

I would go for the plain not serrated edge, IMO if you want serrations use a dedicated folding locking saw like a Bahco Laplander (or my SAK Rucksack is also great locking knife with a good saw, not locking though).

Also the orange handle would be useful in finding your knife if you dropped it.
I think this is very useful in a self reliance situation.

The longer knife I wouldn't buy.

IMO a big knife is always weak compared to a good 19inch axe.

For slashing brush and taking down thin, less than wrist thick green wood a shortish 12-16inch machete would be ideal.

Just my useless thoughts.

 

[country boy]

iam getting a rc-3 there awsome knives heres a review

 

[rhart]

I have been looking at alot of knives lately for my next purchase. And I have read alot on the RAT or Randall Adventure Training Knives. There are also some you tube videos of reviews on these. I was wondering if any of you may have a RAT knife and what you thought of it. I am considering the RC-3 and probably the RC-6 as well. I think the RC-3 would be a great all around survival knife and neck knife, and the RC-6 would make a great primary knife.

Please note that I am not talking about the Ontario knives RAT.

http://www.ratcutlery.com/

What is the difference between these knives and the Ontario RAT knives?
I have a Ontario RAT 3 and it seems to be identical to the RC-3 down to the blade material and micarta handles.I've been really happy with mine and was just wondering what the difference was. Thanks

 

[Rprecision]

I have the Ontario version. I know they had thier bussness problems with RAT, but I was not involved in it so and I'm not going to trust a bunch of rumors floating around all the chit-chat rooms.

Ontario makes solid knives.

As for the differance, I bought the tool steal version, RAT only offers the carbon.

I chose the partial serated, I am happy

 

[Ghostrider247]

I honestly believe that the only difference is the steel in the blades. Ontario and RAT had a falling out in 2002 where Ontario sued RAT.
I think Ontario makes good knives as well, I have owned some of theirs. I know some have their preferences and didnt want to start a war over which is better. Just wanted to mainly know what people thought of them.

 

[Rprecision]

Let us know how it turns out for you

 

[drewfromden]

Watch the video and it is explained.

 

[zatoichi37]

RAT makes great knives! I recently got the new RC-5 survival knife from RAT off of ebay (everywhere else was out of stock, but i'm told that they will be in stock soon). This is an awesome knife. It's got a 5.25 inch blade, a sabre grind, it's thick at the spine @ 0.25 inches, has a hair popping edge (had one when i first got it), has a sweet sheath, a bow drill divot, perfect size handle, and lanyard loop that's not just 1 hole--so you can thread your para cord through it more easily (or use bigger rope). Also they have an awesome warranty--just don't let it rust too much and it's guaranteed to not break.

I'm very impressed with it. It's design and functionality say SURVIVAL to me. I agree with yorkshire boy that the rc-6 isn't ideal for a survival knife and the combination of a shorter sturdier knife and a machete or a axe is best. I plan on getting a nice small forest axe by gransfors bruks to compliment my rc-5.

A tid bit of information: alot of people are talking on the RAT forums that there needs to be a rat knife with a big blade (about 10in?) and some designs have been submitted. It has also been suggested to make a RAT machete as well. RAT makes knives for its customers, so be on the look out for an awesome machete/long-bladed knife.

 

[SMM123]

I think the RC-3 would be a great all around survival knife and neck knife

Check out the Rat Izula for your neck knife!! :thumb:

 

[loki]

If Rat Cutlery is going to make a machete sign me up for one. I own the RC-3 and I think it is a wonderful everyday useful tool. They make good quality knives at affordable prices. Don't think you would go wrong with anything by them. I do suggest that if you are looking for a primary chopper though go with above suggestions and get an axe, hatchet or dedicated chopper.

 

[zatoichi37]

If Rat Cutlery is going to make a machete sign me up for one. I own the RC-3 and I think it is a wonderful everyday useful tool. They make good quality knives at affordable prices. Don't think you would go wrong with anything by them. I do suggest that if you are looking for a primary chopper though go with above suggestions and get an axe, hatchet or dedicated chopper.

Yup, axe is a great idea for a chopper. No self-respecting mountain man would go without one.

RAT said on their forums that they will be working on a "chopper"...so that can either mean a more of a machete type knife, an axe, a cool motorcycle, or a whirly-bird. Just kidding, but yes more of a machete-type knife is what I'd expect.

 

[Backwoods Bum]

I have many RAT Cutlery videos on my YouTube channel (one is posted above).

I wont go into details here, but there are MANY differences between Ontario's Rat knives and RAT Cutlery's Rat knives.

I think the most important one is the warranty. Check my RC-3 vids for more info on that.

I also do the Ontario RAT-7 in D2 tool steel, chopping through a 4x4.

The Bum

 

[Yorkshire Boy]

Hi, yes I've thought about the smaller knife. It costs about 100 British pounds.
It has many good reviews and is proven to be a very durable tool without it been a crowbar (like a Fallkniven F1, although my brother in-law finally worked out how to put a sharp but not hair popping sharp edge on it).

I would go for the plain not serrated edge, IMO if you want serrations use a dedicated folding locking saw like a Bahco Laplander (or my SAK Rucksack is also great locking knife with a good saw, not locking though).

Also the orange handle would be useful in finding your knife if you dropped it.
I think this is very useful in a self reliance situation.

The longer knife I wouldn't buy.

IMO a big knife is always weak compared to a good 19inch axe.

For slashing brush and taking down thin, less than wrist thick green wood a shortish 12-16inch machete would be ideal.

Just my useless thoughts.

As many know I pulled the trigger and bought one. I had a custom sheath made for it and then removed the black coating from the blade. I've been very happy with it and would buy and recommend RAT Cutlery knives to other people.

 

[zatoichi37]

As many know I pulled the trigger and bought one. I had a custom sheath made for it and then removed the black coating from the blade. I've been very happy with it and would buy and recommend RAT Cutlery knives to other people.

Why did you remove the black coating?

 

[exodus125]

What is the difference between these knives and the Ontario RAT knives?
I have a Ontario RAT 3 and it seems to be identical to the RC-3 down to the blade material and micarta handles.I've been really happy with mine and was just wondering what the difference was. Thanks

They are both good knives, but only one is great.

RAT knives have an unconditional lifetime warranty. Does not matter if your the original owner, you bought the knife used, or if you found the knife in a dumpster somewhere.

If it breaks, they replace it PERIOD. Saw it in half with a hack saw, doesn't matter, they will replace it.

The same can't be said about ontario knives.

The "rumors" about the beef between the two companies are true. What happened was that Ontario sued RAT cutlery over the RAT trademark. Ontario claimed the RAT trademark was theirs. However, Jeff Randall had been using the logo and name since 1997 and it wasn't until 2002 that a contract was made by the two companies to make the then Ontario/RAT knives. When there was a disagreement, the two owners went there separate ways and it was RAT CUTLERY and ONTARIO RAT. As far as I know although the RAT name legally belonged (and still belongs) to Jeff Randall. Jeff Randall never had a beef with Ontario about the name. It was only until Ontario tried to sue the smaller company, which was the legal owner of the name that things got bad.

I personally know owners of Ontario knives who have thrown out the stuff over this story. It was a very low blow to Jeff Randall.

If the knives were equally good, I would still get the real RATS over the Ontarios just because of that cowardly move by Ontario. But the fact of the matter is RAT Cutlery knives are superior knives with a superior warranty.

 

[ktomes_340]

RAT knives

I have the 3 and the 4 already. I've got the 5 and the Izula on the way. Rat's are an excellent knife,reasonably priced, and most of all made in U.S.A.

 

[Silverback]

what about the RTAK line? there is the original, then the RTAK 2, which has a 10.5 inch blade.

what's the difference between these and the RAT line? I tried to find one on both websites, onterio and rat, but could only find it on a dealers site.

strange

reviews of rtak 2 are on youtube. they beat the hell out of it batoning in cold weather. it's 1095, and held up well. however, i think the sheath sucks.

 

[Apocalypse Now]

After seeing "nutnfancy's" ( 5 part fire-making and 3 part shelter making) youtube series, using an Ontario RTAK II in 18 degree weather, I had to have one. I also own a kershaw Outcast(10" blade ) a Kabar large bowie(9" blade) an Ontario machette and am expecting a Kabar/becker BK2 on my doorstep via fed-ex tommorrow. All useful tools here in the 95% deforested state of Ohio lol. Maybe I'll have to hack my way through a wicked cornfield, when the SHTF.

 

[agblacktan]

Great review, thanks!