Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades EDC folder steel

I grew up on a farm so having a blade on you is not a question.

I’ve carried just about every brand you can think of, and one day I got tired of them breaking down from hard use and went over to the bladeforum to see what my next one should be.
It turned out to be my last one.

Ontario RAT.

Is it, high quality, low cost.
And I have carried Sypderco, Coldsteel, Berreta, Browning, Case, Buck, ... and the Ontario RAT and RAT 2 put them to shame.

I need to try a Rat 2.
If the reviews are even close, it worth risking the $$$. ( And I'm tight)
Love the Stretch2, but haven't bought a knife in a number of years. It's time!

I carry one a lot. EDC for work.

I have the AUS8 versions.

~$25.

For deep pocket carry, the buck 110 folding hunter and the smaller ranger have nice deep clips. Spyderco sits noticeably higher in the pocket. Both can be had in a choice of steels, but the base steel in both has worked fine for me. Neither is too expensive in case of loss. I really like the orange scales.

Frankly I can’t believe the quality your get for your Dollar with the Ontario RAT...

I haven’t bought another brand since I got mine,
Keeping in mind I had starting to wander into high dollar stuff like SOG, the Ontario RAT is tight, clean and just plain high quality.

I have had a Rat 2 for about a year, it has a d2 blade and I can not believe what a great little knife it is. It holds a good edge, isn't hard to resharpen, seems solidly built, and I didn't have to take out a loan to buy it. What's not to like?

Okay, I have used the knife for a few days at work and am pleased with it. The knife rides in the top of the pocket well and does not shew, it is easily used with either hand and is of a good size to be used for all those little jobs eg whipper-snipper cord, rope, split finger nails, and various other uses.

I would like to try an Ontario Rat2 but I have a tendency to use a knife with whichever hand reaches it first, and since I have taken to clipping my work knives into my left pocket that generally means opening and closing with my left hand.

This thing is hands down superior for work use than the Delica...eats it.

ps. I am currently working in Parks and Gardens for the Local Shire and the knife gets dirt/mud in it, so each night after I have a shower I squirt a bit of oil on the mechanism and call it good.


Seems to work.

I sort of have two contrary thoughts on steel for EDC knives. The one I carry currently the most is D2 steel. My thought is for things like cutting up cardboard and similar tasks that will dull any steel fairly quickly then ease of sharpening is a major consideration. Some of the super steels are not easy to sharpen even though you will need to less often. For primarily slicing and game cleaning then the better steals with a harder temper are my choice with a rockwell hardness of 60-62 where the utility knife may only be 56-58 hardness. Elmax looks like a great choice as I like CPM 154, V-10, ATS 34 and similar.

I think S35 V is a tad easier to sharpen than S30V. AUS - 10 is one of the best economy steels, very similar to VG-10. I think the heat treat and geometry are more critical than the exact alloys. All of the steels mentioned are good.

I carry a Spyderco Delica in ZDP-189 steel. I beat the hell out of it daily.Great lightweight knife.Always cutting twine on hay bails and anything else around the farm that needs cut.If i lose it it doesn"t hurt to bad. Just bought one in S90V as a bake up! can"t have to may Delicas.