Ontario Knife Company Rat 5 Fixed Blade, Tan Micarta $60.82

WilliamMunny63

Mar 18, 2023 6:25 PM

3.4K Comments

Joined Dec 2005

WilliamMunny63Mar 18, 2023 6:25 PM

3.4K Comments

Good knife, but it is pretty big, don't be surprised.

1

Poundahoe_Indian

Mar 19, 2023 4:18 PM

697 Comments

Joined Mar 2016

Poundahoe_IndianMar 19, 2023 4:18 PM

697 Comments

Quote from rolfeskj

:

but it is pretty big, don't be surprised.

that's what she said *ba dum tiss*

5

3

5

Dr.PhilosoRaptor

Mar 19, 2023 9:10 PM

179 Comments

Joined Sep 2018

Dr.PhilosoRaptorMar 19, 2023 9:10 PM

179 Comments

I would plan to spend some time filing or dremelling or sanding the handle to fit right in your hand. It's pretty blocky as is. But once you get that customized fit it is a great knife for woods use, etc. The sheath is kinda meh, but it works. Good value fixed blade.Note though, this is only $5-$10 cheaper than usual, it never sells for anywhere near $100.

1

JMBauer74

Original Poster

Mar 20, 2023 3:43 AM

7.8K Comments

Joined Sep 2016

JMBauer74

Original Poster

Mar 20, 2023 3:43 AM

7.8K Comments

Quote from Dr.PhilosoRaptor

:

I would plan to spend some time filing or dremelling or sanding the handle to fit right in your hand. It's pretty blocky as is. But once you get that customized fit it is a great knife for woods use, etc. The sheath is kinda meh, but it works. Good value fixed blade.Note though, this is only $5-$10 cheaper than usual, it never sells for anywhere near $100.

They usually sell about $25 under MSRP, so around $90. I dunno that dremeling the micarta would be a good idea. Could permanently destroy the fabric. Instead, you might be better off trying some aftermarket scales.

3

Paladin3

Mar 20, 2023 4:55 AM

736 Comments

Joined Sep 2014

Paladin3Mar 20, 2023 4:55 AM

736 Comments

Quote from JMBauer74

:

They usually sell about $25 under MSRP, so around $90. I dunno that dremeling the micarta would be a good idea. Could permanently destroy the fabric. Instead, you might be better off trying some aftermarket scales.

Yup, this. I'm guessing you'd have to apply some kind of finish to reseal the micarta scales when you are done. And be careful not to blow them apart as you sanded past the factory finish to shape them.

1

2

itsciv

Mar 20, 2023 12:43 PM

18 Comments

Joined Jul 2016

itscivMar 20, 2023 12:43 PM

18 Comments

Got this the last time it was on sale. Ended up returning. Sheath is terrible -- poor quality, knife gets caught on the draw and using the button clasp just felt awkward. The sheath would have been the first thing I replaced if I had kept it. Blade itself is fine, grip is functional, just felt like overall quality was mid-range, but probably worth it for the price (~50% off). I'm sure it'll work fine for the right buyer. Personally, it just didn't feel like a "deal", which is what I was looking for.

Last edited by itsciv March 20, 2023 at 05:46 AM.

1

ikonoklast

Mar 20, 2023 7:10 PM

9.6K Comments

Joined Aug 2003

ikonoklastMar 20, 2023 7:10 PM

9.6K Comments

Quote from itsciv

:

Got this the last time it was on sale. Ended up returning. Sheath is terrible -- poor quality, knife gets caught on the draw and using the button clasp just felt awkward. The sheath would have been the first thing I replaced if I had kept it. Blade itself is fine, grip is functional, just felt like overall quality was mid-range, but probably worth it for the price (~50% off). I'm sure it'll work fine for the right buyer. Personally, it just didn't feel like a "deal", which is what I was looking for.

Yep, I have a bigger Ontario knife with a similar sheath and it is poor quality. Sheath is an important part of a fixed blade, best not to overlook and pay more for better sheath.

I am getting older and don't want to fuss with stuff as much as before so I appreciate things that work better out of the box.

2

Dr.PhilosoRaptor

Mar 20, 2023 7:26 PM

179 Comments

Joined Sep 2018

Dr.PhilosoRaptorMar 20, 2023 7:26 PM

179 Comments

Quote from JMBauer74

:

They usually sell about $25 under MSRP, so around $90. I dunno that dremeling the micarta would be a good idea. Could permanently destroy the fabric. Instead, you might be better off trying some aftermarket scales.

I have purchased multiple Rat 5s, and paid between $50 and $65 for all of them. I have also sanded down the handles on all of them with absolutely no problems. If you bother to research it first, you'll see lots of people do this. There is no magic outer layer on micarta--it is just layered fabric and resin. (Make darn sure to wear a face mask though, not something you want to breathe.) After using them extensively, the oils from you hand even make the color match back up so it looks like it was done that way in the factory.

1

DelightfulArm7863

Mar 20, 2023 7:55 PM

20 Comments

Joined Nov 2019

DelightfulArm7863Mar 20, 2023 7:55 PM

20 Comments

14.36 & 13.06 at my local clubs

JMBauer74

Original Poster

Mar 20, 2023 10:15 PM

7.8K Comments

Joined Sep 2016

JMBauer74

Original Poster

Mar 20, 2023 10:15 PM

7.8K Comments

Quote from Dr.PhilosoRaptor

:

I have purchased multiple Rat 5s, and paid between $50 and $65 for all of them. I have also sanded down the handles on all of them with absolutely no problems. If you bother to research it first, you'll see lots of people do this. There is no magic outer layer on micarta--it is just layered fabric and resin. (Make darn sure to wear a face mask though, not something you want to breathe.) After using them extensively, the oils from you hand even make the color match back up so it looks like it was done that way in the factory.

Micarta is a brand, and it can be any number of materials wrapped in a thermoset. As far as your statement that there is no "magic outer layer of micarta" this is not true except for the bit about "magic." It's not magical, but the outer layer needs to be free of contaminants and sealed properly so that the micarta doesn't break down. If you're taking your Dremel and removing the top layer where it was sealed from, you're going to potentially run into issues with oxidation that could break down your micarta even further.

Dunno anything about people trying to sand down their Rat 5 handles, but feel free to share whatever link you have that you felt was relevant and show that a bunch of people are sanding down their knives. Regardless, just because a group of people decide to do something silly, doesn't mean you or anybody else should follow them. Instead, it's easy enough just to remove the old scales and put on new ones that fit your needs. But hey, it's your knife so you can do whatever you like with it. Just wouldn't recommend it. Good luck.

1

BargunBeast

Mar 20, 2023 10:40 PM

14 Comments

Joined Feb 2021

BargunBeastMar 20, 2023 10:40 PM

14 Comments

How are you getting $60? The link shows $80..same in cart.

Last edited by BargunBeast March 20, 2023 at 03:42 PM.

iota

Mar 20, 2023 10:43 PM

670 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

iotaMar 20, 2023 10:43 PM

670 Comments

any other suggested full-tang fixed-blade knives in the $50-100 price range, anyone? looking for a gift for my father in law who works for a power line company and is out in the brush all day long and needs a do-it-all utility knife

1

Identibrain

Mar 21, 2023 1:09 AM

977 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

IdentibrainMar 21, 2023 1:09 AM

977 Comments

Quote from Poundahoe_Indian

:

that's what she said *ba dum tiss*

Are you Cody Lundin?

1

Identibrain

Mar 21, 2023 1:12 AM

977 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

IdentibrainMar 21, 2023 1:12 AM

977 Comments

Its $80 now

iota

Mar 21, 2023 1:09 PM

670 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

iotaMar 21, 2023 1:09 PM

670 Comments

Now it's back to $61

Ontario Knife Company Rat 5 Fixed Blade, Tan Micarta $60.82

$61

$115

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