southern bigfoot
04-12-2007, 06:29
Review of Randall’s Adventure Training, Ontario made Rat 7 1095 Plain Edge
Well here goes, this is my first review, so go easy on me please peoples.
I found this knife on ebay for $126AU delivered to the door and having read good reports I couldn't resist. Some weeks later it arrived from the U.S. and I had that childlike ‘Christmas’ moment of excitement as I ripped open the package to find my new Ontario RAT 7 1095 plain edge safely inside.
First impressions:
Looking at the handle I didn't think it was going to be as comfortable as it is. The micarta scales are flat and quite thin as compared to say my Becker bk7, but it is a really comfortable tool in the hand (All be it my largish mitts). Out of the box the blade was sharp but not scary sharp. The blade is a good depth and it has good belly, you could skin and butcher medium to large game, but would be a little oversized for small game. It’s not too thick that you couldn’t use it comfortably in the kitchen and/or camp kitchen and not so thin that you feel you would break if you worked it too hard. The choil has a finger curve and the spine features a thumb grip both of which are comfortable and well thought-out. This knife does so beg to be used.

The sheath is well thought out and the press-stud closure is fully adjustable (an issue I've had with sheaths in the past, with closures is stretching and blades just about falling out.) There is a sizable compartment on the sheath for STUFF and we all have some of that we can slot in. It easily fits a multi-tool and a diamond stick sharpener with room to spare.
First use:
I’ve held off for long enough and last weekend I thought I should give the blade a bit of trial so out into the back yard and a couple of fuzz sticks and a figure four dead fall trap later I’m impressed. The Rat is easy to handle and whittles and slices like a dream. The choil is a great addition for me as I tend to choke up most blades unless I’m really chopping.
Size wise it’s a good sized knife and would easily be a general camp knife for me. It is a little bit large for a bush-walk style – just chuck it on your belt and off you trundle – walk where the trails are frequently used by fellow city dwellers, , here in oz you’d find most people would be nervously eye-balling the setup as you walked toward them. Most walkers in oz don’t carry anything larger than a SAK or Leatherman so carrying a 12” knife will stand-out a bit. For me it’ll be strapped to or in my pack or bum-bag on walks or hanging on my kit bag that travels with us when we drive bush-wards.
All in all the first impressions are good, very good. (So good in-fact I found a pair of matching numbered d2 collectors edition blades, a RAT 7 and a RAT 3 with rams horn scales.)
I'd easily recommend this blade to anyone needing a solid user.

I’ve got bugger all time to do any more testing this year, will be working every weekend ‘till xmas, I might get a chance to get away over the xmas break so I may add more then.
Cheers,
Jules
P.s. comments of all descriptions welcome.
Well here goes, this is my first review, so go easy on me please peoples.
I found this knife on ebay for $126AU delivered to the door and having read good reports I couldn't resist. Some weeks later it arrived from the U.S. and I had that childlike ‘Christmas’ moment of excitement as I ripped open the package to find my new Ontario RAT 7 1095 plain edge safely inside.
First impressions:
Looking at the handle I didn't think it was going to be as comfortable as it is. The micarta scales are flat and quite thin as compared to say my Becker bk7, but it is a really comfortable tool in the hand (All be it my largish mitts). Out of the box the blade was sharp but not scary sharp. The blade is a good depth and it has good belly, you could skin and butcher medium to large game, but would be a little oversized for small game. It’s not too thick that you couldn’t use it comfortably in the kitchen and/or camp kitchen and not so thin that you feel you would break if you worked it too hard. The choil has a finger curve and the spine features a thumb grip both of which are comfortable and well thought-out. This knife does so beg to be used.

The sheath is well thought out and the press-stud closure is fully adjustable (an issue I've had with sheaths in the past, with closures is stretching and blades just about falling out.) There is a sizable compartment on the sheath for STUFF and we all have some of that we can slot in. It easily fits a multi-tool and a diamond stick sharpener with room to spare.
First use:
I’ve held off for long enough and last weekend I thought I should give the blade a bit of trial so out into the back yard and a couple of fuzz sticks and a figure four dead fall trap later I’m impressed. The Rat is easy to handle and whittles and slices like a dream. The choil is a great addition for me as I tend to choke up most blades unless I’m really chopping.
Size wise it’s a good sized knife and would easily be a general camp knife for me. It is a little bit large for a bush-walk style – just chuck it on your belt and off you trundle – walk where the trails are frequently used by fellow city dwellers, , here in oz you’d find most people would be nervously eye-balling the setup as you walked toward them. Most walkers in oz don’t carry anything larger than a SAK or Leatherman so carrying a 12” knife will stand-out a bit. For me it’ll be strapped to or in my pack or bum-bag on walks or hanging on my kit bag that travels with us when we drive bush-wards.
All in all the first impressions are good, very good. (So good in-fact I found a pair of matching numbered d2 collectors edition blades, a RAT 7 and a RAT 3 with rams horn scales.)
I'd easily recommend this blade to anyone needing a solid user.

I’ve got bugger all time to do any more testing this year, will be working every weekend ‘till xmas, I might get a chance to get away over the xmas break so I may add more then.
Cheers,
Jules
P.s. comments of all descriptions welcome.