We start with the blade. Ontario used AUS-8 steel. A Japanese stainless type of steel that retains its sharpness well. Good to sharpen yourself and get the knife very sharp. Incredibly practical if you use the knife often. The blade has a classic droppoint shape. A very common blade shape you can use for almost all daily tasks. Pointed enough for packages, enough belly to cut things on a base and a flat part to peel an apple.
The blade is quite thick. That is also one of the reasons why this knife is heavier than comparable knives. The blade is perfectly centred. Finished with a satin coating.
You can easily open the pocket knife with the double thumb stud. Once opened the blade is locked by a solid linerlock. As such the pocket knife will never close during use. The top of the blade has been enhanced with ridges for additional grip for the thumb.
The pocket clip can be attached in four different positions. Up, down, left, right. On each side you can find mounting holes. As such you can carry the knife 'tip-up, tip-down' and left and right-handed. You can decide for yourself where you want the pocket clip.
The handle is made from carbon fibre. It feels solid and fits nicely with the knife. The handle is smooth as butter so you don't have to worry about it ever damaging your pocket. The handle shape offers enough grip and feels great in hand. The handle has also been enhanced with a lanyard eye.
This knife has functions that appeal to both campers and hunters. With the Ontario RAT-1 you won't get a knife that will last a lifetime. You do, however, get a solid tool for an amazing price. The perfect companion to take with you on a daily basis.