Reviews and Ratings for Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles - 8846

Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handlesrated 4.75 stars out of 5 (32 reviews)
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Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6 inch Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles

 

Price: $42.95

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Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Phil Sechrist
Houston, Tx
Jul 29, 2011
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

EDC.

Sharpest knife i own. rediculusly sharp. its nice and heavy, love it. i feel it will last forever.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Jon-Max
Baton Rouge
Apr 04, 2014
Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip, Blade Material
Cons: None

Just a high quality knife for low price.

I really enjoy this knife! Comes with a great edge ready to use out of the box. I have been using it as my EDC for about two months now and it has handled everything I have thrown at it. Now I am looking to get the pink one for my girlfriend.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Bowtechman808
oak harbor
Jan 04, 2010
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Weight

ontario rat 1 excellent, heavy duty large folder...

Thick heavy duty liners and the liner leaf is thick which I like. I been using my spyderco original military for over ten years daily and its time to retire it. Couldn't find a good replacement till I bought this rat 1.. five stars. I used it for a week strait camping and it worked great. Not as light as the spyderco but still good.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Cdnorman
Victoria, TX
Nov 16, 2010
Pros: Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Handle Feel

Great Value

It is part of my EDC, Very sharp out of the box and great quality for the price. One thing was the grip wasn't as "grippy" for my taste, but very minor complaint. it can be easily remedied.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Hhijji
LL
Nov 16, 2015
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Wonderful folding knife

It is really excellent knife. Very sharp with high quality.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Rakim
NL
Jun 29, 2009
Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Ease of Opening, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality
Cons: None

Top

Hefty, good knife. Great value. Knifecenter is the best
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Jeff
Tallahasse, Florida
Mar 26, 2013
Pros: Ease of Opening, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Weight

Great EDC knife...

I carry this knife constantly and use it often. It is primarily a utility knife, but would serve as a tactical knife without too much trouble. I bought this in 2010, The buzz at the time was that the handles were too slick, that the blade was too thin, the paint would come off too easily on the blade and that AUS-8 steel wasn't all that great. I can tell you no on all accounts. Ergonomics are very good. The blade came sharp and because of the thin blade profile and the steel, it is easy to sharpen in the field . It holds its edge well too. The lock is strong and tight. I do have some slight side to side blade wobble. But after thousands of kinetic openings, I will forgive it. The lockup has never failed me. The paint has some dings in it, but is holding up quite well. The blade geometry is about perfect for a knife for all seasons. Mr. Randall knew what he was doing... I plan on getting another one in the satin finish. For the price, and all around utility, you really can't beat it. The only downside to this knife is that some people find it too large and heavy. I am not one of those people. But if you are, you might want to check out the RAT-1 Model II. I will, and plan on posting a review ASAP.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Joe Bingman
Virginia
Jul 06, 2009
Pros: Weight, Blade Sharpness, Blade Material, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality
Cons: None

Very Well Made Knife!

My job requires that I carry and use a knife most of my day, so I can really get a feel for the knife quickly, as well as edge retention. I have used knives that cost 3 or 4 times as much, but still can't keep up with this blade. The handle fits my hand well, and doesn't cause any hot spots, even after extended use. The pocket clip is fully customizable for left or right hand carry and tip up or tip down. The blade comes hair shaving sharp, and holds the edge for a decently long time. And when it does get dull a few quick passes on my Spyderco Sharpmaker will restore the edge super fast. All in all, I can't really find anything about this knife that I don't like. It does everything I need it to do, and some things I didn't really think it would handle that well. I would highly recommend this knife to anyone looking for a good, affordable folder that is well worth the (cheap) price tag.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Daniel G.
Tårnåsen,
Sep 30, 2014
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Handle Material

Great EDCc

I use this blade a lot for EDC and it is one of my favorite knifes.. I use this way more than any of my "fancy" knifes. I would like to see a G-10 version tho...
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Rafter
norway
Sep 19, 2009
Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness, Blade Material, Ease of Opening
Cons: Sheath
Great knife great price. Knifecenter is the best place to buy knives on the web
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Dana
Atlanta
Oct 31, 2025
Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Sheath, Weight
Cons: None

Rat 1

Great knife as good as it gets for a edc. I've seen it on the show many times so I bought myself one I love it thanks knife center by the way I love your show
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
David V
Woodstock, Ga
Jun 22, 2016
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

GOOD KNIFE, ESPECIALLY FOR UNDER $30 !

Had heard about this knife from a couple people and decided to try one. This is a really good knife! I have a few Ontario fixed blades and really like them, but this was my first folder from them. I am extremely pleased with the quality of this knife. When I first took it out of the box, it had a little wobble in the blade, but I tightened the pivot just a bit and that took care of the wobble. still opens smoothly too. Locks up good and tight and unlocks and closes smoothly with one hand.Blade is shaving sharp out of the box. It is a little bigger than I had thought it would be, but that's a good thing to me. Feels good in the hand, nice heft to it. Grip is alright with the nylon handles because of the texturing. Could maybe use a little jimping on the frame behind the blade, but the jimping on the back of the blade gives a good place to put your thumb.Overall, I can't find anything to dislike about it. Will probably buy another with the O.D. handles if they get them in, just really like the green and black combo. Thanks to Knife Center for their extremely good customer service as usual. Knife Center, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST OUT THERE!.You've got a customer for life. Thanks again.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Buckeye
Detroit, MI
Mar 11, 2010
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip
Cons: None

Ontarioa RAT-1 Folder

What a solid knife! Very ergonomic, great blade shape. Rock solid lock-up. Has to be the bust buy for a general purpose folder around!
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Longeze28
Kuwait City
Apr 01, 2011
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Craftsmanship at a price that cant be beat

This knife is in my rotation as a every day carry knife for work in a military environment where a knife is used for utility and may be called upon for self defense so you want to be carrying a knife that you can depend on. The knife is used for every day work and I'm even comfortable putting it in my vest when out on patrol where is can be called upon to defend. It hold a edge well, easy to keep clean, heavy duty and feels good in the hand. I like the weight it is heavy and rugged for a folding knife. Quality at a price that can't be beat.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Emmanuel
Québec Inc., Canada Inc.
Sep 26, 2009
Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness, Overall Quality, Ease of Opening
Cons: None

Its a steal!

Nice material, AUS8 is well ok. Some say its on the heavy side, im not one of them! The handle is pretty light in my hand, but solid and comfortable. Blade deployment is excellent. The blade locks on firmly. Did I mentioned that for the price ITS A STEAL!!! Get 2, 3 even 4 of them if you can!
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Phil S
Houston, Tx
Jul 30, 2011
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

E.D.C.

Strong, Razor sharp, Big, and, Both kinds of cool in this AMAZING folder. you need a TORX T6 bit to move the pocket clip around, and a T8 for the pivot screw. These are out of production as far as i know, so grab 2 or 3 while you can!!!
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
John Doe
SoCal
Aug 29, 2009
Pros: Blade Sharpness, Overall Quality
Cons: None

GREAT KNIFE FOR A CHEAP PRICE

Great knife for the price... You get more then what you paid for... in my opinion... I will be buying a couple more of these knifes.. Its a steal!!!
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Alessandro A
Brazil
Nov 27, 2013
Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Great...

Excellent product ! Great value for money.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
David F
Oxnard, Ca
Mar 20, 2015
Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Rat 1

Great nice and great price good edc or back up for backpacking if you don't mind a folder haven't abused this one not what its for so just general cutting and no issues so far.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Big Pat
Ronaoke, Virginia
Sep 23, 2014
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Weight

Best bang for...

...my buck I have found so far. This knife is a great all round general E.D.C. that uses a very good steel for general chores. At first I was quite reluctant to purchase this knife because every Ontario I have purchases seemed to require some work on my end. So imagine my surprise when I got this knife. I have been carrying the RAT for about 2 weeks straight now and during that time I have used it to pry open paint cans, bend nails, carve wood, and cut tin. Of course the knife got dull, but the beauty of AUS-8 is that it is easily sharpened. I have not had any problems with the function of the knife at all. It stills opens smooth, lock up is tight, and has developed no vertical blade play. The only problem is that the blade coating is not that great and wears ridiculously fast. Which is not such a big deal because all the knives I own get a good workout and are not treated delicately. My conclusion is to buy this knife, period.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Scdeerhunter
SC
Jan 19, 2010
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Love it

Geat knife..my new EDC the best Ive ever had in my opinion. Super fast opening with thumb studs due to quality bushings. Don't expect however to flick it open with your wrist as it retains well, I say this as a good thing. Of couse you can loosen the screws to make it flick but I prefer this knife tighter which it is....no movement of the blade at all. The handle fits your hand like a glove and I have hands which are slightly larger than normal. Blade holds edge well and sharpens easy. Replaced a CS recon 1 and I like it much better. If theres a better knife out there for 27 bucks I haven't seen it.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Sebastian
Illinois
Mar 08, 2017
Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Great Knife, Great Price

I've been doing a lot of research on what type of steel was good (I'm still new to knives) and what knives deliver the best bang for your buck. The Ontario Rat Model 1 surely delivers this. I was debating wether to get the Rat 1 or the Rat 2, fearing that the Rat 1 was was going to be too big or that the Rat 2 too small. I obviously went with the Rat Model 1 and was pleased at how the it felt in my hands. The look and feel of this knife is excellent. It was really sharp out the box, as well. Overall, this is a great knife and is now my EDC.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
6Leafdom
BC, Canada
Jul 31, 2009
Pros: Blade Material, Ease of Opening, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Weight, Handle Material

excellent all rounder

excellent knife for the price. the biggest bang for the buck. the blade shape can handle almost every task you throw at it. the only down side is that the handle is NOT G10. but instead its just some hard plastic. so keep that in mind when u are thinking of buying this knife.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 5 stars out of 5
Irish
indiana
May 10, 2010
Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality
Cons: None

Awesome knife for the money

This knife has the feel and ease of use that you would expect from a knife 3x the price. Also, it is very solid and handles well when cutting everything from cardboard to small pieces of wood.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Leatherdevilneckdog
right under your nose....
May 13, 2010
Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Handle Feel, Handle Material

GREAT Buy

Got this as a "fill-out" item for an order so that I could get the promo, and was astounded by the quality for the money. Took it camping as an initial test and it performed wonderfully making kindling and stripping limbs for various tasks. The edge held enough that I didn't have to sharpen once, and even now it sists un-cared for. No oxidation on exposed parts and still cuts like a champ. Great action, lock-up, and decent steel. My only complaint is the need for a slight bit more texture on the handle, or a bit more of a thumb ramp. Other than that, HIGHLY recommend. You wont be disappointed. Buy two. Or four.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Chad
SW Ohio
Aug 04, 2009
Pros: Pocket Clip, Ease of Opening
Cons: Lock Type

Great bargain of a tactical folder.

I think this knife and the Spyderco tenacious are neck and neck for best tactical folder under $40. I think the give and take involved in the production of this knife is a perfect balance of what you can live with vs what you really need to bring it in on a budget.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Pooz
kansas
Oct 27, 2009
Pros: Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Ease of Opening, Blade Sharpness, Overall Quality
Cons: Lock Type, Weight

great knife, great value

this is a great knife for the value. no blade play, the knife handle sits perfectly in the hand, strong 4 position pocket clip which is a plus, (knife sits tightly when closed so you dont have to worry about it accidentally opening in a tip up position ) i can say only a few things about the knife i do not like, the knife is pretty heavy, (would of liked to see a skeletonized handle). i would of liked to see a different type of lock up also but the liner lock works great. the black paint on the knife isn't made of the strongest coating all in all the knife is definitely worth what i paid and than some.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Sierra One
MidwestN
Dec 30, 2009
Pros: Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None

Great fir the money !

This knife is great for a tool knife. This thing is razor sharp and holds the edge well. Maybe not the overall quality of a Benchmade, but not anywhere near the price either. You won't be disappointed.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
The Provider
Madera, California
Jan 28, 2010
Pros: Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Lock Ease of Use, Handle Material

Ontario Randall Folder Model 1 with 3-5/8" Black Plain Edge Blade

I use it for fishing and small outdoor task. I find that it is a strong sturdy knife, very sharp out the box and easy to clean. The only thing that could be better is the ease of opening and I would like a second locking mechanism for extra safety. Also It is a little on the heavy side but I don't really mind.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Kscmint
Alabama
Feb 19, 2016
Pros: Ease of Opening, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Weight

Love This Knife

This is one of my EDCs that I rotate daily. I love how quickly and easily the blade comes out and locks. The tip is very sharp for a drop point. I also like how solid it feels in my hand. I have seen criticism on the gimping not being good enough but I have no problem with it. The solid feeling it gives has its drawbacks. It is a little heavier than what I prefer in an EDC but that being said, I do use it for EDC. All-in-all, this is one of my favorites!
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
David Law
Monroe, LA
Sep 25, 2009
Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness, Blade Material, Ease of Opening
Cons: None

Duck Blind Tools

Good quality tool, Surprised at thought and refinements engineered in tool. Will know more after duck season. Cutting tools take a beating in the swamps and marshes of Louisiana.
Ontario RAT Model 1 Folding Knife 3.6" Black Plain Blade, Black Nylon Handles
rated 4 stars out of 5
Gyffes
New England
Dec 23, 2019
Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness
Cons: Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type

Excellent knife, esp at this price

The fit and finish on this knife are spectacular. I normally buy Benchmade or William Henry knives, and while this would never be confused with a blade from either of those makers, its solid build, positive lockup, and delightful handfeel evoke those far pricier brands. This hefty knife is hair-popping sharp out of the box, and the blade and handle work perfectly together to impart excellent control of that sharp steel. The only real negative is the liner lock: I'm no fan of any unlock that puts my thumb 'twixt edge and frame and usually go for the lockback'd Dozier-designed Kabars for AUS-8 knives in this price range; this knife is too unbelievably good in every other way, however, and immediately made its way into my EDC rotation against knives 10x+ its pricepoint. Oh, yeah, one final potential negative: while it's blade shape and exquisitely contoured handle lend themselves well to self-defense (if that's your thing/a concern), the blade isn't going to deploy quickly. Watch the short vid: that's how it comes out. While it may smooth out with time, you're not going to be snapping this puppy out at a moment's notice. [edited for grammatical typo]
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