RAT-7

This knife has now de-throned my Becker BK-7 as my favorite outdoors knife, something I never expected it to do. I originally picked one of these up at Cabela's because I loved the simple elegance of the overall design, and it came with an attractive walnut handle and leather sheath. I have since made a custom leather dangler sheath and replaced the original walnut handle scales with the OKC original Micarta scales. This review reflects the knife in its original OKC form. First, the specs, in case something got missed in the product description: Manufacturer: Ontario Knife Co. Model: RAT-7 Overall length: 12.25" Blade length: 7.0", cutting edge 6.5" Blade thickness: 0.19" Weight: 12.6 oz. Blade steel: 1095 Blade style/grind: exposed full tang (no skeletonizing), drop point, full flat grind Handle material: Micarta Sheath: my own custom leather dangler I actually had a chance to test this knife out on an 11-day hiking/backpacking trip through the Grand Circle in northern Arizona and southern Utah. I had the option to take a Becker BK-7, which was a knife I was rather familiar with already, but decided on this one because, a) the overall package was lighter and more compact vs. the oversized factory sheath of the BK-7, and the blade itself has a slimmer design which made it easier to wear, and, b) it didn't look so "tactical" in comparison so as not to draw as much attention on the trail. Considering that I wore the knife 24/7 while on that trip, the more "woodsy" look of it looked more in place with a group of hikers than a fighting style knife. The weight difference, while only a few ounces when considering the sheath, was a factor when considering my loadout. During this trip I essentially put this knife through a trial by fire (pun intended) considering for a large part of it we did not carry an ax or hatchet. Paired with my small folding saw, I was able to accomplish pretty much every task that came up during our trip. I did A LOT of firewood prep, and considering I was with a Boy Scout troop, I used this knife constantly to show them how to build a "one-log fire." Between the inexperienced abuse at the hands of the younger scouts and the considerably heavy use I personally put on it, it came out winning in almost every area. Properly cleaned, this knife also excelled at food prep, building log walls for windbreaks, cutting though webbing and cargo straps when one of ours broke and wouldn't release, and fashioning ad-hoc hiking sticks out on the trail. The overall balance and ergonomics are, in my opinion, one of the best in ANY knife I've ever used. Being a large blade, it actually wields like a much smaller, lighter blade because it's so balanced. The handle design is very comfortable and rather large, which I like, with no discernable hot spots or uncomfortable countouring. Even with a somewhat blocky profile, the handle was still fantastic feeling and the Micarta provided an improved purchase on the knife over the walnut scales. Batoning with this knife while processing firewood was incredibly easy, and the blade edge held up very well during hard use. The Micarta also absorbed the punishment much better than the walnut scales, the originals having broken beforehand (the reason I ordered the Micarta ones). The Micarta scales also make this knife balance much better, being heavier and denser than the wooden ones. In my opinion, the wood scales are a downgrade even if they look better. To summarize, the good: - excellent balance - great ergonomics - very tough steel and edge; excellent edge retention - epoxy powder finish actually held up very well - great fit and finish - perfect size for a field knife - razor sharp out of the box - great handle - excellent slicer - good chopper - great jimping--not too aggressive, but enough so to provide added traction While I really struggled to find genuine complaints about this knife, there were a couple of things I think could be better, but not by much: - choil isn't very large, so for some might be impractical or unsafe to use as a finger choil - handle doesn't have a pronounced hook or swell near the pommel, so while chopping there is somewhat of a feeling it could slip out of my hand. A lanyard solved this issue - for some, the knife might be a bit too large My overall impression of this knife is that it's a great knife, very clean and elegant in its simplistic design; there's no showy or gimmicky designs like exaggerated ergonomics, over-aggressive jimping, funky blade grinds or geometry (looking at you, Tom Brown Tracker), and no serrations. Serrations simply aren't necessary with this design. The knife feels good in the hand--balanced, quick, and ergonomic in spite of the somewhat blocky handle scales. The palm swell on the handle is just right providing both comfort and purchase. Conclusion: This is an EXCELLENT survival knife, one which was originally designed specifically as a SURVIVAL knife: not specifically tactical and not specifically for bushcraft. It has since become one of my two all-time favorites along with the OKC Ranger Series RD-6. As far as value for the money, you cannot beat this knife. It performs and feels very much like a knife in a much higher price category, which is why I bought a second one to keep in a go bag. Highly recommended.

I've always loved the OKC Rat knives. I purchased my 7 on Oct 30 2018. I received the newer model (smaller sharper etching on the bolster and sheath does not have a pouch). I had asked about the sheath and got mixed answers, so hopefully my review will help others. The knife is high quality. It came in an OKC box and was very sharp. The weight distribution is very good. It doesnt feel forward heavy. The finger choil makes finer carving and cutting much easier. The sheath is nylon and very basic. Black with white threads. But its very solid and well made. The powder coating is holding up nicely. This is a very durable and multiuse knife. Ive grown so fond of it I bought a second one to keep new in the box. Until I tried the Rat 7, I was a huge fan of the Rat 5.

I am a knife guy. I like Benchmade products, but do not like them for bushcraft work. I wanted a new knife to go with my new axe, knife, saw set (bushcraft trinity). So I was looking at a few selections in the $90-$150ish price range. There are so many options and videos out there, that I don’t think you can really go wrong. I was looking at a Buck 119 or 120, Mora Pathfinder, Gerber Strongarm, Tops Bob Hunter, Tops Moccasin Ranger, Ka-Bar BKR7, Ka-Bar 7503 Jarosz “Turok,” and like every ESEE 6 model in the series. From those, many were eliminated due to price. Most of the better brands (ESEE and Tops) are in the upper $150 price range. The Ka-Bars and the Mora are great knives, but were on the smaller size for baton use. The Bucks were super heavy and I didn’t want to carry those on a belt all day. The closes contender was the Gerber Strongarm, and I just went with this knife because I wanted to try it out. I was already familiar with Gerber products and wanted to try this out. There you go, I wanted to save $50 and try out a different knife brand. It’s a great knife. The handle is a little big for me, but I can slim it down myself with some sand paper. If you have large to XL hands, then this will be perfect for you. The sheath is a little janky, but it does the job of holding the knife. I’m thinking of getting a kydex or leather sheath for it and that newer Gerber axe. But the one it came with will die for now.

Suppose the unthinkable happens, leaving you stuck out in the woods in an emergency or even a zombie apocalypse. In that case, you need to have a reliable survival knife at your side. It needs to be a versatile tool that can handle everything from digging, prying, chopping, and cutting to building a shelter, processing firewood, food prep, and even self-defense. The Rat-7 by Ontario Knife Company (OKC) fulfills all those duties and can be the difference between life and death in such an emergency. Made in the USA and built from high-performing 1095 steel (some of the more recent units used 1075, also a very durable steel), this tool is a perfect balance between durability and handleability. Its blade length of 7.2" with a cutting length of 6.7" on a spine thickness of 0.19" (4.8mm makes it one of the best options for both survival and bushcrafting, although its forte is the former. The full flat-ground 1.5" wide makes it nicely slicey, albeit at the slight cost of wood processing capability (splitting wood, for example). However, the flat grind adds to its ability for chopping, especially combined with its 20 oz. weight, longer length, and the ability to add paracord to allow for a 3-finger grip for chopping. The linen micarty handle is exceptionally grippy, although some would call it slightly blocky. That said, despite the lack of the arguably sexier lines of its offspring, ESEE, the handle is very comfortable even for long and arduous tasks. Many owners of this knife reprofile the handle slightly to make the contours rounder. I like the stockier handle geometry and will likely leave mine as is. The blade offers a usable finger choil at the ricasso, allowing you to choke up on the blade for more nuanced tasks such as wood carving. That said, this is more of a bold-strokes tool and less adept at fine work than a traditional bushcraft knife (such as a Mora Garberg). Although 1095 has almost no corrosion resistance (it rusts at practically any sign of water), the zinc phosphate powder coat does offer some protection. If you dry it thoroughly after water contact and keep the blade well-oiled, you'll have little to no issue with rust. One of the knife's greatest attributes is its ease of sharpening. Although 1095 does not provide extensive corrosion resistance or edge retention, it's incredibly tough and extremely easy to sharpen. I've sharpened 1095 with everything from a pocket sharpener, a portable diamond, and a traditional whetstone to ceramic mug bottoms, an old spark plug, and even a granite boulder. That versatility alone makes it invaluable in the field and extreme situations. Speaking of sharpness, mine arrived none-too-sharp, but as I stated, it is quite easy to sharpen, so after a few passes on the diamond plate, it was ideal. The biggest problem with the knife (in my humble opinion) is its included sheath. It's made of Cordura nylon with a plastic insert to maintain its shape and prevent the edge from slicing it open. It's far less sturdy than a Kydex/GRN or a quality leather sheath. (Leather sheaths are strong but retain moisture, so they are not the best for 1095 knives). Kydex and Glass-reinforced nylon (GRN) are hard-sided materials that do not retain moisture. However, they are more costly and, therefore, not included. Myriad aftermarket sheaths are available, but their main downside is the additional cost. Given that the knife is already running around $100 (USD), adding another $50-$100 for a sheath puts the cost in the realm of other, more refined knives. So, in that vein, the included nylon sheath will likely suffice for you unless you simply want something nicer. It serves as a carrying implement, provides moderate protection, and is relatively secure, although a little noisy (see included video). Overall, the Ontario Rat-7 is an incredibly versatile survival knife that can do a lot. Although more suited to large-scale tasks, it's surprisingly nimble. Its long service record and reputation make it one of the most revered knives in its class. It's just too bad that OKC has closed its doors. That said, you can still find remaining new stock at some outlets. Otherwise, you'll need to search the resale market for one.

The Ontario Knife Company RAT-7 is one of those blades that carries a reputation long before you ever get your hands on it. It’s often spoken of in survival circles, and it had been on my list for years. Looking back, I definitely slept on it—but I’m glad I finally added it to my kit. Right away, the build feels solid. The 1095 carbon steel blade offers a strong balance of toughness and edge retention—ideal for outdoor and bushcraft use. It does require maintenance to prevent rust, but that’s a fair trade-off for the durability and ease of sharpening. The 7-inch drop point blade is versatile without feeling overly specialized. It handles practical tasks well—clearing small brush, shaving kindling, and even butchering small game. While it could be used defensively if needed, that’s not where it shines. This is, first and foremost, a bushcraft and utility blade. The Micarta handle provides a secure, comfortable grip, even during extended use. It’s not a lightweight knife, but the added weight gives it confidence in hand and helps with heavier tasks. The included sheath is a standard ballistic nylon design. It’s functional, with grommets that allow for tie-down using cordage—useful for securing it to a pack or leg. It’s not premium, but it gets the job done. Overall, the RAT-7 lives up to its reputation. It’s a durable, no-nonsense tool built for real work. For me, it’s one of those purchases that makes you wonder why you didn’t pick it up sooner. I need more time and opportunity to work on this knife and put it through the paces

I picked this blade up the other summer. I have since stripped the finish off the blade, and browned it. Whatever OKC uses for its coating is seriously tough stuff. I've also sharpened the spine to throw sparks with ferro rods, and used a round file to make the jimping on the spine a little more aggressive. I can't leave well enough alone sometimes. That said, there wasn't anything really wrong with the knife right out the gate. It hits that sweet spot for a medium sized knife. Can chop, though a bit more labor intensive. Does smaller knife tasks well enough. Holds an edge decent. Can baton. I've whooped on mine a fair bit, and it doesn't care. The handle looks blocky, but is quite comfortable. Can't say anything bad about it. Sits well in the hand, doesn't transfer a ton of shock. No big hot spots to me. The only downside is the sheath, and seriously... you're not paying for the sheath anyway. It's serviceable, but nothing to rave about. Get a kydex, or a nice leather one for it if it bugs you, call it a day. My only regret with this knife is not buying two. I'll probably fix that in the near future.

I make every attempt to be fair and honest in my reviews, however you can probably tell from the title of this review that I am already impressed with this knife. Simplicity is its beauty. If you are looking for a workhorse, you don't search under racehorses. If you are looking for a sports car, you don't search for 1 ton trucks. This is in the 1-ton truck category. And I can tell it will be a workhorse. Made with 1075 Steel, which is high carbon Spring Steel, it may not maintain an edge quite as well as 1095 Steel, but it will be as durable or more durable. 1075 will not polish to a high gloss shine, so the blade is powder coated black, best for tactical situations. I am not going to complain about the blocky handles because you can see from the picture that they are blocky. And they fit my hand perfectly! My hands are about medium size to maybe medium large. The 7-in blade has a nice balance to it, and will carry your swing well into a branch. It kind of rattles around in the sheath, which although not leather, should hold up well through the life of the blade. Perhaps hold up even better than leather in damp environments. The one thing that I noticed that I was not extremely pleased with, was on the front quarter of one side of the blades the grind seemed to change. It's not a big deal for a knife that is going to be used for extreme duty, simply a little disappointing in a moderately expensive knife. As I said, overall I am very pleased and look forward to years of good service from the OKC RAT 7. UPDATE: The RAT 7 is difficult to find through any other dealer. And although the description on Amazon says it is made of 1095 steel, according to the OKC site description the steel is 1075. I double checked, so one of the two descriptions is incorrect. However, either steel will provide good service life, toughness, durability and sharpness.

This knife is very well made and is a bargain at this price point. Chopping and batoning with it is easy, at least for lighter duty chores. For any extended field work, I’d say a longer knife would work better. Very sharp out of the box, but I’ll probably dress the edge after a couple more uses.

Update -- 8 years later I've upgraded my review to 5 stars. This is an absolute workhorse. It's held up to almost a decade of use and abuse. It comes with me on every camping trip, and I know I can rely on it. Original review: Great blade overall! Just got it today so I haven't tested it thoroughly, but it seems like a beast! Feels great in the hand, hefty but not heavy, bites into wood beautifully...the only downsides are the sheath and the power coating. The sheathe isn't as bad as what some people are saying, but it definitely isn't as nice as kydex. Its built for right hand or left hand carry, which is nice, and doesn't rattle too bad. the coating is thick and textured which is also not ideal, but the blade itself and the handle are amazing for the price, and I definitely recommend it!

Está sem sombra de dúvida, na minha opinião esta entre as top 3 das facas, acabamento primoroso!!!!Só elogios, valeu cada centavo!!!! Parabéns!!!! Está é a segunda que compro!!!

Sin ninguna duda es la mejor empuñadura de todos los cuchillos de mi colección. Es extremadamente cómodo empuñar este cuchillo. Es una delicia. Es mi primer cuchillo Ontario y tuve muchas dudas antes de comprarlo. Con toda sinceridad lo compré por una oferta de un gran descuento. Me siento muy contento de haber hecho la compra. No lo he probado en ninguna forma aún. Lo recibí apenas hace unas horas. Pero la gran comodidad de sujetarlo es una gran satisfacción. Se ven bien los acabados, se percibe una construcción robusta. Lo recomiendo al mil por ciento y aprovechen la muy buena oferta de Amazon. Está genial!!!

Great size blade and quality handle. Razor sharp from the factory. Comes with a nylon sheath that is adaptable to right or left hand carry and has molle for pack attachment. Very formidable and strong tool. Very pleased with my purchase and recommend.

Excelente faca para acampamento, forte e robusta