MrValentine
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I only have $30 set aside for this purchase and I have to choose one or the other. Which one would you choose and why? Which is the more heavy-duty, long-lasting, reliable knife?
Should I go with a Kershaw Tremor or a Rat-1 Knife?
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rcmodel
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I have never heard of a RAT knife.
Oh, never mind.
Ontario RAT knife.
But Kershaw has always delivered exactly what I paid for in the past.
Usually way more then I paid for in fact.
I have a Kershaw serrated sheep-foot that I use for water gardening.
It's older then dirt, it's still sharper then it has any right to be, and going strong.
Was it my money, I'd sure give Kershaw another try.
rc
Oh, never mind.
Ontario RAT knife.
But Kershaw has always delivered exactly what I paid for in the past.
Usually way more then I paid for in fact.
I have a Kershaw serrated sheep-foot that I use for water gardening.
It's older then dirt, it's still sharper then it has any right to be, and going strong.
Was it my money, I'd sure give Kershaw another try.
rc
sixgunner455
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Whichever one feels better in your hand or is more attractive to you visually. I go with feels better in hand, personally, but other people have other priorities.
JimStC
Member
What sixgunner said.
I just compared the two knives. IF you have handled them both and still are undecided, the Kershaw would be my choice. I find little use for serrated blades. Seems like a waste of cutting surface. I am not very successful at sharpening that portion of the blade.
If you are like me, I very seldom have the luxury of handling the knives I buy before I decide to buy them. So, compare the build specs and decide. Btw, I found both of them on Amazon at your price point.
Good luck,
Jim
I just compared the two knives. IF you have handled them both and still are undecided, the Kershaw would be my choice. I find little use for serrated blades. Seems like a waste of cutting surface. I am not very successful at sharpening that portion of the blade.
If you are like me, I very seldom have the luxury of handling the knives I buy before I decide to buy them. So, compare the build specs and decide. Btw, I found both of them on Amazon at your price point.
Good luck,
Jim
Aus8 is a bit better on the Ontario than the steel on the Kershaw, but you're assured of getting good customer service if there are any problems with the Kershaw.
RX-178
Member
I voted Kershaw.
Kershaws have always just felt more... well-assembled I guess? It's not that they're necessarily higher /quality/, because it's not a matter of the blade steel or the blade edge, it's just that Kershaw knives seem to have been put together with more skill than Ontario knives, in my experience.
Kershaws have always just felt more... well-assembled I guess? It's not that they're necessarily higher /quality/, because it's not a matter of the blade steel or the blade edge, it's just that Kershaw knives seem to have been put together with more skill than Ontario knives, in my experience.
BCCL
Member
Have not had Tremor, but the RAT 1 is one of my favorite folders, just takes everything thrown at it and keeps on going. The HT on their AUS8 is great, holds a wicked edge.
I voted for the Kershaw because my Blur is such a good knife. But Kershaw doesn't provide great service for their knives that aren't made in the USA and a $30 knife isn't likely to fit that description.
If you possibly can I suggest that you invest in a high quality steel blade in a Kershaw frame. They are generally made in the USA and they will outlast a cheap steel knife about 5-1 at least. Yes you will pay double or more but it's worth it in the long run. The S30V steel on my Blur is so hard I like to never got a good edge on it (it came with a decent edge but I like a really good edge) but once I did it was there to stay for a long time. I can use the knife hard and not have to worry about sharpening it all that often. I can sharpen it easily now that I know how but it still holds an edge an incredibly long time and that means the knife will last an incredibly long time. Plus the Blur will open in half a second with one hand doing the trick.
I've had my share of $30 knives. Most are decent but they aren't on the level of a knife like the S30V Kershaw Blur. I expect this knife to still be working hard when I'm in a rest home somewhere. It's just one of those knives that will last almost forever. My grandmother always insisted on having certain brands of knives and I have learned why. Some just last forever. She used a butcher knife that was a popular choice during the 18th century. She had one for 40 years that I know about. It was still sharp the last time I saw it. It was an Old Hickory brand knife with a thin steel blade that seemed like it would have broke the first week. But it didn't. It's probably still in someone's knife drawer getting daily use. It was an amazingly good knife. And good knives last a very long time. Unless you're 85 and won't need a knife for 15 years I would get a good one.
If you possibly can I suggest that you invest in a high quality steel blade in a Kershaw frame. They are generally made in the USA and they will outlast a cheap steel knife about 5-1 at least. Yes you will pay double or more but it's worth it in the long run. The S30V steel on my Blur is so hard I like to never got a good edge on it (it came with a decent edge but I like a really good edge) but once I did it was there to stay for a long time. I can use the knife hard and not have to worry about sharpening it all that often. I can sharpen it easily now that I know how but it still holds an edge an incredibly long time and that means the knife will last an incredibly long time. Plus the Blur will open in half a second with one hand doing the trick.
I've had my share of $30 knives. Most are decent but they aren't on the level of a knife like the S30V Kershaw Blur. I expect this knife to still be working hard when I'm in a rest home somewhere. It's just one of those knives that will last almost forever. My grandmother always insisted on having certain brands of knives and I have learned why. Some just last forever. She used a butcher knife that was a popular choice during the 18th century. She had one for 40 years that I know about. It was still sharp the last time I saw it. It was an Old Hickory brand knife with a thin steel blade that seemed like it would have broke the first week. But it didn't. It's probably still in someone's knife drawer getting daily use. It was an amazingly good knife. And good knives last a very long time. Unless you're 85 and won't need a knife for 15 years I would get a good one.
harqueb.us
Member
Voted for the underdog RAT-1 to bring it to a tie. 
AStone
Member
Voted for the underdog RAT because it's associated with ESEE.
I would take the Rat over the Tremor. But I would take the Cryo over the Rat. One thing to keep in mind is the size of the Rat, it's big. If you live in an area that isn't knife friendly that can be a bad thing. It is however a nice solid knife. Moreso than it has a right to be considering the price tag. It's stout enough to handle just about anything a folder should be used for and uilt well enough to last. I gave one to my brother and he has used the crap out of it with nary a problem. Kershaw makes some fine knives under $30 and I've owned quite a few of them, but I'd take a RAt-1 over most of them.
Seriously though, check out the Cryo. It can be had in your price range via Amazon and is an outstanding folder for the money. Mine's in my pocket now. An here I've been trying to get away from lowend knives...
Seriously though, check out the Cryo. It can be had in your price range via Amazon and is an outstanding folder for the money. Mine's in my pocket now. An here I've been trying to get away from lowend knives...
Giterboosted
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I don't usually post in the non firearm area, but I own many Kershaws and the one rat, and the rat has been a better knife, it's completely surpassed any expectations I've ever had
AStone
Member
While seeking information on something totally unrelated to this thread,
I stumbled upon this interesting video review on the RAT-1.
You should check it out, MrValentine, if you haven't seen it yet.
I stumbled upon this interesting video review on the RAT-1.
You should check it out, MrValentine, if you haven't seen it yet.
Kershaw generally makes very good knives, and their customer service is excellent. The Tremor is a brand new offering, and is made in China.
Ontario generally makes good knives, although they are known for their fixed blades. I don't know anything about their customer service. On bladeforums, the RAT-1 is generally recommended as one of the best knives for the money. It's made in Taiwan.
Ontario generally makes good knives, although they are known for their fixed blades. I don't know anything about their customer service. On bladeforums, the RAT-1 is generally recommended as one of the best knives for the money. It's made in Taiwan.
A rep at Kershaw told me they didn't offer the same kind of support for their knives that aren't made in the USA. I was ordering extra torx screws and we got to talking about their company. For the most part they are great but I can't imagine them offering the same level of service on their $30 knives as they do with their $75 knives. I'm not saying I believe they would offer no support at all. But the support on the US made knives is outstanding. It's hard to do that with a $30 knife.
I would still think they had pretty good service but getting Aus8 steel is a big plus for the Rat knife.
I would still think they had pretty good service but getting Aus8 steel is a big plus for the Rat knife.
JimStC
Member
After learning the differences in customer support for domestic made Kershaws vs foreign made it does give me pause to reconsider my vote. Also, just came in from cutting some black locust limbs with my 20+ year old Ontario machete and I felt like I was cheating on my wife with my vote
Anyway as some other posters have mentioned, your price point will be an issue but just go slow, get fully informed and make your decision. The purchase will work out.
As a second thought, I have never returned a knife for service, so customer service is somewhat irrelevant to my decision making process. Its like buying a rifle whose warranty is voided by using non commercially produced ammo. Big deal. Do they really think I am going to fess up to using my own loads if I have a problem?. Totally off topic. Sorry, it was a weak analogy.
Jim
Anyway as some other posters have mentioned, your price point will be an issue but just go slow, get fully informed and make your decision. The purchase will work out.
As a second thought, I have never returned a knife for service, so customer service is somewhat irrelevant to my decision making process. Its like buying a rifle whose warranty is voided by using non commercially produced ammo. Big deal. Do they really think I am going to fess up to using my own loads if I have a problem?. Totally off topic. Sorry, it was a weak analogy.
Jim
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