Hey, everyone.
David C. Andersen here coming at you from the KnifeCenter, and today we’re pitting
two of the best inexpensive D2 steel pocket knives against each other.
It’s the Ontario RAT 1 versus the Steel Will Cutjack.
Let’s do this.
While the base RAT model 1 features AUS-8 stainless, it’s also available with the
semi-stainless D2 tool steel, and it’s in that configuration that is clearly in the
sights of the newcomer: the Steel Will Cutjack, which also uses D2.
D2 has been storming the entry level segment of pocket knives, bringing a lot of edge retention
to the table without breaking the bank, and both of these knives are priced right around
$40 right now.
Certainly a cheap price, but they don’t feel cheap.
Both of these knives feature very similar blade shapes, and the factory edges on each
come shaving sharp.
We get a drop point profile, and roughly the same amount of sharpened edge as well.
We get three and a quarter inch with the Ontario, versus three and an eighth on the Steel Will;
only a slight little bit less.
It’s certainly plenty enough for most day to day tasks, and you could even get away
with using these in tactical roles, and the shape and geometry even lend itself well to
hunters, hikers and campers thanks to the broad belly near the tip.
Both of these knives see a flat grind, full flat on the Ontario and a high flat grind
on the Cutjack with a full length swedge along the spine to make it even more efficient.
Both of these blades are right around one eighth of an inch thick, and the Cutjack is
ever so slightly slimmer when we put it on a micrometer.
Combine that with the edge geometry, and it makes them very precise and efficient slicers.
To take advantage of that precision, the Cutjack features a large finger choil ahead of the
finger tab so that you can choke up behind the blade and control it even better.
The RAT 1 lacks a finger choil per se, but the design that features this wide recasso
and front of the handle still provides enough flat spot for choking up, much the same way
as you would with a choil.
Both of these knives feature bronze washers in the pivot for very smooth action.
The Cutjack uses a flipper to open very smoothly.
It’s not quite as crisp as a good bearing setup, but it’s still very satisfying.
Instead of a flipper, the RAT uses dual thumb studs for opening, and if you build up a little
bit of pressure with your thumb, you can even flick it open, and it’s going to be just
as fast as the Cutjack.
Between these two that are right in front of me, the RAT is even faster, but it isn’t
quite as automatic to use that motion, so you’re going to have a little bit of a tradeoff
there.
The handles on both of these knives feature synthetic scales, nylon on the Ontario and
FRN on the Steel Will, and there are several color options available for each.
We’ve got black, blue and OD green for the Cutjack, and the RAT 1 offers even more, including
black, olive drab, coyote brown, orange, desert tan, and even more than that.
Both of these handles offer a four finger grip for me, but the RAT 1 does have a hair
more reach, good for the bigger hands out there, and, of course, both have that index
finger spot to choke up on for even more room.
Both knives also have a liner lock to secure the blade, and both is fairly easy to operate.
When we start to dive a little bit deeper into these handles, that’s where the characters
of these knives tend to diverge a little bit.
The dual full liners on the RAT 1 are solid pieces; they’re not skeletonized.
It adds a bit of strength to the design, and a little bit of weight, but not a crazy amount.
It’s still easily pocketable, but with a little extra girth compared to the Cutjack,
the RAT 1’s a little bit more comfortable under heavy strain.
It makes it the better choice, I think, if you’re going to take one of these knives
camping.
The Cutjack is a little bit lighter, and a little bit slimmer.
It features dual nested liners that have been skeletonized, keeping the weight down.
It takes up less room in the pocket overall.
Not only does it lie flatter, but it isn’t quite as long as the RAT 1 when it’s folded
up either.
Again, both are easily pocketable, though.
The Ontario has a four position pocket clip, meaning you can carry it tip up or tip down
on either side.
The Steel Will’s clip is only a two position design, but it is reversible, and holds the
knife tip up, again on either side.
As far as how these scales are put together, we have open backed construction on the Ontario,
which makes it very easy to keep clean.
The Steel Will is similar, mostly open backed, but it does have a small backspacer near the
rear of the handle, that also incorporates the lanyard hole.
As for other variants of these knives, there are a number of other options if neither of
these two do it for you.
Of course, the RAT 1 does have the stainless steel option with AUS8 for even less money.
The Cutjack also has a stainless option, but it’s decidedly more premium.
It’s a full on upgrade with M390 steel, in addition to G10 scales and a ball bearing
pivot.
You can’t get the RAT with a G10 handle, but you can get them in carbon fiber.
And while none have a ball bearing pivot, There are assisted opening versions of the
RAT to speed things up.
If these knives are a little bit too big for you, both of them feature a smaller counterpart
as well.
The Cutjack Mini and the RAT 2 feature three inch blades for a smaller package overall.
As two of the most solid budget folding knives out there today, you really can’t go wrong
with the Ontario RAT 1 or the Steel Will Cutjack.
Let us know which one you would choose in the comments, and in the meantime, to get
your hands on one, you can click the link in the description to head over
to KnifeCenter.com.