Everyday Carry

Ontario RAT II

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista


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For anyone starting to collect knives, the Ontario RAT II is one of the most value-packed tools you can buy (at just under $25). Its 3" AUS-8 steel blade and reversible pocket clip make it an ideal everyday carry. Tough, textured scales provide a comfortable grip, while ambidextrous thumb studs offer quick and easy deployment. Its blade shape, length, deployment, lock, and overall quality lend themselves to RAT's balance and poise. So much so that even when've moved onto more expensive knives, you may find the RAT II making its way back into your pocket.

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Mikey Bautista

Director of Everyday Carry Operations


About the Author
Mikey Bautista is an everyday carry (EDC) expert who has been working with the EverydayCarry.com team for nearly a decade, starting with an interest in EDC as a hobby and ending up as a writer for the site in 2014. Through the years, he’s led the site in editorial content and writing about products across every category, from knives to bags to flashlights and everything in between, as well as discovering, bringing exposure, and building bridges with many brands in the industry. Today, he is the site's Director of Everyday Carry Operations, leading the editorial team and managing day-to-day operations.

He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.

Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.

Discussion (10 total)

DevoD ·
Kershaw Cryo, Spyderco Tenacious and Ontario Rat 1 or 2. These are the "gateway" EDC knives before getting into Delicas, Mini Griptilians and the expensive world of exotic steels. But at the end of the day, they cut just as well.
7 Reply
Andrew Houser ·
Hands down, still one of my favorite knives after all my purchases. It feels great in hand, is one of my fastest deploying blades, sharpens easily, and has great build quality. Value for price, this one is pretty much hard to beat. Ontario got so, so many things just right with this knife, and it's bigger brother, in my book.
4 Reply
Dylan ·
A very under-rated knife... Thanks for showing it some love Mikey.
4 Reply
Mikey Bautista ·
My pleasure! Recommended it to a few people starting to think about their carries and diving into better knives for the first time. :)
5 Reply
localizer ·
This is without a doubt one of the best knives in terms of value for money! In fact this knife holds up well even against much higher priced knives. Taiwanese made knives are generally top notch.
3 Reply
Jem Holden ·
I absolutely love my RAT II! Easy to sharpen, holds the edge very well, and it's just the right size blade.
2 Reply
Eric F Maurer ·
Thanks for review! I bought one the strength of it and am very impressed. I have a K-Cryo which I also love, but it's a tad bigger for "dress pants" (or what goes for dress as an ecologist/professor...). Haven't tried the Tenacious yet, but have several Spyderco & S-Byrd knives. One thing, it's going to take some practice getting a smooth opening down (ok, knife collecting newb...)! I like that the size is such that I can use the clip or just drop in pocket. Thanks again!
0 Reply
Brad ·
Love my RAT 1 and 2 knives. They are always in the mix and clamouring for an EDC spot in my pocket. Truly awesome value and quality.
0 Reply
Efrain Suarez II ·
Cryo II. Never anything other than my KaBar while in. I like how the Cryo looks. Feels in the hand and cuts. It's my my first EDC. Looking at the exotics but damn! (sticker shock). I should just make my own
0 Reply
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