Our comparison today is between to very know knife in the knife community, especially in small, concealed knives size, I’m speaking about the ESEE 3 and the Ontario Rat 3, they very well used knives, in outdoor activities, survival, hunting, camping and even tactical, they work great as a concealed tool.
One of the frequent question, would be which one to pick in a situation of ESEE 3 VS RAT 3 or RAT 3 VS ESEE, will today I decided to take a look at both of the knives and write down a full comparison about these knives and I will end up with a conclusion of which one to choose based on your usage, so if you’re still interested in knowing more about the ESEE RAT 3 battle, let us dive in.
ESEE 3 vs RAT 3 – A Head-to-Head Comparison
SPECS | ESEE 3 | RAT 3 |
|---|---|---|
Overall Length | 8.3125” | 7.75” |
Blade Length | 3.875” | 3.75” |
Blade Steel | ||
Knife Weight | 5.2 Oz | 5.2 Oz |
Blade Style | Drop Point | Drop Point |
Price |
ONTARIO RAT 3 Review
This knife is the result of the collaboration between RAT and Ontario Rat company, to bring us one of the greatest small size knives, it has a 3.75” drop point blade made from 1095 Steel, that offers great edge retention, great wear-resistance, and medium corrosion resistance, it has a flat grind which is excellent for cutting and slicing, it comes with a green linen Micarta that offers great ergonomics to the knife and a good grip, and finally, it has a Nylon sheath.
The knife was designed mainly for Law enforcement, it’s size makes it legally approved in many states (Check your state law enforcement before buying any knife), it’s great for the tactical situation and it’s easily concealed, a great tool for self-defense and can be great for outdoor activities, camping, hunting or fishing even for while doing survival, the small fine edge of the knife makes it very useful for precision work.
ESEE 3 Review
“This review is already Used in other articles that includes the ESEE 3 if you already did read it you can skip this paragraph”
The ESEE 3 is an offshoot of Randall’s adventure in training, and this knife design is really what kicked off their entire knife lineup, when Esee spun off into a standalone knife brand this was the knife that led the way, the Esee 3 features a 3.875” broad drop point blade made from 1095 Steel that offers great hardness and wear-resistance, great edge retention, and good corrosion resistance, it has plenty of a belly which kind of hallmark of Esee’s designs, thanks to the special Rowan’ heat-treat this knife is considered the best knife in the 1095 steel, and let’s not forget about the Micarta handle that offers a non-slippery grip.
What I really like about the ESEE 3, is how thin it is, is it’s very thin so it’s ultra concealable, it works great for tactical situations where got concealment is the priority, as having a very well rounded blade shape, the full flat grind makes it an excellent slicer and there’s a finger choil where you can choke up and get those little fin details to work done with the tip of the blade, the sheath in the ESEE 3 features very positive retention and it has plenty of holes for attachment hardware, making it very easy to carry inside the waistband, scout carry behind your back, any manner you wish.
What are the Similarities ESEE 3 VS RAT 3?
- Steel: they Both have the 1095 Steel that offers great edge retention, great wear resistance, and toughness, and comes with low corrosion resistance.
- Design: they offer the same or a close design that comes with finger choil and thumb spine.
- Handle: Both Esee 3 and Rat 3 offer a non-slippery handle made from Micarta
- Thickness: Both knives have a very close thickness between 0.13” and 0.125”.
ONTARIO RAT 3 VS ESEE 3– Some Key Differences
- Blade Length: ESEE 3 comes with a 3.875” blade length, meanwhile the RAT 3 has a 3. 75” blade length (I know it’s not a big difference, and Yes you can clas it as a similarity).
- Sheath: ESEE 3 comes with a Plastic Sheath on the other hand rat 3 comes with a Nylon Sheath.
Conclusion
If you did notice both knives are very close in terms of design, handle, thickness, and blade length, even for the performance since they have the same steel, so if you have to go and choose one, your winner would be the one who suits you well on your grip, other than that I’ll be lying, again like I always say the best way to choose is to get the two and try by yourself, but one thing is sure they both have low corrosion resistance, so make sure to take care of your knife with oiling and drying (don’t be depending on the black coating), that It see you next time.
Reach your true potential
Get a free guide on Knife Sharpening to find out how you can achieve more
