Inexpensive vs Cheap: Examining (and taking apart) an Ontario RAT 2 and a Gas Station Knife

[@gavinreddig3969]

the premier of the Z-Hunter

[@SurvivalSpec]

LEGEND

[@NoMoneyHubby]

Love the pfp

[@artiet5982]

Where it all really began for the Nick... the Z Hunter premier! Who would’ve known it’s future on the channel

[@hammerhi]

"My hat's off to the 12-year-old who put this together the first time"

[@NickShabazz]

+HammerHill I have many skills, but self-censorship is not among them.

[@hammerhi]

+Nick Shabazz Well, it's only so funny because it's probably true. Subscribed!

[@DKarkarov]

Considering Nick couldn't reassemble it I would say that 12 year old had some skills :P

[@larkmars8182]

nick a savage

[@michaelc.4321]

HammerHill I'm 14 and he did better...

[@johnhowlett5773]

Wow, the birth of the legendary Z-Hunter. What incredible packaging that thing has. I just bought the RAT 2 after watching some of the Budget EDC Championship. I wanted the Cryo, but it's now $75; ah, well. Moving to the RAT 2 from the Gerber Remix Tactical should be a nice change (that knife does alright, but the serrated edge is useless to me). I fear this channel will make me make some financial mistakes.

[@JesseLJohnson]

Where are you seeing a Kershaw Cryo for $75. You can buy 2 of them for that. Even the Blade HQ exclusive with D2 isn't that much. Actually I don't think any of the Chinese Kershaws are $75 even most the US made ones aren't that much besides the autos.

[@PalStanleyFan1]

I think it would be cool to see a comparison between a 9$ Z-Hunter and a 10$ Sanrenmu.

[@bigidiotdumbstupidguy9329]

My dad gave me a Model one RAT Knife that was issued to him when he was in the military back in the day. He never said where he got it but it still works great. He says he got it at the same he went on a training in the Philippines and had to buy a machete for 5$ so the guy threw in the RAT for free cuz he paid in USD. Fun fun times.

[@The4cp]

Nick you've convinced me that Z hunters are the greatest "knife" ever.

[@HelmutDoork]

That Z-Hunter is the most awesome letter opener ever.

[@derekwhite5945]

Paperweight*

[@burgherdude]

Nick; Never, EVER sell that Z Hunter! The conversational and humor values are worth 10 times what you paid for it. It makes for an ideal foil in future knife reviews. :-)

[@ghosthunterc]

This guy is a freakin’ prophet!

[@farouq1983]

Nice slap to the face of the type of people that are yelling: "why should I buy a knife for $50!"

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Well... Kinda. The Rat 2 is a hell of a knife and it's only $35, and I'd say it performs nearly as well as any $100 knife... You'll just have to sharpen it more frequently due to the Aus-8 steel. I honestly enjoy my RAT 2 ALMOST as much as my Griptilian and my Endura. I actually like the aesthetics of the RAT 2 more than either of those two $115+ knives.

[@hayman122]

Slootyboot i rather get the rat 1 same build to my knowldge but a bit larger and better feel. Its my main knife though it dosent feel very big.

[@JSHolyDiver]

@@hayman122 I have both the Rat 1 and 2. My favorite between the two is the...2 lol. Feels nicer to me, its smaller so you can almost forget its in your pocket. Both are really great knives for the price though. They feel like a higher end knife at times. Budget friendly for sure.

[@garethbaus5471]

Opinel makes good knives for a decent price, the z hunter is just an abomination.

[@BrentonCarr]

why you gotta hate on that sweet ass zombie hunter?

[@davidgonzales1794]

I like the knifes... but what's up with the green corn cob?

[@snetsky100]

David Gonzales It's the red headed step child used as what not to buy/make

[@ryanb8466]

Thanks for the entertaining knife review. My 6 year old daughter really likes the Green Zombie Knife...

[@thomasmaloney843]

The Z hunter is not a knife, it is art. The box is priceless.

[@spanishnavaja]

Thanks Nick, now I can add the Z-Hunter to my grail list. I would have never known about such a custom work of art without you.

[@mountainmanwatchreviews8081]

Wow the birth of the z hunter. This amazing to see all these years later.

[@samprasfoon06]

Ahhhh, this is where it all started.....!!!! LOL

[@DeSousausmc]

I know this is an old vídeo, but that 90° sharp spine is actually important for outdoor blades so they can effectively strike fire steel. On my BM buschcrafter I occasionally use a stone to square up the spine if the fire steel starts to chamfer it. But yes for edc, smooth is nice!

[@thedude5805]

i think it is weird that all cheap (from what i have seen) knives have serrations. some at least "sharp", others dull, but they have to have serrations. wouldnt it be cheaper to make plain edge knives?

[@NickShabazz]

It's not so crazy! Cheap knives use cheap steel, and they don't hold an edge. Serrations "cut" much longer when dully, so a serrated knife will feel "sharp" longer with a bad steel. If they sold a bad plain-edge, people would dislike it more!

[@ianwong4912]

And here starts the legend of the Z hunter

[@CalebMcFadden]

The birth of the z hunter

[@RN-ts2kq]

Nick, this is the greatest video I’ve ever seen on the subject of knives. I love that you actually sound disappointed about the performance of the Z Hunter. The world hasn’t managed to kill your inner child yet. I’m thinking about dropping $9 on one just out of morbid curiosity.

[@danielcluley870]

The Origin Story of the Z-Hunter. Classic and Quality.

[@thibs8839]

Hey Nick! I've been following a lot of your videos lately. You have some of the best and most reliable comparisons and reviews I've found! Thanks and keep em coming!

[@coopus9111]

its funny that he taps the spideerco and smashes the Z-hunter

[@MrCholoPants3415]

Hahaha I noticed that too. I would do the same to be honest... It's a bit heartbreaking to smash a $270 spyderco beauty lol, and while it might've been a slightly unfair comparison, the shitshop knife nearly broke after a single instance of spine-wacking.

[@streetlover404]

"Avoid contamination..." "Your G-10... Oh, no, it's plastic." "Maybe PVC..." "Officially dead." My gosh the z-hunter is ridiculous.

[@micah7492]

damn I was cracking up trying not to wake up my gf the whole time. watching Nick roast the z hunter is priceless

[@zachyaninek2658]

So this is where the Z-Hunter became a universal symbol of Nick’s channel.

[@felonstone9047]

As a former knife collector I found the hobby not nearly as fun when I went from 10 fingers to 3 more or less. lol

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

Ok. Been watching over a year now... and thanks to you i now own a 940-1, 0450cf zdp, rat ll in d2. And a z-hunter.... Thanks. 😅😅💖😅

[@fast03vette4me]

I really admire the green corn on the cob scales! Sweet. Like sweet corn should be.

[@cjkeller5287]

Hi Nick! Been loving your vids for the past year - thank you for the time and effort. So, I will admit that I received the Z hunter off amazon the other day and I just can't stop myself from laughing out loud every time I see it. Other than the laughs, it really does give contrast to the quality of the others in my collection. Keep up the great work bud! Cheers!

[@PsylomeAlpha]

To be fair, as someone who would mainly throw an inexpensive pocket knife into fire-starter/shtf kits I prefer the spine to be sharply ground a little beyond the point where I usually rest my thumb so I can use it for shaving fire-steels and tinder filings for starting a fire (a job that tends to wear on the edge of a knife quite a bit, so it'd be great if I could keep the main edge in good condition). Honestly, that Ontario Rat 2 appeals to me a bit MORE because the spine is a bit sharp.

[@adammartin8026]

Informative and entertaining, great vid brother

[@billbraski]

"Im just gunna stop touching that" haha words to live by

[@LorenzoNW]

Missed opportunity - Zombie Hunter really needs to step up their game and form a strategic alliance with some pimped out hip hop brand. The Limited Edition Z-noop Hunter, with .025 micron gold plating and Swarovski crystals. Toss it in as a bonus with every G Pen purchase.

[@shrapnelbladez8000]

The birth of the Z-hunter

[@southernlogicyt]

The rat 2 in d2 really is a great knife. I still carry it sometimes over my bugout. I just like the way the blade flies open and the thud at the end. It feels great. Just a lil lock stick in my liner lock

[@Clambelly]

"object of sheer beauty ... what a friggin' jem" .... Love it !

[@fatshadow2062]

I come back to relive the Z-Hunter origin story from time to time. It's come so far. So many skulls.

[@bearlovessosa411]

This is the birth of the Z-Hunter

[@Good.shepherd420]

Going through the "nick shabazz guide" playlist, i'm loving you more and more. I wish more people took your approach to making content in general.

[@poisonousnut]

ah the introduction of the z hunter. this video should be placed in the national archives.

[@eric21881]

excellent video

[@Valheru808]

I still show this to people when they ask why i spend more money for a knife. Thanks, Nick

[@thequoff]

So this is where it all began with the Z-Hunter

[@icantaim4sht836]

My $200 Emerson mini cqc 15 had the same lock up issues as your Z Hunter until I tightened the pivot to the point where the blade could barely be flipped open.

[@boystoyz8922]

Avoid Contamination !!!!! That statement itself was worth $9 Great video, GREAT CHANNEL Thanks for the highlight to my extremely long 12hr, boring work night 🌙

[@emmgee6432]

Your best classic video. The beginning of the end per say. Contagion....

[@void1984]

Is it the origin of Z-Hunter?

[@someguywithachannel7590]

When I was like anywhere from 8-10 I first started getting into knives and I had no clue as to what was crap and what was good so I just bought any and every knife I was able to afford. I am now 14 and stuck with only 3 actually good knives and about 40 MTechs. Yeah I'm not very proud of that..

[@Chrissers2010]

19:23 "I'm just gonna stop touching that." I'm dying laughing!

[@annieetc.563]

i wonder if nick knew how attached he’d become to the z hunter

[@NickShabazz]

He did not.

[@SRVandDtrouble]

The OG of OGs.... The Z-Hunter. What we wouldn't give to get in on those before the Shabazz effect hiked up the price on these across gas stations nation wide.

[@minh4835]

that z hunter knife proved to be better than you thought.

[@burger5853]

a legend is born

[@dan-dan-da-treeman]

hahahahaha! "the 12 year old that put it together in the first place.". I have a rat 1. I use the sharp spine to scrape with. it is a wonderful low cost blade in my opinion also. that was great.

[@tecnotrog1]

so ok ..I think I follow you..the Z hunter is the one to buy..

[@eric21881]

Guy at work handed me a gas station Miller creek to resharpen Just bought him a Spyderco ambitious Pretty impressed at the price point actually It downs match my typical edc but there is nothing close to tragically wrong with it

[@NickShabazz]

+Eric Losh Hah, that's the way to go. The Ambitious is a nice little knife, I'll need to check it out one of these days!

[@Chrissers2010]

The origin of Z-Hunter fame! I actually searched the internet for one of my own....ha ha ha ha!

[@savagecomanche]

the rat screws at torx and the back of the knife is kinda sharp so you can use it with a Ferro rod since it was designed by a survivalist

[@DavesWatchLove]

How wonderful to discover the "birth of z-hunter" video.

[@TheMartinChronicles]

Oh, my gosh! I stumbled upon the origin story of the Z-Hunter!

[@artl52]

Another Gem of a video!

[@dannycalvert8513]

I just won a Shabazz autographed Z hunter from Metal Complex. Priceless!

[@johnashton3603]

Buck Alpha Hunter Knifes also have very smooth, and very sharp, with good steel.

[@jordanlapointe4690]

Thinking of buying a knife here in 2022, but this Ontario Rat II is no longer $30 -- their site lists it as $55! I'd be really curious to see your take on their current $30 option, the "Wraith". Is it the best budget knife for 2022?

[@robertshay9951]

The adage "you get what you pay for " very true indeed. Bought the R2D2 for work if I lose it at work another 30 would not be that bad a thing, 270 would be bad. The D2 steel holds up well. Plus at 3in blade won't get the LEO's underwear in a bunch (large midwestern city), but spend what you can afford, do your homework making informed choices

[@sharpends4279]

So if the Z Hunter you still use for videos, CONSTANTLY LOL, still the same one from this video or did you have to buy a new one after since it didn't go back together so.... Nicely???

[@Pablito46]

The irony is that the Z-Hunter is now a collectible thanks to this video.

[@factor6962003]

I think every knife enthusiast should own a classy Z-Hunter

[@henryjon45able]

ahhh yes my favorite design, corn cobb, and yellow

[@MrDrizz51]

KME the best sharpening system? Or can I survive with a stone? That's all I use for my chef knives. Thank you. Love your videos.

[@BleachIsFTW]

When you were going over about the sharpness and roundedness of each of the knive's spines you praised the spyderco because its nice and rounded. I thought you wanted a sharp edge to light flint with it

[@garethbaus5471]

Not for a knife you don't use to light fires, it can be uncomfortable.

[@ReeferNoob23]

OMG Nick I want you to buy or get more really cheap knife like the Z hunter and take them apart so you can compare them to really good knife watching you take apart the Z hunter it really made me.feel good in buying my zt 0452cf thanks again

[@thomash4578]

I believe that every serious knife collector needs to have one Z-Hunter

[@DougHinVA]

I learned that an older item tends to have been better made (guitars, boots, knives, handguns, etc.).... so I look for very cheap older items given up for VERY cheap.

[@SurvivalSpec]

PURE LEGEND

[@KamakazeTaco]

I like how when he's showing how loud the opening is he does it a bunch for the cheap knives so we can hear it, then does it once for the spyderco then immediately stops and just says it's smooth and quiet. Then he pulls hard on the Rat 2 clip to say it's solid but barely even touches the spyderco. Perhaps just trying to hide the fact that you're paying 10x the price just for that spyderco label?

[@micah7492]

KamakazeTaco there definitely is a "spider tax" for buying that brand, but there's no question that it's a way better knife than the z hunter/ rat 2

[@hayman122]

I pickedup a Rat 1 (bigger version of the 2) its quite nice. But i reccomend not laying it down on the clip side as it scatches it over time . Ive used black sharpe to try to fix it but no use

[@user-pz5ju7mw3k]

I noticed that rat was aus-8 for as you said $30, they now make it with D2 for $38 👍👍

[@jinxjax6428]

My first knife was the spyderco kapara

[@17industries42]

“I’ll just move that away- to avoid contamination” 😂

[@boyyoyo]

What's not to like about AUS-8?

[@NickShabazz]

+boyyoyo The edge retention's a problem. You can put a really nice edge on it, but even assuming the heat treat is good (which it isn't always on bargain knives), you're not going to hold that edge nearly as long as something like VG-10 or 154CM or any of your higher end steels. It's not soft enough to make the knife junk (like 440A or AUS-6 or "surgical stainless"), but for me, it's a pretty heavy demerit. I've gotten used to some harder and more wear-resistant steels, so at this point in my life, AUS-8 steel is enough to take a blade out of consideration for me. It's a great low-cost steel to start, but if you use your knife regularly, you owe it to yourself to upgrade. I'll probably talk about this a bit more in my RAT 2 full review today.

[@williamjc7195]

thankx, great vid.

[@lakinwillson4124]

Oh my god how your voice has changed

[@andyhayward1261]

Omg the origin story of the z-hunter

[@smartassmart]

sleesh booh-ee ....i would avoid this knife just for the fact that i wouldn't want to say the name out loud if someone asked me. think i'd rather stick a fork through my skin.

[@tylerwallace5852]

Max Van it's the name of the Spyderco he put on the table.

[@PsylomeAlpha]

Just call it a "slice boh-wee" instead, because the name looks like it could be pronounced that way as well.

[@finnmcool2]

Does it seem like everyone involved with making the Z-Hunter hates the end user to some degree?

[@Youngwolf4665]

I got two guidesman knifes for ten dollars and all I had to do is get new washer and sharpen them and had a perfect knife

[@GTA_500]

I am surprised the guy at the store didn't call the police on you because you are preparing for the zombie apocalypse

[@franknavarro9364]

Z-hunter made my day lol

[@wishmeluck9473]

I have an unknown make POS knife with aluminum scales. I can flip it open without even using the the thumb stud. hell, it's so cheap, it can dance!

[@vladtepes9835]

As seen on the BBC

[@czenkusm]

I use knives for outdoor activities, I hunt, hike, camp often. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so there’s no lack of wilderness, I’m curious as to what this content creator actually uses knives for? Show? Or?

[@dougjohnsonbushcraftandbjj5561]

The Z Hunter is a tactical knife, of course the spine isn't rounded its gotta be able to strike a ferro rod!

[@felinebline7154]

Zh is pretty cool.

[@fbales]

Would have been more helpful to me if the really cheap knife was a Sanrenmu 7010. Bet it would compare favorably with the Rat 2.

[@ZENO357]

Surprised that you didn't get into the types of steel used, but maybe the cheap knife didn't provide that info. Maybe you can use that piece of steel to make yourself a spear! (The Rat II also comes with D2 steel for another $10 or so.) I'm sorry that you didn't take the Spiderco apart - looking inside that knife would have been interesting - ball bearings?

[@heatherknight3060]

Nick, thanks for your awesome channel! I got a Rat 2 last week for my edc and you were right on the money, sir. I'm new to the knife world and I won't buy another knife without your review. My very first edc was a crkt Pazoda2. It was terrible. I'll send it to you to review if you like. not as bad as the z hunter, but pretty terrible. Thanks again. Your channel rules all other edc channels!