I can't speak for the rat-3 but I have the esee-3 and I love it, nice well made knife. And the no questions asked warranty is a good plus.

 

My understanding is that ESEE is the original manufacturer and Ontario is effectively a knock-off. They've been doing that kind of thing for a LONG time. Not long after the original Randalls Adventure Training RC knives were released Ontario started puking out the Ontario RATs.

As the other poster said...when in doubt ESEE and the original RATs are warrantied pretty dang good. I have the RC3 from back when they were RAT before they changed the name to ESEE and it's been a beast. I don't know about as an EDC though. I keep mine strapped to my pack and use it when I'm out hiking.
Warranty and name stuff:
ESEE Knives - Randall's Adventure and Training

What's the difference between ESEE, RAT Cutlery, and Ontario?

Randall's Adventure & Training manufactures and fully guarantees ESEE Knives and all knives previously marketed under the RAT Cutlery brand name (RC-3, RC-4, RC-5, RC-6). While Randall's Adventure & Training was the first company to ever use RAT as its brand name in fixed blade knives, we decided to change our knife company name to ESEE Knives in February 2010 due to confusion in the marketplace with other companies marketing under the RAT name). This was simply a name change. Nothing else has changed in the design, manufacture or quality of our knives. Randall's Adventure & Training does not manufacture or offer a warranty on any knife made by Ontario Knife Company under the Ontario RAT branding (RAT-3, RAT-5, RAT-7. RTAK, TAK, Model 1 Folder and Model II Folder). The Ontario RAT knives were designed by Randall's Adventure & Training but are manufactured by Ontario Knife Company. Find more information about all of our designs on our History page.



Is your unconditional knife warranty for real?

Yes, please see details on our warranty page.

Warranty page:
ESEE Knives - Randall's Adventure and Training

We will not honor any warranty request for any knife marked "ESEE Knives" that was made in China - These are counterfeit ESEE knives are being sold on Ebay by sellers such as amyv732012, kaluoseller2009, desertspartan.web.com and others. If you want a genuine ESEE Knife, be sure to buy from our authorized dealers. Learn how to spot a fake by looking at this counterfeit Izula and this counterfeit. Please note: any Izula with serial # 51455 is a made in China counterfeit.

Rowen Made ESEE Knives No Questions Asked Warranty:

If you break it, we will replace it. Warranty is lifetime and transferable. In other words, we warranty the knife no matter how many times it's been traded, sold or given away - no sales receipt or proof of purchase required.

A lot of folks have asked us how we can stay in business offering such great customer service and warranty protection. The answer is simple; we believe that American consumers, as a whole, are honest people. The occasional customers who are dishonest are few and far between, so even if we lose every once in a while due to dishonesty, our reputation of great customer service, regardless of the situation, brings us more good customers.

ESEE KNIVES ARE NOT THROWING KNIVES! They are hardened to a higher Rockwell than throwing knives and will most likely break if thrown, possibly harming the user. So, do yourself and your ESEE knife a favor and DO NOT throw it. Using any knife not meant to be thrown as a throwing knife is idiotic! We would rather idiots not buy our knives.

Note: We do not warranty our 440C Stainless Steel knives from abuse. It should be noted that 440C is not as flexible as our carbon steels. Any excessive flexing will cause the knife to break.

We do not warranty against rust or normal wear and tear. Our carbon steel knives are made from 1095 High Carbon Steel. And while 1095 is a top choice for professional field knives, it will rust and stain if not properly cared for - especially on the cutting edge and around the laser engraving. It is the user's responsibility to keep the blades properly lubricated and cleaned. We suggest a dry film inhibitor such as TUF-GLIDE or TUF-CLOTH. We use a baked on powder coat on all of our coated knives. It is normal for the coating to wear with use.

NOTE: The warranty does not apply to the Lite Machete since the blade of the machete is made by Imacasa in El Salvador. With that said, if you have any issues with the Lite machete, contact us and we will do our best to make it right.

You must complete this form and return it with your knife. You must email us a tracking number and the reason you are returning the knife for warranty repair/replacement. The knife must be returned using a Priority Mail Box. We suggest you email us before returning the knife since we do not warranty normal wear and tear.

Randall's Adventure & Training only guarantees and offers customer service on knives built by ESEE Knives (Formerly RAT Cutlery Company) and any knife manufactured by RAT Cutlery Company before the name changed to ESEE Knives. Randall's Adventure & Training does not guarantee or offer any customer service for knives that are manufactured by any other company. Randall's Adventure & Training does not guarantee or offer a warranty on any knife manufactured by Ontario Knife Company. Please view the history page for more information.

edited to add:
Also, if the Ontario RAT3 is anything like what they did with the RAT7, they basically copied the knife and gave you a crappy canvas sheath with a rectangular folded hung of plastic inside(I bought the knockoff once upon a time). IE it wasn't form fitted or designed to really hold the knife securely. Granted that was a good number of years ago.

The real ESEE/RAT RC knives usually do come with quality fitted sheaths. My real RC-3 came with all kinds of options for different mounting types etc...

 

Thanks lynchg19 and Packinnova for the responses. It appears the ESEE way outshines the Ontario. Really appreciate it guys.

 

Get an ESEE and you wont be sorry I promise! The ESEE 3 is my favorite all around blade and I actually use it for my EDC.

 

Go with the ESEE. The folks there are stand up guys. Actually the history is the Ontario use to make the RAT ( RANDALL ADVENTURE TRAINING) knives for Jeff and Mike several years ago. There was QC issues (mainly heat treat) that Mike and Jeff wanted addressed but Ontario wouldn't. When Mike and Jeff wanted to pull their designs Ontario didn't want to let them go. Its a long story and I don't remember all the details because I was just getting into the ESEE's at the time it was going on.

 

That is the way I heard the story some years ago when heavily researching knife making. I think I too would be inclined to go with Esee.

 

pack has some good info and glad he posted the it. I have a Ontario folder but my fixed is a TOPS C.A.T and I love it, my original Randall is gone ( sob) and the ESEE did not get any love from me as it failed but everyone has to find the one that fits.

 

I'd remove/modify the blade coating to increase ease of cutting if it were me. Maybe #400 grit

 

Mine has the coating. The part that actually does the cutting, the edge, does not have the coating and it goes through everything like butter.

 

Lots of people take the coating off and force a patina. I prefer the coating till it gets really bad. Keep em sharp and they will cut anything with ease.

 

Stripped after it started looking a little rough. Natural patina. I it get a little rust on it just some fine sand paper and oil.

 

The ESEE 3 is my grail knife, but the RAT 3 would do me just fine for the little real use it would see. Both are out of my price range, and my Puma Elk Hunter serves my needs just fine. But it doesn't hurt to want.

 

I bit the bullet and ordered a ESEE today. I ordered the ESEE 3, plain edge with the new dark earth finish and molle sheath combo. For something I really didn't "need" ,it seemed risky to spend that much for a knife that I don't even know if I'll like. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

If you do not like it you will have no trouble selling it.

 

You will like it I promise. You will be glad you ordered the kit too because it gives you a lot of options.
Do you know how you would like to carry it?

 

The closest thing I carry would be a Izula II

 

If any of you come across an earlier Ontario RAT in D-2 tool steel. Grab it. :yup:

They don't pop up too often these days since they have not been in production for quite a while now.

 

Wasp. what is that color combo on the ESEE 3 brown knife, and where did you get it? I really like that look.

 

Thanks.

This is where I ordered. I'm pretty sure mine is the third one "Dark Earth" with sheath and molle for $109. Great price by the way. I also ordered a Coyote Tan sheath since the one it comes with is black, I used the black one on my other EDC that needed one.
ESEE-3 for sale - Blade HQ

The TKC scales are Coyote Tan "Extended" version. These scales aren't cheap but they are high quality and you won't regret ordering them!
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/esee-3-series-scales/