As knife collectors, different features on any given knife may resonate with us. It could be the materials, the blade grind, the design...a variety of things; more often than not, it is a combination of features that tickle our steel fancy. Such is the case with my new outdoor companion; the Ontario RAT 7. It is a little bit "bigger" RAT, but feels remarkably fast in the hand. The handle is well designed and really fits my hand "perfectly". The micarta handle scales offer nice gription (and there is a lanyard loop at the end of the pommel). Their desert color appeals to me quite a bit; it contrasts very nicely with the black blade. Speaking of the blade, it is a typical RAT flat-ground 1095 and cuts marvelously. This knife is one of the sharpest "out-of-the-box" fixed blades that I've ever experienced. It does come with a decent weave sheath, though I'll be adjusting it a bit to fit my belt style. While I realize that the Randal Knives version may be slightly more upscale, the Ontario iteration offers tremendous value...and the quality, fit and finish on this particular blade speak quite well for our friends at Ontario; well done, well done! Gotta go; my RAT7 and I have some adventures to plan while we still have a little summer left!