Head to head

Ontario RAT Model 1 vs Rick Hinderer XM-18 3.5

Ontario RAT Model 1 runs a 3.5″ drop point blade in AUS-8; Rick Hinderer XM-18 3.5 runs 3.5″ of spear point in CPM MagnaCut. The Ontario RAT Model 1 is the lighter of the two by 0.65 oz.

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Ontario RAT Model 1 · Drop Point
3.5″ blade · 0.11″ spine · 4.95 oz · ~1.03″ tall
Rick Hinderer XM-18 3.5 · Spear Point
3.5″ blade · 0.165″ spine · 5.6 oz · ~1.12″ tall

Spine thickness, same scale

0.11″

0.165″

Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outline traced from the maker's side-profile photo.

Spec	OntarioOntario RAT Model 1	HindererRick Hinderer XM-18 3.5
Blade length	3.5″	3.5″
Spine thickness	0.11″	0.165″
Overall length	8.625″	8.25″
Closed length	5″	4.75″
Weight	4.95 oz	5.6 oz
Blade shape	Drop Point	Spear Point
Steel	AUS-8	CPM MagnaCut
Grind	Flat	Flat
Lock	Liner	Frame Lock
Handle material	Nylon 6	G-10 + Titanium
Country of origin	Taiwan	USA
Price band	Budget	High-End

Tinted rows are where these two differ.

The steel difference

AUS-8

Japanese mid-tier that aged well: tough for its hardness and very easy to bring back.

CPM MagnaCut

The current answer to “why must I choose?” — near-tool-steel toughness with better corrosion resistance than S30V. The default recommendation for a hunting fixed blade that lives in a wet sheath.