Headhunter Blades RAT Knife | MNKF

headhunter blades
May 22, 2017  
|  4 Comments
Categories: Knives and Axes

I didn’t realize I was a knife guy until people pointed out I have a whole mess load of blades. Turns out I like knives quite a bit, and while I may have dozens I only really use/carry a few. One of my regular carry blades is from Tuhon Harley Elmore of Headhunter Blades. I wrote about one of Harley’s creations before here. This knife is known as “the Rat”, sometimes colloquially referred to as the “rat knife”.

MNKF Rat 12

Harley got in the knifemaking business by accident when he started making blades for his friends. His knives proved popular enough that demand kept rising. The Rat is by far his most favored model. I asked Harley about the Rat and he had this to say about its success,

MNKF Rat 10

“I think it’s become so popular because it fits the needs of Lo Vis Operators, who it’s designed for, but also police officers and civilians. They’re all looking for the same qualities in a concealment blade.”

MNKF Rat 6

While I am no Lo Vis Operator, I do enjoy the ease of concealability the Rat offers. Most days I carry my trusty Spyderco folder but sometimes, when I’m feeling fancy or have to go somewhere where guns may be frowned on, I throw on the Rat and no one’s the wiser. The Rat’s size and shape make it a strong choice for everyday carry.

MNKF Rat 5

The blade is 3.5 inches long and ¾ inch wide, making it ideal for shanking folks who might get in your business. The overall length is seven inches. The shape of the blade is ideal for thrusting and working your way through tough materials like nylon, denim, man dresses, etc. Like so many of my blades, my Rat is really not living up to its potential.

The steel is AUS8, highly regarded for its ability to take and maintain a very sharp edge.

Build-a-rifle
⚠️ Check the latest deals on accessories: #backthebang 

 

MNKF Rat 4

The handle of the Rat is made of G-10 for extra grippyness and sex appeal. And what I refer to as the “hook thing on the end” is purpose built to aid in consistent and positive draws, with either hand.

MNKF Rat 3

Harley, the Rat’s creator, is an instructor for Sayoc Kali, a form of Filipino martial arts heavily revolving around edged weapons. Much of his designs come from his own experiences as well as other instructors’ and students’. The training portion is very important to him and that is why the Rat comes with a specially designed trainer blade. The trainer blade is aluminum and anodized bright blue for easy identification. The trainer is identical in every way to the live blade, with the exception of the tip being blunt. This actually shortens the trainer blade by about half an inch, forcing the trainee to touch the tip of the trainer to the intended target. When using the live blade they are now instinctively getting a half inch of penetration, and who doesn’t want a little extra penetration?

MNKF Rat 2

MNKF Rat 1

The Rat sheath is a simple and effective kydex design. The blade and trainer can be inserted in either direction, making the sheath completely ambidextrous. Small rivets are used to help keep the sheath as narrow as possible.

 

MNKF Rat 11

Harley’s blade carries no markings or numbers for obvious reasons. While I’m definitely not as cool as many of his customers, I thoroughly enjoy owning and carrying the Rat knife and supporting a great small American business.

 


[You can visit Head Hunter Blades online here]

Alexander Crown

Alexander Crown

About the Author

Alexander Crown (@acrown509)is a frequent contributor to Breach-Bang-Clear, and is a patched Minion. He is the almost certainly the littlest big mistake Gemtech ever hired. Astonishingly, they continue to promote him to a succession of higher positions. Prior to his early retirement due to an enemy winning a marksmanship award at the cost of his hamstring, Alexander served in the 3/509 PIR out of Ft. Richardson and spent time in Iraq. In addition to dabbling in the world of silencers and science fiction, he has a BS in biology and is an avid gardener who grows prodigious crops of improbably might vegetables.

4 Comments

  1. Valkrie

    Hi Alex,

    Can you give more details on how you mount it horizontally on your belt?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Alexander

      The sheathe has a belt clip on it that usually is used vertically but you can use it on a belt loop or as pictured an Armordillo concealment AC keeper.

      Reply
  2. vdmsr

    Good article, rock on.

    Reply
  3. Jeff Jenkins, MD

    The Rat has been my blade for two years now. Great utility knife for every day and feels great In your hand. The trainer has found a great place on my training rig. The finish is durable

    And it’s size doesn’t draw too much attention.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Articles

PROMOTION ENDS: MARCH 31ST, 2024

Tactical Easter Sale Part 1

desert camo tracksuit gif

Can Cooker Trailblazer gif. Reads: Turn up the heat. Trailblazer bundle. Only $80.  Order bundle.

Gun.deals: back Breach-Bang-Clear

Find what’s in stock, and where, and compare prices. 

⚠️ Some hyperlinks in this article may contain affiliate links. If you use them to make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s just one way to Back the Bang. #backthebang 

Get Patched In

Wretched Minion Patch