Rat Cutlery: IZULA
By Ben Bouchard
My IZULA rides in my front pocket daily and has rapidly become my most-used knife. The compact size makes for convenient carry and a non-threatening appearance. The cord wrapping that I added allows for great comfort with minimal added thickness, and allows for the carry of emergency cordage. The ring at the end of the handle allows for hanging the knife from the pinkie, leaving the hand free without setting the knife down, and can also be used as a levering hole by inserting a stick (useful for a tough split during batoning).
The full flat grind of the blade ensures that the cutting edge always contacts the medium, while the generous spine thickness lends great strength without sacrificing slicing ability. The blade has a decent belly for slicing and scraping with a straight portion at the base of the blade as well as a section of relatively little curvature near the point. These straight portions work exceptionally well for controlled and precise cuts.
The jimping of the spine provides an indexing point and additional grip purchase without irritating the hand and the inward slope of the handle forms an integral guard without interfering with blade clearance. There are no hot spots to speak of, even during extended use.
The sheath is nearly as versatile as the knife, providing for a slew of carry options ranging from MOLLE-integrated to belt, neck, or pocket carry. The firm retention makes for secure carry, even when inverted, yet the knife is easily removed with a push of the thumb. With the knife being of 1095 carbon steel, moisture can be of a concern even with the durable epoxy coating, and this was not overlooked when designing the sheath; a drainage hole is cleverly hidden in the lanyard ring at the far end.
The possibilities afforded by the additional gear in the optional kit are nearly limitless, and I will not even attempt to describe them all here, but suffice to say that they are more than worth the additional money and their inclusion turns the Izula into a full survival system. And as always, the unconditional warranty means you can play rough all you like and never worry about damaging your investment.
Affordable, versatile, nearly indestructible, compact, lightweight, portable and made in the USA, it's hard to imagine a better knife...except for it's bigger cousins! The whole RAT family represents a tremendous bargain and business practices worth standing behind. Go RAT! You're knife for life!