After our Ontario contract ended in April, 2007, we decided to produce a higher quality line of knives outside of the mass production capabilities of Ontario. The new ESEE Line (Formerly RAT Cutlery) is considered "mid-tech" in the sense of quality and manufacturing procedures. This means you will notice upgrades to sheathing, fit, finish and detail on ESEE knives. Most important, ESEE is now in a position to respond quickly to new product development and upgrades to existing lines. All of our designs fit the bill of desirable field cutlery when it comes to toughness, comfort, and cutting efficiency. Unlike a lot of manufacturers, ESEE doesn't just release a new knife because it looks cool on paper - we personally field test each new design prototype before is makes it to the production stage. Once we make the final design tweaks and the knife is put into production, we test the design again during field outings Stateside and jungle survival classes in the Peruvian Amazon. We also have users around the world that test our knives and submit feedback. When you buy a ESEE knife you know you're getting a knife designed by real users.