The OLFA RTY-2/C Quick-Change Rotary Cutter is the more practical pick for most shoppers deciding between these two 45 mm OLFA tools. It keeps the core format the same—a 45 mm rotary cutter intended for fabric work—while changing the part of ownership that repeats over time: replacing the blade. OLFA says the RTY-2/C uses a quick-change system that releases the blade with a sliding lock on the back of the handle rather than the conventional washer-and-nut assembly. That does not promise that blade changes will be frequent for every project, but it is a clear everyday difference when they are needed.
OLFA also states that the RTY-2/C can cut up to eight layers of cotton fabric at once. That specification is useful for a quilter or sewist who regularly cuts stacked cotton pieces. It should not be stretched into a blanket claim about every fabric, mat, blade condition, or cutting technique. Still, it gives the quick-change model a concrete published capability beyond its release mechanism.
The OLFA RTY-2/G Straight Handle Rotary Cutter is not a lesser tool simply because it lacks that release workflow. Its official page describes a 45 mm blade on a classic straight handle, comfortable in either the right or left hand, and names the included RB45-1 blade. Choose it when you want that familiar, uncluttered handle format and do not see the conventional blade-retention arrangement as a friction point. The shared 45 mm diameter keeps both cutters in the same practical lane; the decision is about maintenance rhythm and handle preference, not a jump to a different cutter size.