Bought a knife while deployed, is it real?

A

aknazer

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Dec 19, 2012
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I recently returned from Afghanistan and while I was deployed I bought a knife at the bazaar on a whim. It was in an Extrema Ratio box and seemed sturdy enough that I didn't mind buying it (some of the knives there were serious junk). I didn't really think anything of it and only just recently thought to look up the knife online. Given that I've heard of people getting things like authentic Surefire flashlights for a steal over there I know it's possible for the thing to be authentic, but given that the guy only wanted $60 and I only paid $50 for it I really wouldn't be surprised if it was a fake. Plus I don't see any markings on the blade or handle like I've seen on other knives (such as my microtech), just an emblem on both sides of the knife. Here's a picture of the knife, sheath, and box it came in (there was an extra strap with it that I removed as well).

NewKnife_zpsf3925c88.jpg


So anyone able to tell if it is real and if it is then which model it might be? The closest thing I've found was on Amazon as "Part Serrated Col Moschin Fixed Blade Knife with Black Forprene Handles. Model: EX125" but the serrations on that one look very slightly different (that one shows a larger gap every third serration, while mine are the exact same the entire length of the serration along with the bolt in the knife being slightly different than all the other bolts I've seen used online as mine doesn't have the flathead line like all the others). Not looking to get rid of it as I think its a cool knife (hence why I bought it even without knowing who the company was), just curious if the thing is real or just a really good fake.
 
Looks similar to the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum Fixed Blade.
But the Fulcrum has a tanto blade.

There actually is an Extrema Ratio Fixed Blade called the Col Moschin. Which is part serrated. They look exactly alike. I don't really look different to me. The serrations only look different on one side because serrations look different on each side of the blade. Seeing the blade from the same side, they're identical.

The serrations only look different in a couple of pics though.

Looks like the real deal to me and you got it at a steal of a price.
 
Comparing photos of the Col Moshin and the knife bought in Afghanistan, I am seeing a few differences in the sheath, and the serrations, and slight differences in the blade shape.
At this stage I would think it is not authentic, but I can't say for sure.

Sorry mate.
 
Yup, ok, I did some more research. It is sadly not real.

Have a look at the sheath, namely the rivets between a real one and the one in the OP. The fake ones all have 6 small rivets on each side, while the real Extrema Ratio knives (except for the Shrapnel as far as I can tell) have 4 chicago style screws, or whatever they are. There are other slight differences too.
 
The blade profile is wrong, the plunge on the top grinds are wrong, the serrations are wrong, the blade coating is wrong, the lower guard is wrong, the sheath plastic is wrong, the rivets are wrong, and the retention snaps are wrong. That's about all I can tell by comparing pics.
 
I believe that what the OP has is a real knife. About being what it purports to be, is another matter entirely. :D
 
Oh heck, guys/girls. It's Christmas, and everything is real and fun and joyfulness at Christmas. Where have you been?
sonnydaze
 
If the handle comes off, check to see if the tang has been welded on just below the guard.

Shoot at $50, even if that isn't real (which it isn't), if it is even remotely good steel with even the most basic heat treatment, it's probably $50 worth of knife. You can buy brand name junk in the USA for $50.

So you may have been hoodwinked as to brand, but I wouldn't think you got ripped off or anything like that. Much more than $50...ouch.
 
Thanks for the fast replies. I figured it was a fake given where it's from, but still thought I would ask those that would be likely to know. And I wouldn't say I got hoodwinked to the brand since I had no clue who "Extrema Ratio" was when I was buying it and simply got it because it seemed of decent quality unlike most of the other knives the guy was selling (so the brand was never a factor when I bought it). As for the tang, there are no weld marks. It is one solid piece of steel the entire way through with a hole and the black coating covers everything including the holes (so they coated it after cutting out the shape and drilling the holes).

@Hardheart of course I figured it was about as real as the movies, but one never knows when they will find the real thing. Just as how we're told that there are some authentic guns from the late 1800s in the country and on occasion they have been found at the bazaar, but the majority of the time they are just fakes made to look like the original thing. Or how a guy I know was in Iraq and found a person selling real Surefires for $80 even though they were worth $300 as they were still in the original boxes with paperwork and all (apparently we would give equipment to the Iraqis that they would then just sell).
 
Thank you for your service aknazer, and it's good to see you back home for the holidays.

It's not a real Extrema Ratio, but as singularity pointed out, it's a real knife nonetheless. The knockoff ER Col Moschin can be found online anywhere from $29 - $52, but is it worth the $50 you paid? Depending on how it's used, only you can answer that. Nice looking knife though, use the crap out of it and see how it performs. I've been surprised by what I initially thought to be some questionable knives.
 
Unless the thing's made of pot metal or has no heat treat, it's bound to be at least as good and the name brand Glock 78 Field Knife.
 
Afghanistan is closer to more counterfeiting countries (China, Russia, Pakistan, India) than it is to W. Europe.

Anything found in bazaars that wasn't locally made, came over the mountains in the back of a smuggler's truck.
 
Hey Aknazer, sorry about the knife not being real. Just a note of thanks for serving and a very welcome home and happy holidays to you. On a positive note about the knife, I actually like the design, despite it's fakeness. Hopefully you can find some good use for it.
 
Anything you buy at a bazaar in the Ghan is a fake made in places like Pakistan and China. You didn't pic up an Eotech holosight for $60 as well? ;-)
 
You can buy a lot of cool stuff from the locals in out here. You just have to be aware that if you didn't get it from the px, there's a 99% chance it's fake. If it didnt come from the px and it's pretending to be a popular brand, it is absolutely fake, every time. Even when they're the seemingly well made oakley gloves and boots. You also have to understand that china is very, very good at making fake things. Most of what you see is ridiculous trash. But once in a while they actually make fakes that are well worth the asking price. $1,000 fake chinese rolexes are a good example.
 
that's one of the brands that I have seen fakes ones of so I'm going to have to call it a fake if it even crossed your mind
 
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