Extrema Ratio Ontos Survival Knife

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shaving sharp

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If anyone has an Extrema Ratio Ontos Survival knife let us know what you think. If anyone knows of any links to a test of this knife please post it.
 
First time I've ever seen it.
It looks very much like the Becker TacTool design.

I say, buy it!
 
Well I have no experience with it and it is fairly new so i doubt there are many if any reviews. However its a very expensive knife around $500 I believe. For that kinda money I would just buy a more reputable knife like a busse or busskin knife.
 
PLEASE forgive for reviving an older thread, but I DO use the search function, and that would be a bigger sin :D (posting a question that has been on the board recently)...

I seen a bad review of another ER knife, but this knife LOOKS like "survival"! I too have trouble justifying the price, but I love this thing, at least in concept.

Anybody have any recent feedback?

I LOVE the sheath system even more than the knife though... :thumbup:

I cruise the "tactical gear" websites pretty regularly but have never seen a sheath like that. Anyone know where a similar one might be available?
 
David From NC said:
PLEASE forgive for reviving an older thread, but I DO use the search function, and that would be a bigger sin :D (posting a question that has been on the board recently)...

I seen a bad review of another ER knife, but this knife LOOKS like "survival"! ....
Click to expand...



This knife is completely wrong for 'survival' as most interpret it. A sturdy camp or hunting knife would serve you much better.
 
I should clarify...

I'm a one-woman man, but not a ONE KNIFE man! ;)

I never hike or backpack without THREE knives, and never even walk out of sight of the road/vehicle without at least 1-2.

A Swisschamp is ALWAYS in any "pack" I carry (fanny, day, back, etc.)

I always have a quality folder on me also in my right front pocket.

But I also have a larger fixed blade also usually carried in the pack, but sometimes on my belt.

Depending on my current tastes, THAT knife runs the gamut from a Bushcraft (thanks Brian Goode!) to a Colt Steel Recon Scout in an Eagle Sheath with loads o' goodies in the pouches... :cool:
 
If you don't mind me being frank, I'll tell you how I think you can improve your setup. But first, the next time you go hiking in the woods, look back at your car and imagine that you won't see it, or anything else civilized for 2 weeks. To be equipped for that possibility. I carry a primary knife, a secondary knife, a retractable saw and a multi tool.

The Brian Goode Bushcraft looks like a good primary knife. It has a good spine for batonning, solid, epoxied/riveted scales and the right kind of blade. The Colt Steel Recon Scout looks more like a combat knife. The spine is clipped and won't work well for batonning. The blade is too long, which means it can break more easily. It's twice the weight of a normal bush knife. Best leave it at home.

Your secondary blade is the one that's light, small and always sharp and clean. You dress/prep your food and perform delicate tasks with it. But if something happens to your primary blade, it's all you have left. I put my trust in a Mora 780 for this, but I'm about to replace it with a Craftsman allaround stainless. That's a personal choice, though. All Moras are good. Other fixed blade choices are out there. A folder will not do.

The SAK appears very useful with all those tools, but they're mostly small and of low usability. For a couple extra ounces of weight, a multi tool offers pliers, a decent blade and a more useful set of tools. I carry a Leatherman Blast because it's 6 oz and does what I need. Some prefer the heavier Wave. To that I add a Gerber retractable (Sportsman?) saw which is a ridiculous 4 oz and very capable. With this setup, I can pass on an axe.

To get back to the Extrema Ratio Ontos. Yes, it looks cool, macho and futuristic. But in my view, it has a useless blade shape and lots of dead weight. And these bolted-on, uncomfortable looking scales will probably baton right off the first heavy use. It's yet another expensive toy that people buy, admire, play with -- but never use. Why sink your money into something like that?
 
Hey I know you asked this question ages ago but I'm about to field test this knife in the jungle, if you didn't buy it yet. I've just blogged about it here:

http://hardcorecampingtools.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/extremely-good-knives-extrema-ratio-hi.html

and will make a video review of it. I think it's a very well thought out design and so far I can't fault it at all. I don't believe what Halberdier says below
and I'll show it in the coming months of real tests in a real environment
 
By the way I'll be field testing EXTREMA RATIO's Dobermann IV and the TASK as well in the wilds of Australia! Also, Halberdier has never had one of these knives in their hands (and really shouldn't comment on what they don't know/have tested etc as it doesn't really help with the original question) because if you had you would realise the handles are one of the most comfortable you will ever hold and this is no coincidence. Extrema Ratio collaborated with the Motor science faculty at the University of Perugia to develop this shape and I've got to say after using their blades now they are great in comfort and ergonomics. See what I write in the above link regarding these knives. But don't believe me, just pick up one of Extrema Ratio's knives like the ONTOS and check it out I doubt you will be disappointed.
 
Oh yeah the sheath system is great. It's also guaranteed for 6 years! The knife for lifetime!
 
Turbo bump.

I'm really looking to get the ER Selvans with the kit. I've seen one very good, in depth, & positive review on alloutdoor.com, by one Major Pandemic.

Does anyone have more info on this version, which is targeted as wilderness survival, as opposed to the Ontos, which is built for urban survival?

Here's a great picture of the knife and the kit it comes with from the afore-mentioned review:
Imgp1754.jpg
 
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I don't know what "urban survival" means, unless it has to do with prying open doors, but the Selvan looks to me as a much better designed knife, with an emphasis on chopping and a thinner edge geometry, with a much higher secondary grind line. However, that grind should be hollow for deeper bites into wood... I've pitted a 9.5"/17 ounces San mai III Trailmaster against a 7.4"/12 ounces Randall Model 18, and the Model 18 almost matches it in chopping performance, just because of its hollow grind and thinner edge... A similar medium size Al Mar "Special Warfare" fuly matches the Trailmaster, despite being much smaller... Any serious survival knife should be hollow ground for better slicing AND chopping performance with less effort... That being said, any thin edged profile can perform well, as long as it is not convexed, or the efficiency will be what you see below of a brand-new Trailmaster at 18-20 strikes...:

P7016061_zpsq7pp6acy.jpg


Gaston
 
Ah, thanks for the info Gaston. I'm just getting interested in bushcraft/outdoor/survival stuff. I want to find out more about the value of this knife before unloading $400+ for it, haha. And yeah, urban survival was a bad wording, I should have said urban SERE tool
 
Ta Hee Kwa said:
Turbo bump.

I'm really looking to get the ER Selvans with the kit. I've seen one very good, in depth, & positive review on alloutdoor.com, by one Major Pandemic.

Does anyone have more info on this version, which is targeted as wilderness survival, as opposed to the Ontos, which is built for urban survival?

Here's a great picture of the knife and the kit it comes with from the afore-mentioned review:
Imgp1754.jpg
Click to expand...

I reviewed the ONTOS, ok similar but not the same as the Selvans and the let me tell you the ONTOS performed quite well in the jungle and bush environment of Australia. As for "urban survival" that only brings to mind surviving against foreign aggressors in an urban environment- or making ones mortgage repayments LOL.
From what you say I'm not sure this knife would suit your needs, unless you are going into the sorts of environment I'm in for almost half the year. That being said each to their own and there's nothing wrong with liking a particular form of a blade to simply justify buying it, whether one gets their "monies worth" out of it entirely depends on ones disposable income. JMHO. Watch the video and see if it's for you.


[video=youtube;NvPCANfKxuo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvPCANfKxuo[/video]
 
Both of these knives have been my very favorite I have literally 50 very expensive high dollar great knives but when I look at the pile of Bushcraft survival knives and urban assault knives I have when I'm ready to go into the field and do an OP, I always pick one of these two they do everything task great, tough as f***, they are not heavy and nobody can beat their ergonomics the handle was made by scientists and you can tell. I actually started selling some of my very favorite knives because I never use them anymore and I have ten thousand of dollars sitting around in knives .I'm pretty sure at this point I'm only going to buy extreme ratio. You have to love how Italians approach design and engineering I love it. thanks for listening.
 
FlintTrigger said:
Both of these knives have been my very favorite I have literally 50 very expensive high dollar great knives but when I look at the pile of Bushcraft survival knives and urban assault knives I have when I'm ready to go into the field and do an OP, I always pick one of these two they do everything task great, tough as f***, they are not heavy and nobody can beat their ergonomics the handle was made by scientists and you can tell. I actually started selling some of my very favorite knives because I never use them anymore and I have ten thousand of dollars sitting around in knives .I'm pretty sure at this point I'm only going to buy extreme ratio. You have to love how Italians approach design and engineering I love it. thanks for listening.
Click to expand...

Welcome, Flint!

Some people may laugh, because this thread is from 2015, and "thread necromancy" is considered a bit of a social blunder.

Don't let them kill your enthusiasm! This place is full of knowledge and passion, and this is the internet, after all: scorch marks are badges of honor.

(We've all done it, too. If somebody hasn't, they just haven't been here, long enough.)
 
Hi, I have used a lot of extrema ratio knives. The biggest reason is that it is one of the most accessible brands since I am in Europe. My advice is definitely not to buy it. Extrema ratio knives definitely do not produce knives that can justify their price in today's modern knife industry. For the same price, you can get knives that use high-end steels. Extrema knives are famous for their durability, but there is a little trick there too. Their blades max 58hrc and are generally softer. I would even say the average is around 56. Therefore, the toughness of such a soft steel increases. Are you looking for that kind of toughness? A good knife should be around 60hrc for retention and give that toughness.
 
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