Extrema Ratio opinions and experience ?

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precisionshootist

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Mar 1, 2010
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What is everyone's opinion on Extrema Ratio? They seem to have very little following in the US and my impression in the past is that they were kind of a hype oriented wanna be knife company. I always liked some of their designs but the price seemed too high for a production knife. (going back 15 or more years). That being said every example that I've seen in person (not many) has been impressive to say the least. I watched a recent video tour of the company production facility in Italy and was very impressed that they actually make everything in house and QC is very high. What's the real story since I've never actually owned one in 30 years of knife hobby?
 
precisionshootist said:
What is everyone's opinion on Extrema Ratio? They seem to have very little following in the US and my impression in the past is that they were kind of a hype oriented wanna be knife company. I always liked some of their designs but the price seemed too high for a production knife. (going back 15 or more years). That being said every example that I've seen in person (not many) has been impressive to say the least. I watched a recent video tour of the company production facility in Italy and was very impressed that they actually make everything in house and QC is very high. What's the real story since I've never actually owned one in 30 years of knife hobby?
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I've never seen an Extrema Ratio knife which interested me. The ones I remember seeing did not appear ergonomic, with too many harsh corners, nooks and crannies. Looked "extreme" but not "comfortable". So I never tried one.
 
I have always found their designs and frequently their steel choices miss the mark for me.
 
I have a 4" Extrema Ratio BF2 R CD Friction Folder that I like very much. It is extremely sharp.

Don't ask how I know that. 😉

Had often considered buying an RAO but am too worried about fakes & the cost to do so. 🤷‍♂️

Not that fond of the design of their other knives but that's a matter of personal taste.
 
I've liked the ones I've had. But they don't sell well here, and there are a lot of counterfeits.

This MF2 was pretty awesome. It's now lost in the mail. For more than two months the PO says it is one its way to its destination. No one at the PO can find it or tell me where it is. The PO sucks. But the knife is great. It has a secondary lock that is very good and easy to operate. Super secure grip if you're into stabbing things.

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Here's a Resolza. The blade is 4.7 inches. Good ergos. Well made. If you need something long and pointy, this will do the trick.

2v2ZbrvPrxAWtWs.jpg
 
I passed on ER back in the early days of the Mega folders for most of the same reasons mentioned so far. They looked funky, lots of fakes that were so good even knife guys like me could be fooled, (ask me how I know) and no local dealers ever carried them so you had to buy from pics only. Now all the sudden I feel like I missed out on some of the best tactical folders ever made. The only mega folders ER makes today are versions of the RAO. In the past they had the HF1, HF2, Fulcrum 2, and M.P.C. These knives were way ahead of their time. They had 1/4 thick blades, Pins like the RAO that make lock failure near impossible, and the back spacers were made of 1/4 inch hardened steel. Also my research indicates they actually do supply knives to the militaries of the region so maybe I was way wrong in my early impressions of the brand. I'm beginning to wonder if the US knife community, especially those who are into heavy duty folders have mistakenly overlooked this brand.
 
I think they are more of a Gucci Ops knives than anything else. I'm sure that many of their knives are serviceable but just overdesigned and overpriced. I got one of their neck knives few years back and I was shocked how easy the knife was to reprofile -> they are very soft!
 
The designs do not appeal to me at all. As stated above, too boxy, too square, too heavy and too expensive compared with other similar sized knives. The steel they use does not impress me either.

I was, for a while, interested in one or two of the simpler folding models such as the BF1 and BF2... but for that amount of money I could find better options in the Spyderco line up, for example.

Mikel
 
precisionshootist said:
What is everyone's opinion on Extrema Ratio? They seem to have very little following in the US and my impression in the past is that they were kind of a hype oriented wanna be knife company. I always liked some of their designs but the price seemed too high for a production knife. (going back 15 or more years). That being said every example that I've seen in person (not many) has been impressive to say the least. I watched a recent video tour of the company production facility in Italy and was very impressed that they actually make everything in house and QC is very high. What's the real story since I've never actually owned one in 30 years of knife hobby?
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I like their folding knives very much! In fact, I only use their foders (MPC and RESII). Sometimes I rotate with Cold Steel 4Max Scout. For fixed blades, I prefer custom made carbon steel, for extra durability.
 
hugofeynman said:
I like their folding knives very much! In fact, I only use their foders (MPC and RESII). Sometimes I rotate with Cold Steel 4Max Scout. For fixed blades, I prefer custom made carbon steel, for extra durability.
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The MPC is a beast! My grail is the HF2 Tanto with desert warfare finish. Unfortunately they are both discontinued and my impression is there were but a few handfuls of these knives ever imported into the US.
 
I have went to the, extrema with these knives over others back in the day.
Opinion is that they are okay, better as an occasional "tactical" occasion than a daily use cutter (for me), there are better options
 
They seem too expensive to me and their designs don't appeal to me enough to get one. Many of their designs are in my view are "wasted opportunities" because I care about symmetry. If the example below had the finger guard on the other side I might just get it and modify the handle. But no...

iu
 
Ergonomically I'm not a fan of many of the designs, but I have one of their FS homage's and it is extremely well made and finished.
What I am basically saying is I am sure the manufacturing quality is good, but most of the designs don't appeal to me.
 
I've handled and owned many of them and I will concur, lots of hot spots, the handles are not comfortable with a lot of their handles but I did like the BF1 and their rendition of the resolza
 
I have the Resolza 12 and the BF3 Dark Talon, I love them both. Very high quality finish, smooth action and lock up.

These are the only two knives that appeal to me from their range, other than the ASFK trench knife. ER knives are usually bulky with billboarding which I'm not a fan of.

ERResolza12.jpg

ER-BF3.jpg
 
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I had two of their fix blades when they were new and hot. Eventually their style gets tiring to me. Nothing really wrong with the knife itself, the handle groove isnt comfortable to my hands wanting to buy some BUSSE so I sold them. Never return back to them again.
 
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