Extrema Ratio Shrapnel

Extrema Ratio knives are not even in the same class as Chris Reeve knives. N690 steel does not even compare to the S30c or A2 that CRK uses. As for being brittle, well the opposite is true. The special heat treat on a CRK has a reduced Rockwell hardness compared to what S30v can do. I like my Shrapnel, but it aint no CRK. I also pulled the handle off the other night, and while the steel maintains it's massive thickness all the way through, I was disappointed to find what is basically a rat tail tang. The steel is so thick that it will still be strong enough but I did feel kinda ripped off.
 
The shrapnel with the half guard is called the Shrapnel OG. I tried to google it and did not find any sellers so it may not be available in the States yet.

You may want to email their American distributor which I think is italianblade.com.

Regards,
dfukumoto
 
Yeah, I admit that was the first thing I thought of when I saw the knife's name, too :).
 
From looking at both knives, the CRK Shadow III would be a better EDC than the Shrapnel. I would like to EDC the Shrapnel but I don't think it looks to discreet enough. On the other hand, the Shadow III looks much more sedate in its sheath but is formidable when taken out of the sheath. I don't know if this is a good comparison but my curiosity got piqued when I saw this thread about the Shrapnel.
 
mauiblue said:
From looking at both knives, the CRK Shadow III would be a better EDC than the Shrapnel. I would like to EDC the Shrapnel but I don't think it looks to discreet enough. On the other hand, the Shadow III looks much more sedate in its sheath but is formidable when taken out of the sheath. I don't know if this is a good comparison but my curiosity got piqued when I saw this thread about the Shrapnel.
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mauiblue,
I have a Shadow III and when it is in the pancake sheath it just looks like the handle of a screwdriver or some other tool. You would be making a good choice if you went with the Shadow III! It carries on the belt like a dream...half the time you forget it's even there.

Ciao
Ron
:rolleyes:
 
Irezumi said:
. N690 steel does not even compare to the S30c or A2 that CRK uses. I like my Shrapnel, but it aint no CRK. I also pulled the handle off the other night, and while the steel maintains it's massive thickness all the way through, I was disappointed to find what is basically a rat tail tang. The steel is so thick that it will still be strong enough but I did feel kinda ripped off.
Click to expand...

I agree about N690 not comparing to S30V -- i would say it performs similar to BG42, and i prefer both of those steels to S30V -- it seems to have a finer grain, take a keener edge and keep it longer, and is inarguably easier to sharpen. I haven't seen destructive tests, but i'd bet anything N690 is more ductile than S30V, based on composition, carbide size, etc.
also it seems like rat tail or hidden tangs have gotten kind of a bad rap from some of the cheaper, poorly made knives where handle failure was an issue -- having seen the way your Shrapnel is built, can you imagine what it would take for the handle to fail? my only complaint is that some of the transitions are 90* angles and not radiused, potentially causing stress risers during heat treat, but i'm picking nits. i used to think hidden tangs were junk until i read Wayne Goddard and a lot of other makers who feel that, done right, it is actually a stronger, less failure-prone design. just my 2c -- i love my shrapnel and think that ER is generally underrated.
 
muzzleup said:
mauiblue,
I have a Shadow III and when it is in the pancake sheath it just looks like the handle of a screwdriver or some other tool. You would be making a good choice if you went with the Shadow III! It carries on the belt like a dream...half the time you forget it's even there.

Ciao
Ron
:rolleyes:
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Mahalo Ron for posting your experience with the Shadow III. That is the kind of feedback I was looking for from an owner. I just ordered one off eBay at a good price. I like the aggressive looks of the Shrapnel but that would be too much for the office. The Shadow III sheath just makes the overall look a bit more classy and the people would just think I have a multi-tool hanging off my belt like a Leatherman. Yeah, right!:D
 
Hey hari-kiri...in response to your question about tang failure..I think it would have very little chance because the rat tail tang is so thick..it is full length and equal to the absolute thickest part of the blade all the way through. It's just skinny...lol.
 
ignoramus said:
Extrema Ratio knives are supposed to be really tough, but for that money, I'd get something from Chris Reeve. Maybe an Aviator, a Shadow or a Mountaineer. It depends on what you're looking for.
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I live in Italy and I do own a Shrapnel. I had the chance to visit their factory in Tuscany.
CRK are too overpriced here in Italy/Europe: spending 630EUR for a Sebbie (no bells and whistles) ain't no game with what I spent to get my custom made Kevin Wilkins F4 S90V TiAlN coated.
Said that Shrapnel is made of a very resilient steel (compared to S30V) which is on par with VG10 as far as edge holding is concerned.
Comes with a lifetime warranty, kydex sheath, serviceable handle.
I paid it 169EUR in Italy.
Thus boys...no hassles...quite a big deal :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
A_Zone said:
Is the Shrapnel easy to carry concealed or is the handle to thick?
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Thanks to its tek-lock belt positioning system you can carry it nearly anywhere.
Max handle thickness is 1.9mm per my caliper readings.
I carried it everywhere on my holidays this summer, tip up attached to my bluejeans belt and a long shirt outside them to cover it.
None ever noticed it, but your mileage may vary
 
daberti said:
Thanks to its tek-lock belt positioning system you can carry it nearly anywhere.
Max handle thickness is 1.9mm per my caliper readings.
I carried it everywhere on my holidays this summer, tip up attached to my bluejeans belt and a long shirt outside them to cover it.
None ever noticed it, but your mileage may vary
Click to expand...


1.9mm max handle thickness?!?!?! You might want to check your measurements again. Or do you mean 1.9 *centimeters*?
 
Does the knife come with a setup to carry IWB? Can the tech lock be reversed for left hand carry?
Thanks
 
i'm still curious as to what we (in the united states) are supposed to do about the warrantee.

i've got one on it's way to me now (hopefully in tomorrow). does ER have a representative in the states that can sharpen the blades or uphold the warranty?

i'm more concerned with the sharpening than the warranty, because i've dealt with an ER nemesis-- it broke and i was able to send it to that "exxxcess" company mentioned earlier. they fixed it, and were very cordial about the whole deal. ;)

i'm looking forward to getting the shrapnel in my hands, though.
 
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