Extrema Ratio's Ontos Real field testing Check it out.

[FCCBCT]

Hi guys and gals, here is a link to a field review I just did (well it took over one month actually) about EXTREMA RATIO's ONTOS survival knife. There is a lot of here-say out there from people who have never held this knife in their hands let alone used it. Maybe because of the price they just like to slag it. Like someone slags a sports car or some other object of desire etc. When it comes to reviews on outdoor stuff Im more inclined to believe someone who has actually used the product rather than what they think about a some product they have never used let alone had their hands on. So with this in mind I decided to do a real field review as opposed to a desktop review (like reviewing a 4WD but never having driven the model-in the dirt).

Anyway here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvPCANfKxuo

 

[marcinek]

Hi guys and gals, here is a link to a field review I just did (well it took over one month actually) about EXTREMA RATIO's ONTOS survival knife. There is a lot of here-say out there from people who have never held this knife in their hands let alone used it. Maybe because of the price they just like to slag it. Like someone slags a sports car or some other object of desire etc. When it comes to reviews on outdoor stuff Im more inclined to believe someone who has actually used the product rather than what they think about a some product they have never used let alone had their hands on. So with this in mind I decided to do a real field review as opposed to a desktop review (like reviewing a 4WD but never having driven the model-in the dirt).

Its design is nonsense in my opinion. I don't have to hold it or use it to know that. That ain't "slagging" or "heresay" or "price bashing," its an opinion based on its obvious lack of design sensibility, in my opinion.

If it works for you great, but I'll opt for a knife that looks like it was designed, first and foremost, to cut things.

I can tell you love their products and can't understand how anyone wouldn't. And so you assume that people who do not like them do that irrationally. Just not true.

 

[RX-79G]

Its design is nonsense in my opinion. I don't have to hold it or use it to know that. That ain't "slagging" or "heresay" or "price bashing," its an opinion based on its obvious lack of design sensibility, in my opinion.

If it works for you great, but I'll opt for a knife that looks like it was designed, first and foremost, to cut things.

I can tell you love their products and can't understand how anyone wouldn't. And so you assume that people who do not like them do that irrationally. Just not true.

Having no dog in this fight, I'm curious which features or shapes you think would be so undesirable for cutting?

I've recently been doing some bushcraft type carving with a tanto shaped Anza and have found that the corner between belly and tip is good for making concaves.

 

[FCCBCT]

Its design is nonsense in my opinion. I don't have to hold it or use it to know that. That ain't "slagging" or "heresay" or "price bashing," its an opinion based on its obvious lack of design sensibility, in my opinion.

If it works for you great, but I'll opt for a knife that looks like it was designed, first and foremost, to cut things.

I can tell you love their products and can't understand how anyone wouldn't. And so you assume that people who do not like them do that irrationally. Just not true.

Hi there, nothing wrong with an opinion but an opinion is not a review that's what I was talking about. I not in the pocket of these guys BTW so if I hated them I'd definitely say so. I wish you could hold one of their knives and you might sa something different about them. Many "reviews" on their knives are nothing more than opinion but a review really needs to be unbiased ( like not getting paid to do the review) for it to be of any use to the community in terms of learning something. This knife in question I'm not saying it's the best one I have and that I'm going to chuck all of my 20 year old knives made from 1095 out or stop hunting with my old German PUMA's.

I was not trying to rub anyone up wrong way over this post but I'm sure you know the difference between opinion and a review.

FCCBCT

 

[FCCBCT]

Having no dog in this fight, I'm curious which features or shapes you think would be so undesirable for cutting?

I've recently been doing some bushcraft type carving with a tanto shaped Anza and have found that the corner between belly and tip is good for making concaves.

Hi, yes the bottom line is if a particular knife style and or design (clip point drop point Western style Tanto etc) is what is useful for ones outdoor applications then yes go for it. I'd be crazy if I said Extrema Ratio's Ontos was good for fishing LOL. As we all know ( we should) there just isn't one knife that can do it all. A bit like 4WDs, there will be some great ones for some people ( eg who like autos and those who prefer manuals petrol VS Diesel. Like if I was continually crossing rivers/creeks I'd probably opt for the diesel model.

 

[craytab]

Its design is nonsense in my opinion. I don't have to hold it or use it to know that. That ain't "slagging" or "heresay" or "price bashing," its an opinion based on its obvious lack of design sensibility, in my opinion.

If it works for you great, but I'll opt for a knife that looks like it was designed, first and foremost, to cut things.

I can tell you love their products and can't understand how anyone wouldn't. And so you assume that people who do not like them do that irrationally. Just not true.

I agree with this right away! I would have gone with a different blade myself but if that one fits your needs and price point, go for it!

 

[FCCBCT]

I agree with this right away! I would have gone with a different blade myself but if that one fits your needs and price point, go for it!

I think your latter point is quite correct, however, I guess now this discussion has started, I'd like to know why this blade design is nonsense, even someone's opinion LOL on this subject. Extrema are marketing it as a "Survival knife" well to be honest I have to admit I've been involved in several "survival" situations on both sides, ie the rescue and the receiving end and at no time did any knife, survival or otherwise come into play to rectify the situation. That being said, there are a lot of people who stand by a immovable demarcation as to the definition of Survival knives. I still say its the one you happen to have on you at the time. Your best survival knife is keeping your head in a situation. Now if I happen to have on me the ONTOS then at least under the conditions I was in in the video, then I think I could do far worse. A mate once forgot his "hunting knife" on a bow hunting trip but since he knew what he was doing he ended up
completely skinning and gutting his quarry (mountain goat) without the aid of my knives, using just an unscrewed broadhead. It's what you do when you simply can't reach for that convenience.

 

[FCCBCT]

Ok so to prompt this further, anyone else like to comment, opinion or not. I can't believe no one has heard of Extrema Ratio. Surely there must be someone out there who owns or has used or held this particular knife??

 

[Thomas Linton]

Is this reviewer known for objective reviews? Has he given negatives to any knife reviewed, or are all the children above average?

(You need to edit the link. It has some extra characters that keep it from working by clicking on it.)

A survival knife may be called up as a "fishing" knife - or a skinner. It is generally felt that it needs to be an all-rounder.

Not that a sharp chisel would be useless. You'd be happy to have it, absent another cutting tool.

The treatment of the top edge reduces the utility of the knife to split wood by batoning, were that necessary.

All manner of "survival" folks have designed knives over the centuries. I can think of two that are American Tantos.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

No comment. I corrected the URL for the video so it would link. I have 4 ER folders, no fixed blades. But the video was too long for me just now.

 

[FCCBCT]

No comment. I corrected the URL for the video so it would link. I have 4 ER folders, no fixed blades. But the video was too long for me just now.

Hi sorry for that and thanks. Yes it is a very long video and there was a great deal that was filmed that was omitted because of the length. I figured I wanted to make it as detailed as possible showing a large range of real world survival tasks that could be accomplished by this user and this knife.

 

[FCCBCT]

Is this reviewer known for objective reviews? Has he given negatives to any knife reviewed, or are all the children above average?

(You need to edit the link. It has some extra characters that keep it from working by clicking on it.)

A survival knife may be called up as a "fishing" knife - or a skinner. It is generally felt that it needs to be an all-rounder.

Not that a sharp chisel would be useless. You'd be happy to have it, absent another cutting tool.

The treatment of the top edge reduces the utility of the knife to split wood by batoning, were that necessary.

All manner of "survival" folks have designed knives over the centuries. I can think of two that are American Tantos.

That was one of the things I left out as it was getting too long, ie batoning. I didn't have any trouble batoning with this blade as there is a large full width area towards the tip of the spine, your baton won't go anywhere near the serrations. I know a lot of folks out there just hate serrations, whether on the spine or blade, fair enough.

 

[FCCBCT]

watch my reviews and judge for yourself if they are objective or not. I don't take any monies from any manufacturer (maybe I'm an idiot??) so I'm not in anyone's pocket to say good things only etc. But this is one of the main ways to keep yourself objective I feel. You'll also see a lot of knives I review are looking worn/dirty, that's because I actually use them in the field, not just to look at. I can't afford to buy knives just to look at. (Wish I could LOL!)

 

[ev13wt]

Extrema Ratio is well known, especially in Europe. But I think many people, me included, feel that the brand is equivalent to a, lets say, hummer H2.

A hummer H2 looks mean, big, tactical and strong. In reality, if you take off road (not dirt roads...) it will loose to an 80s smaller, lighter, 90 hp toyota pickup. In pretty much anything.

The knife you are reviewing is huge and heavy. The blade might be strong, but in the video I can see it doesn't cut very well. You could just leave it at home and carry an axe - cuts the same but has the added benefit of being an axe.

Their newer models seem a bit better, but I just don't like their brand identity. I also feel the big huge tactical way overbuilt prybar knife craze is fizzeling out.


edit: I do like your video style though. A tad too long at times you could speed up the video in editing.

 

[FCCBCT]

Extrema Ratio is well known, especially in Europe. But I think many people, me included, feel that the brand is equivalent to a, lets say, hummer H2.

A hummer H2 looks mean, big, tactical and strong. In reality, if you take off road (not dirt roads...) it will loose to an 80s smaller, lighter, 90 hp toyota pickup. In pretty much anything.

The knife you are reviewing is huge and heavy. The blade might be strong, but in the video I can see it doesn't cut very well. You could just leave it at home and carry an axe - cuts the same but has the added benefit of being an axe.

Their newer models seem a bit better, but I just don't like their brand identity. I also feel the big huge tactical way overbuilt prybar knife craze is fizzeling out.


edit: I do like your video style though. A tad too long at times you could speed up the video in editing.

Hi all points taken and thanks! Yes it ( the video) is a tad too long and I really had to chuck a lot of stuff out to even get it to this length. No thick bladed knife, this or other will ever cut like a thinner 5mm and under blade, I guess that's just physics.

At 400gm minus the scabbard I don't think it is too heavy for a knife labeled specifically with the term "Survival"

Anyway thanks for watching and your comments

 

[FCCBCT]

Is this reviewer known for objective reviews? Has he given negatives to any knife reviewed, or are all the children above average?

(You need to edit the link. It has some extra characters that keep it from working by clicking on it.)

A survival knife may be called up as a "fishing" knife - or a skinner. It is generally felt that it needs to be an all-rounder.

Not that a sharp chisel would be useless. You'd be happy to have it, absent another cutting tool.

The treatment of the top edge reduces the utility of the knife to split wood by batoning, were that necessary.

All manner of "survival" folks have designed knives over the centuries. I can think of two that are American Tantos.

Hi, well I wouldn't say that 6.5 inches long for the ONTOS (length not cutting edge) rates as huge blade as you put it. I would expect most to accept anything over 7 inches and above as being huge for any knife.

 

[FCCBCT]

Mmmmmmmm, ok so I guess this post has fizzled out.\

 

[FCCBCT]

The treatment of the top edge reduces the utility of the knife to split wood by batoning, were that necessary.

Ok, ok I can't help but bite here, fair enough, if this knife does nothing for you, each to their own, however: What "treatment" are you referring to regarding the ONTOS is not good for batoning? There is a dedicated full width section for this very purpose on the spine. In fact there are few knives, with the exception of some Strider's and Hogue's, that instantly come to mind that have a full width spine extending to the tip, which is suggested as being able to be used for batoning. Actually bashing away right at the very tip of a knife, any knife, is going to be placing huge forces into the blade (we can have some arguments/discussions here as I spent time in applied physics- so all comments welcome). AND for batoning if one knows what they are doing, you never have to bash away at the tip. But now I digress, and verge on that never ending social media induced subject of Batoning LOL!

 

[marcinek]

...Actually bashing away right at the very tip of a knife, any knife, is going to be placing huge forces into the blade (we can have some arguments/discussions here as I spent time in applied physics- so all comments welcome). AND for batoning if one knows what they are doing, you never have to bash away at the tip.

Not if one uses the correct batonning technique and keeps the point below the handle. Guess that's something they dont tell you in Applied Physics.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I deny any education in applied physics, but if the handle is below the tip and you strike the blade end, the fulcrum of the lever is likely about at the blade/guard junction. They used to teach about levers in Boy Scouts.

If the knife is relatively weak at the blade/guard junction (Ka-Bar MK II), having the maximum force on the blade at that location might not be good (You recall that broken Cold Steel, right?).

FCCBCT, I saw you review of the Kizlyar Supreme Survivalist X. How would you compare the Survivalist X and the Ontos?