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Opinions on Extrema Ratio?

This is a big problem with the ER Knives. There is not a FULL tang under the handles. This might not seem like a big thing to you but try prying open crates all day! The non full tang is a serious weakness in some knives. SEE PIC.

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You may really love the ER series. Its all personal prefernece and opinon. Try them out and report your findings.

I happen to like Strider Knives, if that makes me a bad guy then so be it.

I respect your thoughts on ER Knives these are mine.
 
I got to handle an ER Harpoon F and Golem on Friday and these knives are definately "differant" from most of the others I've handled. Yes, they share similarities in general design with those from many manufacturers but these are definately "out there" in their own way.

Frank, what's up with the "velcro" grip thing in some of the models? That was truly bizarre to handle. Have you gotten any of these in the hands of the major writers?

Kevin
 
"There is not a FULL tang under the handles. This might not seem like a big thing to you but try prying open crates all day! The non full tang is a serious weakness in some knives. SEE PIC. "

Good point, but i think when we really consider the strength of a 1/4 in piece of steel, the concernes are not too serious.

Many other hard use knives have this style tang (hidden)

It can be found on Stiders with G10 handles and on swamp rats.

Check out the tang and handle on a G10 strider, they are similar in size to those found on the ER's

Spark- the Velcro like handle is designed so it interfaces with the sheath to add extra security, but i prefer the handle on the Golem/Fulcrum series.
 
Strider Hidden Tang
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SwampRat

tang.jpg
 
Interesting. ER does have a nice pomel strike where the tang protruds slightly from the end. I have handled ER's at a local gun show a few months back and they are different. It just seems there is not a lot of material under the handle. The Strider pic above looks like the tang portion is centered and it is 1/4" inch ATS-34 all the way. I don't really like the Strider G-10 models, I much prefer the cord-wraped models due to a full 1 inch of tang under the wrap.

I would hate to try and use a ER if the handle broke off or went missing. G-10 is strong stuff. What are the handles made of on the ER's the one I handled felt like zytel or plastic?
 
I handled the ER blades at the Blade show in Atlanta. I was underwhelmed. Ifeel that their balance was off and that their handles are terrible.
Click to expand...

This might have to do with the tang portion being relieved as much as it is, or the handle material being light also. Balance is important in a knife of any kind, I agree with that.

Still ER has a very unusual design which seems to work?
 
The tangs are 1/4 steel in thickness and i would guess (from memory, i havent taken the handl off for sometime) that they are greater (significantly) than 1/2 inch wide all the way down as well, with a steel cross section such as this breaking the knife with your hand wrapped around the handle would be most likely impossible.

The abrasion resistance to kraton is also excellent as is the fatigue life.

The handles of the newer knives are kraton, the older ones are some sort of polymer.

G10 is very tough stuff and it works well as structual support in a folder, but steel laughs at the strength of g10 (as long as comparing equal volumes)

the balance of the knives is foward of the gaurd, when considering the balance also take into mind the blade length, many extremas are quite long (harpoon 8.5in blade), the Golem and Fulcrum are just so thick (read indistructable) that they would have to have a blade forward balance. If the golem and Fulcrum had full flat grinds like a busse they would be lighter, but i am not sure of the balance that some people are looking for, achieving neutral balance with 7in blades and 1/4 in steel can be a unique challange.
 
I did a bit more research on the Extrema Ratio Knives. The knife I looked at was the model Harpoon.

I will list some pro's and con's that I have found.

PROS
1/4 steel is used. In a heavy duty tactical knife I find this to be the optimum steel width. Heavy chopping is easier, prying is better, and the 1/4 steel just seems to hold up better in other knives I own when compared to 3/16th steel.

Price, initially I thought the Extrema Ratio knives were in the $250 to $300 dollar range, I found on 1SKS the price of $174.99 for the Harpoon. Thats very good for a knife that you may be buying to beat the hell out of and not care about, or if you don't want your wallet to be tactically assaulted!

Sheath design is very good, the leg strap and drop leg extension design are top notch similar to the Safariland 6004 holster leg straps.

CONS

No lanyard hole. The addition of a lanyard hole in the pomel extension is needed. On all of my heavy use knives and my folders I attach lanyards of 550 para cord. These have proved very valuable to retention, and extra uses. You have a length of para cord available for any use that may come up, not to mention the para cord on the handle can be used to secure the knife while in the sheath for an extra bit of retention.

Slight movement while in the sheath. This is o.k. but can lead to noise factors, and wear. You don't want the knife moving around to much while in the kydex sheath. I am not sure of the material of the sheath except it seems similar to kydex. This can be fixed by having a custom kydex sheath made for it by some of the excellent custom kydex makers on this forum.

I am working on getting some feedback for you on the steel used in the ER knives it is N690 Stainless but I am not clear on the actual make up of the steel. It is listed at RC rating of 58 to 60. I will find out what it compares to here in the USA, it is an Italian steel I believe.

(edit for spelling)
 
If that isteel is Böhler N690 it is about the same as VG-10. Böhler and Uddeholm are now Böhler-Uddeholm the largest tool steelmaker in the world. Europe rules ;).
 
All knives now have the lanyard Hole drilled in the pomel

Tommi is right N690 is pretty similar to VG-10
 
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