Extrema Ratio RAO

[338 Stalker]

Just watched the video. Very nice Noss :cool:
http://www.knifetests.com/erraotest.html
Tell us something bud. Would you buy another & what're your general thoughts about this folder, after owning it for a while.
Is it still holding up & how has the lock taken the abuse, any sign of slop/movement?


Cheers,
338.

[eatingmuchface]

yeah an update would be cool....

more importantly though... how do people react when you pull that thing out!?!?!

:eek: :D

[338 Stalker]

more importantly though... how do people react when you pull that thing out!?!?!

:eek: :D

he he he yeah the look. The John Holmes of the folders :eek: :eek: :eek: :D

[Noss]

The RAO is serving me well. The lock on it is great. It holds an edge very well. The handles are not very comfortable but this does not bother me when I'm using it.

I'll post some more about it soon an maybe make a few more videos on it.

[338 Stalker]

I'll post some more about it soon an maybe make a few more videos on it.


I was hoping you would say that.

[338 Stalker]

This guy gives the RAO a workout :cool:

http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj159/extremaratio-test/?start=all

[338 Stalker]

After some research & many viewing's of Noss's RAO video's, I've decided it's a must have hip-knife :D . Who else is thinking the same thing ;)

[Tac45]

Definately high on the must have list. Just need to add the must have cash. Very hip knife indeed. Is that what all the 'cool kids' will be packing this season?

[Noss]

This guy gives the RAO a workout :cool:

http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj159/extremaratio-test/?start=all

Cool photos. :cool: He tested it hard. It's a monster of a folder. :eek:

[338 Stalker]

Noss, tell me something please.
How safe & secure is that sheath whilst the RAO is carried in the fixed position. I mean, does the sheath come with a kydex or other HARD plastic insert?
I'm just wondering how safe it would be on the hip climbing hills bad hills. As this is the case 90% of the time for me. I do fall down every now & then, sometimes sliding a bit. So I'm just wondering whether the RAO would poke a hole through the sheath in a fall, or over time with use.


;)

[Noss]

The sheath seems very secure. It is built very heavy an has some type of plastic liners in the fixed blade carry position.

[338 Stalker]

Hey Noss, great to see you online & well mate :thumb: .

Hows that RAO going brother. Still functioning/working like new? What are your thoughts after EDCing this small knife ;)

[Noss]

Thanks.

Yeah the RAO still working great the more I use it the more I like it. It's an awesome folder.

[kurodrago]

Nice thread, lots fine Information..I love this knive and I will buy one next months.
I will put some pic soon as:)

[Macgregor]

I have always liked the extrema ratio ultramarine, don't like the $800 price tag though.
I mean hell, you can get a used busse ak-47 on a good day for that or two real ak47's and 500rds of ammo.

[338 Stalker]

Nice thread, lots fine Information..I love this knive and I will buy one next months.
I will put some pic soon as:)

I will get into one myself, but it will have to be next year :( . Bought too many knives this year, plus the Aussie dollar$$$ is farked ATM :eek:

[kurodrago]

I will get into one myself, but it will have to be next year :( . Bought too many knives this year, plus the Aussie dollar$$$ is farked ATM :eek:

In the way from Italy:rockon:

[kurodrago]

In the end the package arrived boys:)
The first inpression...
It seems that this knife is come out from the movie star wars or star trek :D
fit in my hand like a glove:D
Is built like a tank:D
The security pin get in the way:D
Even my baby like it:D
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/kurodrago/IMG_2498.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/kurodrago/IMG_2499-1.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/kurodrago/IMG_2504-1.jpg

[338 Stalker]

The more I see the RAO the more I think I must have one :rolleyes:

Congrats, that's one sweetly built tank mate. And the cream on the cake is, the blade steel is meant to take abuse like not too many other folders, if any! :rockon:

[Noss]

kurodrago: Awesome. So how you liking the beast of folders ?

[kurodrago]

Thanks Noss, Well, at the moment I'm very busy with my job so I don't have much time on my hand.
Built well, come with a decent blade. The handle is very comfortable slightly slippery.
Well I think that Noss said everything about... or almost:)
Although I have not much used yet. I notice that when the handle is wet. The slippery problem is gone...With the handle wet become very steady..hard to believe but it's true:eek:
You can always overcame this problem by wrapping the handle with whatever;)
However, this knife has been made to stay open all the time on the field.
In conditions of mud or sand would be fatal to close and open all the time, because the lock mechanism is big and can get dirty easily and consequence damage:eek:
http://www.knifetests.com/erraophotos.html


P/S
Noss when you will test the TRAIL HAWK? I can't wait:rockon:

[kurodrago]

EXTREMA RATIO RAO, UPDATE :smash::eek:

I can't believe it, something must be wrong :(
in contradiction with your result NOSS:p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JmSYR-FdoE

[Madnumforce]

Now he'll play maracas with it. A 300$ maraca.

The result differs quite astoundingly from Noss tests, that's true. This will teach everybody: the fixed-tough folder knife doesn't exists! Even when build like a pry bar, with thick blade and unproper grind angle to cut what a 12cm blade is designed to cut, it will still have defects. When you need a prybar, get a prybar, when you need a heavy duty fixed knife, get a heavy duty fixed, when you need a folder that cuts for light tasks, get a folder for light tasks that cut. There is no wooly pig with udder and laying eggs.

[kurodrago]

Absolutely:)but that video does not justify strength yet:thumb:

[Noss]

Not sure what happened there ? Mine still locks up solid after chopping and I've chopped more than one 2x4 in half. I haven't chopped bricks with mine yet. Not sure if the lock pin bent or not on his. Hard to tell from the video but something gave out. I would have liked to see him turn the pin to see if it bent or not. On the plus side. The edge and tip held up well during the brick test. The RAO is heavy duty but it's still a folder prone to folder problems. A GI tanto will still take more punishment than the RAO without having this type of issue.

[Noss]

P/S
Noss when you will test the TRAIL HAWK? I can't wait:rockon:



Not sure when yet.

[kurodrago]

Not sure when yet.



I asked that question almost 2 years ago:mad:and you answer now:D

[Noss]

I didn't see it two years ago. :D

[jankerson]

It's still a folding knife so it's already broken before you even start. :D

I still say a fixed blade is always the best option. :)

[kurodrago]

It's still a folding knife so it's already broken before you even start. :D

I still say a fixed blade is always the best option. :)

I know but sometimes you can carry one:mad: besides it will be fan to see what Busse is come out with:confused::D

[jankerson]

I know but sometimes you can carry one:mad: besides it will be fan to see what Busse is come out with:confused::D

Don't think Busse will come out with a folder anytime soon.

I know, sometimes you have to carry a folder. :(

[kurodrago]

soon or late 'm here:D:rockon:

[kurodrago]

Our friends in Germany disappeared from the You tube strange.
Who knows maybe Extrema Ratio pull it the plug on him:cool:

[Daylight]

I don't know if it's the same video you're talking about, but I found that one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiBtHGfgZLI

Might sound silly, but I'm not sure anymore I want to buy this knife, though he abuses a lot, I'm not planing on hitting bricks with my knife of course...

[kurodrago]

Daylight I really don't know, lot of money we talking about here, be wise:thumb:

[Noss]

Daylight: If you have your doubts about it then you shouldn't buy it. You won't be happy with it if you don't trust it and it's a lot of money to be disappointed over.

All I can tell you is mine has held up fine so far. I haven't run into any problems as of yet. It is a folder and things can go wrong with them. Once a part gets bent or screwed up it's not going to work the same again until you fix it.

For some alternatives look into ZT folders or Cold Steel folders with the tri-ad lock. I don't personally own any of these but they seem to have a good reputation.

[Daylight]

Daylight I really don't know, lot of money we talking about here, be wise:thumb:

You're right, and I don't even have this money yet, so, I'll take my time.


Daylight: If you have your doubts about it then you shouldn't buy it. You won't be happy with it if you don't trust it and it's a lot of money to be disappointed over.

All I can tell you is mine has held up fine so far. I haven't run into any problems as of yet. It is a folder and things can go wrong with them. Once a part gets bent or screwed up it's not going to work the same again until you fix it.

For some alternatives look into ZT folders or Cold Steel folders with the tri-ad lock. I don't personally own any of these but they seem to have a good reputation.


Thanks, I'm glad to hear yours is still working well, however you're right, I'm not 100% sure anymore, so I'll take my time on this one.
Thanks for the tip, but I don't like the Espana shape from Cold Steel (the only ones with the tri-ad lock with their folding kukris), and I saw some test with the ZT and it wasn't really great.

Thanks anyway, it's nice of you to suggest !

[Noss]

Another maker of heavy folders is crusader forge. http://www.crusaderforge.com/TACTICALCUSTOMFOLDERSCF.htm

They aren't cheap though :eek:

[kurodrago]

Another maker of heavy folders is crusader forge. http://www.crusaderforge.com/TACTICALCUSTOMFOLDERSCF.htm

They aren't cheap though :eek:

No thanks, but I will stick with my RAO:D

[Noss]

No thanks, but I will stick with my RAO:D

I like them but for me it's just to much money to put in a folder. I still want to try their fixed blades and d-test one.

[kurodrago]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiBtHGfgZLI

The main weakness on close mechanism without doubt is the cheap spring that Extrema Ratio use! Though you can buy much better spring and up date with a new one.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/kurodrago/IMG_3961.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s307/kurodrago/IMG_3959.jpg

[Madnumforce]

The lateral blade play is a weakness on the axis. That's the problem with tactical folders: everything is over-engineered (thick and high-tech steel blade, massive slabs, etc) but the axis still very weak. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, in this case, the axis. But Noss test showed no significant problem with it (in fact: no problem at all), so we have to conclude Extrema Ratio have a quality control on the axis that's not appropriate to the strenght of the rest of the knife. Screws are cheap parts, made by the thousand, but in a extreme tactical folder, this is maybe the most important part of the knife (this and the tempering of the blade). One day, there will be a tactical folder maker who will understand that extreme folder needs very extreme axis, and he will use 8mm hot drop riveted axis, just like in ancient steel frame construction (you know, the rivets with the nice rounded heads).

[kurodrago]

The lateral blade play is a weakness on the axis. That's the problem with tactical folders: everything is over-engineered (thick and high-tech steel blade, massive slabs, etc) but the axis still very weak. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, in this case, the axis. But Noss test showed no significant problem with it (in fact: no problem at all), so we have to conclude Extrema Ratio have a quality control on the axis that's not appropriate to the strenght of the rest of the knife. Screws are cheap parts, made by the thousand, but in a extreme tactical folder, this is maybe the most important part of the knife (this and the tempering of the blade). One day, there will be a tactical folder maker who will understand that extreme folder needs very extreme axis, and he will use 8mm hot drop riveted axis, just like in ancient steel frame construction (you know, the rivets with the nice rounded heads).

I think that you gets to conclusioniun bit too fast. The axis is not the problem, the problem is the spring.
That spring will not out stand super natural vibration, in fact the guy on the video did put the knife in much more vibration test that Noss did.
Last thing is this knife is just a big strong folder for sure but I don't think will follow the category tactical.
There is nothing about tactical in this folder except the sheath!