EXTREMA RATIO ONTOS Survival Knife

THE BEST STAINLESS STEEL SURVIVAL KNIFE?


Is there such a thing? Of course not! But I reckon after actually testing this knife, ie yes, that's right, actually using it for some weeks on end, not simply bashing some wood with it, that the ONTOS really rocks in this department. I mean why shouldn't it? Simple blade geometry, nice and thick but not cumbersome to handle and very very comfortable in the ungloved hand/s. Having a Western style Tanto shaped blade is also good when having to push down onto the tip of the blade to cut something, like I did in the review to cut giant bamboo shoots for food.

Wild mushrooms and sandpaper figs. The figs were eddible

Well after one month of using this knife as EDC in the jungle/rain forest, using the Ontos for chopping, cutting, food gathering, felling trees, yes trees, I reckon it's a damn good knife and I'll tell you why in the video link below.

I used it for cutting roots to obtain drinking water and as a tool to prepare other tools such as digging sticks and cooking pots made from giant bamboo. The blade weight feels just right for a knife of this size, seriously, not to heavy not to light.

Here is the  video link:


The only drawback I saw with this knife was actually not with the knife but with the excellent scabbard/carry system. I would put a retaining clip like Extrema Ratio's Dobermann IV (another great knife),  press stud, to be easily replaced and plastic reinforced to prevent the blade from cutting into it.

Rain hail or shine the ONTOS was being used

Preparing the end of giant bamboo ready for steaming rice

Part 2 BCB survival stuff is not that good, here's why:

Ok so you can see from the above picture, this is what happened after a dozen or so strikes with the included striker from BCB's Ultimate Survival Kit. Yes that's right, the ferro rod came right out of the plastic holder. Ok these products are made in CHINA and there was only about 5-6mm of rod inserted into the plastic molding, not enough to hold the rod properly. Because the rod is so short to begin with it could not be used now, not good if you really need to depend on it not failing.

Just go out and buy either a USA made Sparkie or a Swedish fire steel (made in Sweden) MY Swedish fire steel I inherited from my dad, and it's still got tonnes of life left in it after 35 years of careful use. (the rod BTW goes all the way into the plastic handle).


Overall I found the contents of BCB's Ultimate Survival kit, quite worrying if I really had to rely on it and the cost is not a little either. The best survival kits are the ones you carefully put together yourself with quality contents. I wouldn't even rely on this kit if I was in combat either. V disappointed!

Kizlyar Supreme Survivalist X Hollow Handle Survival Knife

Hollow handle type knives are here to stay whether you hate them or love them and the trick is if you are one who likes them then who makes a good one? Well here I review Kizlyar Supreme's Survivalist X. I put this knife through the paces trying to see if that blade was going to come loose etc. No chance! See the video and you be the judge.

Just what makes a knife "Tactical".

 Bizillions of knife manufacturers are labeling their products with the word "Tactical". What does this really mean? IS this just marketing hype that sells knives to "would be if I could be's"?

AND if my knife is not a tactical knife, then what does it look like? I hope to explore this word, which has become a marketing prerequisite for selling all sorts of products. "Get the new Tactical stapler"! "It will give you the added advantage against your office companions"!

For (good) example:

Extrema Ratio's Dobermann IV comes under a banner of "Tactical" Let's have a look at this.

So if your tactics require sneaking up on your quarry under the cover of darkness then a non reflective blade coating would be wise. Or if you needed to pull this big knife out during the daylight hours and not have it reflecting any light.  If your tactics require you to use a knife all day then having one eveningly balanced would go a long way for hand and arm comfort, helping to reduce fatigue. If your tactics require a good non slip anti twist grip, then YES this knife, the Dobermann IV can definitely carry the banner of being a tactical knife!

BTW Extrema Ratio also market a non tactical version of the same blade shape. Ok why is it non tactical?

The blade is polished- there is absolutely no need of an anti-refelctive coating if you don't intend on sneaking up on someone/or something, with your knife drawn.

The scabbard is not Molle compatible and made of leather. If you don't intend of getting it wet all of the time/exposed to the elements (nylon is not going to get  all rotten with fungus/swell if wet). Nor carry it on a Molle style military pack/harness (ie you are not a soldier) ie you are a civilian. The balance of the non Tactical version is the same, so in regards to reducing user fatigue Extrema Ratio have not made any compromises here.

What makes a knife tactical soley depends on users tactics! For example this knife will not be of tactical advantage if your tactics require you to cut lots of ropes in the course of events as there are no serrations and a properly serrated blade will always cut ropes faster, that's physics. AND to use the non tactical version of the Dobermann IV as an example, a polished blade may well be of tactical advantage if you need something shiny and polished to attract attention if you require rescuing/being found.

Tactics don't have to relate to military or law enforcement applications although the word certainly conjures up this idea in most peoples minds. Can you have a tactical hunting knife, yes and no but now we are starting to get really crazy with this overuse of the word tactical! 

Unfortunately the word "Tactical" has become a key marketing weapon (no pun intended) for manufacturers wishing to increase their market share.

So the next time you take out your "tactical serrated zombie killing, ten inch jungle chopping, stealth, anti-radar paint, super stainless fishing knife out in front of your companions fishing knife; just see at the end of the day who had the tactical advantages and then think back and see if you were suckered by marketing hype!

Extrema Ratio TASK Knife

Hi all here is Extrema Ratio's TASK knife. A great knife for bushcraft! Check it out!