Extrema Ratio RAOII Update Continued.......

Extrema Ratio's RAOII is a relatively recent model in their line up of heavy duty folders. With a more rounded grip

The upper surface of the RAO is very comfortable in the palm

 sporting larger radiuses on edges and of course a beefy drop point blade.

Ok so now I've been using continuously the RAOII from Extrema Ratio for over a year now.

If you're strapped for space and you want to have both a fixed blade and folder but only want to carry one knife, then the Extrema Ratio RAOII could be for you.

There are of course some draw backs to trying to have a folder and fixed blade in one combination.

The RAOII is not small, though despite this it will fit in your pocket if not in it's sheath, which by the way is an excellent carry system and comes complete with a diamond sharpening plate!

Chopping with this knife can become uncomfortable if you are not wearing gloves and this is primarily due to this region of the handle as shown in the 2 images below.

To be honest I wouldn't bother with the recessed areas here for finger placement. Yes they seem to fit my hand size perfectly ( glove size 8-9) with my fingers naturally resting in these groves and are ok for twisting the blade into something giving you better grip. BUT for  heavier chopping, I'd like to see the 6082 alloy sides continue at the same thickness as the rest of the handle sides. This would, I feel add much more comfort for a very very small gain in overall weight.
Unlike a regular sized folder, which is usually ok to peel vegetables and fruit with, the RAOII with it's wide blade makes this task a little slower as your hand is spread more than if it was holding a narrower bladed knife.

Using the Extrema Ratio RAOII to peel sweet potato

What are the advantages to such a large folder?

You can chop things without fear of damaging this drop point blade. I say blade and NOT mechanism, as the mechanism will be the weak point if enough abuse is dealt out and it is steel against hard Aluminium alloy. Mind you alloys in the 6000 series are perfect for really taking huge abuse as these alloys such as 6065 are used in the climbing industry and can take big loads and 6082 is supposedly even tougher and currently the strongest in the 6000 series of aluminum alloys.

You can twist with the tip of this knife without fear of it breaking. Why because this drop point blade is just like a fixed blade drop point.

I reckon there is no tropical fruit that can't be processed with the Extrema Ratio RAOII. 
Hacking off tree limbs if need be can also be achieved with this heavy duty folder with the safety pin inserted (for complete assurance).

Hacking off a 6cm thick green freshly fallen cotton wood branch. Yes Cotton wood
is a softwood.

How is Extrema Ratio RAOII at cutting up meat and or fish?

Cutting up the days catch!?

The RAOII cuts up fish just fine. The blade is thick but not too thick to make a mess of cutting up fish.
How about meat? Stay tuned!

Kizlyar Supreme CORSAIR Fixed Blade

It's great to see a knife with a thin but not too thin blade for the outdoors. Yes, the Swedes have their famous knives, and now a great little knife from Kizlyar Supreme, Made in RUSSIA: the CORSAIR. (that means Pirate if you don't already know!). The Kizlyar Supreme Corsair is constructed with 2.4mm thick full tang AUS8 stainless and beautiful dark walnut scales.  This is a really practical thickness for many camp duties, the first obvious one is FOOD PREPARATION. Cutting meat; fish and vegetables; gutting small game; able to be usefully used to forage for wild fungi without having to get embarrassed by whipping out some monster blade that is better suited to chopping; hacking and the more arduous camp chores.............OR tropical* conditions (*more on this later).

Price wise, the CORSAIR sits under 60 Euros!! Totally affordable.

The Corsair from Kizlyar Supreme, a great accompanying fixed blade knife for anyone serious about camping chores.

Stayed tuned to see the full field test video review on BUSHCAMPINGTOOLS

Excellent quality leather scabbard, with high and low carry loops.

MADE IN RUSSIA!!

What's been bugging me ever since I bought my Cudeman 299B???

The grip! It was just too smooth for such a weighty knife and despite the contoured grip, which would never leave your hand during swinging this beast, it was NOT grippy enough for me! So.......


Out with the diamond core drill on my Dremel and this is what the handle now looks like now. 100% better.

Cudeman 299B before my handle modifications

As above

AFTER THE GRINDING

Some somewhat random grinds with a mini diamond core drill! Cudeman 299B Design By A. Corts

Wild Mushroom Picking Day Out in the Pouring Rain

The title says it all. They are Horse mushrooms. PICK WILD MUSHROOMS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Know your survival stuff otherwise you may end up a liability or worse DEAD.

Strider Knives MFS One Tough SOB!

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

This is THE ORIGINAL STRIDER MFS made with ATS34 and a FULL FLAT Grind

not anything like the current Strider MFS which sports a completely different blade geometry.

It carries the stamp from Paul Bos who was at the time heat treating knives for Strider.

And a Strider/Military-like Stamp on the opposite side. There is a serial number under the cord wrap.

The TEK lok is an original "Made in America" one not a generic made one.

My Strider MFS is now just a bit over 16 years old and still going strong. Talking about strong, ATS34 is a very tough stainless (if heat treated right-like all good knives should/must be). I busted a very small fraction of the tip once but then I was totally abusing the blade using it to bash/push out a worn bicycle bushing in a free ride bike (no tools available obviously! I simply reground it and it's not noticeable.


Like these guys or not and there seems to be many "haters" out there saying Strider knives are a rip of etc and crap. Well I can ONLY vouch for this knife of mine. It's the only Strider I own and probably will be the first and last. Cord wrapped handles are ok for small knives but larger knives, without those "precious" gloves............come on gloves are for: cold weather work; caving; etc; etc. If you have to wear gloves for all of your knives you need to toughen up those paws of yours, I recommend lots of JUDO and outdoor  rock climbing, you'll soon have hands of steel LOL!


Anyway if you have just watched this video it's not really a review but a bit about the history of this knife I've bashed about for the last 16 years plus, the original Strider MFS in ATS34.