EXTREMA RATIO AMF SURVIVAL KNIFE WOW!

Extrema Ratio AMF Survival Knife

What to say? I loved the 80's, everything about it. Including the cutlery from that era. Yes, I saw the Rambo movies and who didn't like, or want a damn RAMBO knife? Anyone who says they didn't isn't being honest with themselves. That movie set the scene for the romanticised lifestyle which is probably inherent in many of us, and dating back to our primeval existence on this planet with our pre-occupation about survival (knives and tools). This survival lifestyle has all but been lost by our civilized ways with the exceptions of those whose existence still depends on survival from the land and sea by their own hands free of mechanisation. For the rest of us, if we are lucky enough, we will never encounter a situation whereby our lives depend upon surviving from the land or sea or disaster*. Of course we can be challenged by disasters* whether man made or natural and become either voluntarily or involuntarily involved in such survival situations. Now many would like to think (romanticise- in reality, far from romantic) themselves in some sort of survival situation, where carrying a big knife is going to save the day. Of course if one has been truly involved in real survival situation as those mentioned above (with few exceptions of course), we know that these situations rarely involve the use of a knife big or small.
Now I digress....

By the way, the "sawback" on the RAMBO knife was NOT a saw at all but a series of wire cutting notches- that was made evident in the movie, where Sylvester Stallone used the knife to cut some wire. 

Gerber Legendary Blades in the USA brought out their  "Survival knife" in the 80's. I saw my first one over 17 years ago in a Tokyo camping shop, of which it took centrepiece under the glass at the front desk. For some reason, I never bought one (no, it's not because I thought they were crap- but at the time money was indeed "an object" for a poor post doctoral scientist!) but always lusted after one. Several versions were made, even one with wire cutter notches on the spine, just like the first RAMBO knife. Those Gerber (serial numbered) knives have now become collectors items.

Here Comes Extrema Ratio!

Now zoom fast forward to 2017/2018 and Extrema Ratio in Italy, with inspiration from that survival cutlery era of the 80s, has produced the A.M.F or ADVANCED MULTI-FUNCTION knife.

Ok, so Extrema Ratio are calling this AMF a "survival knife" and have it listed in their section encompassing their knives suitable for Survival scenarios, hence "Multifunction" applications!

Let me quickly say this, based upon my other articles I have written regarding what is a survival knife and personal experiences involving "survival" (and here I'm not talking about lounge-chair situations but the real McCoy) encounters), I can definitely say that the Extrema Ratio AMF suits this description. To summarise first, and then talk in more detail about the AMF.

Is the AMF a "Survival knife" according to my definition?

Use in very Cold weather or sub zero temperatures? YES, there is no exposed tang for one to freeze to the palm of their hand. Very hot conditions, same applies, no exposed tang at high temperature.

Extrema Ratio AMF here seen in the "tropics" later this year in the opposite environment

Minimal fixing hardware? Yes just one bolt  (3mm hex head driver) which sits (protected) below the butt. (strictly speaking, there are 5 parts that result from removing the 3 mm Allen bolt). See the next blog.

Big simple blade design at 8.25" LONG! 6.3mm thick! It's no butter knife!

Extrema Ration AMF spine (the fruits are from the tropical Pandanus palm-not a palm at all).

Survival food and "Survival knife"

Big grippy, all weather handle, made from Forprene to help reduce impact shocks to user's hand.


The Extrema Ratio AMF has a classic clip point (in this case a straight clip point) blade geometry (easy to maintain at HRC 58). The blade thickness is full width until about 2cm from the tip, yielding very good penetrating power. If you love big knives and big knives with functional blades, along with that "retro" look, then you are going to love this AMF knife too.  We have a slight departure from the usual Forprene grips seen on many of Extrema Ratio's knives, whereby there isn't a full encirclement of the tang closest to the hilt. In the case of the Extrema Ratio AMF knife, the tang is fully enclosed by the handle. The handle tapers towards the rear, and is less "angular" than their regular handle grips and is clearly bigger in circumference; it's a very solid grip, so wild swinging (and I'm not talking about crazy party action here) of this blade isn't likely to part company with one's hand.

The Extrema Ration AMF knife at home in the tropics

Generous Forprene grip

Functionality

The Extrema Ratio AMF Knife 

Laser etched model and serial numbered to allow exact tracing of individual models

has a very functional blade design. It has a good tip, perfect for gutting and filleting fish, piercing an animals hide for hunting. The Extrema Ratio AMF knife has a slender geometry but "beefy" cross section, yielding a knife which is quite capable for all camp duties, whether light or heavy.

Slimy wet hands are not going to slip onto this blade with the forward guard.

Can you feed yourself with this blade?

Food preparation with the AMF knife in camp or the hut* is no problem.

I almost always take onions camping/hiking (they don't easily perish or squash). A good source of sulfur, plus onions can turn any bland meal into something great. Having a knife that can actually cut things up as apposed to mashing them and making a huge mess, is an essential item for camping trips.

* I personally wouldn't bring the AMF out in a hut unless I was the only one there. It might start scaring off other campers.

Extrema Ratio AMF Knife and Scabbard Construction and Specifications

N690 (N Six Nine Zero) Cobalt stainless tool steel, hardened to 58HRC.
I measured the following on my model.
Blade length 8.25 inches or 210mm
Blade only weight (484 grams or 17.1Oz.) It's meant to be pack carried as there is no "real" belt loop, however one can use the plastic straps or insert a belt within the loop of material directly behind the knife handle. 

I wouldn't advise inserting a belt within the plastic loops as I think this would damage them over time (I have no evidence to support this, it's merely conjecture and applies to my way of outdoor activities. The AMF knife is clearly meant for pack carrying due to it's large size.

Blade and scabbard weight: triple 6 (666 grams or 23.5 Oz.)
Blade Flat grind.
Forprene grip (Extrema Ratio's Desert version- A.M.F. Desert), virtually unbreakable and resistant to many commonly encountered chemicals.
High denier nylon multi-mounting Molle compatible carry system. (see below).
550 Paracord supplied.
Optional survival kit (You know I don't think much of these and do not own one).

Malice straps made in Italy by the following company
http://www.2mplasticbuckles.com/products/military-buckles/

The website says that the malice straps are made from GTR (Ground Tire Rubber) but They look to me to be made from polypropylene. Anyway they are made in Italy by 2M.

Removable plastic (Malice clips) straps to anchor this huge knife to your pack or any Molle compatible system. I'm not sure how strong or how long these types of plastic retention clips would last. That is how many times can they be opened and closed or how they are against nylon (your tactical belt) or leather belt; rubbing against them. Like I said this AMF knife is clearly meant to be strapped to a pack. (Initial testing in the field by me shows this knife carries very high on the waist, therefore it's better left strapped to gear).

Internal rigid plastic sheet to protect the scabbard. Tough non abrasive "foam rubber" inserts, also do not dull blade edge from repeated insertion and removals.

2 models of the Extrema Ratio AMF are available at present, this model Desert, non-reflective (Burnished) blade finish and the Mil-C-13924 Spec black oxide finish.
Quality finish as expected from Extrema Ratio, right down to the stitching (super thick thread) of the scabbard.

There are 2 guards present, both are made from very thick steel. I like the rear guard as it serves to protect your fingers should you use the AMF knife to bash something open, such as oysters, cracking open crabs, smashing hardened glass etc.

The rear guard

What's in a name??? 

So what's with this A.M.F. business??? What the heck does "Advanced Multifunction" mean???
Well I guess it can mean anything you like, as the naming of knives has no bearing whatsoever on their functionality and or intended purposes. It simply depends on how useful (or not) one thinks it could be to them in a particular environment or for a particular purpose. I use knives on both hemispheres, so I look for attributes that are suitable in both  arid to tropical and alpine regions in the knives i choose to take out with me. However, I want a knife that I can prepare food with and also do the harder tasks (it at all necessary). It has to have a good point and be easily multi-carried and must must be comfortable to use.
So I guess we can say,  "Advanced", as the AMF is constructed from advanced modern materials, such as Forprene and high speed stainless Cobalt enriched tool steel N690 (compared with the 80's survival cutlery-where N690 simply wasn't in existence for cutlery) the, "A"  for advanced is justified. How about Multi-Function? Without spelling it out, Extrema Ratio are suggesting both civilian and military applications, end of story. What those scenarios might entail is entirely up to the individual and or the situations they find themselves in. Now whether the AMF is a "Survival" knife, well as I stated earlier on, I think this knife would certainly fit that bill for me as a sturdy dependable design in tough situations. Let's put this to the test in the coming weeks and months. Stick around!


Life time warranty against manufacturing defects.
6 years on carry system.
Made in Italy.


Stay tuned for the field review on BushCampingTools.