"It's too expensive"

"It's too expensive"

I defy anyone to break this knife whilst holding it in their hands

(Extrema Ratio ONTOS, one of their 2 current "survival knife models)

The Extrema Ratio Dobermann IV also sporting an asymmetrical tang.

Boy oh boy, do I hate that phrase. But listen, I once worked as a Product Manager for a large US firm and it's a common phrase to hear from the competition sales people and potential customers trying to wear you down on price LOL. The simple rebuke to that phrase is:


"Compared to what?"


However, before I delve into this further, why do we often use this phrase?

Generally, it's because we have no intention at all of buying the product but use this phrase as a easy way (we think it's easy but to the experienced sales person, it means nothing LOL) to distance ourselves from the product after a brief encounter (not including the time wasters-these are the people who never have any intention of buying anything but 100% of the time get the shop assistant to: bring out the most  costly item in the store; costly car model etc, only to give brief attention then walk away. Don't believe me, observe peoples nature in jewellery stores when it comes to watches or car yard time wasters- eg the "Ferrari buyer" They are either price matching or time wasters-hence the beauty of the internet, for which those businesses do not suffer from the time waster. Ok I digress. 

The other main reason is that we totally desire the product knowing full well our disposable income is better put towards one's children's education, the roof repairs, a well-needed family holiday; and express this desire to the sales people, only to then quickly after wasting the sales person's time utter those words: "It's too expensive" LOL. It could be for a new kitchen and that sales person spent a lot of time at you house, measuring things, discussing plans etc etc, only for you to say, "It's too expensive"! Let's face it, no one likes to admit they can not afford something, especially if there are higher priorities on one's list of things to buy, in other words, needs not wants.

BUT and we know what they say about the BUT.....YEP everything before the BUT is BS! That smart sales rep, product manager, or manager, will return the line of:


"COMPARED TO WHAT?"

And you had better be ready for what follows LOL!



For example, in the case of Extrema Ratio Knives.


Firstly, we all know, there are zero knives (counterfeits excluded) that resemble the obvious Extrema Ratio designs. Nothing has been left to chance: for example, handles designed in conjunction with university researchers, expert in biodynamics of the human hand, Knife tangs (some models) which can withstand loads over over 150Kg lateral forces!. That's like twice my body weight!-if you want strong.
The tang we have been led to believe must be a full width tang in order to be strong. Let's face it, strong for what?

FKMD's PANABUS knife for tropical adventures, sports an asymmetrical super strong tang.

FKMD tactical knives also sport a reduced "funny shaped" asymmetrical tangs, yet I have never seen any written views/reports/videos of anyone saying these knives are not strong in the social media. Quite the contrary, in fact there are several well-viewed videos showing how ridiculously strong these knives are against bending forces which would never be encountered during normal use. All I can say is there are obviously a lot of people doing very abnormal things with knives LOL!

Lion Steel knives

No one is saying the M7 is crap, hey and guess what, it also doesn't have one of those full width full tangs!

WHOA! What's with this strong thing? If I want strong, I don't buy a car, I buy a bulldozer, no one can argue there-it's heavy and slow and uncomfortable but boy oh boy is it strong- a poor man's tank if you like! However, a bulldozer can not be compared to a car in any way shape or form, excluding both run on some sort of petrochemical originating fuel.

But seriously, knives are to cut in the first place. Any other duty is really outside of the realms of the function of a knife. To be honest, strength is not on the top of my list of good properties of a knife.


Comfort and ease of handling (weight balance etc)
Durability for intended tasks
Durability over the years- for good value
Not so hard it takes over an hour to put an edge on it.
A sheath that will go the distance and is very safe. Ask yourself, if I fall on the knife (in the sheath) and it can happen, is that blade going to penetrate the sheath and cause an injury? hence hunting knives that are carried during the active hunt should definitely have a safe carry system.
Not too heavy (if one wants to take it camping/hiking/hunting and no vehicle to cart your stuff)



Now as an example:

I read a lot of consistent comments regarding the use of the word "expensive" in regard to describing Extrema Ratio Knives. Plus lots of just regular haters. You get what you pay for, they are not made in China nor are any of the materials associated with it. I don't know anyone who has their knives hates them (most of these I know were definitely not pro Extrema Ratio to begin with). It's a funny thing this; " it's too expensive" phrase; Buy one instead of six lower priced knives' or at least 2 (one can only hold two knives at once LOL-unless you are Adam C or work at a circus LOL). The rebuke is "Compared to what?" Besides that there are literally dozens of USA made knives (not custom), also made entirely inside of America, which are in the same price bracket but I never see comments on BF or on YT that they are too expensive, or lacking aesthetics LOL. I'm not an "Italian-o-phile but they do make great products and just look at their sheaths too, it doesn't stop with the knife. I carry their products in risky zones ONCE EVERY YEAR, not because they (Extrema Ratio) tell me too but because I choose to carry them. I'm not thinking about price, I'm not even thinking about dependability, I'm thinking about staying safe on a daily basis.

Bulgarian Yatagan Akkulak Traditional Knife

Bulgarian Yatagan Akkulak Traditional Knife
Used from the mid 16th until the late 19th century in the Ottoman Turkey, when Bulgaria was under the yolk of the Ottoman Empire. As to the age of this blade, is anyone's guess but certainly the knife itself could be at least 100 years old. it is unclear whether the previous owner -deceased (not the seller) made it or he refurbished it (as in the scabbard?). The seller explained that the owner was in fact a black smith in the area of 

Bulgarian traditional  knife, a Yatagan, it's a sort of sword come machete come parang LOL! 

Today I purchased this beauty! I figure it is at least 100 years old plus. Originally obtained from a now deceased blacksmith/knife maker. He had 5 in his house at the time of clearing the house took place, this is one of the 5. it is a Bulgarian Yatagan featuring a dark walnut grip, 

Beautiful dark grained walnut scales featuring a traditional flared design.

The blade smith made some sort of crude engravings upon the tang both upper and lower  and on the hilt as seen above. Two parallel lines and an X. Or is it 2 10 2 10 2????

convex ground and slight recurved blade, approximately 8mm thick spine, 

It's a huge knife, measuring 36cm or 14" long! and sporting a 8mm or 0.31 inch thick spine!

Look here and we see a recapitulation of this very old design motif.

 

and full tang. 

I have no idea of what the HRC is however, after working on the edge (it was fairly sharp) I soon realised that my ceramic Fälkniven stone was not cutting much metal at all; I figure the HRC on the edge is at least 60 or close to it if not a bit above! It is clear it has been "refurbished" over the years (on the scabbard). The literature says that the spines were made soft and the edges tempered to a hard edge (typical he for a large sword knife-otherwise it would be too brittle).

The scabbard appears to have ben "refurbished" as there is evidence of soldering with a tin compound around the carry loop. The wood that the scabbard is made from is not a hardwood but some softwood species, stained with an unknown material. There is evidence of past insect infestation (some wood boring beetle holes no longer active).

and maybe it is much older but the refurbishment is of "recent times" as I see evidence of metal work not prevalent over 200 years ago.

More can be found here on Yatagans