extrema ratio's formidable ontos survival knife

FOG HORN Gear Reviews 17 May 2010

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.

Extrema Ratio’s Formidable ONTOS By: Sal Palma

Extrema Ratio, located in Prato, Italy, is not a household name; however, they enjoy a reputation for excellence that is unsurpassed in the military/tactical knife industry.

The Company has been designing, manufacturing and selling high performance combat knives, since 1997, for a number of the anti-terror units and special operations groups in Europe. They serve military markets, varied law enforcement communities and commercial markets.

In Italy and other European countries, everyone from first responders to paratroopers is issued Extrema knives, whether folding or fixed blade designs.

The company prides itself in design, materials and quality; drawing on local resources to deliver a product that could someday save a life. This is a job that they take seriously and you won’t find them cutting corners to improve the bottom line.

When compared to, mass-produced, offshore knives, they seem expensive but ask anyone what they would like to have in their kit and the answer is overwhelmingly Extrema.

From that tradition emerges Extrema’s first purpose built survival knife, ONTOS.

After the T&E sample arrived, the first thing I said to Dennis Wijnman, Extrema’s Marketing Officer, was that the knife is a beast, and after spending some time with it, I am completely satisfied that my comment was entirely appropriate.

The word ONTOS has its origins in Greece and it means “THE THING1.” I have to believe that Maurizio’s wife had something to do with that. She probably saw the first prototype and wondered what the heck that “thing” was. Regardless of how the name was arrived at, I think I would have called it “La Bestia” - this knife is massive.

In reality the name ONTOS was selected because it was a big and ugly knife – a tank sort to speak, much like the WWII ONTOS M50 recoilless rifle.

The ONTOS is a Tanto design that sports a 6.75 inch flat ground blade. The blade width, at its widest point, is 1.75 inches, and is partially serrated.

1 For the intellectual readers, there is no direct translation

of ONTOS to “The Thing”. Scholars generally agree that

ONTOS refers to a state of being or the existence of

something ergo.,The Thing.



Unlike some designs, the serrations are on the spine; located approximately .9 inches forward of the handle. The serrated edge is approximately 2.6 inches long.

I am not a huge fan of serrated edges; however, Extrema’s decision to place the serrated edge on the blade’s spine was excellent. Using a saber grip, the operator can put the serrated edge in play, very comfortably, by using a reverse cut to tackle a thick nylon rope for example, or should the primary cutting edge be dull.

It also preserves a cutting edge that runs the full length of the knife blade.

The designers included about 2.5 inches of false edge, at the front of the blade, which can readily be sharpened to enhance the knife’s puncturing ability.

Although advances in technology have made combat related survival situations less frequent, combatants could find themselves having to live off the land for several days. Under these adverse conditions, constructing a shelter or a trap requires that the knife blade have exceptional tools strength. Here too ONTOS exceeds all expectations.

With a blade thickness of 0.33 inches, made from Bholer N6902 steel, ONTOS has enormous tool strength - making it suitable for splitting wood or prying through concrete walls to create a firing lane, in the case of MOUT sniper operations, as one example.

N690 steel also offers an excellent balance between oxidation resistance, edge retention and ease of sharpening.

ONTOS is balanced forward of the handle, which gives this heavy knife tremendous heft. This is highly desirable for chopping tasks; minimizing hand and arm fatigue – ONTOS does the work for you.

ONTOS is a full tang design configured with a handle constructed of Forprene. This is a NATO MIL-SPEC elastomer with excellent characteristics under a wide range of environmental conditions.

2 [58HRC]

I used the knife with and without gloves for this review, and under both scenarios I was able to maintain a solid and controlled grip – even when transitioning from a saber grip to a reverse grip.

The generous pummel at the end of the handle provides a lanyard attachment point and gives this tool a less lethal capability.

The shape of the ONTOS handle makes edge orientation a very natural movement.

I place a great deal of importance on a knife’s handle design. It is the only interface to the operator, and it needs to provide a secure and controllable grip; as well as insulate the hand and arm from shocks associated with chopping or other demanding tasks.

At 14 oz., The ONTOS is solidly in the heavy-weight class, but it has an interesting character that grows on you. The more I hold the knife the less conscious I am of its weight and the more comfortable it feels. This is a reflection of the research and art that went into the design - a characteristic present across the entire Extrema product line.

The ONTOS was designed from the ground up to be a field knife and the product ships complete with a sharpening tool, a survival kit that includes a signaling mirror and a light stick for illumination.

The sheath is M.O.L.L.E compatible so it can be attached to a vest or a PAL webbing panel. It can also be belt worn and has a leg strap that is easily adjustable.



The packaging and flexibility of the M.O.L.L.E. compliant sheath is the crowning jewel of the ONTOS survival knife.

The operator, at his discretion, can remove the pouch containing the survival kit and replace it with an accessory pouch or an extra magazine pouch. He can also attach the knife to a tactical vest or his LBE – great flexibility. Extrema deserves a standing ovation.

The use of gimping was distinctly absent from this design, and I am not sure that it is necessary given the knife’s intended purpose; however, I would like to have seen gimping on the spine, from the handle to the start of the serrated edge - perhaps in a Gen II ONTOS.

Conclusion

The ONTOS is a massive knife. It is inconceivable that any one task would cause a blade or handle failure.

In spite of its size, the knife is still compact and agile. I was able to easily chop through a log, as well as whittle a branch to create a punji stick for a trap3.

The knife handle is excellent both in function and ergonomics – grip transitions are very smooth.

In spite of its size, The ONTOS, sits in the hand quite comfortably and will not fatigue the hand during prolonged use.

3 Just a quick note on traps - you’re not trying to trap an

elephant you’re after small manageable game, so use a twig

that is ¼ inch to ½ inch thick.

Select several twigs with some curvature like the one

shown in the picture.

When the animal falls on the punji, its own weight will act

to straighten the twig; when that happens opposing spring

action will help puncture and impale the animal.

Also, note that I’ve hacked small notches around the

circumference of the punji – they act like a barb and

prevent the punji from coming out.

A good way to set the punji is to use a small log that has

been cut in half along its longitudinal axis. On the flat side

of the split log, bore as many holes as you have punji. Next,

place each punji in the appropriate hole. Holes should be

about ½ inch to 1 inch deep.

The holes will hold the punji securely. They also work

great for holding an accelerant if you need to start a fire.

Simply take a round out of your magazine and empty the

powder into the hole. Place kindling on the log then ignite

the powder.

The M.O.L.L.E. sheath gives the ONTOS an unmatched level of flexibility - adaptable to any situation. The operator can choose to mount the knife to his vest, belt, padded patrol belt, or any panel equipped with PAL webbing.

In ONTOS, Extrema Ratio, continues its tradition of design, materials and quality.

There is no icing on this cake. Everything is functional, robust and very real.

The ONTOS is a hard use, real-world, professional tool that deserves a place in your kit; you will not be disappointed.

Manufacturer’s Specifications Blade Length: 165 mm Overall Length: 298 mm Blade Thickness: 6.3 mm Knife Weight: 400 g Total Weight: 1000 g Blade Steel: Bholer N690 [58 HRC] Handle Material: Forprene [NATO Mil-Spec elastomer]

Serration: SI Finish: MIL-C-13924 Black Coating Company WEB Site: http://www.extremaratio.com

-SP

http://www.extremaratio.com/

extrema ratio's formidable ontos survival knife

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