FOG HORN Gear Reviews 17 May 2010

Extrema Ratio’s Formidable ONTOS

From that tradition emerges Extrema’s first purpose built
By: Sal Palma 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.

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 The ONTOS is a Tanto design that sports a 6.75 inch flat
that could someday save a life. This is a job that they take ground blade. The blade width, at its widest point, is 1.75
seriously and you won’t find them cutting corners to inches, and is partially serrated.
improve the bottom line.
When compared to, mass-produced, offshore knives,
1
they seem expensive but ask anyone what they would For the intellectual readers, there is no direct translation
like to have in their kit and the answer is overwhelmingly of ONTOS to “The Thing”. Scholars generally agree that
Extrema. ONTOS refers to a state of being or the existence of
something ergo.,The Thing.

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
 FOG HORN Gear Reviews 17 May 2010
Unlike some designs, the serrations are on the spine; I used the knife with and without gloves for this review,
located approximately .9 inches forward of the handle. and under both scenarios I was able to maintain a solid
The serrated edge is approximately 2.6 inches long. and controlled grip – even when transitioning from a
saber grip to a reverse grip.
I am not a huge fan of serrated edges; however,
Extrema’s decision to place the serrated edge on the The generous pummel at the end of the handle provides
blade’s spine was excellent. Using a saber grip, the a lanyard attachment point and gives this tool a less
operator can put the serrated edge in play, very lethal capability.
comfortably, by using a reverse cut to tackle a thick nylon
The shape of the ONTOS handle makes edge orientation
rope for example, or should the primary cutting edge be
a very natural movement.
dull.
I place a great deal of importance on a knife’s handle
It also preserves a cutting edge that runs the full length
design. It is the only interface to the operator, and it
of the knife blade.
needs to provide a secure and controllable grip; as well
The designers included about 2.5 inches of false edge, at as insulate the hand and arm from shocks associated
the front of the blade, which can readily be sharpened to with chopping or other demanding tasks.
enhance the knife’s puncturing ability.
At 14 oz., The ONTOS is solidly in the heavy-weight class,
Although advances in technology have made combat but it has an interesting character that grows on you. The
related survival situations less frequent, combatants more I hold the knife the less conscious I am of its weight
could find themselves having to live off the land for and the more comfortable it feels. This is a reflection of
several days. Under these adverse conditions, the research and art that went into the design - a
constructing a shelter or a trap requires that the knife characteristic present across the entire Extrema product
blade have exceptional tools strength. Here too ONTOS line.
exceeds all expectations.
The ONTOS was designed from the ground up to be a
With a blade thickness of 0.33 inches, made from Bholer field knife and the product ships complete with a
N6902 steel, ONTOS has enormous tool strength - making sharpening tool, a survival kit that includes a signaling
it suitable for splitting wood or prying through concrete mirror and a light stick for illumination.
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.

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
2
[58HRC] and has a leg strap that is easily adjustable.

Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.
 FOG HORN Gear Reviews 17 May 2010
The packaging and flexibility of the M.O.L.L.E. compliant The M.O.L.L.E. sheath gives the ONTOS an unmatched
sheath is the crowning jewel of the ONTOS survival knife. level of flexibility - adaptable to any situation. The
operator can choose to mount the knife to his vest, belt,
The operator, at his discretion, can remove the pouch
padded patrol belt, or any panel equipped with PAL
containing the survival kit and replace it with an
webbing.
accessory pouch or an extra magazine pouch. He can also
attach the knife to a tactical vest or his LBE – great In ONTOS, Extrema Ratio, continues its tradition of
flexibility. Extrema deserves a standing ovation. design, materials and quality.
The use of gimping was distinctly absent from this There is no icing on this cake. Everything is functional,
design, and I am not sure that it is necessary given the robust and very real.
knife’s intended purpose; however, I would like to have
The ONTOS is a hard use, real-world, professional tool
seen gimping on the spine, from the handle to the start
that deserves a place in your kit; you will not be
of the serrated edge - perhaps in a Gen II ONTOS.
disappointed.
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.
Manufacturer’s Specifications

3
Just a quick note on traps - you’re not trying to trap an Blade Length: 165 mm
elephant you’re after small manageable game, so use a twig Overall Length: 298 mm
that is ¼ inch to ½ inch thick. Blade Thickness: 6.3 mm
Select several twigs with some curvature like the one Knife Weight: 400 g
shown in the picture.
When the animal falls on the punji, its own weight will act Total Weight: 1000 g
to straighten the twig; when that happens opposing spring Blade Steel: Bholer N690 [58 HRC]
action will help puncture and impale the animal. Handle Material: Forprene [NATO Mil-Spec elastomer]
Also, note that I’ve hacked small notches around the Serration: SI
circumference of the punji – they act like a barb and Finish: MIL-C-13924 Black Coating
prevent the punji from coming out.
Company WEB Site: http://www.extremaratio.com
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, -SP
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.
Copyright, Sal Palma dba Twobirds-Flying Publication, 2010. All rights reserved.