Extrema Ratio RAO Desert Warfare Knife 

theseekerndestroyer nice, good stuff.

The RAO I have the pin screws into the locking area, not sure if they changed that on the RAO II

ok thanks

mark A 1976 Hi not wishing to hijack the discussion, the pin that locks the blade (not the screw in pin) is different on the RAOII to that of the RAO originals. I'm reviewing it right now. They are held together with small Torx screws. The main pivot too on the RAOII has also been changed to have a standard slot for a flat bladed screwdriver or any similar flat object to adjust etc. And there are some other subtle milling differences on the main body.

Thanks Pete

Mark, main difference between the two is the blade shape, the original RAO is a Tanto, the RAO II is a Drop point. I know they did round out the handles a bit more in the RAO II as well. So it really comes down to blade shape personal preference. Hope that helps

Still gotta demo it though

@@NickBrakattack i wouldn't feel forced to do it. From a martial perspective it makes no sense. Only in Hollywood moves 🤣

Awesome, good stuff!

Hey Thanks for the cool comment. I checked out your vid on the Ontos, really well done

NickBrakattack Hi thanks, glad you liked it too!

The top of the knife is really bad for batoning

RebelForce8 Why do people always want to hammer their knives? It's the best way to create metal fatigue and screw possibly your only knife.

Possibly if you need to hard use it in a real situation, like this is designed for

Yes and no. On a folder there will never be a solid as butt end, as it is just not connected of course to the blade except by how flush it sits, and that depends on how tight the manufacturer's machining/engineering tolerances are. I also agree this knife was intended to be used in non civilian/military situations and so it should be tough. I should say I'm not sure about the RAO but the RAOII scales are made of 6082 alloy Aluminum (ER told me this). I know that 6082 is very very tough and stress resistant. I place my life in rock climbing gear made from lower down the scale 6000 series alloys and this stuff really takes a beating. Only all but the super strongest fixed blades, are for example, going to be able to penetrate a modern Aluminum fuel tank by probably hammering it into it ( as an example of really hard use). All folders even the RAO series will ( and are not intended) to stand up to the abuse/use of hardcore fixed blades (eg ER's Fulcrum). For hardcore civilian use I've had to cut heavy duty PP drums for water tanks on a coastal long stay situation but this was with a fixed blade, actually a Ontario Spec plus, I'll have to try it out on the new RAO and let everyone know.

Sean H In a backlock, the backspacer lifts up and fall into a notch in the blade. Thats not how this beast locks up. In this knife, a rod on a spring falls into a notch in the blade. This is very simmilar to an axis lock.

Oh my bad I see now I see but the axis lock engages on a ramp front to back not into a notch vertically. So it is quite a bit different just uses a bar on a spring set up like the axis that is the only similarity.

Sean H Yep, but its even less similar to a backlock :)

Steve Martin it’s not as practical, keep in mind this company makes knifes for the italian army includind special forces and designed knifes specifically for the also

dummy, its made for UTILITY not for stabbing people great for prying and digging

+AROTTWEILERR thanks for the comments and thoughts, along with your experience with other extrema ratio knives. I have owned other ones as well including the MF0 which exhibited no issues and has been through some hard use. In regards to the RAO in the vid, I have not put it to any tests, however from opening and closing several times, and now being a few years old it has not displayed any play besides the pivot needing tightening after awhile.

AROTTWEILERR Awww just shut up, you have no idea