Extrema Ratio knives at Recon Company – Italian tactical knives for the military and professionals
Anyone who picks up an Extrema Ratio knife will notice immediately: this tool was not designed for a display cabinet. Extrema Ratio builds knives for people who actually use them – in NATO armed forces, special forces and emergency services. For over 30 years, here at Recon Company, we have been selecting our range according to the same criteria that we apply to our own development projects for government agencies. Extrema Ratio is part of this because these knives perform in the field – not just on paper.
Extrema Ratio – from a Tuscan workshop to a NATO supplier
Extrema Ratio was founded in 1997 by Maurizio Castrati and Mauro Chiostri in Prato, Italy. The name comes from Latin and roughly translates as ‘last resort’ – a reference to the purpose of the products. Both founders continue to personally oversee the design, development and prototyping to this day. What began as a small workshop has, since moving to a 600-square-metre factory in 2004, become an industrial manufacturer that upholds the standards of traditional craftsmanship.
Production is based entirely in Prato. 100 per cent Made in Italy. The manufacturing process combines modern stamping technology and CNC machining with manual processes: every blade is sharpened by hand, and every Extrema Ratio knife is assembled individually and subjected to a final inspection. The company is ISO 9001 certified and registered as an official supplier to NATO forces. Extrema Ratio supplies the Italian and French armed forces, as well as numerous international special forces and police forces.
Blade steel and craftsmanship: What lies behind Böhler N690
All Extrema Ratio knives use Austrian Böhler N690 cobalt stainless steel as their blade material – a martensitic steel enriched with chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and cobalt. The same steel is also used in surgical instruments. The hardness is 58 HRC. This results in a blade that retains its edge, is corrosion-resistant and, at the same time, elastic enough not to break under stress. No compromise steel, no marketing hype.
The blade thickness for most utility knives is 6.3 mm. That’s substantial – but a deliberate choice. Anyone who needs an Extrema Ratio knife as a prying tool, emergency breaker or for chopping will be working with a blade that can withstand it. The surface treatment varies depending on the model: black bluing to MIL-C-13924, a stonewash finish or the characteristic ‘Desert Warfare’ laser coating in shades of sand.
The handles of the fixed-blade models are made of Forprene – a polymer that remains non-slip even when wet, cold or when your hands are dirty. Extrema Ratio collaborates with the University of Perugia on handle design: It was there that the so-called REM handle (Extrema Ratio Multipurpose Handle) was developed, an ergonomic shape that provides maximum grip for the three strongest fingers of the hand. For the folding knives, anodised aluminium handle scales or G10 are used.
Fixed-blade knives: Mamba, Fulcrum, Dobermann and Selvans in their operational roles
The range of Extrema Ratio fixed-blade knives covers a wide spectrum of applications – from compact backup knives to heavy-duty field knives.
The Extrema Ratio Mamba is the lightweight model in the range. A short, handy blade, a flat profile and minimal weight. The Kydex sheath features a special release mechanism for quick one-handed draw using the thumb – even when wearing gloves. The Extrema Ratio Mamba Ranger Green offers the same functionality in an OD-style colour that blends into woodland and Flecktarn environments. As part of the Extrema Ratio Mamba range, it is one of the most sought-after models in the backup segment.
The Extrema Ratio Fulcrum is a classic tanto-style tactical knife with a full-tang construction. Sleek, robust and designed for piercing power and leverage. It is available in black and Desert Warfare finishes. If you’re looking for a knife that performs equally well when breaking, cutting and prying, this is the right choice.
The Extrema Ratio Dobermann was one of the first models to be launched in 1998 – and remains a benchmark product to this day. A medium-sized utility knife with a well-balanced blade profile. It has been produced across several generations; the current Version IV incorporates nearly 25 years of user feedback from the field.
The Extrema Ratio Selvans was developed in collaboration with the Italian Survival Federation (F.I.S.S.S.). It is based on the Ontos military survival knife but has been further developed for use as a heavy-duty work knife: a longer handle, a heavier blade and improved chopping performance. When it comes to splitting wood or building a shelter in the field, the Extrema Ratio Selvans is the right tool for the job.
Compact fixed-blade knives: NK 2, Satre, MH Stealth and Vipera
Not every task requires a large field knife. Extrema Ratio has a well-thought-out range of compact fixed-blade knives that can be carried on the person as a backup or last-resort tool.
The Extrema Ratio NK 2 is a neck knife – a compact fixed-blade knife worn on a chain around the neck or concealed on the body. Minimalist, lightweight, yet forged from solid N690 steel. Blade length around 7 cm, total weight under 100 grams. That’s enough for cutting and emergency tasks without getting in the way when carried.
The Extrema Ratio Satre follows a similar concept: ultra-compact, all-steel construction, designed as a backup or last-resort tool. No handle in the traditional sense – the blade merges seamlessly into a flat steel grip. Fits in any pocket, on any belt, or on any plate carrier.
The Extrema Ratio MH Stealth is a fixed-blade backup knife in stiletto format with an integrated finger ring. Designed for concealed carry and quick deployment in emergency situations. Flat profile, compact dimensions, the tried-and-tested N690 blade. No folding mechanism that could fail at the crucial moment – a pure fixed-blade knife for close-quarters use.
The Extrema Ratio Vipera is a compact fixed-blade knife with a slim profile. Lightweight, quick to draw, carried in a Kydex sheath. Similar to the Mamba, but with its own blade profile for different cutting tasks.
Folding knives and tactical folders: RAO, Nightmare, BF2 CD and Glauca G1
Extrema Ratio builds folding knives the way other manufacturers build fixed-blade knives: solid, uncompromising, and designed for durability.
The Extrema Ratio RAO is proof of this. Weighing around 340 grams and with a blade thickness of 6 mm, it is one of the most substantial folding knives on the market. Slim enough for a trouser pocket? Not by a long shot. The RAO is carried in a belt sheath because it is simply too heavy and too bulky for that. Liner-lock mechanism, aluminium handle scales with a glass breaker at the end of the handle. Essentially a folding fixed-blade knife – once you’ve opened it, you’ll quickly forget it even has a folding mechanism.
The Extrema Ratio Nightmare is a tactical folding knife with distinctive blade geometry. The name isn’t just marketing – the solid construction is designed for situations where ruggedness is everything. A folding knife that behaves like a fixed-blade knife.
The Extrema Ratio BF2 CD Desert Warfare is a robust folding knife with a drop-point blade in the typical desert camouflage finish. The abbreviation ‘CD’ stands for ‘Classic Drop’ at Extrema Ratio – the drop-point variant. If you’re looking for the Tanto version, go for the BF2 CT (Classic Tanto). This is an important distinction to bear in mind when ordering.
The Extrema Ratio Shrapnel OG Desert Warfare, on the other hand, is a fixed-blade knife in the iconic Desert Warfare design, conceived as a compact combat knife with Tanto geometry.
The Extrema Ratio Glauca G1 – or Extrema Ratio Glauca G1 for short – is a folding knife developed for the French elite unit GIGN. Integrated into the handle: a glass breaker and a belt cutter. The name refers to a species of shark. The blade is slender and tapers to a point. A folding knife tailored to the specific requirements of intervention forces – from accessing a vehicle to freeing someone from a seatbelt.
Why Recon Company stocks Extrema Ratio
We don’t sell knives just because they look good. Recon Company assesses every brand against the same standards we have applied as a development partner for law enforcement agencies for over three decades: does the product deliver on the manufacturer’s promises? Is there genuine feedback from the field? Is the quality consistent across the range? With Extrema Ratio, all of this is true. The knives are in service with NATO forces, the manufacturing process is ISO-certified, and the design withstands military stress tests.
After 30 years in the business, we know this: the best knife is the one that suits the task. Whether it’s the Extrema Ratio Mamba as a backup on a plate carrier, the Extrema Ratio Dobermann as an all-rounder in the field, or the Extrema Ratio Fulcrum as a tactical operational knife – we’ll advise you on your choice.
- Discount for government agencies and their personnel
- Field post delivery worldwide for personnel on overseas missions
- Expert advice from the Recon team – online, by telephone or in person at our Salzgitter store
- ISO 9001 certified – quality-assured processes for procurement and order fulfilment at Recon Company
If you have any questions about individual Extrema Ratio knives, sheath compatibility with your carrying system or German firearms legislation – please get in touch. That’s what we’re here for.