FOLDING STEEL KNIFE

In June 2006 the 185th Rgt. Reconnaissance and Objective Acquisition "FOLGORE" (185° RAO) have entrusted EXTREMA RATIO with the development of a special knife based on certain specifications inherent to their particular operational activities.

 

In June 2006 the 185th Rgt. Reconnaissance and Objective Acquisition "FOLGORE" (185° RAO) have entrusted EXTREMA RATIO with the development of a special knife based on certain specifications inherent to their particular operational activities.
The 185th RAO is the only department within the Italian Armed Forces that has the task of conducting long-range reconnaissance and acquiring targets of various kinds in order to allow their engagement with fire from artillery, helicopters, aircraft and ships in all conceivable scenarios in armed force, joint and multinational operations. A delicate and extremely risky job carried out in detachments that have the ability to infiltrate, operate and survive in hostile territory thanks to an unusual hard training lasting two years. A detail that allows it a potential for action that no other department has within the Italian Armed Forces.
The motto of this special operations regiment is: “VIDERE NEC VIDERI”, from the Latin: “SEEING WITHOUT BEING SEEN”.
The result is the RAO, a survival knife, not a big folding knife but a compact work knife with a heavy and robust blade and a particularly resistant opening lock mechanism, assisted by a safety system that transforms it into a real fixed blade . The opening and closing can be operated with two hands, acting on the lateral ends of the locking pin of the blade, in order to minimize the risk of self-harm during the operation.
The blade, due to its weight, is in fact a real guillotine.
To guarantee 100% sealing of the locking mechanism, due to the heavy use and the violence of the blows caused by the mass of the instrument, a threaded steel pin has been applied which finds its seat in the two holes on the guard of the massive scales in anticorodal aluminium.
By screwing the pin in this seat, it is placed between the blade and the user's fingers, also providing an important psychological effect. The sheath is an essential component of the system because, in addition to housing a diamond sharpener, it allows you to carry the knife open, held by a strap with double clip, or closed in the special front pocket. The system for fixing the sheath to the user is M.O.L.L.E. which adapts to the latest generation tactical vests and generic belts.

DATA SHEET
ex g.:335
Weight oz.:11.8
Blade length (mm):119
Blade Length (in):4.7
Total Length (mm):263
Total Length (in):10.4
Blade thickness (mm):6
Blade Thickness (in):0.24
Blade material: BöHLER N690 STEEL (58HRC)
Blade Finish: DESERT WARFARE LASER ENGRAVING
Blade sharpening: FLAT EDGE
Handle material: ANODIZED ANTICORODAL ALUMINUM