Extrema Ratio RAO vs Cold Steel 4-MAX part 1

Andrew Demko tests the new Cold Steel 4-MAX alongside the Extrema Ratio RAO!
A lot of people asked to see this side by side test
For more information about Cold Steel knives, please visit:
www.coldsteel.com
Watch this space for PART TWO!

[@robertosanchez7242]

I cant believe how people really believe these test without actually testing the two knives themselfs. I could be wrong but I really doubt a $400 dollar knife is gonna fail on the first test. I think cold steel set this whole gig up.

[@abradolflincler3802]

Agree

[@mountainsstreams2133]

Just bought one & received it today. A total beast of a knife! One has to feel it in-hand to really appreciate it! - Great vid. Thankyou Cold Steel 👍🏻

[@frawlll]

i wanna see a 4 max vs crkt xoc

[@kitsnap1228]

Yes this atrocious overpriced shit must beat the dust.

[@no.step.on.snek.2423]

The xoc has the deadbolt. Andrew ( the man in the video) has already tested a triad lock ( the lock here from cold steel). Both performed HONORABLY. And i mean HONORABLY. however the deadbolt lock edged it out... However the knife tested was like 100 bucks. Vs the xoc ....and well we know how much that crap cost...... Bottom line , both locks are awesome. And it should be noted, the cold steel 4max also has a secondary stop pin hole.. you can stick a nail or other similar sized pin thru it and even IF the triad lock failed, it wont close on your hand.... Also another reason the triad lock may be better to some, is the fact that it allows for a thinner, narrower knife.. vs the deadbolt having minimum thickness and width requirement... Crkt now has multiple knives with the deadbolt for real world prices ~100-150 bucks.. and that my friends cant be beaten .. if you got a triad , your golden... But after many many years or continuous hard use, once the lock surfaces wear out of spec , it becomes less safe. Not so with the deadbolt. Eventually it may develop play , like all knives that fold and lock, it doesnt change the safety...steel has to sheer or break for the deadbolt to fail..

[@jalumbuquay6625]

Awesome knife, ingenious lock design. Can't wait to get my hands on the 4max, as well as the new 2016 throwers! go cold steel

[@colenorthway8578]

ummm its posted by cold steel so obviously the 4-max wins, I like cold steel but the Rao had to have been tampered with, there's no way a Rao failed that badly. I own 3 of them and several cold steel tri-ad-lock folders

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

the rao has an aluminuum frame which isn't a good pick since it‘s lacking hardness and most likely will deform from shock / strikes. this why it's all wobbly after that test.

[@mathieuboutinbastien]

I really wait eagerly for part 2!

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

+Mathieu Bastien I like your code 4 half g10 mod

[@mathieuboutinbastien]

Thank you ;)

[@CedricAda]

whilst I cant see any need for a lock to be that unsanely strong, these videos are entertaining

[@Skinnymoose]

CedricAda Gear and Outdoors Better to be stronger than weaker.

[@TheStratman007]

I would never go to the bushcraft field or in a battle with a pit bull that attacked me with anything less than a Tri-Ad lock.

[@deadvikingtrolls]

A big bush man needs a big bush knife 🎶

[@jonnycola5398]

Finally another amazing video. Please can the next video be on the benchmade adamas?

[@leef9834]

+jonny cola THIS

[@hyssean12]

It'll lose.

[@TheStratman007]

Look up the CS Talwar vs.the Benchmade Bedlam. It is CS hands down. A $40-$50 CS knife vs. a Benchmade Bedlam @ $200.

[@Larnsdoon]

good vid. u guys gonna be at the parking lot sale?

[@bruutus99]

Damn that 4max is sweet.

[@TheStratman007]

I own one. I had to tweak it a bit, but she is worth every cent.

[@DarthDefiler]

Andrew, what are the 2 knives you carry in either pocket?

[@cuvkiller]

Hey Cold Steel, I have 2 questions for you. 1, how much for would it take to break a tri ad lock? Like if you did a weight hang test on a XL Espada or something like that what would the weight be needed to break it? And 2. I sent in two knives for resharpening, do I just need a $14 money order or something?

[@Glenn056]

the blade will break before the lock does. Check the Tatanka vs Voyager video.

[@MrJohnny333]

Will you test Benchmade 275 Adamas vs Recon 1?

[@VCBird6]

Anyone else flinch when the RAO blade fell on his fingers?

[@MiregalForges]

A little, but they take the edge and tip off for these tests, for safety.

[@nathan_navaja]

Scary stuff.

[@TheStratman007]

Yes, sir. I've been bitten a few times. Once, I took stitches at the ER.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

First Edge Knives folder shows a video being able to take 1200 pounds of pressure on there blade and still did not fail. I think this would be the battle of the titans that needs to be done.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

can anyone tel me what the factory edge angle is on the 4-max??

[@Sassi50cal]

please test the schrade sure lock!!!

[@TheIrcbully]

I just gave my girl friend a spine whack for tell me to stop watching these knife videos lol

[@TheIrcbully]

I hit the thumbs up button

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

+TheIrcbully should've used the overstrike

[@TheIrcbully]

+James Milton (Jay) lol

[@stephenvanboening2232]

Thank you.

[@knighthawk3759]

so...how's that whole San Mai debacle going for you guys?

[@Vnbsm]

i Waited so long like years for the 4 max checked every where is preorder or back order, but you guy have the 4 max to wasted with these kind of test!! how long untill the 4 max aviable?

[@Vnbsm]

thx! im a big fan of Andrew design, the best design and lock stength on the market

[@AJott76]

i have the 4 max (made in USA) and it is worth the money!Strong as fuck and superb quality!THX Cold Steel and Andrew Demko

[@tikkidaddy]

Well I found the test I was looking for and I guess I stand corrected...at least against the 4 max😃

[@oxman1800]

I want to see how much that 4 max can hold on the weight hang. I couldnt believe the results of the XL Voyager, and I am sure this blade is much stronger. Gonna be insane.

[@davidsandlin9686]

lol this was the last hope. all the people waiting to see a cs loss wanted this. havent watched it yet im going to say cs wins.

[@hyssean12]

@@gordonbombay6627 yet the 4max is made in Italy lol

[@gordonbombay6627]

@@hyssean12 I didn't say all knives made in italy are poopoo. I said "these" Italian knives are bad. Yes they moves production of the 4max to italy. That doesn't make it a bad knife and it doesn't discredit Andrew demko in the least. But I'll say it clearer for you. Extrema ratio knives are poopoo. Not all italian knives but extrema knives which also happen to be Italian suck poopoo.

[@marciolprado1]

@@gordonbombay6627 As this series of videos shows, the ER RAO II didn't support the same weight or lock test as the CS, but that doesn't mean the ER RAO II sucks as it withstood the tests very well. Have you made any knife in your life?

[@gordonbombay5187]

@@marciolprado1 yes many. Also ER knives suck so much butt. They are big ugly scraps of shit.

[@charliemartin4392]

Andrew, is that a sig or glock?

[@dsbiddle]

I was shocked when I saw this video come up. Cold Steel’s got BALLS and a sick friggin knife to back it up.

[@SEPTEMBERMAN]

I totally dig my 4MAX. beefy. Anybody have any insight on Crusader Forge knives? Judging from the internet...they are hella expensive. Beautiful looking but expensive. Any quality in performance?

[@hyssean12]

It's a framelock. They almost all will slip off the tang. I had 2 medfords close and cut me

[@hyssean12]

Don't trust frame or liner locks.

[@gunfighterwinesnob]

what kind of 1911 is that in your waistband

[@semsei69]

I live in another country but i would love buy some CSknives, i need know something, how it works buying knifes in my case ;

[@joelvelazquez1892]

Always happy to see cold steel crush the competition.

[@bencho1455]

Cold Steel 4 Max vs CRKT XOC?

[@glytch5]

lets face it, the cold steel lock is an ingenious design.

[@thetacochannel8817]

awesome

[@ogenmatic]

Finally a blade that's nearly one tenth as good as your $50 blades but it costs ten times as much, takes ten seconds to screw together, and rattles after a couple of good whacks. Looking forward to the lift tests

[@mistersmith3986]

How much heroine do I have to sell to buy a 4 Max?

[@dertnberny]

All this time, and I missed “if you’re a super mall-ninja”

[@nobodysreview6137]

I like the 4Max, give use a hollow grind version with hardened alluminum liners and call it the 4Max Lite.

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

there's already a 4max scout🤔

[@ernesttolic6494]

Dobar si majstor, bravo na triad bravi za čakije no ovo pljuvanje konkurencije je smiješno.

[@chrimay]

You doesn't have an angle impact point measurement from the axis of the blade,

[@user-ui9my1bg7j]

good knife 4max now I always carry it with me

[@tty4551]

Take a shot everytime he opens and closes the RAO

[@convex7456]

Cold steel will be my next folder. If i cant find a m4 manix2

[@P-tricky13]

it's the 4 max out yet?

[@lerch400block]

yes sir

[@robinvandenbergh9184]

i talked about the RAO's lock on forum for years now...had one but after each use it had blade play. sold it...few months ago i bought the ER MPC, realy thought that was their strongest folder. looked great but after 1 wack on the back of a leather chair ( wasnt using any gloves or safety so it wasnt that hard) again it had blade play....i honestly think you can close the mpc with a good wack on the spine. so you pay lots of money for a cool looking knife that wil have a weak lock... all extrema ratios?...yes all of them. my guess is that the safety pin will rip the scales apart when the weight test reaches 400 pounds...the Max will still be going strong. in the wack test i think the rAO failed beacuse its loses its ability to be used without the safety pin...and putting the pin in is a real hassle...especially with the elastic cord still on...twists back after you screw it in...............theres more challenge in a BM adamas and more to laugh when you test a medford

[@ajroitgarts]

Do a test vs Medford, Shirogorov and Benchmade Adamas! Until then, I will still have doubt about your knives being the strongest.

[@ajroitgarts]

How about Adamas though? It withstood Vininull's test. All I'm saying - is they pick easy targets.

[@meatblade3490]

Hmm, they tested the Power Lock from Spydie, that's not an easy target. They've demonstrated multiple times that frame locks will normally fail this test and Demko is the first to point out why - it seems to be how it's engineered. It would be neat to see a Shiro and Medord get beat up a bit though :)

[@karlizen4990]

lol you still have doubt about the tri-ad lock, keep doubting then

[@bronsoncashiola1426]

Benchmade..... lol

[@daveandmerlin]

Is it me or did he have a 1911 tucked in the back of his trousers??

[@anto7358kap]

Sarebbe bello questo test farlo in italia e vedere se il risultato sarebbe diverso. Io ho diversi coltelli della cold steel e dell extrema ratio 1 solo e sono validi tutti e 2 i brand. Personalmente questo test mi sembra scorretto dato che il coltello non é un martello, e se si forza contro un ramo si fa dall altro lato.

[@a.j.rusinek8856]

make a ball bearing 4-max flipper then it's a instant purchase hahaha. will you guy's ever bring the arch angel back in production ?

[@EarthAlien51]

hey cs, what if i buy a 4max in germany and something is wrong with the knife ? Does germany have a cold steel customer service? i mean a 600 euro knife should be really worth the price lol

[@EarthAlien51]

man this is so awesome benchmade and spyderco can learn from you guys

[@jeffcon123]

+Val Valiant benchmades service is really good. I love cs but my personal experiences with benchmade have made me a fan for life

[@EarthAlien51]

ah benchmade is just to expensive for us in europe it is not worth at all buying any of these knives

[@DeathPorky]

Benchmade give out free pocket clips or if you broken anything from their product they will also replace it for free I think you will only spend the shipping fee

[@datfatsesh245]

I'm curious, did you ever get any CS products? I don't know if it is even possible for a Cold Steel blade to fail lol, but they would probably make it right. They are literally the only single brand that I feel is worth such a hefty pricetag too honestly.

[@marc31415]

i like the RAO because i need a hybrid knife, a fixed blade can not be concealed where i live.

[@neroknives1828]

I’d like someone to describe to me. Why a lock needs to withstand a spine wack that hard? Falling bricks? Cutting with the spine of your knife? I go hard on my knives. But I just don’t get it. I cut down

[@darynschultz]

Why does somebody need a car that does 180mph or a firearm that can hit targets at 500 yards plus etc etc, it’s either the piece of mind or knowing that a folding knife that cost way less then most the popular models can literally do anything you need if that’s the only knife you had on you in a bad situation, why not have a lock that strong give me a reason.

[@TeamLickMySack]

Demko is the man. Without Demko, Lynn would still be selling Garden Tools🤫🤫🤫🤫

[@rihsatqvert4561]

Mind Fuk’r 😀

[@ferrousmcgarrus3431]

Nice. Now, I challenge you to clamp the AD15 at maximum human grip strength, and spine whack it hard.. I have a feeling that scorpion lock mechanism is a finger guillotine in the right/wrong situation.

[@nobodysreview6137]

I know right. They test frame locks without holding them which is stupid, test the Scorpion lock like that too. Me? I don't really care that much, i prefer a back lock and like the Tri Ad but i like frame locks and other locks as well. I use a knife in a manner that the blade isn't being pushed in the closing direction anyway. I use common sense. Whacking the back of a blade to test a knife is like testing a car by droping a bowling ball on it. I support these stupid videos though because the knife world really will sell you some real garbage.

[@dsbiddle]

That test is more than inconclusive. Granted, these are pretty extreme tests but the lock on the RAO broke. You no longer have a fictional folder at that point. The pin gives you a makeshift knife but all the blade play and wobble doesn’t install much confidence in me any more at that point.

[@tallswede80]

So how long till extrema ratio goes out of business? The sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.

[@renaissanceman4267]

Extrema price for Extrema junk!!....Andrew makes a bad a** knife!!....keep it up brother!!👌💯👍

[@julescritelli3049]

He was using a clone extrema ratio!!! Of course it's going to fail!!!

[@nose93gmail]

Jules Critelli that was also my Impression, as well as they did with Otter Tests. Once I saw him Talking an extrema ratio out of a brown box which is not ER but typical of chinese copies

[@CoenBijpost]

That blade play WITH the pin… Just so sloppy. When does a knife with wiggle ever inspire confidence? Even with the second pin? I so need a 4max, I think I’ll get a scout very soon, then start saving for the real deal 😊

[@DJHamburgla]

Please do a test of tri-ad lock vs. lionsteel "rotoblock" lock or whatever it's called. The tri-ad is the king of locks for sure, but the rotoblock lock looks ridiculously good too. Keep up the good work. I love these videos. Cold Steel for life!!

[@robinvandenbergh9184]

+DJHamburgla rotoblock closes fairly easy..lion steel makes good knives, love their thick blades and designs but sold my sr1 because the lock wouldnt hold..

[@neroknives1828]

Lack cutting ability like your sr1

[@miked6367]

Still no adamas or hinderer tests. Cmon guys we are all waiting :)

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

+Mike D isnt the 808 Loco stronger than Adamas?

[@miked6367]

James Milton they're both very very close. Either one would be good for this test. Loco is basically a differently shaped adamas with a different blade grind. Lock strength should be on par.

[@Glenn056]

both will lose no doubt especially the Hinderer, which is just another Ti framlock like the ZT300 they tested so why bother anyways.

[@miked6367]

Glenn056 yeah the hinderer for sure will lose, but wouldn't write off the adamas or loco too quick, ive seen vininul test the adamas and its liners are that thick it doesnt let that axis lock bar give way like others. Adamas is probably the 2nd strongest knife after cold steels offerings.

[@f22shift]

My knife snob friends think their hinderer is tougher than my 4 max. Still waiting on the vid.

[@powerplay4real174]

Poor Ray Oh or RAO failed from the start Blackforstghost 1's take in this knife got me hear.

[@SLAMINIRC]

adamas! wanna see it break lol

[@arctickilla5424]

Hahahaha 8:55-9:05 is my favorite part!! Great job, and the USA made 4max is a Daumn near indestructible, perfect knife and the craftsmanship is superb of course, it’s Coldsteel!! 👍👍

[@maurom9654]

Taiwan made...

[@daniele0617]

Non spenderei mai più di 15,00 € per un coltello Cold Steel

[@connormatsis5103]

they can fail there not the ultimate knife. ive had 3 folders fail on me, but i still like them, but there aesthetics arent to par with like a benchmade.

[@hawintherknives4386]

And that's why I'm using cold steel

[@AxleKlown]

Cold Steel 4Max won hands down the RAO broke plain and simple

[@grahamospreay9381]

Nice slight of hand, you are in the wrong profession. Someone who starts a test with as much verbal bias as this individual does should not be in a position of testing a product for consumer consideration. Both knives are solid and will function as expected. Interesting how Cold Steel turned to Italy for their manufacturing of the 4Max 2017 edition. I own both knives and have not been disappointed with either, although I am not a fan of the screw lock pin on the Rao II, solid but just too much fiddling if you need to lock up in a hurry.

[@AJott76]

is cheaper to produce it in Italy!

[@lucaronconi996]

A Jott it’s not... loads of italian companies produce in germany even because of how expansive producing in italy is

[@DanceForMe13]

I was seriously considering the RAO at one point. Not anymore...

[@ShamelessTR]

Jeez. I remember when Coldsteel offered an amazing product at an amazing price... I guess there are different pockets in play these days. Awesome knife though.

[@thedefinitive6296]

+ShamelessTR Well there are a lot of people saying they wanted better steels that were USA produced and CS delivered. That stuff costs something though. I also believe they are making an effort to produce more of their products in the US, which also adds cost. I think there are still plenty of the AUS 8A blades available on Ebay and Amazon for now though. I personally never had a problem with any of their steels. I liked that I could get a lot of blade for the money, but I do appreciate that they are genuinely working towards producing higher quality blades

[@meatblade3490]

The 4Max is not typical of their usual offerings. It's their slightly step-down version of Demko's custom 4Max knife. People have been asking for some time for CS to offer a high end production version of the knife for years. I just picked up a brand new Espada XL in G10 with CTS-XHP blade steel for my friend...for $210 from Amazon, brand new. 7.5" of CTS-XHP for that price is incredibly good value.

[@richardhenry1969]

Cold steel rules

[@rekozma]

I have all kinds of knives and I have been called a fan boy before and don't really care but if it can't take the same tests as a cold steel then it's a fail. Doesn't mean it's not a good knife just means it's not a cold steel tough knife. Let's play the aliens game. If aliens come today and you had to have one knife and only one knife for the rest of your life to fight them off what are you going to choose? Out of all the hundreds I have I'm grabbing a cold steel and running for the hills. But that's iho.

[@cafeqc3793]

RAO caput...

[@dml4557]

cold steel has told that +csknives

[@daniele0617]

A parte fare fake video, sai fare qualcos'altro?

[@devanblake2242]

Extrema seems alright but nothing can beat cold steel

[@devanblake2242]

@@LXT43 well I mean it looks like cold steels lock beat the extrema ratio in this video. True can't really find a hard-core prying tip test video for cold steel. But I've got a recon 1 and I've pried open several 5 gallon paint cans my time on the river. That's a hell of a tip test, unfortunately I can't prove though. Also I paid 80 bucks for it

[@D.or.A]

Невероятно

[@Ts_Evildroid]

ROA failed. It no longer functions as intended.Pretty simple. Even though it did not fold on the spine whack, the primary locking system failed & no longer functions. If you loose the pin your knife is useless.Plus, its noisy now too, not good for tactical situations.

[@neonightkiller]

+Evil Droid The pin is not needed to lock the blade in the open position.

[@magicalmidget08]

+neonightkiller it is after this test, which is his point. It helps to actually read the comment before you reply.

[@neonightkiller]

yep....that was a stupid fucking comment for sure...probly ripped......you win...

[@magicalmidget08]

+neonightkiller stay lifted buddy!

[@neonightkiller]

Thor Smith hee hee, lifted,...that's a good one...=)

[@caseybryan8440]

you can buy it now at midwayusa.com I've ordered from them before

[@MrT6250]

#coldsteelmini4MAXplease

[@valentinogulo6474]

primer comentario

[@augustus63]

I'm Italian and I can say E.R. knives suck! they're just extremely overpriced tactical junk

[@anto7358kap]

Bell italiano che sei, di italiano non hai nemmeno il nome

[@Thornton733]

Epic fail!!! Especially at that price

[@prismthearchangeldragon2842]

First actual comment.

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

+Prism The Archangel Dragon Irrelevant and off topic. Subject to deletion. Admin?

[@youngstrokesurvivor3510]

The face of Andrew Demko says it all while his holding the RAO after the test. This is trash hahaha!.

[@chrimay]

The cold steel Korean knives are a piece of crap in front of a extrema ratio Italian artisan knive as the RAO 180, is like to compare a Lamborgini next to a Hiunday mate.

[@wrjames38]

Apparently not

[@hyssean12]

This cold steel is made in italy dumbass

[@naterboy21awesome45]

FAIL!!

[@johnmutton799]

Extreme ratio? It's all about marketing ! Without the product to match. Fixed blade knife my arse! That is the most extreme fail I have seen! Ha! Ha!

[@timberwood9864]

Def a fail!! Go CS

[@caseybryan8440]

total fail you can hear shit rattling around like fucking maracas

[@Meedalery]

Extrema Ratio is Suck☝️

[@wesleyfarmer21]

It is a fail it broke end of story

[@davidsandlin9686]

i agree and im not a cs fan but they build tough as knives.

[@Vnbsm]

i seen other test the Rao is a piece of shit and try to stay away from extremaratio shitty company over price, reason i brought one of their fix blade $400 after i took the coating of the blade its full of perocity blubble on steels and they still let pass through production

[@davidsandlin9686]

***** yeah thats pretty shitty man. I know on the Chris Reeves knife that they tested all the comments where about the RAO and how they wont test it because it will beat their knives. Im not a huge fan but I will say coldsteel knives arent going to lose this test. Their knives are designed to pass this test others are not.

[@solitarium01728]

Extrema RATIO all the WAY!!! 4 max just ugly

[@wrjames38]

Rao is weak

[@AJott76]

but worth the money.....the 4 max!😑

[@dml4557]

cold steel is a copy from rao

[@chrimay]

Cold Steel why? Because is true?

[@karlizen4990]

How is it true? are you born dumb?

[@convex7456]

Dani marañon didnt demko make his custom 4max first?

[@convex7456]

Dani marañon which the cold steel is the production version

[@Villarreal422]

well the rao is certainly not worth the price

[@Freedom4444203]

Probably the locks of cold steel are strong , but their steels and materials are just cheap garbage materials

[@andeeaye]

These tests are quite dumb. How often are we smacking the back of our blade that hard