EXTREMA RATIO FULCRUM BAYONET: AN EXTREME COLD STEEL OPTION

The bayonet is falling out of favor with some militaries around the world that are getting more cozy with replacing skill with tech, like the US Army. However, this does not mean that the rest of the world has given up on the idea of using cold steel to convince the enemy that fighting is not a good idea. The Italian military is one of the militaries that currently uses a bayonet for their modern ARX-160 rifle, and their bayonets are made by the top-tier knife maker, Extrema Ratio. The Fulcrum is the standard bayonet used by the Italian and French militaries (during the FAMAS era), and they make a separate Fulcrum bayonet specifically for the users of the AR-15 style of bayonet lug. My specific Fulcrum Bayonet is the OD green version. It is a full feature bayonet that carries on the military capability, but with AR-15 compatibility.

EXTREMA RATIO HISTORY

The company was founded in the late 90’s with a focus on fixed blades and tactical knives. The mission of the company was to fill a specific perceived need for more tactical knives that were made for hard use by professionals. Their first knife of notoriety was the Dobermann, which was a high-end fixed blade recognized for its quality and unique design.

In the early 2000s, the company began doing most of the knife production in-house, which allowed them to make more innovative designs, such as the Integral Edition series. During this time, they also had official adoption of one of their military fixed blade knives and partnered with a US distributor to expand to the lucrative US market. In just a couple of years, the company began making their own tactical folding knives and moved to a larger facility to start meeting the growing demand for their tank-like knives.

In the mid-2000’s, the French Army hired Extrema Ratio to provide their Fulcrum Bayonet for the FAMAS bullpup rifle as part of their FELIN modernization system. This supply happened until late 2017, and it is speculated that over 100,000 bayonets were supplied to the French armed forces during its 12-year contract. Lately, the Italian army uses a specific variant of the Fulcrum bayonet for their Beretta ARX-160 rifle, along with other fixed blade knives for maritime and alpine units.

Currently, it would seem that Extrema Ratio is now settling down on their production, and focusing on niche-style tactical knives and tools rather than chasing mass-production of edged weapons, nowadays.

FEATURES OF THE FULCRUM BAYONET

The Extrema Ratio Fulcrum Bayonet is a high-performance tactical knife developed from the successful Fulcrum combat knife design, engineered for extreme durability and versatility in demanding field conditions. It features a full-tang, modified tanto blade crafted from Bohler N690 cobalt stainless steel and hardened to 58 HRC, offering outstanding edge retention, excellent corrosion resistance, and the structural integrity to withstand loads in excess of 150 kilograms (approximately 330 pounds).

The blade measures 7.1 inches (180 mm) long and 0.25 inches (6.3 mm) thick, and is partially serrated with a flat grind; it is finished in a non-reflective black coating applied to MIL-C-13924 standards for low visibility and additional surface protection. The blade has a unique design and pattern where it goes from thick to thin and back to thick before it tapers out and narrows to a fine tanto tip.

The ergonomic handle is molded from a non-slip Forprene thermoplastic elastomer, providing a secure, comfortable grip even when wet, and includes a lanyard hole at the pommel that can double as a hammer or improvised glass breaker for utility and emergency uses.

FEATURES OF THE FULCRUM BAYONET SHEATH & CARRIER

The Fulcrum bayonet comes with a sheath and mounting system that offers a great deal of options. You can mount the bayonet on MOLLE, like the surplus MOLLE leg panels you can find for cheap on eBay and surplus stores, or you can use the belt and leg strap system provided. Everything is easy to adjust and secure. The entire system uses Velcro and elastic keepers to prevent undoing the Velcro from snagging.

The sheath is made of a thick and heavy-duty polymer with a wire cutter base that hides in the rugged pocket of the Nylon carrying sleeve. The bayonet can fit in the polymer sheath either way, and it has a tight fit to it. The sheath is held in the sleeve by a durable 4-button retention clasp.

The back of the sheath features the sharpener that is built into the sheath for field sharpening. This is convenient, but could be about as useful as tits on a bull if you are not aware of how to use the sharpener. The sharpener will need some oil to work properly, but it could also be used with water, or even saliva. Convenient, but a bit odd. Just be sure to dry the blade off afterward and coat it with some CLP or oil to prevent corrosion.

The two leg straps are easy to adjust and contain elastic stretch sections to help the bayonet carrier conform to the bodies movements easier and prevent it from restricting your movement. I appreciate the double leg strap system which is modular, flexible, and secure, which makes carrying such a bulky military-style multitool easier.

A HEFTY PRICE

Yeah, I spent almost $400 for this bayonet. That is the price of a firearm, or a case of .45 ACP, 1 1/2 cases of 9mm. You get the point, I’m sure. Why in the heck would someone pay $400 or more on a bayonet; something they will likely never need to employ in a serious combat role? My answer to that is why do people buy the HK MR556 or MR762? Why buy a Staccato, a custom 1911, or an Atlas racegun? Each person is going to perceive the value of the product based on it’s merits and their philosophy of use. This item isn’t for everyone, but it certainly can be a terrific item if you are interested in unique and elite military gear for your own uses.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER BAYONETS

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: M-9, FULCRUM, M-7, SOG BAR15T

HANDLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN M-9 (LEFT) AND FULCRUM (RIGHT)

HANDLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN M-7 (LEFT) AND FULCRUM (RIGHT)

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

The instruction manual for the bayonet is quite comprehensive, and includes everything one would need to know in order to disassemble, mount, sharpen, and care for the bayonet.

The pamphlet is small but it is rich in value, as far as condensed information you will need for learning to use the bayonet.

MY EXPERIENCE

I found the Fulcrum bayonet to be well built, intuitive to use, and very well designed for being a mere bayonet. It definitely comes in a good steel, has a badass blade design, is hefty, and has a good sheath that is silent and modular.

I appreciated the sheath being so versatile. I preferred to use the bayonet sheath without any retaining strap. The friction retention of the top of the sheath was already more than enough to hold the knife secure, and keep it from rattling at all.

Also, I appreciate that the wire cutting part of the sheath is ITSELF sheathes in the nylon mount so you don’t have the deal with getting poked and whacked by it when crawling, running, and otherwise working and moving.

The tanto blade on the Fulcrum was a huge selling point for me. The tanto is legendary for its penetrative capability, and the thick robust nature of this bayonet reinforces that confidence. Testing the bayonet on tight cardboard wraps was a telltale sign that this bayonet was an exceptional stabbing implement.

I found the blade design a bit odd when it is mounted to the rifle or shotgun (my Mossberg 590A1) because the blade end points up towards the muzzle instead of down like normal bayonets.

This does not take away your cutting and slashing ability though since you also have a robust section of spine at the last 2” that is razor sharp and comes to a hard edge as if it was made for hacking.

WRAPUP

The Fulcrum bayonet is an elite option among many imitations. It is not for those who are not truly interested in having the best piece of cold steel on the end of their weapon system, poised to give the enemy a stabby stabby.