Any experience with Ontario knives?

[Boberama]

I was on the verge of picking up a Ka-Bar USMC since it remains the benchmark against which many general-purpose utility knives are based but I took a look at some of the offerings in Ontario's Spec Plus line and also their SP42 and SP43 knives in 5160.

This is the one that seems like an equal or better knife than the Ka-Bar, judging from Specs. Slightly longer blade, 1095 (not 1095 Cro-Van however, how does Ontario's 1095 compare?), sharpened clip-point and a wider tang and a lanyard hole. Plus it's cheaper. I don't think the sheath is nearly as good as the new Ka-Bar sheaths however.

http://www.cqbtactical.pl/images/ONSP6.jpg

Anybody have any experience with these knives?

How's the heat treatment? Are the sheaths OK?

[Boberama]

I thought someone would have experience with the Spec Plus line.

How about Kabar? The cheap sheath on the Ontario kind of turns me off, I'd have to buy a new one from somewhere and that could be more expensive than simply buying a better knife in the first place.

[RigPig]

I have a Marine Raider Bowie and it is a great chopper. The steel is good the blade coating is decent. You must remember to oil it once in awhile because it will rust along the edge. I also have a Kabar and it is comparable. I would buy which ever one was cheaper. The sheath is acceptable by my standards it is more to just hold the knife as you would not want to were it on your hip very long.
As usual I will recommend my favorite place to buy all knives and flashlight :
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Ontario
Great service and prices that cant be beat in Canada.
Cheers

[Lornce]

I own the Quartermaster, but never use or carry it. They do build a quality product, it depends what you need the knife for? The ones you listed are more military in function. As an example for hunting skinning I love my Canadian and other brands.

Ka-Bar certainly likes to say that they are the benchmark but only because of the huge numbers given to military personal, thus they are popular. A knife can be a very personal thing. For example I find most young guys and beginner hunters carry blades that are much too big for general practical camp tasks.

Just my 2 cents

[RigPig]

I own the Quartermaster, but never use or carry it. They do build a quality product, it depends what you need the knife for? The ones you listed are more military in function. As an example for hunting skinning I love my Canadian and other brands.

Ka-Bar certainly likes to say that they are the benchmark but only because of the huge numbers given to military personal, thus they are popular. A knife can be a very personal thing. For example I find most young guys and beginner hunters carry blades that are much too big for general practical camp tasks.

Just my 2 cents

I agree but I like to fancy myself as a collector of all kinds of unpractical and exotic knives. I also have about 20 high-end 3.5=4" folders that are pretty redundant. And yes for Christmas I will be adding more.:)

[Lonnie]

buy the one that is military issue their usualy a very good quality for the price, the look a likes are usualy cheap junk. military specs have to be met by manufactures that supplie the military and the volume that they contract for gets them a very good price, that most cuold not even come close to competing with in the civilin market if they meat mil. specs

[Lornce]

If it's for a collection then you will definitely want a Ka-Bar just for the cool factor.

I agree but I like to fancy myself as a collector of all kinds of unpractical and exotic knives. I also have about 20 high-end 3.5=4" folders that are pretty redundant. And yes for Christmas I will be adding more.:)

[fordtruckin]

I never saw very many guys Carrying Kbars when I was in Iraq and I was stationed with ALOT of Marines. Most of us Army Guys carried a Gerber or a SOG Seal Pup...(my choice). Other than that Ontario Knives also makes some of the M9 Bayonets for the US military Although The Phrobis III ones are preferred.

[greylynx]

The machete is great. Takes a lot of abuse a machete should not have to.

[Gypsy'Boy]

I bought a Quarter Master years ago. Never carry it anywhere anymore, its extremely heavy (bought it when I was 14 I think). Seemed to keep a good edge for the amount I actually used it. It seems to ride around under the seat of my truck mostly now. I realized recently that the snap on the flap that holds knife in the sheath separated from the actual snap and will no longer stay closed. But I have had it for almost 20 years now.

[pesky672]

I use a run of the mill Schrade with an end heavy blade...cheap... tough enough and functional. I can gut, skin chop through bone and if I lose it...I have another one for about 30 bucks.
Holds and edge pretty well to... as good as any other I'd bet.