Thursday, June 3, 2010

Ontario Survival Knife Review - By Montezuma

Once upon a time, I was in the USMC, attached to an F-18 Squadron. My job was to equip and inspect the survival gear that the pilots carried (or in some cases carried them -- as in parachutes).

Ontario Knife 499 Air Force Survival, Fixed Blade Knife with 5.0" Zinc Phosphate Steel Blade, & Natural Leather Handle, Overall Length 9.5"One of the items that the pilots were equipped with was the Ontario 499 and I managed to pick up a used one, in "unservicable" condition (mine doesn't have the original sheath) back in the day. I have had this knife with me for about 15 years now... at the time I got it, I liked it because it looked a little bit like the USMC Ka-Bar.

Features: 5" 1095 carbon steel blade .1875" thick, with blood groove, saw tooth back and zinc phosphate finish, natural leather handle with metal cross guard and steel butt cap, and natural leather sheath with sharpening stone and tie down.

Some things that I love about this knife is first and foremost - DURABILITY. Quite honestly, I have treated this blade horrible. Most of the time it has been stuffed in a tool box or in a junk drawer..., but anytime that there was a bump in the night or box that needed opening, I found this knife handy.

Ontario, in recent years, has gained notoriety for their RAT 3 and RAT 5 knives, but at double the price of the 499.  














Once I started getting serious about preparing for my survival future, I dug out my trusty 499... freshened up the blade a little and what I have found is a very nice knife for the price. 

A great feature, that I have found myself using many more times than I care to admit, is the butt end of the handle. It is equipped with a hex end that is designed as bludgeoning device (hammer). Versatility is critical in a survival situation and this is something that you just don't get in many other "High End" knives.

The blade is also equipped with a saw on the top of the blade... I have not had an opportunity to use this feature and I don't know that it would be first choice to cut a tree branch, but it does give it some Rambo like qualities... LOL 

2 comments:

  1. i have to agree,ontario knives are u.s made not built in mexico then shipped to the u.s great knife for cheap cash

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