Ontario Knife Company 8681 SP-5 Fixed Blade Bowie Knife w/ 10" Blade, Overall Length: 15" Perfect Tactical, Military, Outdoor, Survival Knife Black

I heard that Ontario Knife was closing it's doors, so I decided to pick up a few more of their blades on Amazon before everything dries up and/or gets too expensive. I bought my first of this model back in the 1990s, and the one I bought last week appears to be exactly the same. These are well made knives that are solid budget friendly tools. Over the years, I've purchased 20+ Ontario knives and machetes for myself and for gifts, and I've been happy with the lot. Ontario is famous for having wonky grinds, so be prepared to do some reprofiling and sharpening to get your edge exactly where you want it. This knife is good for light chopping, limbing, and most camp tasks. It batons wood quite well, but it's not the best at food prep' with its 1/4 inch spine. The top swedge is not sharpened, which I like because it keeps it legal here in Hawaii. I'm sad to see another affordable American knife manufacturer go out of business.

Amazing! Not a fan of western blades, but for this one I make an exception. It's a knife that has great weight to it and the steel can take a beating! The scabbard is nice as well allowing for a thigh belt, it's big enough to slash with power behind it and the rubber handle allows for much use. It's a knife that will out do most others, given that's it's such a large knife it is the ladder of speed, power and effectiveness. Powerful, yet does not sacrifice speed, can preform a powerful slash yet can be stopped mid path as a faint and not pricy enough to make me worry about going all out with it if the time comes.

Another "home run" from Ontario Knife company! This blade is a perfect "companion" for my Ontario Knife Company Marine Raider Bowie (SP-10). Even with its 10" 1075 Carbon Steel blade (hardened to 57-59 HRC), it moves quickly and properly at the slightest command. Even the BK9 can't match the quality for the price paid. (Believe me when I tell you that I really appreciate KaBar's quality).I paid but $44.80 for the Ontario Knife Company Survival Bowie. This beauty would be a bargain at $60.00! This thing is "tougher than whip leather" and as useful as a Wenger "Swiss Army Multitool".As a big knife, it can do things a little knife can and more things that a smaller knife can't. This knife should be in every "bug out" bag and emergency kit. It is as "big and bad" as any other Bowie knife and it is "stronger than a country hoss". If you are worried about the clip point of this knife being "weak and/or fragile" RELAX! This Bowie was built to be used and used HARD! When the "chips are down" this is the Bowie knife you want at your side.Would I buy this knife again? I'll give that an unqualified YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE IT!

SP5 - I bought two of these. One at a time, 3-4 months apart. And totally love them both. I'd buy another in heartbeat other than the fact that I haven't "needed" another knife since I was 20 and I just turned 60. And during the almost 40 years since I was 21, I've bought lots of knives. And I'd like to share something with you. Every year or two, I buy 10 disposable razors for $5 to shave with and have a USB charged electric razor ( Amazon!). So now ( as ever) I have never needed to shave my face with a knife. I prefer not to shave my arms or other areas at all. Don't shave with knives or axes. So now that I've solved that safety issue back to business: a Great knife if you for some reason want a great big knife. BIG knife. I'm a machete fan myself. Pocket knife + machete I'm good to go. And I love Ontario products. ( see Ontario 18" Machetes @ Amazon! ). But I am gonna whine & take away a Star because in the page graphics they state "Razor sharp edges & swedge". The swedge does NOT have any kind of edge on it and I'm happy. Don't want it sharp, would have dulled it with a grinder if it was. It's a false edge. Dull as church. But "Razor Sharp Edges" on the blade...I really didn't expect that either. I've bought every big brand knife and have almost every time I've decided they required a little personal labor ( note: Victorinox rocks out of the box - Amazon!) . But with both of my SP-5 knives they did indeed had really sharp main edges on the blade....from the tip to about 1/3rd or so the way down. However, at my main "I want this area sharp" part at the handle end for 3-5 inches, both of my two knives were about as sharp as the edge on a non-serrated butter knife. And I mean that literally. I could see where they started down the grinder and then quit. Front end - Sharp. The grip end wouldn't cut pulled taut cotton twine. I do not have the patience of a Zen Master. I looked at the edge, knew I wasn't gonna waste hours & hours with a whet stone and broke out my Nicholson Axe File ( Amazon! ) on it. I made some progress before I got bored with that. I am NOT an edge freak. Every knife I and whatever tool I use get sharpened with whatever is handy that will do the job. I've used random rocks. Un-fired bricks or big shards thereof are awesome. Good enough for my purposes. But these knives were not anywhere near sharp in that specifically noted area. That area is the generally accepted slicing & dicing part of a blade. Luckily, since I'm out in the country and am forever sharpening everything with a blade ( including lawnmowers plural), in addition to grinders, I own a Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener ( I really do love Amazon). About 30 minutes per knife and using all 3 belts ( Course, Medium, & Fine ) I had two sharper than I need, exceptionally sharp Ontario SP-5 knives. Which ARE now razor sharp. Found that out oiling the blade of the last one while not giving undivided attention to my task. I just finished sharpening the second one today and have 4 light ever so light lines across the pad of my index finger. Never felt a thing. Never would have known except the 5th line hit a nerve and brought a few drops of blood. Nobody's fault but mine. So now you have been informed. #1 - Don't shave with a blade that isn't designed for that purpose and #2 - The SP-5 is a great knife that WILL take a great edge but do expect it to come that way. And here is where I get in trouble: "In MY opinion" ( and considering general specs) Ontario Knives are much better, badder, & tougher than Ka-Bar and cost half as much.

The knife came with a good edge for wood cutting and kindling splitting with a stout batton. After a 17 degree fresh edge it cut thru black berry winter vines just fine! The shocker was the no shocker handle that absorbed the batton strikes, and while whacking off limbs! The grip is hunkeydorey! The hole took a very thick strip of leather for a wrist loop. I love the swing ability! I know- my genious cringes but they made this tough on deliberation!

I had one of these 20 years ago, and the whole thing was terrifyingly sharp, particularly the swedge. On this one, the swedge is dull, but also the blade wasn't completely sharpened: about 4 inches of blade, 2/3 toward the handle, was just sort of...rounded. There was too much metal to remove by hand, especially at my level of sharpening skill, but a $7 trip to the sharpening guy sorted it out.The black coating on the blade is a little dribbly, but overall it's a fine tool at a good price.