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Okay I get the $25 one, but $200+ for 440A with 49-52 HRC??? Is it plated with 24k gold and only meant for decoration??? That's the only thing I can think of. For that price WHY would they not go 440C or better?
 
CyberShot said:
According to Ontario Knife Company (I spoke with their customer service yesterday) this knife http://www.taskforcedagger.org/Store/USMCknife.html is the same as their P4 Combat Knife but with black blade. Same steel with a black coating like the http://ontarioknife.com/limited-edition/p4-w-black-blade-detail .

The price is phenomenal compared to their retail. :D All proceeds go to a great organization. :cool:
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Well, I bought one.

But if those are the same knives, I suspect a zero was left off the price. I won't be surprised if my order is cancelled.
 
Okay I get the $25 one, but $200+ for 440A with 49-52 HRC??? Is it plated with 24k gold and only meant for decoration??? That's the only thing I can think of. For that price WHY would they not go 440C or better?
 
The msrp is in the $200 range, but real world prices can be had on many websites (100 to 140 range). I don't believe Ontario did very well selling the P4 models... and I imagine they simply took the remaining stock of them and had them done up and donated to the Task Force Dagger project. Kind'a a win win situation... they get rid of a very slow mover, and help out with a great cause..... just my guess :)

As for the low hardness of the steel used.... I have no clue as to why.
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
The msrp is in the $200 range, but real world prices can be had on many websites (100 to 140 range). I don't believe Ontario did very well selling the P4 models... and I imagine they simply took the remaining stock of them and had them done up and donated to the Task Force Dagger project. Kind'a a win win situation... they get rid of a very slow mover, and help out with a great cause..... just my guess :)
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Ontario might have donated them, but you'd still think that the Task Force Dagger project would try to get more than $25 for them and maximize revenue. (Just a guess on my part as well.)

Maybe they know what they are doing and would rather move these knives fast. Fine with me... I'll take one at that price.
 
I was wondering about the steel also. Seems underwhelming after owning knives with all kinds of "super steel", but then I realize that this is a combat knife so it might be OK. Cutting people doesn't require super steel. ;)
 
I can accept 440A on occasion, but at 49-52? Do they just skip the heat treat?
 
I must say, Ontario does a good job of keeping their prices affordable... which amazes me with them being in NY USA.
I purchased one of their Marine Corps utilty/combat knives recently (model 498), and it ran me about 40 bucks new in box. Granted, it did not have the brass hardware and polished leather.... but, the handle is made of stacked leather, it's blade of 1095 well hardened phoshated steel, a leather sheath, and nice boxing. I believe the phoshating is a more costly process than their powder coating, but, I like my Ontario knives with either... a little diversity :)
 
As for our questions about Ontario hardening their 440A to only 49 to 52 hrc...
Well, it may be one of the reasons that the P4 has been a slow seller for Ontario. I imagine the P4 designation may be another, where as something more in line with the Marine Corps Utility knife name would have exposed it better. I believe there is an Ontario rep that frequents this forum... so I think I will post up a new topic on this forum asking about the specifics as to the why they do it at that range.... I guess it can't hurt to ask :)
 
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On a related note... I found the following about the Ontario P4 on a popular knife vendor's online site. It falls into my guessing that the P4 had been a poor seller for Ontario, and that finishing off their remaining P4 components into a P4 they could donate to Task Force Dagger, may be pretty accurate....

"Editors Note; These models have been discontinued for several years. The leather sheaths have a blade hold down strap that was always extremely hard to get snapped. They were always just a wee bit short. In the (name of vendor) Shop we would slowly stretch them out by first wetting with rubbing alcohol and pulling slowly. Once we could get them snapped we would let them dry in place and then they seemed to be fine. Please take this in to consideration when ordering"
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
On a related note... I found the following about the Ontario P4 on a popular knife vendor's online site. It falls into my guessing that the P4 had been a poor seller for Ontario, and that finishing off their remaining P4 components into a P4 they could donate to Task Force Dagger, may be pretty accurate....

"Editors Note; These models have been discontinued for several years. The leather sheaths have a blade hold down strap that was always extremely hard to get snapped. They were always just a wee bit short. In the (name of vendor) Shop we would slowly stretch them out by first wetting with rubbing alcohol and pulling slowly. Once we could get them snapped we would let them dry in place and then they seemed to be fine. Please take this in to consideration when ordering"
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The P4 is still for sale.

http://ontarioknife.com/fixed-blades/p4-usmc-combat-detail
 
Yeah, but they could easily be selling off old new stock. If they were slow sellers, their production runs could linger for years after they were made ;)

I'm thinking their remaining inventory of P4 components were simply used up for their company's 125th yr anniv model and the Task Force Dagger donation. Then, whatever p4 knives that were already made prior, can just slowly, but surely, be sold off into history... just a guess, of course :)
 
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