Bought a Military surplus machete! (Ontario Knife Co)

My favorite is the 22" and the orange handle version so you can find it laying on the ground.
Very handy for lots of wood cutting tasks. Made in the USA too.

www.machetespecialists.com

Ontario 22 Inch Traditional Machete

Blade Length: 22″ Overall Length: 28″ Hight impact shatterproof polymer handle Bush/Latin Style 1075 Carbon Steel Blade with Black Zinc Phosphate Finish Made in America Arrives with Full Flat Taper w/ Flat Bevel Sheath sold Separately Primary grind established at factory but will...
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If it is the 18" one with the saw-back (which is great for snagging little limbs you just cut and flicking them off the trail!), I have probably logged more hours with one of those than any other two blades combined. Great tool as long as you treat it like a machete and not an ax. Have had several shatter when swung too hard against thick oak branches (~2 inches and up). But they get extremely sharp easily, hold an edge better than most, and cut well. Enjoy!
 
have the same 22"... called a ct5, it's great (rather heavy to be called a machete, since it's pretty much non-tapered)
I use neon tennis grip for the handle, because they're not very good from the factory for heavy use unless you're wearing work gloves

...as for the 18" breaking - that was an issue since they used 1095 for quite some time... now that they've switched to 1075, I expect that will not happen
(1075, being under the eutectoid will not form carbides, which is why 1075 and 1070 are the most common steel for machetes)
 
dirc said:
have the same 22"... called a ct5, it's great (rather heavy to be called a machete, since it's pretty much non-tapered)
I use neon tennis grip for the handle, because they're not very good from the factory for heavy use unless you're wearing work gloves

...as for the 18" breaking - that was an issue since they used 1095 for quite some time... now that they've switched to 1075, I expect that will not happen
(1075, being under the eutectoid will not form carbides, which is why 1075 and 1070 are the most common steel for machetes)
Click to expand...
I didn't know they had swapped steels! I knew they were 1095. I may have to try one again. Probably a small loss in edge retention, but if they don't shatter anymore, it'll be a big plus. Do you know when they made the change?
 
they talked about it here: (you know there is an ontario subforum right? :)

OKC's SP series 1095 switch to 1075 steel...

The switch to 1075 carbon steel from 1095 carbon steel on the majority of the OKC SP series, (non Gen2), is said to have been done 2-3 years ago. The following is a post put up by Paul Tsujimoto (Toooj) recently on this forum. It gives a short bit of insight into why the decision to switch was...
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and somewhere in here

Ask Toooj

In keeping with the tradition of you guys having all the best ideas on BladeForums, Tdhurl1103 suggested we start an "Ask Toooj" thread for questions that can be directed to our Director of Engineering, Paul Tsujimoto. Paul has a wealth of experience and knowledge in this industry, and is...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Does Ontario make their own. Machete blades? A lot of manufacturers who want to add a machete to their lineup will purchase blades from a machete maker like imacasa or Tramontina, originally for a machete that will sell for $10-15. The knife maker will put a fancy handle on it, with maybe a sheath with extra pouches, and sell the rig for $45-70. As a rule, I steer clear of these hybrids, preferring to get my work done with the $15 Latins.

For $70, I’m thinking about buying a chopper, with 13-14” blade made of stock 5 or 6 millimetres thick.
 
I think they do, because I doubt any machete mfg would make them quite as thick.... my 22" ontario ct5 is like 3mm the whole way - it's a tank & not light like a machete at all... more like a kukri tbh
 
Henry Beige said:
Does Ontario make their own. Machete blades? A lot of manufacturers who want to add a machete to their lineup will purchase blades from a machete maker like imacasa or Tramontina, originally for a machete that will sell for $10-15. The knife maker will put a fancy handle on it, with maybe a sheath with extra pouches, and sell the rig for $45-70. As a rule, I steer clear of these hybrids, preferring to get my work done with the $15 Latins.

For $70, I’m thinking about buying a chopper, with 13-14” blade made of stock 5 or 6 millimetres thick.
Click to expand...
Ontario has made the 18-inch model for many years on a U.S. Military contract. No imported blades, I'm not sure that would even be legal.
 
I bought my Ontario USA 18" likely in the late 60s at an Army/Navy surplus store and it has been going strong ever since, regardless of the abuse I put it through. Very nice blade weight-not too heavy not too light.
In Florida a machete gets plenty of use.
 
jnaught said:
I didn't know they had swapped steels! I knew they were 1095. I may have to try one again. Probably a small loss in edge retention, but if they don't shatter anymore, it'll be a big plus. Do you know when they made the change?
Click to expand...
Current specs on the OKC site say 1095 for the 18" and 12" machetes, 1075 on the 22". I'd buy a 12" if it was 1075.

I have all kinds of Imacasa, Tramontina and Incolma machetes accumulated at sale prices over the last several years. Most were in the range of $3 - $8. each, no kidding. I got ten of the 18" Tramontina machetes with sheaths for $5. each when Lowes was closing them out. They work.
 
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