Bowie style knife I have passed up before, but glad I now own one...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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I had seen this Ontario SP-10 (Spec Plus Marine Raider Bowie) model before in catalogs and online pics, but for some reason, I had not been too drawn to it. Well, that changed today! I was at a local big box sporting goods chain store, and got a chance to handle it.
I had never realized the beast in size that it really is, until placing it in my hands. I also did not realize how traditional it really is. I mean, yes, it has kraton (synthetic) handle material, and a powder coated finish on the blade (like some KaBars), but it is definitely a traditional knife. The blade shape is in line with what many think of as a Bowie knife blade shape. The steel is 1095 carbon steel, and the edge has no serations as found on many modern designed knives. The thickness of most of it's spine is 1/4" thick... WOW! Even though thick bladed, it does taper down quite drastically towards the false edge and tip, so definitely not designed as a crowbar. Weighs about one and a half pounds, so she really is a doosie! Suprisingly well finished and made for the price tag it carries (roughly in the standard kabar marine corps knife price range). Overall, a very cool knife, imo, and worth seeing and handling to really appreciate what this thing really is... a big and well made knife that is priced fantastically for what one gets (and it is a USA made product, making the price tag even that much more amazing).

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Haha, yeah those big knives have that effect lol
I agree, its a pretty classic blade shape, I've often thought of getting one and putting a wood handle on.
Congratulations on your new blade :thumbup:
 
Oh, by the way, I know most here already know, Ontario Knife Company is a USA firm (NY State). They have been around for a very long time, I believe one of the oldest knife firms in America. They have done alot of knife and bayonet making under contract for the US government. They were the last to supply the military with the 'kabar' type knives, have been the supplier of the latest version of pilot survival knives, and have been a major supplier for the US M9 bayonet. In fact, the US Marines currently use another type of bayonet, and it too is supplied to them by Ontario.

Ontario gets it's name from having started in Ontario County New York. Up until a couple of years ago, Ontario's parent company (Servotronics) owned another very old knife company, that being Queen Cutlery. Again, Queen was sold a couple years ago, and is now privately owned.

I love how, just like in the past, so many knife firms are intertwined... cool stuff that keeps this stuff even that much more interesting :)
 
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