Cold Steel or Spec Plus

I would say Cold Steel. My only experience with Ontario has been with their machetes, but their spec plus knives have the same problems with poor quality control, brittle blades, etc. according to people I have talked to who own them. Cold Steel makes excellent knives for the price they sell them.
 
They're both good and dependable, in my experience. Perhaps I've been out of the loop, but I have not heard of any more QC complaints RE Ontario than CS. Ontario makes decent, reliable blades out of 1095, and is perhaps the only company that turns out good knives that beat CS at the price game. (Possibly Camillus too, but I haven't used them.)

Jeff Randall has often sung the praises of Ontario's standard issue 18" machete. I carried the same Spec Plus Parachutist as my primary fixed for several years -- backpacking, even diving -- without complaint. Have used the Navy Mark II and found it reliable, as well. Sturdy, small/med. fixed blades, both.

CS deserves its praise for good knives for the buck. But don't sell the Spec Plus line short!

Glen

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Thank me -- my posts make yours sound smarter.
 
I have a couple of Spec Plus, and like them very much:sturdy and reliable.It does seem to me that Cold Steel is a notch higher up the ladder in sharpness and finish. Price too! In their price ranges, they are both great lines.You probably won't go wrong with either.(see 1 Stop or MJS for some great CS prices).

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AKTI Member #A000934
"Always just one knife short of perfection!"
 
I also have a couple of Spec Plus knives and several Cold Steel fixed blade. I prefer Cold Steel for their sharpness and finish, but the Spec Plus knives are a good value.
 
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