Modded an Ontario SP17 Quartermaster into a bush knife! (pics)

coloradowildman

coloradowildman

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I recently aquired a new Ontario SP-17 Quartermaster in 1095 Steel by luck for only $45.00 (they are discontinued and the new ones still around cost almost double). Only problem is the guards were in the way for it to be a truly comfortable bush knife. After a half an hour with my Mora knife this is what I ended up with:) :

ModdedQuartermaster_2.jpg

ModdedQuartermaster_1.jpg

ModdedQuartermaster_3.jpg


I'd been looking around for a new bush knife that I could bring with me on my frequent hiking and backpacking trips into remote areas of the Colorado Mountains, but was on a budget of under $70.00. Wanted something that had a blade between 5" to 6" inches with high carbon steel and could baton, do light chopping (stripping small branches, etc) yet still cut well and take and hold an edge reasonably well. The KaBar Becker BK2 is excellent but too heavy (about 5 ounces heavier than the Quartermaster with a shorter blade). The Cold Steel SRK is excellent but no longer comes in high carbon steel. So after my modification I think I have the perfect bush knife for under $50.00 (for my taste that is!). The Quartermaster chops well for a 5 3/4" blade and batons very well too. It carves wood as well as my 4.5" Benchmade Rant (excellent) and has the stability of manufacturing quality that Ontario has developed with it's 1095 Steel over many years. I had a Spec Plus Air Force knife by Ontario that was excellent but the saw blade on the back and double edge on the front quickly destroyed batons. Still, it was excellent and this knife has the strengths of that knife with better chopping capability with none of the weaknesses.

Comments welcome, thanks!
 
Nice job - I've been looking for it's cousin for a while - the Ontario FF-17.
same blade, but steel guard & buttcap for hammering. (no frills version of their P3 dresser)
 
1066vik said:
Nice job - I've been looking for it's cousin for a while - the Ontario FF-17.
same blade, but steel guard & buttcap for hammering. (no frills version of their P3 dresser)
Click to expand...

Thanks, it looks the Freedom Fighter version can still be had on Amazon for $42.95 http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-Freedom-Fighter-Quartermaster-Knife/dp/B0001WBIQ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1278906519&sr=8-1

The guard on the FF-17 could easily be modified with a Dremel too. I like having a lanyard hole on my bush knives but a hammer is also handy:)
 
1066vik said:
thanks for the tip!
Click to expand...

Sure mate, be sure to post a review if you get it! That's an awesome deal for a lot of knife too. A dremel cutting disc would make easy work on the top part of that guard and then hit it with one of the dremel grinding stone attachments and you got an awesome bush knife for the $$$.
 
Wow!
what a big coincidence. I did exactly the same with my Quartermaster like three months ago. I liked the knife very much, but the upper hand guard kept bothering me until I decided to chop it off. I did exactly the same plus a re-profiling of the edge to a convex grind to an Ontario SPC-21 Magnum. It is an amazing blade. A little bit shorter and lighter than the quartermaster, and no coating. I might post some pictures.
 
I was wondering how the edge holding is on these Ontario knives? I can't find any info on the RC hardness. I know they are 1095 steel. Love the looks and the price of them.

The only one I've had was the bolo bladed one (when they were first introduced). I never got to sharpen it. A big chunk broke out of the blade first time I took it out. I don't blame the knife, really. It was a very thin blade for it's size and I was clearing a shooting lane through some red hickory and who knows what else. I didn't even realize it was broke until it wasn't chopping very well anymore.
 
Nice mod.
I think the Spec Plus line is solid although I don't understand why the 2nd gens. cost so much more yet use the same handle designs as the first gens. They changed the steel to 5160. I doubt they'll sell well.
 
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