Ontario 498 in stock

[chevyrulez1]

I noticed a large knife retailer has the Ontario 498 Marine combat knife (Kabar) back in stock. It says made in USA and selling for $125. It appears these are new production, so I wonder where Blue Ridge is having them made? Does anybody know? I guess it's possible that they took tooling from the oKC plant and setup shop somewhere, or are having the made by someone else? Bear or Utica maybe?

 

[Blue Sky]

The Ontario website looks revamped. Most (maybe all) products are marked “coming soon”. They even have a 2026 catalog. It’s clearly not done yet, and they say so.

We know Tops is making the new modernized version of the classic Old Hickory butcher knife, but little or nothing is mentioned for anything else. Hopefully BRK chooses to be more transparent about this in time.

 

[Blue Sky]

Interestingly, the catalog lists two new fixed blades coming soon, the “Rat 4M” and “Rat 5M”. Designed by Jeff Randall and made in USA. ESEE’s are made by Rowen, so maybe a clue there…

 

[chevyrulez1]

That's awesome. I have an older 498 from the original factory. I love it, a few minor differences from a Kabar. I am half tempted to order one of these new ones and compare, but I really don't need it.
But then again, who ever said anything about need Seriously though, I have a 498, a Kabar 1217, and am OKC Spec-Plus SP1 which seems like the same knife with a different handle, so I think I am covered.

 

[jbmonkey]

I noticed a large knife retailer has the Ontario 498 Marine combat knife (Kabar) back in stock. It says made in USA and selling for $125. It appears these are new production, so I wonder where Blue Ridge is having them made? Does anybody know? I guess it's possible that they took tooling from the oKC plant and setup shop somewhere, or are having the made by someone else? Bear or Utica maybe?

few places have it listed in stock. at various price points. one of 91 bucks and one as low as 65 bucks. when blue ridge bought the brand I do remember they bought a ton of already made inventory. could be that they sorted through that finally and are selling it off..or having someone make it again? no idear....but pics sure look like the old inventory.......which isn't a bad thing.

 

[chevyrulez1]

I saw them on the big blue roof store in TN. (I wont name them due to them not being supporting retailer I think) Looks like the part number show "Q498" and price is $129. I was thinking they had been showing out of stock but now they are in stock at a higher price so I was assuming tthey were new. I guess it is possible they are old stock though.

 

[jbmonkey]

I saw them on the big blue roof store in TN. (I wont name them due to them not being supporting retailer I think) Looks like the part number show "Q498" and price is $129. I was thinking they had been showing out of stock but now they are in stock at a higher price so I was assuming tthey were new. I guess it is possible they are old stock though.knife

i know who you are talkin about in tenn. very possible its new product made by rowen, kabar, tops, case, etc etc whoever?...i made up who might be making it if its new.....and using old stock pictures of the knife or maybe even new pics of the knife as they are made the same way snd identical? very possible. its looks identical to the old stock knife. othe than maybe the sheath......and maybe the knife is made identical to the old version with a new sheath supplier? lots of maybes here.

although I found it as cheap as 65 bucks on a brk drop shipper using their inventory and pictires on their website......and it was out of stock in the past and now isn't. so im putting my money on old stock blue ridge has finally got around to release and sell off.....but I could be very wrong.

 

[SharpBits]

Didn’t BRK say they were looking to get the government contract knives in production started up first?

 

[tltt]

https://bushcraftusa.com/threads/okc-ontario-knife-company’s-newest-catalog.401623/#post-7455848 .

Down toward the bottom, someone posted a new production JPSK that Ontario had at SHOT this year. Quality was aid to be similar to old.

Pic -

.


Tops got Ontario's old equipment, but I'm not sure they'd be able to get the price down low enough to be a subcontract, but stranger things have happened before.

Edit - after looking around, there does seem to still be a bit of old stock still floating around. so I'd ask a lot of questions to make sure you're getting old or new depending on what you want.