Ontario and Ka-Bar

A

arch2cad

Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
13
Is there any real difference between Ontario and Ka-Bar knives? From what I can tell Ontario Freedom Fighter FF1 and the Ka-Bar 1211 are exactly the same knife.

Ontario FF1 =7" blade, 1095steel, black epoxy powder-coated, Kraton handle.

Ka-Bar 1211 =7" blade, 1095steel, black epoxy powder-coated, Kraton handle.

Is one brand better due to heat treating, tempering, etc.?
 
I don't see much good written here about Ontario knives. The Kabar brand has a much better reputation, and so does Camillus. I have an Ontario Marine Combat knife and the Navy issue knife. Both have uneven grind lines. The Navy knife looks like a monkey might have ground the edges on it. Cliff Stamp has said that he has seen some Ontario knives with poor heat treatments.

Camillus makes the issue military knives, and their's are said to be well-made. The Kabars are good, too. I would avoid buying an Ontario knife unless it is a model that no one else makes, like the Bagwell bowies.
 
Presently Ontario holds US Gov't. Contracts for both the M-9 Bayonet; and the new USMC OKC3S Bayonet - both issued to US military forces in the field.

FYI

John
SharpShin'Blades
 
There has been some significant praise here in the forums recently as regards the Ontario RTAK RAT7 and TAK - the RAT7 prototype was made by Siegle.

Yes, there may have been a batch of poorly heat treated knives at some time in the past but that's hardly unique to Ontario.

Ontario has always made and continues to make quality affordable cutlery.
 
I think the RTAK and Bagwell bowies are safer bets because they are made in collaboration with well-known knife makers, and get more attention.

Often government contracts go to whoever provides a product at the lowest price. It doesn't mean the quality is the best. I'd say my Ontario Navy issue knife is a good example of that.

I've often wondered if what gets sold on the civilian market are government rejects. I can't believe a government inspector would have accepted the Navy knife I have.
 
I read that the Ka-Bar's have a "rat-tail" tang and the Ontario's have a thicker tang - is that right?
Also is the blade thickness 1/8" for both Ka-Bar 1211 and the Ontario FF1?
Thank you all for your input!
 
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