Ontario blackbird sk-5

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DrewChew

DrewChew

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I was wondering if any owners of the ontario blackbird sk-5 can comment on the quality and functionality of this knife. It looks like a real winner with a nice steel for a good price.
 
What would be your intended use? I have one, I keep it in my bug out bag. I chose it based on the versatility (imo) of the blade shape and the fact that it is stainless (I don't want to worry about it rusting, since it sits in my bag for long stretches).
 
DrewChew said:
I was wondering if any owners of the ontario blackbird sk-5 can comment on the quality and functionality of this knife. It looks like a real winner with a nice steel for a good price.
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So do I . Seems like a "modernized Kephart" that could could serve as "general purpose/urban/outdoorsy" kinda thing. Simple design that would apply to many contexts.

It seems I heard some very critical comments a couple years back but I don't remember what they were about.
 
it having a 154cm blade steel is making me want to buy it, and for around 100 dollars seems worth getting
 
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marcinek said:
So do I . Seems like a "modernized Kephart" that could could serve as "general purpose/urban/outdoorsy" kinda thing. Simple design that would apply to many contexts.

It seems I heard some very critical comments a couple years back but I don't remember what they were about.
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If I remember correctly, there were a lot of complaints about the very flat sides of the scales. I don't have one and haven't held one, but I recall people complaining about the ergos of the flat sides, much the way they do with the stock ESEE scales.

Not having the knife, I don't really have a dog in the fight, but I always felt like Ontario's marketing department made a stupid move when they named the Blackbird the SK5, considering that SK5 is a steel, but not the steel used to make the knife. Why purposely give the knife the same product name as a type of steel? Seems like unnecessary confusion.
Again, that doesn't reflect on the quality or use of the knife at all. More about OKC's marketing of it.
 
19-3ben said:
..., considering that SK5 is a steel, but not the steel used to make the knife. ....
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Brief aside, SK5 is not a steel. It is a proprietary name CS owns and can be anything. Could be 1095. Could be AUS-8. Could be 420J2. They can call any steel they want SK5.
 
i think ontario meant for sk-5 to be (survival knife 5 inch blade). Is a bit dumb considering there is an sk5 blade steel though
 
marcinek said:
So do I . Seems like a "modernized Kephart" that could could serve as "general purpose/urban/outdoorsy" kinda thing. Simple design that would apply to many contexts.

It seems I heard some very critical comments a couple years back but I don't remember what they were about.
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The other criticism I recall was someone broke a blade while battoning with it.
 
It won an award the year it came out. Or the designer did. Some complained about the sheath, the mirror polish, the fact that it was made by Ontario, etc. They did change the handles from micarta to G10 without telling anybody. It’s a fine gp knife and for the price it’s not bad st all. Unless it now comes with a cheapo Black throwaway sheath.
 
marcinek said:
Well I stand corrected. I thought SK-5 was CS's proprietary name.
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No worries. One time, years ago I wrong about something too. It was very embarrassing. Fortunately, though my wife would adamantly disagree, I haven't done it again.:D
 
19-3ben said:
No worries. One time, years ago I wrong about something too. It was very embarrassing. Fortunately, though my wife would adamantly disagree, I haven't done it again.:D
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lol. SK-5 is Japanese 1080.

Possibly I was thinking of CS's "Carbon V"?
 
Perhaps. Either way, no biggie. We all correct each other at times to keep the info honest.

What the hell Carbon V actually was at various time periods of manufacture and depending on CS's sources, is a topic that could derail an entire subforum, never mind just this thread!
 
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DrewChew said:
i also am wondering how 154 can handle some abuse, I've only had experience with it in folding knives
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Not as much as 1095, 5160, s7. It’s almost the same composition as 440c, something like 38 ft.lbs at 58rc. It’s not really a chopping or heavy batoning steel, but a 5” blade isn’t a perfect baton sized knife.
 
19-3ben said:
Perhaps. Either way, no biggie. We all correct each other at times to keep the info honest.

What the hell Carbon V actually was at various time periods of manufacture and depending on CS's sources, is a topic that could derail an entire subforum, never mind just this thread!
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Thank you. Must have been "Carbon V." They could call anything they wanted Carbon V.

Anyway....back on topic.

Those Ontario SK-5 have always caught my eye. Thanks to LastRodeo LastRodeo for the "batonning" comment. Anybody remember anything else? Other complaints? There just seemed to a quite a stink for a while.
 
Yonose said:
Not as much as 1095, 5160, s7. It’s almost the same composition as 440c, something like 38 ft.lbs at 58rc. It’s not really a chopping or heavy batoning steel, but a 5” blade isn’t a perfect baton sized knife.
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i would agree just curious about what it can endure
 
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