Ontario Blackbird SK5

B

BakedBeans

Joined
May 19, 2013
Messages
63
Am I the only one who bought this knife and buy into the hype? I don't abuse it crazy hardcore but I take it with me in the woods and along for various working tasks and love it. I think it's big and ugly and meant to be kicked around. Anyone have good or bad experiences and pics to share? BTW, I got a GodSpeedTactical horizontal sheath for mine and it is the best sheath I own. The combo is sick!!
 
I like mine. I am aware that it isn't the best choice for batoning because it's a high carbide stainless that is designed more for wear resistance than toughness. Use it like it is designed to be use and it should last a lifetime. People got by with 440C knives so I'm pretty sure a 154cm knife is going to be ok.

For those that think a knife should do whatever they ask of it because it cost X dollars when they used to have a knife that cost less and they could do all kinds of horrible things to it and it survived might get disappointed. An inexpensive 440A knife with .60% C and 1% silicone with 12-14% chrome should be tougher if built to the same specs.

I've heard that argument played out here quite a few times including with this knife in particular unfortunately.

Joe
 
Nice! Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder :)

Word is that there was some early on bad production runs that led to some faulty blades, but besides that I think the knife is tough as hell. Ya, it's a little thinner than what they say a survival knife should be, but I think it is perfectly sized and shaped. I love the simplicity of the design and the balance in hand. The sheath it comes with was junk, but it's easy to find a nice kydex sheath maker to do one for a reasonable price. I mentioned that my Ontario lives in an awesome sheath made by Eli at GodSpeedTactical. I also recommend Grizzly-Outdoors sheath work. Have a couple from them for my Becker Kneckers and have him doing a custom one now for my CS Master Hunter.
 
The Blackbird is a good looking knife IMO.

Those worried about batoning could just upgrade - any excuse to buy a new knife and remember; Two is one, one is none:D

You could bring both on trips:)

I dont own the Blackbird, but have this dainty Ontario:D



Bevel changed and coating removed before I got it.
 
You can definitely find some info out there on Google and also I know some guy posted a thread about it on this forum. I don't know how widespread the problem was but heard that Ontario was good in replacing any defective knives.
 
Nice Blade scout. I had to thin mine out too. It had lots of extra though. I've thought about removing the coating thinking it might help it go through wood easier and not stick. It's so reliable though it's almost boring. :) Makes me want to buy new knives I don't even need.

Joe
 
You can definitely find some info out there on Google and also I know some guy posted a thread about it on this forum. I don't know how widespread the problem was but heard that Ontario was good in replacing any defective knives.
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Yep, they are very good about replacing broken knives. I still haven't seen anything official about a bad batch. I've looked as I have one. Best I could find was a " guy told me the steel must have been bad and it will get replaced". Something to that extent. As far as I know there was no official confirmation or recall. If there was I'd be getting mine replaced though I don't have problems. It's not my chopper though, more a camp knife. I chop with an axe or maul anyway.
 
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