Ontario Hossom Retribution 1

KLJTech

KLJTech

Joined
Aug 26, 2005
Messages
1,180
I’ve been thinking about purchasing the Ontario Hossom Retribution 1 Folder. I have no place locally where I can see or handle one so I have a couple questions, how does it compare in sturdiness/build quality to a couple of my favorite folders in the Spyderco Manix and the BM Skirmish? I am aware that it is a very large folder but I do have pretty good sized hands so I think that I’ll like the larger handle.

I’m also curious as to what most think about the N690 steel that used for the blade? I have only one knife that uses N690 and that is the first production run of the Benchmade Offsider (fixed blade) but I’ve never used the knife. I only purchased it because I liked the look of it and I wanted to get a first production run with different steel.

Does anyone have pictures of this knife from above looking down? I’ve only seen pictures from the side and I’d like to see how thick the blade and liners look in comparison to the handle.

Thank you so much, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin
 
No problem, you should always try the search first but it just didn't work for me this time.:)
 
Any thoughts on the N690 steel used for this folder? How does the knife compare to the Manix or BM Skirmish?

I’ve never purchased an Ontario folder before, I am aware that this is a folder designed from a fixed bladed Hossom.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
There is a passaround going on right now and as luck would have it, I have the Retribution 1 & 2 right now. I took 2 pics of the R1 that appear below. I hope these are what someone here is looking for. I have had these for less than 1 day, and I am the 8th person on the list of 10. That said, I will say the the following: I do have large hands and yet, I still seem to prefer the 2 over the 1. Also, from a fit and finish perspective, more by accident than anything I suppose, I happen to notice that I could see sunlight between the handle and the liner towards the ends of the knife. Whether the knife came this way or it is the result of prior handling, I do not know. The R2 however, doees not have the same issue. Now this is not to say that fit and finish on the R1 is "bad". On the contrary, I think it is actually pretty good, esp. given the price point of this knife. Hope the pics help.

DSCF0005.jpg

DSCF0003.jpg
 
Fonly said:
The N690 is equvilient to 440C, It's Austrian I believe.
Click to expand...


Yes and no. Yes, n690 is similar to 440C. But the Retribution is made with N690C0. The addition of cobalt improves some aspects of the steel.

Phil
 
Looking at the steel guide at www.agrussell.com N690 contains cobalt so more than likely N690 and N690Co are the same steel. This months Tactical Knives (Jan 2007) in a review of a couple of fixed blades made by Fox the reviewer says that N690Co is said to be similar to 154CM and is produced by Bohler of Austria. This is the second article that I have seen that compares N690 to 154CM.

I’m very interested in getting the Ontario Hossom Retribution 1. Without any knowledge of the N690 steel I’ve now been going through every knife mag that I have trying to find out whatever I can.
 
To help clarify, there are a couple grades of N690 and it's not clear to me if both contain Cobalt, but this one does. Cobalt retards crack propagation so it adds to impact toughness and reduces chipping. Many who've tried it compare it to VG-10. IMO, it's a bit better than standard 154CM or 440C, probably not quite as good as CPM-154 - close though. Excellent steel in any case.

Hope that helps a little.
 
That helps a lot and thank you for your input. If anyone would know it should be you.

Kevin
 
I should also add that the pinch (0.1%) Vanadium in N690Co is there for grain refinement. Uddeholm RWL-34 uses a small amount of Vanadium for that same reason with a steel that is otherwise about the same as 154CM. That's a pretty good steel as well - takes an amazing polish.
 
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