Ontario SP1: comon,whats wrong with it?!

I'm not sure of the full details, but they have a series of Rat Cutlery designs and somehow or another they ripped off the Designers. I hate it when Knife companies rip designs from others or shaft the owners that design knives for them (Like how Cammilus screwed Ethan Becker). You can ask over in the Rat Cutlery what really happened.
 
Don't forget that Ontario makes th same knife in the freedom series and it has a steel pommel. There are some questions about should you buy from Ontario because of the spat they had with the RAT line (Randall Adventure and Training) who are now making their own knives. I believe that has been settled now.
 
damn, i wish i found the one with the steel butt cap. im so excited for mine to be shipped in. its got about another full month before its at my door step.

How does this knife feel? like how is the balance? is it front heavy making it feel like a hefty chopper, or is it middle heavy making it feel fast?
 
When it come to the Ontario story, just keep in mind that every story has two sides and you will only hear one side on this site. I was issued a Ontario Marine model about 42 years ago and its seen hard duty and hard use in hard conditions. I still have it and it's still going strong even though three sheaths have rotted away and been replaced. IMO it is just as much knife as My Kabar's. I have plenty of both rands. I leave politics to the politicians.
 
good point. I dont know why someone wouldnt buy this? its the classic design. great materials. and an unbeatable price.
 
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Congrats!

You take nice pics.
 
I also prefer the SP-1 over the Ka-Bar. IMO the ergonomics of the handle are better and I prefer the lanyard hole over the pointy pommel.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
I also prefer the SP-1 over the Ka-Bar. IMO the ergonomics of the handle are better and I prefer the lanyard hole over the pointy pommel.
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Id prefer the Pommel and a lanyard hole. But im not sure if the kabar has this problem but the edge that the sp1 comes with is very rough. (picture above),
Its not stropped or anything its like micro serrated.
 
I didn't find anything was wrong with Ontario SP 1,both SP1 and SP17 Quartermaster are my favorites,only thing that I put a hardwood handles on them,for I don't like rubber much.
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udtjim said:
When it come to the Ontario story, just keep in mind that every story has two sides and you will only hear one side on this site. I was issued a Ontario Marine model about 42 years ago and its seen hard duty and hard use in hard conditions. I still have it and it's still going strong even though three sheaths have rotted away and been replaced. IMO it is just as much knife as My Kabar's. I have plenty of both rands. I leave politics to the politicians.
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UDTJim,
Do you have in mind the AF Aircrew Survival Knife when you mention kabar? Ontario started producing the Mark 2 combat knife in the 1980's after they won the main source contractor status over Camillus.

Ontario though, did manufacture the Pilot survival knife in the late 60's but not the Mark 2. AFAIK, Camillus was the main supplier for the C/U knives during the Vietnam time period. There were also a few from Conetta and Utica floating around not to mention the many WWII knives still in Naval Supply.
 
As I understand it; Ontario had an agreement with RAT which specified design and quality. They then shipped manufacturing off shore to China and quality tanked. RAT's reputation takes a hit; bad news for a relatively new company. Ontario tells them to take a hike..sue us. Big guy/small guy. Jeff and Mike at RAT are good guys who got screwed.
 
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i'm glad that's the common opinion, as it has freed up some RAT-3's and 7's in D2.. selling as used 'get 'em outa here' knives.

no offense to the designers, or ontario either.. i like the D2 versions the best, and I like used prices the best.

When I can get 2 for the price of one cause some OTHER people are in conflict.. I should weep? It's hard not to wish for more conflict; and that's all I will attempt.
 
sophijo said:
As I understand it; Ontario had an agreement with RAT which specified design and quality. They then shipped manufacturing off shore to China and quality tanked. RAT's reputation takes a hit; bad news for a relatively new company. Ontario tells them to take a hike..sue us. Big guy/small guy. Jeff and Mike at RAT are good guys who got screwed.
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The only RAT that was shipped offshore was the folder. Otherwise it was a contract dispute over who had rights to sell the design. I have no dog in the fight, I think that RAT probably got screwed a bit by Ontario, but they have their own company now making a product that they can stand behind. Buying American means my support has to stay behind both Ontario and RAT Cutlery.
 
I ordered the folder before I was aware of this issue. It came yesterday, Made In Tiawan. It looks great and operates flawlessly. Fit and finish are perfect.
 
SanitySource said:
its great to hear from someone who actually owns and USES the Sp1. Seems like a great quality knife. Seems so many people favor the ka bar just because. Someone mentioned the SP1 is not built for batoning. would you disdagree?
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Why do people always expect their knife to do it all??? I have an Ontario SP-1 and I take it with me on my evening wanderings about for protection because it is an awesome knife designed for COMBAT, not for chopping wood, or batoning, but for fighting and self-defense. I have ann SP-10 and use that for chopping wood as well as my SP-5. My SP-1 is my go-to fighting/light utility knife. My kabar 1217 is nice but I've only had it for 4 months and the stacked leather handle looks like a wet turd. I tried every damn thing to protect and preserve the handle but nothing seems to work. It's in my shelf gathering dust because I simply will not risk anymore damage to the handle. This is why I use Ontario, they have great handles, are nice thick knives and are affordable. Sure they switched their steel from 1095 to 1075 as of 2015 but I don't trash my knives but take very good care of them. I have a knife for every occasion and each knife serves a purpose. You simply cannot just buy one knife and expect it to do it all. Everyone thinks my SP-1 is brand new but not really, I simply take very good care of it and clean it after use. I do use it for light utility work which is what it's meant to do, not chop down trees. This way, the knife will last forever and I can pass it down to my kids. All I can say, is that when I really need this knife, it will be at my side already sharp and greased up, ready for action!!
 
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