Ontario SP2 Air Force Survival Knife

EvanWilliams

EvanWilliams

Joined
Jan 10, 2009
Messages
153
Hi, guys. I bought a couple of old Camillus Pilot's knives. DULL as hell. Buddy says they are all that way and can't be sharpened well. He says the AF didn't want the pilots to hurt themselves. He said what do you expect from the AF, they issues 38 snub noses as "survival guns!!!". LOL.

After taking his abuse about what a dope I was for buying those knives (one was a gift to him!!) I decided to look around.

Is the Ontario SP2 Air Force knife a much better knife? It looks more modern and hopefully a better product. http://www.knifecountryusa.com/store/image/products/magnified/100227_100233.jpg

Do any of you have any experience with it?

Thanks.
 
Can't say I think much of your friend's advice or his opinions. The AFSK comes with a thick edge true, but it's 1095 around Rc55 (I think), so of course it can be sharpened. It'll take a little time to re-profile it thinner but once you do that it can get shaving sharp if you have at least a small amount of skill. You can go for the SP2 but it will have the same steel and geometry, so why bother? Sharpen up the ones you have and open his eyes.
 
Blue Sky said:
Can't say I think much of your friend's advice or his opinions. The AFSK comes with a thick edge true, but it's 1095 around Rc55 (I think), so of course it can be sharpened. It'll take a little time to re-profile it thinner but once you do that it can get shaving sharp if you have at least a small amount of skill. You can go for the SP2 but it will have the same steel and geometry, so why bother? Sharpen up the ones you have and open his eyes.
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Thanks. You just gave me a nice little project for tomorrow night!!!!
I will give it a good try!
 
EvanWilliams said:
Hi, guys. I bought a couple of old Camillus Pilot's knives. DULL as hell. Buddy says they are all that way and can't be sharpened well.
Click to expand...

Fresh out of the box they're childproof knives, but they can be sharpened very well. Not easily, at least not out of the box, but they will sharpen up very nicely.

I use one as a hiking knife and the edge was about as thick as the spine when I got it. Took several hours on some x-coarse stones to thin it out, but it's a great knife.

I've always been curious why they're so dull from the factory. My conclusion is that they were military issue knives so they were made as quickly and cheaply as possible (mine was $25). Either that, or they're sharpened in house by the air force, but that doesn't seem too likely.
 
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Psychopomp said:
Fresh out of the box they're childproof knives, but they can be sharpened very well. Not easily, at least not out of the box, but they will sharpen up very nicely.

I use one as a hiking knife and the edge was about as thick as the spine when I got it. Took several hours on some x-coarse stones to thin it out, but it's a great knife.

I've always been curious why they're so dull from the factory. My conclusion is that they were military issue knives so they were made as quickly and cheaply as possible (mine was $25). Either that, or they're sharpened in house by the air force, but that doesn't seem too likely.
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They come form the factory very dull. I think your right about them just being made quick and cheap. Quick and cheap thats how they like it.
 
EvanWilliams said:
Hi, guys. I bought a couple of old Camillus Pilot's knives. DULL as hell. Buddy says they are all that way and can't be sharpened well.
Click to expand...

you should send the dull as hell camillus knives to me as they arent fit for use:D
Hell just sharpen them up and use 'em, Camillus closed in 2007, they made quality affordable cutlery, and they made it for just about everybody, including other big name manufacturers. Unless you got duds your buddy is wrong and those knives are more than serviceable:thumbup:
personally i'd take the camillus over the ontario any day
RIP camillus:grumpy:
ivan
 
The edge on my Ontario 499 was very thick and almost rounded, yet the point was very thin.
I had to use a file to even everything out.

With a little bit of work it's actually a pretty good knife. Holds an edge as well as a Ka-Bar. Only thing that bothers me is the damn top guard.
 
Your friend gave you horrible advice. The knives are the same except for the handle and blade coating. If he can't sharpen the Pilots Survival Knife, he needs lessons. Its nice that he would insult service members at the same time. Reason for issuing revolvers to pilots back in the day, was that the 1911 had a floating firing pin, which if left with a round in the chamber, would strike the round if subjected to the force of an ejection. Which further points to the ignorance of your friend.
 
I've got a Camillus USAF survival knife and it came out of the box plenty sharp and pointy too. I believe pilots in the USAF are issued Beretta 9mm's.
 
Thanks to you all for your input. Very informative. BTW, that is one gorgeous Pilot's knife!!
I have been working on the knife. It is SLOWLY getting sharper. I am not much with a sharpener. Someone skilled would be way ahead of me.

My buddy is a Vietnam vet (Army) but never misses a chance to stick one to the Marines, AF or Navy. I bet he never knew about the firing pin issue with the 1911!

I'll keep working on the knife.
 
EvanWilliams said:
Thanks to you all for your input. Very informative. BTW, that is one gorgeous Pilot's knife!!
I have been working on the knife. It is SLOWLY getting sharper. I am not much with a sharpener. Someone skilled would be way ahead of me.

My buddy is a Vietnam vet (Army) but never misses a chance to stick one to the Marines, AF or Navy. I bet he never knew about the firing pin issue with the 1911!

I'll keep working on the knife.
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so does this mean i wont be getting a couple camillus pilots knives in the mail:cool::D
keep sharpening them and use them, camillus made good knives
ivan
p.s. yes i'm a camillus fanboy!
 
Sorry, Pal. Maybe if it doesn't work out I'll send em to ya.

Somewhere, in a box, who knows where, I have an orange camillus automatic used for cutting parachute shrouds. An AF buddy gave it to me years ago before I was really into knives. I need to find it.
 
I'm in the same boat, just purchased an Ontario 499 USAF Knife and after 2 hours using a Lansky sharpener it still isn't very sharp. This must be the hardest knife I've ever had to sharpen. Has anyone else had better luck? Wish a had a knifemaking belt sander to get that razor edge quickly.
 
I have an Ontario made AFSK from 1989 and can shave hair off my arms with it. It didn't come that way but easy enough to make it shave.

What I dislike most about these knives is the everpresent rattling guard. Other than that they are servicable and easily replaceable.
 
EvanWilliams said:
Hi, guys. I bought a couple of old Camillus Pilot's knives. DULL as hell. Buddy says they are all that way and can't be sharpened well. He says the AF didn't want the pilots to hurt themselves. He said what do you expect from the AF, they issues 38 snub noses as "survival guns!!!". LOL.

After taking his abuse about what a dope I was for buying those knives (one was a gift to him!!) I decided to look around.

Is the Ontario SP2 Air Force knife a much better knife? It looks more modern and hopefully a better product. http://www.knifecountryusa.com/store/image/products/magnified/100227_100233.jpg

Do any of you have any experience with it?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have gone through tons of both Ontario and camillus survival knives, the camillus being noticeably better, The factory edge on both sucks, it's almost impossible to not get a convex edge-but after a few hours of love and attention you can make them sing. They are off balance, qc isn't very good at all, but if you are meticulous with them they will definitely perform. And snub nosed 38's are awesome survival guns, I use one on a daily basis. Laugh all you want but I'm still alive...
 
And I'd rather be shot down and wet and muddy with a .38 revolver than an M9, that's for sure. You go a few days without cleaning a Beretta and any servicemember will tell you you will have problems. A .38 special you can keep talking. You can't be sitting on your ass scrubbing down a gun with dozens of working parts in the field when you have hounds at your heels.
 
Ditto on the .38 commentary: they are amongst the best survival pistols out there. Many prefer the .357 for the off-road trek. The pilot knife is a simple tool that works under most conditions, but the edges were never very keen to begin with. Put an edge on the blade and waltz on through the fog.
 
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