Ontario Spec plus folders

SkrufKnifer · Oct 28, 2012

Was woundering if any one has gotten thier hands on one of these. My curretn EDC is on its final little legs, and I need to figure out whats gona fill that void. I have one of there fixed blades,its the toughes knife ever!I would love to just carry that,like I did in AZ, but these liberals here consider any fixed blade to be a "Deadly weapon" but you can have a 4" folder. It looks to me that that knife line is much like a very fancy Buck 110 to an extent. Is there a pocket clip? Are the handles as big/long as the rest of the spec plus line up? None of the knife shops around here have any, and most don't carry any Ontario products.

TwinStick · Oct 28, 2012

If your current knife is on it's last legs, it sounds like you didn't/don't have a very good knife to begin with. I still have knives from when i was a kid. I am now 49. Try a TOPS/BUCK CSAR-T folder. Item # BU3362 at S MKW. That is one tough mofo. As far as Ontario's in general: I own a bunch of their fixed blades. All great knives & Made in America. Not sure about their folders though, sorry.

The Mastiff · Oct 28, 2012

The Ontario I bought when first released suffers from very poor construction, low hardness in the steel, poor alignment and just isn't nearly what it should be. It's a shame. I was really looking forward to them. I have a few fixed blades from the company I like that are made very well. Why this happened with the folder I have is anybodies guess.

Joe

G. Scott H. · Oct 28, 2012

I was kind of intriqued by these initially, but there are a few things I don't like right off the bat. They use 1095 blades, which is cool, as you don't see many modern carbon folders, but then they're only 50-55HRC. I can see that on a sword or machete, but on a 4" folder? Not a deal breaker, just odd. Second, the pin for the lock looks really small in diameter. This should be a large heavy duty folder, and that pin just looks rather anemic in that context. The only reviews I've read (knifecenter) both mention poor F&F. The more I look at them, the less they appeal to me. :grumpy: They don't come with a pocket clip, just a nylon belt pouch. For some good pics of one, check out gpknives.com.

TwinStick · Oct 29, 2012

What about the uber expensive (at least IMHO) Ontario folders, made in Italy ? Do they suffer the same issues ?

G. Scott H. · Oct 29, 2012

I think you're talking about the XM series? I've looked at those as well. Some cool points: 5mm thick N690Co blade, thick heavy duty machined alum. scales, Ti liners. BUT...Once again, they have a feature that makes me shake my head. The liners look very thin on these knives. Come on, Ontario! You have a folder made with a .19" thick blade and .85" thick handle (screams heavy duty, right?) and then put liners that look about 1mm thick on it.

If they beefed up the liners (2mm would be nice) they'd really have something. I've never owned one, so I can't say whether the thin liners are really an issue or not, but they just look out of place to me on an otherwise really beefy looking knife. :grumpy: [/rant]

SkrufKnifer · Oct 30, 2012

TwinStick said:
If your current knife is on it's last legs, it sounds like you didn't/don't have a very good knife to begin with. I still have knives from when i was a kid. I am now 49. Try a TOPS/BUCK CSAR-T folder. Item # BU3362 at S MKW. That is one tough mofo. As far as Ontario's in general: I own a bunch of their fixed blades. All great knives & Made in America. Not sure about their folders though, sorry.

Yeah my curent EDC wasn't the best buy, just a S&W HRT folder, The back of the blade that come in contact with the liner lock has worn, so when open there is some fore and aft play.Its all I could afford after some one at work swiped my brand new CRKT M-16, so thats all I had left in my budget :-( Lasted 2 years,and got some abuse, so $15 on sale, cant realy complain.Except for the serations, was a decent EDC/work knife.
I have one of Ontario's fixed blades, perfer to carry that, was my EDC when I lived in AZ,but stupid WA laws says no way dude! There folders prety much has the same blade as my fixed, so that was the main reason I was looking at one, and I feel much more comfortable with a lock back desing. Never had a lock back lock wear to the point were I felt it might become unsafe. My buck 110 is 15years old and still locks as strong as it did when knew. I kinda wanted something I could just stick in my pocket and go, but I dont mind a blelt knife. Would love to hold one before I decide on a purches, but cant find one anywhere. I have heard people say the Fit and Finish was bad, guess I just dont want to except that. Thanks guys, guess the search continues. Hate to say it might have to go with the CS Recon1, looks like a good city knife, had a Voyager back in the day, it was slick as grease for the time, and lasted me 2years before I passed it along to a buddy. Any other suggestions for a sturdy 4" lock back thats more pocket friendly, with out those damn serations, drop or clip point? Oh and I am looking for something with a black blade. As I will use this in public, I feel a black object in my hand wont be as noticable or alarming as a big shiny object, any sugestions would be greatly apreciated. One hand opening, two hands to close is fine

SkrufKnifer · Oct 30, 2012

I did check out that Buck folder, the only thing I dont like is the use of the liner lock. I always have in the back of my mind I might slip that lock by acident. I do like CRKT auto lawks system.Never had an issue with the locking. I do keep a well used and worn M16 in my emegency poket in my EDC bag, but it dosn't have much life left in it, and Is only there as a secondary. The blade is prety WORN out, 2yrs of heavy use. I do tend to buy one EDC/city knife and use it til its just worn out. So I'll be happy with anything that last 2years of heavy use. I mean I use them for EVERY thing, and dont expect to have them for-ev-er. I'm ok with AUS-8, but that 1095 is such a draw to me

klute · Oct 30, 2012

G. Scott H. said:
I think you're talking about the XM series? I've looked at those as well. Some cool points: 5mm thick N690Co blade, thick heavy duty machined alum. scales, Ti liners. BUT...Once again, they have a feature that makes me shake my head. The liners look very thin on these knives. Come on, Ontario! You have a folder made with a .19" thick blade and .85" thick handle (screams heavy duty, right?) and then put liners that look about 1mm thick on it. If they beefed up the liners (2mm would be nice) they'd really have something. I've never owned one, so I can't say whether the thin liners are really an issue or not, but they just look out of place to me on an otherwise really beefy looking knife. :grumpy: [/rant]

I just measured 1.42mm on my XM1's liner.
Remember brother Engnath's [Bob Engnath] quote "there is no perfect knife".

BUB.

I been using the pee outta my XM2 scraping, prying, batoning / no issues in 5 years although i did modify this knife a whole bunch and i fully understand your issue and would myself like to see that liner thickness bumped up a bit.