Ontario Utilitac II - Best modern folding knife under $30?

Today my dad working on fixing up a camper a little asked for a knife so I handed him the Utilitac II tanto. He proceeded to cut into laminate, and wood, it with hardly any effort cut the parts needed. I also did some cutting, this knife uncoated with wear is one smeksy knife.
 
Ok, I've been converted.

First Utilitac I got was this one:
ontario-knife-utilitac-ii-joe-ardue-folder-o8902-large.jpg


Not impressed. I dunno what it was. It was fine for a $25 knife, it just didn't do anything for me. I'd rather carry a Kershaw Clash.

However, my world got flipped turned upside down like the Fresh Prince today when my co-worker surprised me with this:
ontario-knife-company-utilitac-ii-jpt-4s-o8916-large.jpg


Oh my lord.
I love this thing! This knife is pretty awesome for $25!
Now I see what y'all have been talking about with the Utilitac II.
Fantastic value and I would easily recommend it to anyone looking for a good size budget folder.
 
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Hell yeah, buddy! The coffin handled, plain edge tanto is also my favorite of the bunch. Great knife that can take a beating!
 
MassMovement said:
The lock on my round handle one gave out while splitting some wool for a fire about an inch and three quarters in diameter. Pretty upset about this. Email ontario and they told me to send it in for a replacement though. It was such a great knife up until this. May see if they can replace it with a coffin style since I know that has alittle more meat in the liner lock.

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Splitting wood with a liner lock. LOL. Got just what you deserved. That's just asinine.
 
lol, yeah, I think I'll let my Bravo Necker 2 do the small kindling work :P
Just wanted to say, my initial poor impression of the Utilitac 2 has been fully redeemed by this coffin tanto version.
And yeah, the lock looks a little thin at points, but I'm not going to be hammering on this thing. And if it does break, I buy another one for $25 :D
 
Just got the plain drop point rounded handle with black coated blade. I would have bought the blade uncoated but they were out of stock and I was on internet-impulse-shopping mode.
Got the knife yesterday for about $28 shipped.
I don't think this will work its way into the EDC spot but I will give it some use around the house and yard to see how it performs.
But for the money a great knife anyway.
I figured I would bump the thread;
Let's see some well used U/IIs. I will post pics as I use mine.
 
As far as the heavy usage of a folder is concerned (e.g. splitting woods with a folder) I always remember the three basics for folders:
1. Respect he compromise (the folder IS a compromise). Everybody has to learn the things that should and should not do with a pocket knife...
2. Remember that a folding knife is still a folding knife!
3. Remember that the best folder is the FIXED BLADE!
 
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David Lowry said:
Splitting wood with a liner lock. LOL. Got just what you deserved. That's just asinine.
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Is it just a problem of "liner lock" ? I think that ZT0200 is a liner lock also, right?, TOPS CSART also is a liner lock.... right?
And, I suppose these folders are able to splitt wood....
 
hunter55 said:
Is it just a problem of "liner lock" ? I think that ZT0200 is a liner lock also, right?, TOPS CSART also is a liner lock.... right?
And, I suppose these folders are able to splitt wood....
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Did you do it with the CSAR? I'm surprised if so with that thin liner.

Also keep in mind the price differences, and comparing the ZT 0200 to the Utilitac is like comparing an F350 to a Ford Ranger. The Utilitac can hold it's own, but the 0200 has barely any competition when it comes to beastly liner locks.
 
o4tg said:
Did you do it with the CSAR? I'm surprised if so with that thin liner.

Also keep in mind the price differences, and comparing the ZT 0200 to the Utilitac is like comparing an F350 to a Ford Ranger. The Utilitac can hold it's own, but the 0200 has barely any competition when it comes to beastly liner locks.
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I have not tried the CSAR-T, yet (I have never said that I have tried that folder). I am sure that that it will have no problem.
BUT, as far as the thin liner is concerned, I have tried successfuly the Ontario XM-2 (Italian blade by FOX). I had read in www.bladeforums.com, in the past, a comment (concern, actually) about its thin liner. No problem during my tests.
Even the RAT-1, in the same price level -approximately- with Utilitac, replying to your right comment as far as the quality/price ratio is concerned: no problem trying to split woods.
Of course, I am trying to comply with the basic rule/principle (see my previous post, in the current thread): every folder is a compromise and I have to know what I can and what I cannot do with a pocket knife... I haven't tried my Utilitac II (an excellent folder, in my opinion) in splitting woods. I believe that with proper usage it will have no problem.
But, for that kind of work (splitting, batoning, etc., etc.) in the backyard or in the field we have our fixed blade (even a small one) right ?
 
So after a few days I am less impressed with this knife. So far I have noticed that the black coating on the blade is going to simply chip off with every use until sooner or later it all comes off. This is more like paint than any other kind of blade coating.
After some use and some work with the Sharpmaker it is apparent that the grind on this knife is so uneven that it is almost a chisel grind. Along with that the side of the edge that is more ground also has a huge burr that took a lot of work to get rid of.
The pocket clip has a bit too little tension. The knife fell out of my pocket twice when pulling out my car key. Also the back end of the handle abrades the heel of my hand when I reach into my pocket past the clipped knife.
Still OK for the price but definitely the best for under $30. I am sure Kershaw has something better for the price.
 
billym said:
So after a few days I am less impressed with this knife. So far I have noticed that the black coating on the blade is going to simply chip off with every use until sooner or later it all comes off. This is more like paint than any other kind of blade coating.
After some use and some work with the Sharpmaker it is apparent that the grind on this knife is so uneven that it is almost a chisel grind. Along with that the side of the edge that is more ground also has a huge burr that took a lot of work to get rid of.
The pocket clip has a bit too little tension. The knife fell out of my pocket twice when pulling out my car key. Also the back end of the handle abrades the heel of my hand when I reach into my pocket past the clipped knife.
Still OK for the price but definitely the best for under $30. I am sure Kershaw has something better for the price.
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Are you expecting perfection from a $20-30 knife? What cheap knife keeps it's coating well? What cheap knife has a perfect grind (i like a chisel grind by the way on some knives super sharp)? And there isn't a pocket clip on any knife i come across that i thought had descent enough tension to stay secure. I have $100> knives where the coating has started to come off and had $100> knives that have less than perfect grinds pocket clips way worse than Utilitac. I really don't know how you can complain man. Although agree Kershaw's are great too. Not a perfect knife but what do you expect for $28. Got mine for $22 and free S/h and can't be happier with it.
 
Another thing you have to consider is that the liner on the round handled model is actually.thinner in depth than the coffin handled model. Everyone praises thick liners, but the depth is a major factor as well. I've never batoned anything thick with mine, but I've done plenty of "assisted" chopping of decently thick branches and to this day my liner hasn't worn a bit.

I'm sure it makes no difference to most people, but I haven't bought the rounded handle model because the liner is about 33% thinner in depth from where they machine the finger groove. It'd be interesting to see if the coffin handle fares any better.
 
o4tg said:
Did you do it with the CSAR? I'm surprised if so with that thin liner.

Also keep in mind the price differences, and comparing the ZT 0200 to the Utilitac is like comparing an F350 to a Ford Ranger. The Utilitac can hold it's own, but the 0200 has barely any competition when it comes to beastly liner locks.
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The CSAR liner doesn't have a cutout, while the ZT0200 does. The liner on the CSAR is thicker than the cutout part of the ZT0200 as well.

But you shouldn't chop wood with the liner engaged, anyhow.
 
billym said:
So after a few days I am less impressed with this knife. So far I have noticed that the black coating on the blade is going to simply chip off with every use until sooner or later it all comes off. This is more like paint than any other kind of blade coating.
After some use and some work with the Sharpmaker it is apparent that the grind on this knife is so uneven that it is almost a chisel grind. Along with that the side of the edge that is more ground also has a huge burr that took a lot of work to get rid of.
The pocket clip has a bit too little tension. The knife fell out of my pocket twice when pulling out my car key. Also the back end of the handle abrades the heel of my hand when I reach into my pocket past the clipped knife.
Still OK for the price but definitely the best for under $30. I am sure Kershaw has something better for the price.
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Billym. Did you see my post where I said I originally got the same model you did, and was unimpressed by it?
Yes, the blade "coating" is basically just paint. It's purely cosmetic and never claimed to be a protective coating.

All I'm saying is I had your exact same experience. Got the drop point, black coated, rounded handle Utilitac and I was not impressed by it at all. I even had trouble with the weak pocket clip. Gave it to my brother.
Then I got the tanto / coffin configuration and I LOVE IT.

I can buy $25 Kershaws all day with Speed-Safe, but there's something about flicking open my Utilitac that is so satisfying.
 
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