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

Inspired by this thread, I just ordered a plain edge black tanto with the round handle. Never had a tanto before, but it just looked too awesome to pass up.
 
I just bought a second Utilitac 2 (sold or traded my first) on the strength of this thread, and it is an excellent knife. Opens more smoothly than a knife at that price point should. Solid lockup. Comfortable in hand.

But like the first one I had, I absolutely cannot get it as sharp as I would like -- certainly not as sharp as my other Ontarios or AUS8 blades. I can't figure this knife out.
 
Gadfly22 said:
I just bought a second Utilitac 2 (sold or traded my first) on the strength of this thread, and it is an excellent knife. Opens more smoothly than a knife at that price point should. Solid lockup. Comfortable in hand.

But like the first one I had, I absolutely cannot get it as sharp as I would like -- certainly not as sharp as my other Ontarios or AUS8 blades. I can't figure this knife out.
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This may be a result of the flat grind and overall blade thickness. Many of the more popular AUS8 blades are either comparatively thinly ground or are hollow ground.
 
Comeuppance said:
This may be a result of the flat grind and overall blade thickness. Many of the more popular AUS8 blades are either comparatively thinly ground or are hollow ground.
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That could certainly be the case. It's not dull by any means, but it could just be fine-tuned a bit. I'll give it some time on the Sharpmaker this weekend.
 
I have some offers out on a couple knives already, but when I get some more funds, I'm finally going to go after one of the coffin handled knives!
 
Comeuppance said:
This may be a result of the flat grind and overall blade thickness. Many of the more popular AUS8 blades are either comparatively thinly ground or are hollow ground.
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Makes sense. The blade is pretty thick. I can get mine pretty damn sharp, though.

Quiet said:
I have some offers out on a couple knives already, but when I get some more funds, I'm finally going to go after one of the coffin handled knives!
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That's my boy! I wonder how much moolah this thread has made OKC :rolleyes:
 
Comeuppance said:
This may be a result of the flat grind and overall blade thickness. Many of the more popular AUS8 blades are either comparatively thinly ground or are hollow ground.
Click to expand...

All it takes is the proper angle and good technique. You can get a hair whittling edge on a 1/4" thick bar with just an edge bevel if you do it right.
 
Here's my two, just finished the stand off's on the round one. While I was taking these pics the lock on the coffin grip one accidentally disengaged and almost cut my hand open, pretty close call.





 
Cereal_killer said:
Here's my two, just finished the stand off's on the round one. While I was taking these pics the lock on the coffin grip one accidentally disengaged and almost cut my hand open, pretty close call.
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Sorry to hear about your near accident! Glad your'e ok.

And that simple mod makes the knife look so much better, IMO.
 
grownstar said:
Sorry to hear about your near accident! Glad your'e ok.

And that simple mod makes the knife look so much better, IMO.
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Thanks, me to. It was pretty scary, can't say I've ever had it happen before either, I stuck the knife into a piece of wood and it folded on my, thankfully I wasn't trying to stab it in like I was killing a vampire or anything and I was able to stop before the blade made contact.

For anyone else that has both what one do you prefer? I'm really liking the round one, I got the coffin first and thought it was a decent knife and was already using it as a work knife but I probably wouldn't EDC it if I wasn't specifically going to need a beater that day, since I've got the round one I've ready EDC'd it a few times, I like the feel in hand much better. I may try to swap blades so I can have a round handle/coated blade, anyone know if you can swap blades between styles?
 
So far I only own the coffin grip. I bought it because it was more aesthetically appealing, but I've actually grown quite fond of how it feels in hand. It's extremely comfortable to me. And I threw this sucker in my edc rotation immediately.

As far as blade swapping, I assume you could do it. Upon observing all the pics in this thread, it looks like they would swap out just fine. I could be wrong, though!

Oh, and everyone knows you kill a vampire with a wooden stake, not a Utilitac ;)
 
Also I'm thinking about taking it back apart and taking the front stand off out, I have plenty of knives with only two, I know it would be strong enough and I think it'll look better.
 
Cereal_killer, any clues as to why your lock disengaged? I've stabbed mine into things multiple times with no fail. I wonder if your standoffs may not be too long or short maybe?

I'm sticking with the coffin model. It feels great with gloves on, and I like the tougher liner.

And grownstar, between this thread, my two on AR15.com, and facebook, I don't mean to sound cocky but I guarantee I've sold a couple hundred of these. Blade HQ always had them in stock. Now they always have some different variant out of stock. If they would offer G10 checkered handles (in colors too) like I've been telling them, they would sell even better.
 
Blade swap:


Removed the forward most stand off's. Also relocated the middle stand off to the rear using the middle clip mounting hole:






I especially like the look on the coffin model


Sorry about the frightfully horrible photo's, I usually try to only take pic's during the day cause of how much better daylight makes cell phone pic's but I was to excited and had to share now. I'll take better ones tomorrow.
 
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o4tg said:
Cereal_killer, any clues as to why your lock disengaged? I've stabbed mine into things multiple times with no fail. I wonder if your standoffs may not be too long or short maybe?
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Nah it wasn't mechanical issue or a failure, my palm disengaged it, I'm used to liner locks with the lock bar flush with the presentation side scale, it's just something I'll have to get accustom to not doing.
 
Cereal_killer said:
Nah it wasn't mechanical issue or a failure, my palm disengaged it, I'm used to liner locks with the lock bar flush with the presentation side scale, it's just something I'll have to get accustom to not doing.
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Ah, gotcha. Those standoffs look freaking great!
 
Well I have some bad news to report about the blade swap. I noticed last night that the black blade in the round handles was at 100% lock up. I don't think its necessarily always gonna be the case, but it certainly kept these two particular knives from being able to swap blades.
 
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