Ontario's SP series, past and present...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
Messages
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I tried looking up an online source that would have photos & descriptions of the entire line of Ontario Knives Company SP series knives & tools, (SP = Spec Plus), in current & discontinued form. I can honestly say that I could not find such an animal. I was hoping to put this post up and maybe see if we could assemble the entire SP lineage here as a reference for us all. The SP line, (in Gen One and Two), is simply most distinguished by their model numbers starting with SP (examples: SP-1, SP-2, SP-5, SP-10, SP-16, SP-43, and so on).
It would be pretty interesting to see the entire SP series knives/tools pictured, and such, all in one continuous informative thread.

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SP-1 Combat

I will attempt to start this off with OKC's SP-1 (which is based on the famous Marine Corps fighting/utilty knife used during WW2).
Factory specs...

Weight- 10 Ounce
Overall Length- 12 Inches
Folding or Fixed Blade- Fixed
Blade Length- 7 Inches
Blade Finish- Black Powder Coated
Blade Steel- 1095 Carbon (recently in 1075 carbon)
Blade Shape- Modified Clip Point
Blade Thickness- 0.19 Inches
Serrated- No
Handle Color- Black
Handle Material- Kraton (or equivalent)
Sheath Included- Yes
Rockwell Hardness- 58 HRC
Sheath Material- Leather/Cordura (recently in nylon)
 
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Another version of the Quatermaster ...the SP17
6” blade..11” o.a.l....3/16” thick




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And the SP19 Task Force..
7.3” blade...12.3” o.a.l.


Two that I wouldn’t mind seeing Ontario revisiting
 
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Sooo many have gone DoDo, wow! Anyhow, that SP-17... That would be my next Ontario purchase (if it were still available through OKC). Darn, I think the SP series was just ahead of it's time... But, I do believe many of their discontinued models would fare better today (in my opinion).
 
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You know I had to do the SP-43 :D

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Overall Length 12.9 in (32.8 cm)
Lock Type Fixed
Hardness 53-55 HRC
Edge Type Plain
Country of Origin United States of America
Handle Color Black
Blade Grind Full Flat Taper
Blade Finish Powder Coat
Blade Color Black
Blade Thickness 0.188 in (0.478 cm)
Blade Material 5160 Carbon Steel
Blade Length 7.9 in (20.0 cm)
Handle Material Kraton®
Sheath Material Nylon
Sheath Color Black
Sheath Type MOLLE Compatible
 
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SP-36 Sniper Spax

The Sniper SPAX was originally created with a detachable spade for US military snipers to quickly dig out a hiding spot,

DESCRIPTION:
OVERALL LENGTH 13.1 in (33.3 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Full Flat Taper w/ Flat Bevel
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel
BLADE LENGTH 5.2 in (13.6 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
SHEATH COLOR FG/UC Multicam
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Ontario SP-36 (Sniper Spax)
DESCRIPTION:
OVERALL LENGTH 13.1 in (33.3 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Full Flat Taper w/ Flat Bevel
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel
BLADE LENGTH 5.2 in (13.6 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
SHEATH COLOR FG/UC Multicam
Click to expand...


This one is on sale right now I think.
 
Yonose said:
This one is on sale right now I think.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that second picture I put up of it, is actually the pic of the one I purchased not too long ago :)
It was not originally available for civilian sale, but I guess Ontario was getting rid of their excess inventory of them, and put them out for sale to the general public. It being a real niche item, I don't think they sold well, so they can be had for even less than the standard Spax SP-16, which is not made to accept the digging spade. They are a bargain collectable that will likely be pretty scarce in the near future :)
 
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SP-10 Marine Raider Bowie

If not THE best SP series seller for OKC, than it's at least close to being there :)

Factory specs:
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel (recently in 1075)
BLADE LENGTH 9.8 in (25.0 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
 
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SP-16 (Spax) shown above with the military type sheath

DESCRIPTION:
OVERALL LENGTH 13.1 in (33.4 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
EDGE TYPE Plain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Full Flat Taper w/ Flat Bevel
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel (possibly 1075 on more recent models)
BLADE LENGTH 5.2 in (13.6 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
SHEATH COLOR Black
SHEATH TYPE MOLLE compatible
 
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SP-8 Survival Machete

OVERALL LENGTH 15.2 in (38.5 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
EDGE TYPE Plain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Flat Bevel w/ Secondary Flat Bevel
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel (possibly 1075 on recent models)
BLADE LENGTH 10.0 in (25.5 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®

I don't currently own an SP-8, but have it on my short list of Ontario knives that I want added into my collection :)
 
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SP-15 LSA (Land, Sea, Air)

OVERALL LENGTH 11.7 in (29.6 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
EDGE TYPE Plain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Flat Bevel w/ Secondary Flat Bevel
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.188 in (0.478 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel
BLADE LENGTH 6.4 in (16.2 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
SHEATH COLOR Black
SHEATH TYPE MOLLE compatible
 
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SP-5 Survival Bowie
This model actually made it onto Ontario's discontinued list, and was not offered for some years. Ontario made the rare decision to add the SP-5 back into their line, and it is again available. Most of the more recent manufacture of Ontario SP knives are made with 1075 carbon steel (rather than the 1095 that was their previous standard). Some of the SP line is still made out of 1095, but only because they are offered through US military channels, and require the 1095 to meet those specs. Ontario is said to have chosen the 1075 over 1095 for most of their line for the benefit of the 1075's toughness. The 1095 had the slight advantage in edge retention, but with all quality controls and heat treatments being equal, the 1075 had proven the tougher of the two. 1075 proved more likely to bend than to break when compared to the 1095, so the 1075 slight advantage in toughness was chosen over the 1095 slight advantage in edge retention.

OVERALL LENGTH 15.1 in (38.5 cm)
LOCK TYPE Fixed
HARDNESS 57-59 HRC
EDGE TYPE Plain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN United States of America
HANDLE COLOR Black
BLADE GRIND Full Flat Taper w/ Swedge
BLADE FINISH Powder Coat
BLADE COLOR Black
BLADE THICKNESS 0.250 in (0.635 cm)
BLADE MATERIAL 1095 Carbon Steel (more recently in 1075)
BLADE LENGTH 10.0 in (25.4 cm)
HANDLE MATERIAL Kraton®
SHEATH MATERIAL Nylon
SHEATH COLOR Black
 
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There are so many more... I hope we have a good start to getting the entire SPEC PLUS (SP) Series (past & present) represented here :)
 
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SP-18 Frontiersman

This one is now long discontinued. Ontario Knife Company had a short stint collaboration with famous Custom Bowie maker, Bill Bagwell. During that time, Ontario put out a line of factory produced renditions of some of Mr. Bagwell's most popular models. Ontario also offered this SP-18 Frontiersman, which had a blade very much inspired by Mr. Bagwell's style.
 
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