- Joined
- Aug 4, 2013
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- 3,989
These two companies, Ontario & Estwing, have some vary similar methods in their approach to making their tools (atleast in my opinion). Both being American based companies that supply tools made in somewhat old school ways. The Ontario firm makes most of their domestic products using the stock removal method of milling away steel from blanked out steel stock. In many cases they seem to still be using old school grinding machines to make final shapes in their products. Estwing, rather than using the milled from bar stock/sheet metal method, does the other very traditional thing of milling/grinding their drop hammer forged tools to final requirements. They too use many old school methods by using many man operated eye balled grinding to achieve final shapes. One will notice that many Ontario knife blades have some variations in their final grinds that cnc machinery would be much more precise in accomplishing. I personally don't mind too much seeing some minor visual imperfections like this on items I know are aimed more towards function and that I know have more old school hands work involved in making them. I think it would bother me much more to see such deviations on items made with more computer assisted manufacturing, because those I would expect to not have the inconsistencies that human hands and eyes are more likely to do in a mass produced environment. Estwing final grinds and edges, as with many Ontario products, may show these hands on labor inconsistencies. Both companies seem to put their major effort in making a tool which works as a well made tool should, and places the overall appearance to a second place effort. They are not as refined as some tools are, but both firms pass the savings on in their pricing. Estwing is still almost totally this way, where as I believe Ontario may be heading on improving their final machining (probably adding some more modern machinery) to improve most of their products final consistency in appearance to a more refined looking item. In any case, I see these two companies as true work horse product makers... The US military has continued to see the value in Ontario Knife Company products... Seeing these products as well made tools without the extra visual frills that may be sought after by some, but certainly not important to the professional operator's mission. Estwing does pretty much the same, but usually the operators being campers, carpenters, geologists, and home owners. I truly see some similar patterns in their manufacturing philosophies, even though their end products tend to be different tools ☺
A few Estwing and Ontario products living together in this display case. Bottom left shows an American made Gerber knife... Just to keep things interesting 😉
What Ontario and Estwing offer, is good ole tough Americana ☺
A few Estwing and Ontario products living together in this display case. Bottom left shows an American made Gerber knife... Just to keep things interesting 😉
What Ontario and Estwing offer, is good ole tough Americana ☺
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