Tell me about 5160 (Ontario)

HandofCod

HandofCod

Joined
Feb 27, 2010
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I've been looking around for a new fixed blade - something I can abuse and not care too much about. I've found a nice 8" with an interesting blade shape - Ontario GenII Spec Plus SP48.

ON8548.jpg


I don't have any Ontario knives but have heard good enough things that I'd consider it. It's made of 5160 though which I know nothing about. I want it to be a hard use knife hacking, batoning, hell even digging maybe.

It's only $80 so I don't expect miracles but I don't want microchipping and snapping the first time I talk it out into the woods.

What can I expect?
 
I don't have that knife so can't comment on it. But 5160 is really, really tough steel - it can take whatever you throw at it. :thumbup:
 
it looks sound to me. The thickness before the choil indicates to me that it is probably full tang and the grip is there for bonded to tang. I see no screws except for the hollow rivet at the butt of the knife so you might not have to worry about the grip sliding off over time. but if that rivet doesn't go through the tang than you might eventually have an issue with the grip loosening or coming off over time. I've seen bonded grips done so well that I can sometimes prefer it over a screw type grip, especially aesthetically speaking. But then again I've seen them look pretty flimsy too. So you'll need to make a decision as to the robustness of the design.
 
These are heat treated to 54-55 Rc, you won't have any chipping or snapping unless there is a production flaw.
 
Nutnfancy had issues with the Ranger series somehow 5160 chipping, but when he tested the Spec Plus gen 2 it didn't do it at all. So whack away at the Spec Plus series.
 
5160 is used for swords, machetes, axes, etc because of it's untouched strength and toughness. Ontario's stuff for the most part seems to be on the soft side, so you should be good to go for use as a beater.
 
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