Warning: Impulse buy! Ontario SP45

K

Krissig12

Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
3,121
I figured I'd post this here to avoid the bias that would come from the guys in the Ontario forum:)

Ok so I suddenly had an impulse to buy a bigger, badder blade that could handle some chopping that my esee 4 couldn't.

I was looking around, and I remembered that I had seen an Ontario in my local knife shop and really liked the looks at the time. So I tried to find it online. Turns out the one I wanted was the discontinued quartermaster. Oh well.

The next one that caught my eye was the sp45. This thing looks amazing. I watched a couple of review and it looks like it can definitely handle some chopping. It's 5160, full tang, Kraton handle, 8 inch blade length, and has a nice looking blade shape.
And since it's only 70 bucks, I figured why not?

So how come there aren't more reviews on this thing? Am I missing something?

About the only complaint I've found is the sheath sucks.
Who else has experience with one?
 
Last edited:
Ok guys calm down...... Don't everyone respond all at once! ;):D


Really though, does everyone hate it or something? After a few searches I've yet to find any dedicated threads pertaining to it
 
Ontario's Spec Plus line are all great knives. You really can't go wrong. Since you found a design you like, go for it bro!
 
Ontario? Ask Jeepster. LOL I don't know anything about them other than that my RTAK II is awesome.
 
You will be happy with that knife .
Much like the kabar beckers, it is well made and easy to maintain.
Good design, good steel, easy maintenance......not gonna really hurt it unless to decide to chop rebar with it or some other insanity.
 
Hmmm thanks for the support. I thought it would be good, but I was just wondering what you guys thought of it.

Hey so how do you feel about the HRC of only 53-55? Is the edge retention going to suck on the 5160 in that range?
And how hard is the recurve to sharpen in the field?
 
The hardness range is fine, and that's a great steel. No worries.

To sharpen recurves I usually just carry a single fine ceramic stick with a wooden handle. Works fine.
 
Looks great! Not too many posts about Ontario knives. Most folks in the realm of knives will preach Becker or ESEE. Both are great brands. But Ontario makes equally great knives. The SP knives have great handles. Nice buy!
 
jimh0220 said:
Looks great! Not too many posts about Ontario knives. Most folks in the realm of knives will preach Becker or ESEE. Both are great brands. But Ontario makes equally great knives. The SP knives have great handles. Nice buy!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I don't think one could even count the number of BK 9 related posts:p:rolleyes:

And about the handles, I remember really liking the feel of the one that I held at the knife shop. So hopefully I'll like this one too.
 
You will. There's a big need by folks here to strip knives and change handles. I have done the same. But you can't do that with some Ontario knives, especially the SP knives. I think that's a factor.
 
Sweet knife. i have an RTAK 2 and it's awesome and really tough. I'm sure I'll get another Ontario in the future. Congratulations on the purchase.
 
jimh0220 said:
You will. There's a big need by folks here to strip knives and change handles. I have done the same. But you can't do that with some Ontario knives, especially the SP knives. I think that's a factor.
Click to expand...

You know how we do! Gotta show the world that our one-of-one-bajillion-made item is special and unique. LOL :thumbup:
 
Well, I started questioning my decision and cancelled the order. I think there are other models I would rather have, and they could be delivered much quicker, so yeah.......

Question now is which one I should get. Im having a tough time deciding between the SP48 and the SP 43.

Remember, I have plenty of smaller fixed blades for other tasks. This one will be used strictly as a big chopper and batonner, should it become necessary for me to do either. But I also dont want to fully commit and buy something like the RTAK II, BK9, or SP50. Basically I wanna be somewhere between knife and machete:D

So with that in mind, I think the 48 is the way to go. But Im still not sure about it.....Does anyone have any experience with one? How does it perform, feel in hand, etc?

ontario-knife-spec-plus-fixed-black-gen-ii-sp-48.jpg
 
Krissig12 said:
Well, I started questioning my decision and cancelled the order. I think there are other models I would rather have, and they could be delivered much quicker, so yeah.......

Question now is which one I should get. Im having a tough time deciding between the SP48 and the SP 43.

Remember, I have plenty of smaller fixed blades for other tasks. This one will be used strictly as a big chopper and batonner, should it become necessary for me to do either. But I also dont want to fully commit and buy something like the RTAK II, BK9, or SP50. Basically I wanna be somewhere between knife and machete:D

So with that in mind, I think the 48 is the way to go. But Im still not sure about it.....Does anyone have any experience with one? How does it perform, feel in hand, etc?

ontario-knife-spec-plus-fixed-black-gen-ii-sp-48.jpg
Click to expand...

I would tell you that I have used my RTAK II for exactly what you're describing, a big knife-chete-chopper thing. And it's been fantastic, despite all the people on Youtube (and some here) who are always "The RTAK is garbage, the Junglas is vastly superior and will outperform the RTAK II forever and ever."

For the money of a Junglas, you can buy two RTAKs, beat the snot out of one, and if something happens, send it in for Ontario's warranty replacement and use the other one until the replacement gets there!! :thumbup:
 
IDK, I kinda prefer the looks of the SP48, and I think the RTAK is still a bit overkill for what I need. I believe you that its a good knife, but I just think its a little too big for me
 
I have a Spec Plus Pilots knife that I used for just about everything you could imagine when I was a kid. It and my Ka-Bar USMC felt the brunt of my youthful bladed indiscretions, before I knew any better. The pilots knife is 1095, though. But I always thought the handles were comfortable and grippy. I'm planning on getting it and my well loved Ka-Bar out of retirement to learn how to use my new Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top