Thoughts on the Ontario Air Force survival knife

Grathr · **on:** October 15, 2012, 05:37:17 PM

I'm considering to buy a Ontario Air Force Survival knife. It has however recieved mixed reviews. I like that its a classic and probably one of the first pure survival knives, but that does not automaticly make it a good knife. I also like its medium size and the fact that it does not have a serratet blade. To few "survival" knives have a plain edge theese days.

What are your thoughts on this knife?

Steinar · **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2012, 07:03:58 PM

For a survival knife I'd personally prefer a full tang and only synthetic materials, though the leather grip will feel great in the hand if it's finished and designed properly. I don't know anything about the surface finish, but 1095 is IMHO one of the better choices for a survival knife if not blowing the budget out of the park or going for more unknown steels. Just my 20 millicredits.

Syph007 · **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2012, 07:10:14 PM

1095 is a good steel, but i got rid of all mine since I got tired of always having to oil and baby them. I know some of the common ones are coated, but I dont care for coated blades either. I had 2 ESEEs and they both rusted. I want to be able to abuse them , get them wet, put them away dirty and still have them perform.

My favorite small survival knife is the Fallkniven F1, and for bigger work, the A1. Wont rust and I just really love them.

F1

A1

Grathr · **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2012, 07:47:45 PM

Thanks.

The fallkniven knives are in a very different price range from the Air Force Survival knife.
I really don't need a another survival knife, but when has that stopped anyone here from buying a knife?

I already have a Ontario Marine spec plus fighting knife, wich is too big and the blade is a bit to thick for my taste. I have a Gerber Prodigy wich is good, but the serrations irritate me. I have of course a big Sami knife wich is excellent but a bit too big.
The search for the perfect affordable survival knife continues...
Maybe the Ontario Airforce survival knife is it?

I'd like to read more of your opinions on this knife before I decide if I should buy one or not.

jerseydevil · **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2012, 08:08:59 PM

I have an issue Air Force survival knife somewhere, given to me by my uncle. It's a nice knife, full tang with the leather handle and a screw-on pommel. The saw is not really intended for wood, just so you know. They were originally intended to be used to cut through stressed aluminum aircraft skins and Plexiglass canopies. I wonder if the saw on the Ontario is the same as the old issue knife, or redesigned for a more outdoorsey situation?

Swiss Man · **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2012, 10:21:25 PM

I love the Air Force survival knife. The hex head pommel the tie down holes in the hand guard. It is an all around great knife. I like it better then my Marine Ka Bar.

Styerman · **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2012, 05:40:52 PM

The issued ones had very poor/unsafe sheaths . Otherwise they were good pieces .

Chris

Grathr · **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2012, 04:06:48 PM

Thanks for the info guys!
As always when I researching a knife, another more expensive knife knife comes up...
What are your experiences with the cold steel SRK? Anyone have both the SRK and the ontario ariforce survival knife? Can they be compared?

Styerman · **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2012, 05:09:34 PM

The SRK is more costly and better made . It had quite a following at one time .

Chris

Grathr · **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2012, 05:39:42 PM

Any special reason to why it has lost followers?

Styerman · **Reply #10 on:** October 18, 2012, 07:46:10 PM

It's more about Lynne Thompson the owner of cold steel . Product quality is good , but they have some very "out there " products .

The 5" Becker Crewman is also worth considering , very solid piece , and quite inexpensive in North America .

Chris

jekostas · **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2012, 12:23:26 AM

Condor Bushlore

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2012, 03:12:59 AM

I have a Gerber 'Big Rock', and a Becker BK14 'Eskabar'. I really like the Eskabar; so much so, I've been thinking about getting a second one. I've taken it on a couple of short pack trips now, and it's performed very well for a small knife. It lives in my day-hiking/survival pack, and my Big Rock lives in my bigger 'adventure pack'.

Right now though, I think my next fixed blade purchase is going to be a Condor 5" bushcraft. It will replace the Big Rock in my Adventure Pack; the Condor's blade is thinner, but longer, has more belly (which I think is important for a bushcraft knife), and is made of 1075 instead of 440A, so it'll be easier to maintain/sharpen in the field.

Grathr · **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2012, 06:22:31 AM

I actually have a Gerber Big Rock. Its a pretty good knife but the handle is a bit to thin for my hands. I took it out for some serious wood chopping and I could not maintain a comfortable grip on it. Also the rubber grip startet to loosen on the finger guard.

Thanks for the tips on the condor knives. I will check them out.

Grathr · **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2012, 07:11:09 AM

Well. After a quick check on ebay and youtube I just ordered a Condor Bushcraft 5inch. I already have too many scandi ground knifes, inkluding one that I made my self(not the blade, that was handcraftet by a local knifesmith) but I am afraid I will break it if I use it for batoning. However I do not have a full tang scandi ground knife.
The full tang Condor looks like it might just be a perfect survival knife for me. (and it was very affordable too!

)
Thanks for the tip Heinz!

I will let you know what I think about it when I get it.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2012, 06:42:03 AM

Quote from: Grathr on October 19, 2012, 07:11:09 AM

Well. After a quick check on ebay and youtube I just ordered a Condor Bushcraft 5inch. I already have too many scandi ground knifes, inkluding one that I made my self(not the blade, that was handcraftet by a local knifesmith) but I am afraid I will break it if I use it for batoning. However I do not have a full tang scandi ground knife.
The full tang Condor looks like it might just be a perfect survival knife for me. (and it was very affordable too! )
Thanks for the tip Heinz!
I will let you know what I think about it when I get it.

Glad to help!

The thing I like about the Condor Basic knives is the extra belly they have. I know that's supposed to make them less than optimal for wood carving, but I'd rather have the extra belly for food related chores. I think that'll make them a decent skinning knife too. I also think it'll be better for drilling holes for hearth-boards for a hand-drill or the spindle for a fire-bow.

I also have been seriously considering one of the smaller Condor bushcraft knives as well, like the Sapien and the Tavian. The only thing that's held me back from getting one of them so far is the lack of a lanyard hole. I know that's a pretty nit-picky reason for not getting one yet, but that's been my rationale so far.

I'm still liking the 5" Basic most though; the Big Rock has a good point on it, so if it really made a difference in doing any basic wood carving, I have it if I need it. The handle on the Big Rock hasn't been an issue for me (so far); I did have to tighten the bolts on mine, but since then it's been fine. It's survived a couple of seasons of camping and hiking trips so far and it's definitely a beefy blade. It is a little too pointy for my likes though, which is why I like the Basic so much. Ah frell... I'm just gonna bite the bullet and buy one now anyway. Only $25 on Knifecenter, so why not.

Grathr · **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2012, 06:49:16 PM

I just got the condor bushcraft basic 5" in the mail

I am very impressed by it. It came razor sharp out of the box and is a dream to use. It feels rock solid and comes with a great leather sheath. A great knife at a very modest price!

Thanks again for the tip Heinz!

PS I was so impressed with the quality that I just ordered a Condor Bushlore too.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2012, 04:58:50 AM

Quote from: Grathr on October 24, 2012, 06:49:16 PM

I just got the condor bushcraft basic 5" in the mail
I am very impressed by it. It came razor sharp out of the box and is a dream to use. It feels rock solid and comes with a great leather sheath. A great knife at a very modest price!
Thanks again for the tip Heinz!

PS I was so impressed with the quality that I just ordered a Condor Bushlore too.

Sweet! Glad to help!

I actually ordered a Tavian. It's got a lanyard hole in the handle.

Put your Basic through some paces, and let us know what you think of it. I'll do the same with my Tavian, but Knifecenter says it's going to be a couple of weeks before they get them back in stock. $:-\$

Grathr · **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:33:55 PM

I have been testing the Condor over the last week and I am still very impressed by it. I have cut green wood, batoned firewood, scraped birchbark for tinder and even done a little whittling with it. The black paint has started to wear off a little bit but it's still as sharp as when I took it out of the box.
This is actualley the first knife I have bought the last couple of years that I am 100% happy with. Its not too big, but not too small either. The sheath is great, the handle fits my hand perfectly and it cuts and chops like a dream. Also it looks very neutral and and raises no eyebrows when I carry it in my belt in the forest.

Heres a pic of it from todays halfday trip with the family in the forrest.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2012, 10:18:30 PM

That looks a great bit of kit mate

jekostas · **Reply #20 on:** October 29, 2012, 08:20:13 PM

Condor makes some nice stuff, I don't know if I've ever really heard any complaints about them besides the odd piece or two that the heat treat went wonky.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2012, 06:06:09 PM

Quote from: Grathr on October 28, 2012, 05:33:55 PM

I have been testing the Condor over the last week and I am still very impressed by it. I have cut green wood, batoned firewood, scraped birchbark for tinder and even done a little whittling with it. The black paint has started to wear off a little bit but it's still as sharp as when I took it out of the box.
This is actualley the first knife I have bought the last couple of years that I am 100% happy with. Its not too big, but not too small either. The sheath is great, the handle fits my hand perfectly and it cuts and chops like a dream. Also it looks very neutral and and raises no eyebrows when I carry it in my belt in the forest.
Heres a pic of it from todays halfday trip with the family in the forrest.
(Image removed from quote.)

Excellent! Now I'm jonesing for my Tavian!

Once I get it, I'm going to replace the Big Rock on my adventure pack with it. The Tavian will be lighter and smaller, but have the same blade length.

We were planning on a four to five day camping trip over the Thanksgiving holiday, but now my wife is changing up the planning on me... to spend time with in-laws.

Ugh.

But, regardless, once I get the Tavian, I'll just go out in the hills here for a day and play with it some. Practice using my hand-drill and fire-bow... maybe I'll even do a little shelter building practice.

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #22 on:** November 03, 2012, 12:57:04 AM

My Tavian arrived in the mail Wednesday afternoon. As expected, the usual Condor quality for the price, but it did/does have a few minor F&F issues.

The biggest thing I noticed is that the grind of the blade was somewhat smurfed up out of the box. It looked almost like a tanto profile. A bit of work with my tri-stone and diamond hone fixed it pretty easily though.

The handle scales also had a sharp edge to them that made it difficult to resheath the knife one handed, but about 20 min of work with a SAK file fixed that problem pretty easily. I still need to finish them with some sandpaper and put some finish oil on them though.

The only real issue is that the blade has that same uneven grind that I noted in my review of my Golok machete. It's not as noticeable on the Tavian, but it's definitely there.

I'll post some pics in the next day or two.

Dtrain · **Reply #23 on:** November 09, 2012, 05:36:13 PM

I broke an Ontario when I was in the Army...However I was throwing it in to the Plywood Flooring of a Raised Platform for a GP Medium....It was not one of my smarter decisions concerning the apropriate use of a Knife...Prior to said Act of Stupidty in the field it performed all the tasks I needed it too..It had the Sheath with the Metal Tip..but the Sharpening Stone left alot to be desired..I gave it to someone in the Motor Pool who spent about 20 Minutes with a Couple of Files and reshaped the Tip(Now a 1/4 Shorter) and semed quite happy with it..I went back to carrying the Ka Bar I brought with me to Honduras in 1989..My Kabar purchased in 1987 is still going strong quite possibly becuse of the day I tossed the Ontario in to the Floor..My Ka Bar was much easier to sharpen though...Now my Ka Bar belongs to my Oldest and when I gave it to him a couple of years back I told him the story of the Pilot's Knife..So far I have not had any problems with him throwing it..Hope I did not go OT

Dtrain

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