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Ontario Knife Company has been Sold and Set to Shut Down

Talyn

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member
On Thursday, July 27, the Ontario Knife Company's factory in Franklinville, NY will be shutting down operations, leaving 56 employees out of work and the OKC legacy in question. OKC was sold to Blue Ridge Knives of Virginia.

Ontario Knife Company has been Sold and Set to Shut Down

The-Old-Hickory-Butcher-Has-A-Rustic-Look-1024x597.jpg
 
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Wow damn was just looking at thier stuff last night. Another fine old brand that will probably go to china just like schrade when they were bought by Taylor brands smokey mountain knife works
 
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Wannabewoodsman said:
What a pity... Doesn't seem like the factory is shutting down just a name and ownership change. Hopefully not a quality change
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If the original post is true it says the factory is shutting down. A cursory glance at Blue Ridge knives looks like they are sellers, not in the manufacturering business, but who knows.

A very similar thing happened to Schrade a number of years ago when the company was bought by Taylor Brands for its old name. The manufacturing was closed in the US and moved to China, ended up being cheap crap. Same thing happened when Smoky Mountain bought Marbles name. Michigan production shut down and moved to China with an end result of a crap product sold in Smkw catalogs.

Sadly not holding my breath for Ontario.m and Old Hickory.
 
Sld1959 said:
Just went and ordered the old military trench knife. Been thinking about one for the collection for years
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Got one of those (M3) last winter at an LGS.

Been wanting one for a long time & was looking at foreign versions but was pleased that OKC had made one.

Very nice reproduction & USA made.

Too bad KBAR didn't buy them since both companies are/were in the same state.
 
I'll miss them. Just checked and my faithful old USGI machete, bought over 30 years ago at a local surplus store and a veteran of decades of great service in my garden/yard, is an Ontario.

So is my "Kabar." Bought it back in the '80s from IIRC SARCO as a "blem" at a ridiculously low price. The blemish turned out to be a VERY small nick in the edge which affected its usefulness in no way whatever. By tradition, I use it every year to "disassemble" the Christmas tree for easy disposal in common kitchen trash bags. ;)
 
It's unfortunate and certainly the end of an era.

But at the same time, we are fortunate to be living in a time when there are many U.S. makers that are producing excellent knives. They may be smaller scale than a company like OKC, and they may cost more, but are also considerably higher quality. I'll certainly take that over cheap chi-com any day.
 
Snake45 said:
I'll miss them. Just checked and my faithful old USGI machete, bought over 30 years ago at a local surplus store and a veteran of decades of great service in my garden/yard, is an Ontario.

So is my "Kabar." Bought it back in the '80s from IIRC SARCO as a "blem" at a ridiculously low price. The blemish turned out to be a VERY small nick in the edge which affected its usefulness in no way whatever. By tradition, I use it every year to "disassemble" the Christmas tree for easy disposal in common kitchen trash bags. ;)
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I have not researched it lately but last I looked Ontario was the largest maker of issued knives. If it still is its going to open up a lot of military contracts. Have no idea how this would affect a current military contract
 
Damn I hate to hear this. I really liked their knives. I've been looking for a set at a local store for awhile now.
They kept a good edge, they were prone to rust if you didn't dry them good and occasionally oil them, still for the money good knives.
 
I'm very surprised that Ontario is/was on hard times since they seemed to have a nice product selection, and their RAT line was well regarded. Perhaps some bad mgt?

Besides the M3 I recently got, I've had one of these for awhile and its a nice knife.

knifeworks.com

Ontario Black Bird S35VN - Blk Micarta (5" S35VN) ON7503

Ontario Black Bird S35VN Fixed Blade (ON7503) - 5.0in CPM-S35VN Spear Point Satin Plain Blade, Black Micarta Handle
knifeworks.com knifeworks.com
 
Talyn said:
I'm very surprised that Ontario is/was on hard times since they seemed to have a nice product selection, and their RAT line was well regarded. Perhaps some bad mgt?

Besides the M3 I recently got, I've had one of these for awhile and its a nice knife.

knifeworks.com

Ontario Black Bird S35VN - Blk Micarta (5" S35VN) ON7503

Ontario Black Bird S35VN Fixed Blade (ON7503) - 5.0in CPM-S35VN Spear Point Satin Plain Blade, Black Micarta Handle
knifeworks.com knifeworks.com
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Might have just been an offer they could not refuse.
 
I picked up a couple OKC ASEK strap cutters & replacement blades plus a OKC Bushcraft Field Knife from a vendor.

They said their haven't seen a rush on OKC products like now when the word got out.
 
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