Ontario Knife Company USA

[Sasquach]

Since Ontario has closed their doors after many years of being an American standard in the cutlery industry I thought I'd start a thread to display their offerings. I'd be interested in seeing what other collectors have accumulated over the years. I have been making an effort to pick up OKC USA products before they become hens teeth. Here are a few I have acquired recently. Show 'em if ya got 'em.

[royal0014]

Good idea, Sir Charles !!

[Sasquach]

Good idea, Sir Charles !!

Thanks Chris. I just hate to see another American knife company go under. The idea of making knives in the USA at a price the average blue collar guy can afford is rapidly fading. There are some newer American companies out there but look at their prices. Medford has a semi-scout pattern with yellow synthetic Delrin like handles and three blades listed at $240.00! Ontario was always a go to for good quality at an affordable price.

[treefarmer]

Wasn't Ontario Knife and Queen tied together some years ago?
Treefarmer

[edge213]

Wasn't Ontario Knife and Queen tied together some years ago?
Treefarmer

Servtronics (sp?) owned both Ontario and Queen, so they were sister companies.
Ontario owned "Robeson". Queen made the later Robesons folders.
I think I got this all correct. I didn't check my notes, going by memory
Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[Sasquach]

I'm glad you answered that David. I didn't know they were connected but it doesn't surprise me.

This one arrived today.

[TripleF]

WOW, news to me.....so sad.

[Sasquach]

WOW, news to me.....so sad.

It happened pretty quietly last year.

"Ontario Knife Company was an American manufacturer of knives and military tools. On August 1, 2023, OKC was acquired by Blue Ridge Knives and subsequently closed."

We can only hope that Blue Ridge will keep the Ontario legacy alive and in the USA but I haven't heard anything yet.

[Sasquach]

Old Hickory Bird & Trout knife.

[1967redrider]

Cool USA made knives.

[ken98k]

It looks as if Ontario is back. (sort of) They're now located in Virginia (because they found a pool of unemployed cutlers there?)
I'm betting once the US made stock is gone, everything will come from Asia.

https://ontarioknife.com/

[cody6268]

It looks as if Ontario is back. (sort of) They're now located in Virginia (because they found a pool of unemployed cutlers there?)
I'm betting once the US made stock is gone, everything will come from Asia.

https://ontarioknife.com/

I was told by the co-owner of a local knife store that it is exactly the case--once what was already made is sold, everything from then on out will be the imported models.

[Sasquach]

It looks as if Ontario is back. (sort of) They're now located in Virginia (because they found a pool of unemployed cutlers there?)
I'm betting once the US made stock is gone, everything will come from Asia.

https://ontarioknife.com/

I was told by the co-owner of a local knife store that it is exactly the case--once what was already made is sold, everything from then on out will be the imported models.

Since Blue Ridge Knives bought Ontario we have to wait and see what they are going to do with the venerable old name. I would not be happy to see Asian Ontario knives and hope that Blue Ridge will keep it in the USA. I haven't heard anything concrete about Asian production of Ontario yet, just rumors.

[Ridgegrass]

Never had a lot of them but they seemed like good users. Like the "OK" stamp. Didn't they make table cutlery too ? J.O'.

[Sasquach]

Never had a lot of them but they seemed like good users. Like the "OK" stamp. Didn't they make table cutlery too ? J.O'.

Yes, they made kitchen cutlery under their Old Hickory label. Old Hickory butcher knives were very popular for many years.

[Ridgegrass]

They had those stripes of dark and light metal. I think I've also seen fancier meat carving sets from Ontario too. O'.

[rea1eye]

Got this Ontario knife yesterday. Everything about the knife is very, very good

Does anyone know when approximately this was made?

. attachment=]IMG_4298 (1).jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=0]IMG_4306.jpg

Bob

[Sasquach]

I'm not sure how to date Ontario knives, that's something I've been doing a little research on. This is what I found in the Goins Encyclopedia (copyright 1998):

[rea1eye]

I'm not sure how to date Ontario knives, that's something I've been doing a little research on. This is what I found in the Goins Encyclopedia (copyright 1998):

Thanks Charlie. It looks like the only way to date the knife is to ask the
company ( which I have done) or find some old Ontario ads or sales
papers.

Bob

[Sasquach]

I'm not sure how to date Ontario knives, that's something I've been doing a little research on. This is what I found in the Goins Encyclopedia (copyright 1998):

Thanks Charlie. It looks like the only way to date the knife is to ask the
company ( which I have done) or find some old Ontario ads or sales
papers.

Bob

I'm sure there is some information out there, I just have to find it. The Pilot survival knife or Jet Pilot knife made by Ontario will have the month and year of manufacture stamped into one of the facets of the hexagonal pommel but other than that I am still looking. From what I've found I would guess (keep in mind this is just a guess) that your knife was made by Queen for Ontario during the '70s. I say this because of the pattern and the blade etch is similar to that found on Queen knives. If I come across any more info I'll pass it along.