Ontario Pilots Survival Knife Review: FIRST IMPRESSIONS!

[zhangmaster12]

This is a first impression of the knife, I have yet to take it out hiking.

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Enjoy guys! Subscribe and rate:D

[culpeper]

I was issued one of these when I was in the USAF. We didn't think much of it because they came with a small sharpening stone that only made the edge worse. Over the years I've come to like it. It's one of my low cost favorites.

[zhangmaster12]

I was issued one of these when I was in the USAF. We didn't think much of it because they came with a small sharpening stone that only made the edge worse. Over the years I've come to like it. It's one of my low cost favorites.

Yea, I attempted to sharpen with that stone....
it did make it worse.

So I Used a belt sander.

[xxo]

I tried to sharpen one of those Air force bolt knives.....wouldn't try it again without a belt grinder.....the factory "edge" is about as thick and dull as could be.

I guess the bolt knives are OK for their intended purpose of hacking your way out of a crashed aircraft, but they leave a lot to be desired as a wilderness survival knife. I think the Gerber LMF 2 or Prodigy are much better choices for this type of knife.

[zhangmaster12]

I tried to sharpen one of those Air force bolt knives.....wouldn't try it again without a belt grinder.....the factory "edge" is about as thick and dull as could be.

I guess the bolt knives are OK for their intended purpose of hacking your way out of a crashed aircraft, but they leave a lot to be desired as a wilderness survival knife. I think the Gerber LMF 2 or Prodigy are much better choices for this type of knife.

In regard to the LMF2:
Yes, it will break windows better.
Yes, it will cut aircraft hulls better.
Yes, it has a better factory edge.
Yes, its tougher.
Yes, its twice the price.

But for ME, is it a better knife? No.
For a person like me, who like me, who enjoys camping, hiking, and playing with me knives, how much I enjoy using a knife factors into the equation. I simply love the feel of the Ontario Pilot's knife.

For me, the Ontario has many plusses,
-Plain edge
-Grippy, Comfy leather washer handles
-leather sheath
-looks sweet
-30 bucks
-1095

For a aircraft/car/active duty military knife, I would take an LMF2 hands down. In fact, I want to pick one up.

Overall, I just like this knife better than the LMF2. Its a great, classic knife, that almost everyone can afford to pick one up.

BTW:
If you send me your Ontario, Ill sharpen it on a stone, make a vid, and send it back to you. You just need to pay for shipping.

[xxo]

Thanks much for the sharpening offer, but I no longer have the knife. I still kinda like the knife, but I don't think it is all that great. I looked at the LMF2 and was surpised at how nice it was, but it was too heavy for my needs, so I got the Prodigy instead.

[culpeper]

The AFSK was a cheap Cold War tool that went to the lowest bidder.

[zhangmaster12]

The AFSK was a cheap Cold War tool that went to the lowest bidder.

And that too. Good call.

[Noss]

Thanks for the review. Good job.:thumb: I'll subscribe to you on YT.

[Noss]

The AFSK was a cheap Cold War tool that went to the lowest bidder.

Truer words have never been spoken. :D

[kurodrago]

Nice review.
That knife is good knife especially if we think that was done 40 years ago.
That knife saved some lives in Vietnam too. Becouse technology advances someone I'll see it like a piece of crap.
Is a good knife for the money but the sheath is not good even if you try to put some protection on it..if water enters inside the sheash it's over.

[zhangmaster12]

Thanks for the sub Noss!

Kuro: do you think hot-waxing will help? sno-seal?

Im actually more worried about the handle, i can make anew sheath.

[xxo]

Nice review.
That knife is good knife especially if we think that was done 40 years ago.
That knife saved some lives in Vietnam too. Becouse technology advances someone I'll see it like a piece of crap.
Is a good knife for the money but the sheath is not good even if you try to put some protection on it..if water enters inside the sheash it's over.

The bolt knife, k-bar and demo knives were good choices for the military in the 40's and 50's. They have been around a long time and are connected to a lot of history, which is why I like them. I just wouldn't choose any of them for practical use given the choices that are availible today.

[fartingbadass]

I am with you, I like leather sheaths. I would not worry about water getting in it or the sheath getting too wet, especially if you are not going swimming with it. Rain, even a short dunk in a puddle or stream, will not have too much a detrimental effect on the sheath or, for that matter, the knife. Just do not let the knife sit in a wet sheath at home while it dries on a shelf or whatever; that will lead to rust.

The inordinate fear of a rusty blade arising out of a leather sheath borders on hysteria. It is really kind of bizarre. Most people do not go out in the woods for long enough, or get wet enough, to have a knife blade rust to the point of uselessness, especially the park-n-camp crowd. Simply using the blade every now and then will keep the blade from rusting, even while stored in a wet leather sheath, and so long as you do not store a blade in a wet sheath for days on end, there should no be a problem with rust.

While on a survey, a couple of years ago, I had a leather sheath and a carbon-steel blade get soaked when a log bridge collapsed under my fat self. Everything got wet, and it started to rain and continued to rain off and on for the next few days. It was a good 7 or 8 days before I was able to get back someplace where I could try and dry myself out, much less the sheath. The blade was a little rusty, but that happens anyway owing to the extremely humid environment. Importantly, the edge was not effected because I used the knife for every day tasks in the field. Anyhow, I'd just use the leather sheath as it is.

[kurodrago]

Thanks for the sub Noss!

Kuro: do you think hot-waxing will help? sno-seal?

Im actually more worried about the handle, i can make anew sheath.

If you really worry about that, Maybe this is the solution "money and power":D
Give a nice look.

http://www.sunrisecustomknives.com/repairs/repairs.php


The bolt knife, k-bar and demo knives were good choices for the military in the 40's and 50's. They have been around a long time and are connected to a lot of history, which is why I like them. I just wouldn't choose any of them for practical use given the choices that are availible today.

Ditto on that but still a good knife.