Ontario Knife Company

Ontario Knife Company, also known as 'OKC', is an American manufacturer of knives and other edged tools.

The OKC-3S Bayonet

Ontario Knife Company was founded in 1889 in Naples, New York. The company takes its name from Ontario County, New York (not, as a common misconception holds, the province of Ontario, Canada).^{[citation needed]} They are currently located in Franklinville, New York, in Cattaraugus County, where most of their products are manufactured.

Ontario knife company is most well known as a supplier of military knives. Throughout the years they have supplied the U.S. military with products such as the M7 bayonet, the USAF Survival Knife, the M1942 Machete, the Navy MK3 MOD 0 diving/survival knife, the M9 bayonet, and most recently, the USMC OKC-3S Bayonet. They have also obtained a contract to build the Aircrew Survival Egress Knife (ASEK) Survival Knife System, chosen by the United States Army to be included in its Air Warrior Equipment System. The knife was tested and approved by PM Soldier and the United States Army Soldier Systems Center to meet the criteria defined by the US Army, and functions include a Plexiglas breaker, hammer, saw teeth, serrations, spear holes, lanyard hole and insulated guard. The system includes an anodized aluminum strap cutter with replaceable blades, a screwdriver and a honing rod. The sheath also has webbing for attachment to a MOLLE vest.

Complementing their lineup of military issue knives, Ontario Knife Company produces several commercial lines including the Spec-Plus series, which features many popular military/survival blade designs with updated handle and sheath designs, and the Freedom Fighter series which features metal hilts and pommels with military/survival blades. Their Randall's Adventure & Training survival knives were designed in conjunction with Randall's Adventure & Training, a popular outdoor survival training and expedition company. The lineup includes the original RTAK (formerly produced by Newt Livesay Blades [1]), and the TAK-1 and RAT-7, both of which have been adopted by the U.S. military.^{[citation needed]}

Newt Livesay no longer makes the original RTAK knives. A copy of the Livesay RTAK in name only is made by Ontario Knife Company. The original Livesay RTAK is a variation inspired by the Livesay Model 121, Recon Combat Machete, aka; Rapid Deployment designed and manufacture by Newt Livesay a premier designer and manufacture of weapon system in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The original Livesay RTAK was a collaboration between Jeff Randall, and Newt Livesay with modification made on the handle in the Livesay shop. The original RTAK machete were of limited production with only about 375 knives being made. Production was stopped on the original Livesay RTAK when Mr. Livesay found out that Ontario Knife Company had begun making the knife. Livesay RTAK machetes had a more ergonomically designed user friendly custom handle, and the blades being cryogenic treated, and differentially heat treated with edges being in the 59-60 Rockwell range.

Ontario Knife Company has also formed collaborations with other designers such as Bram Frank and renowned Bowie Knife expert and knifemaker Bill Bagwell, introducing lower cost renditions of several of Bagwell's famous designs.

In addition to their sporting/outdoor knives Ontario Knife Company produces a large range of other cutlery and tools including Old Hickory Kitchen Cutlery, Industrial and Agricultural Products, and Sci-Med Scientific Tools and Instruments. Ontario's sister company, Queen Cutlery, is a well known maker of finely crafted pocket knives. Ontario Knife is also major supplier of private label blades and knives.

External links

• Company website