Ontario Knife Company Knives – History and Products
Ontario Knife Company is among the oldest and most respected silverware manufacturers in the world. Ontario Knives are renowned for their 120-year American heritage of great craftsmanship and impeccable quality.
Story
It was established in 1889 in Naples, New York. The name of the company originated in Ontario County in New York and not in New York City in Ontario, as many people mistakenly believe. Today, most of the company’s manufacturing facilities are located in Franklinville, New York. One of the Ontario Knife group companies is Queen Cutlery, which is a recognized manufacturer of high quality pocket knives. Ontario Knife is also a leading seller of private label blades and knives.
Military knives
Ontario Knife is widely recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of military knives. For many decades it has served the United States Army with an excellent range of products such as the M7 and M9 bayonets, the USAF survival knife, and in recent years the USMC OKC-3S bayonet. Ontario has been selected by the US Army to produce the Aircrew Survival Egress Knife (ASEK) system, which meets strict quality standards required of it.
Commercial knives
In addition to military knives, Ontario Knife is also known for its impressive range of commercial knives. One of the most popular series of commercial knives is Spec-Plus. It is inspired by various military and survival blade designs with new handle and sheath designs. There is also the Freedom Fighter Knife series which includes metal grips and knobs along with survival blades. Ontario Knife also produced the Randall Adventure and Training survival knives in collaboration with the famous outdoor survival and training company, Randall.
Cutlery and other products
Ontario Knife Company not only makes military, sport and outdoor knives, but is also known for its wide range of cutlery and tools. Includes Old Hickory kitchen cutlery, industrial and agricultural tools, and scientific and medical tools and instruments. In addition to its in-house knife designs, Ontario has also partnered with renowned knife designers such as Bram Frank and Bill Bagwell. The company offers many cheaper versions of exclusive Bagwell designs.
Awards and honours
For several years, Ontario has won the Gold Award for Excellence instituted by the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC). The award is a recognition of the company’s perfect score for quality, performance and on-time deliveries. In 2006, the company received a Material Readiness Award from the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). This was in recognition of his work done for the military for the Aircrew Survival Egress Knife (ASEK).