Knife Thoughts: Another Giant Falls; The History and Fate of Ontario Knife Company

H. Clay Aalders
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We live in strange times for knife enthusiasts. There are more quality knives being made of every type, price point, and origin than ever. Unfortunately, at the same time some of the industry mainstays are closing entirely or changing beyond recognition. It looks as though the latter will be the fate of the venerable Ontario Knife Company.

History of Ontario Knife Company:

Ontario Knife Company was started in 1889 in Naples New York. Its name was derived from the county in which Naples sat, Ontario County. In 1902, due to the business’s growth, operations were moved to Franklinville and incorporated as Ontario Knife Company. Operations have continued in Franklinville to this day, over 120 years later, and in the same facility since 1914. In 1904 the owners of Empire State Cutlery Company bought out the founders of Ontario Knife Company and combined operations at the Franklinville factory. In 1923 the Old Hickory line of kitchen cutlery was created, which has been a mainstay in affordable American made cutlery ever since. More recently, the overseas made but Ontario branded Rat 1 and Rat 2 folding knives have become some of the most highly recommended EDC (every day carry) pocket knives on the market. Ontario Knife Company USA made fixed blades are also regarded as great budget friendly options for hunting, camping, and general outdoors use. OKC recently added an American made slipjoint folding pocket knife to the Old Hickory line in 2021 and you can watch my review below (although with this current news I feel I might have been too harsh). Ontario Knife Company has an extremely long history of making knives here in the USA, and more recently have become known for quality imported knives as well as expanding their in house product lines.

The opening paragraph has parallels with the recent closure of Knives Illustrated as well. The knife industry has never been larger, yet we are also down to the last 2 print publications in the industry.

Read the whole thing at KnifeThoughts.com

Another Giant Falls; The History and Fate of Ontario Knife Company

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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4 Responses

  1. There was a lot of suspicion of Ontario sourcing at end, and nobody to blame but themselves.

    Firstly, the FTC came out strongly in 2021 against “made in USA” marked goods which were not of “all or substantially all” US sourced materials, even while US Customs allowed 50% or greater US-made to be marked “made in USA”, copying most Euro countries in that 50%.

    The suspicion was Ontario was doing same as Klass and Boker brand marked goods and assembling largely import goods. And for good reason.

    Ontario was selling a cheaper Jet Pilot Survival Knife online and through stores such as Walmart minus fullers on blade, box marked Made In USA, and yet sheaths had a made in China sticker on back. By Customs rules, if parts count was 50% or greater USA sourced then Ontario was legal, so if the leather washers of handle were parts, then blade, guard, pommel, sheath could all have been import.

    Just reporting what suspicions hurt their sales and why the suspicions, suspicions Ontario fostered and did nothing to counter.

    One wonders whom the US military could now use for the M9 bayonet, the modern aircrew survival knife for rotary wing, the USMC bayonet, etc…

    Reply

    1. David: I had a frustrating experience at “SMKW” in September of 2014. My friend, Sid, and I were taking the ABS “Introduction to Bladesmithing” class at Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC. We drove over to “SMKW” on a Saturday. I spent $600 on knives and knife-related items. Sid had about $200 invested. After talking with the salesperson, he said that we would get a 10% discount on our purchases because I was a veteran. (*Tennessee sales tax is 10%). However, at the register, when I mentioned the 10% discount, I was told that I had to show a military ID to qualify for the discount. I do not carry my DD214 around with me;and my Maryland driver’s license, at that time, did not have a “Veteran” stamp. (It does now).

      The cashier was the Store Manager. He refused to honor the discount. He actually said, “You could be lying to get the discount.” My inner dark side wanted to grab him by the throat. I sucked it up and made my purchases. Sid and I traveled through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg on the way back east to Clyde. Sid panned for precious gems somewhere by the roadside in the Smokies . . . We drank a few cold ones and later on, Sid, got four quarts of “Popcorn” Sutton sipping ‘shine . . . The “SMKW” experience is stuck in my craw. It surfaces whenever I read about their manner of doing business. It is personal.

      Lastly, “SMKW” avidly supports the imported knife system, e.g. Chinese knock-offs, and other foreign knife companies that undermine the “Made in USA” knife industry. Venerable knife brands, e.g. Queen Cutlery, have been bastardized by “SMKW”.

      Reply

  3. I wonder “how much” “Blue Ridge Knives” paid “Servotronics” for “OKC” . . . I am going to play an extra $2 in tonight’s “Mega Millions” . . . When I win the jackpot, I am going to make “Blue Ridge” an offer they can not refuse. Then, I am going to go to Franklinville and meet with the community leaders and other stakeholders. My mission: Keep OKC in the USA!!!

    Reply

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