- Joined
- Aug 4, 2013
- Messages
- 3,988
Toooj,
I may be asking way too many questions, and I hope that I'm not becoming a total pest for you. With that said, here I go with a few more
OKC designed a modified version of the Spax SP16 called the Sniper Spax model SP36. Was this something that OKC decided to do on it's own, or was it something that the military was requesting you guys design for them? Was the Sniper Spax SP36 ever officially adopted by any branch of the US military? Is this model still being manufactured, or is it now discontinued? And, finally, one last question concerning the SP36... They seem to be offered with a military type camo sheath, and I was wondering if the sheaths are US manufactured?
Any insight you could share about this model would be very much appreciated. It just seems like such a rare version of the Spax, and I'm simply intrigued to know some of it's history/specifics. Thank you in advance, Sir
Update: Looking at some venders online, it seems that Ontario may have possibly sold off their remaining Sniper Spax SP36 inventories at closeout prices, (maybe surplus supplies that were originally slated for possible military contracts?). Why am I guessing such a thing? Well, the prices that they can currently be had for, even with them including their better sheaths and the all steel digging attachment, is less than what the standard Spax sells for. The SP36 was retailing quite high a few years ago, but rock bottom deals can be had today. Well, I thought it was way too cool and unique of an item to pass up on the chance to own one, so I decided to order it. One is now coming my way via Priority Mail
The online vendor I ordered it from, offers both the Spax SP16 & the Spax SP36, and they sell the SP36 for $20 LESS than what they are offering the standard SP16. If one is considering the Spax, this may be the one to buy, and the time to buy it. The all steel digging attachment does not have to be installed, and it's pouch on the sheath is also removable. There is only one screw that either removes or installs the "spade" accessory to the Spax. So, just consider the Ontario SP36 to be an Ontario Spec Plus "PLUS" SP16
Two photos of the Sniper Spax, (found online)...
In the following photo, (which I also found online), it shows the all steel digging attachment not having the window cutouts that shows the tip of the spike when mounted to the Spax (compared to the two pics above showing it WITH the window cutouts). The attachment screw itself also looks different. Maybe it's an earlier version?... I don't know. But, it does lead one to believe that even the uncommon Sniper Spax SP36 may have some variations/design improvements amongst it's model history.
I could see why the window cutouts may have been added. They likely help in keeping the mounting channel free from debris. Without those window cutouts on both sides, dirt could jam in there real good, and then be hard to clean it out, possibly making installation and removal of the accessory more difficult.
Well, it arrived today, (April 14, 2018). It sure is a lot of quality, uniqueness, and coolness, for the total price of only $54, (shipping included). That means I got it for over $200 off the original MSRP. The only other completely outrageously great price I got on Ontario products, (which are already a great value), was a couple/few years ago on three Ontario stainless steel Marine Corps knives (P4 model?). I purchased those from the 'Task Force Dagger' Foundation. The price was only $25 + shipping each! 100% of the proceeds went to help vets and their families, so it was a win win situation! Kudos to Ontario Knife Company for having donated those knives to the TFD Foundation! Of the three knives I purchased from them, I gave one away to a friend, and have the other two in my collection.
With this new SP36, my eclectic "Man Gadget Collection" has now grown a wee bit more
Yup, it's just another cool collectible for me, (which will in some-way be incorporated into my decor). I don't need it for any other reason, but that's reason enough for me. And, as far as the coolness factor goes, what rating do I give this Swiss Army Knife of the axe world?... I give it a perfect ten
Why do I call it the Swiss Army Knife of the Axe world?...
*It can do some axe specific duties... chop (and some cutting ability from it's lower sharpened edge), breach, self defense (with either end).
*Can be used for some prying.
*Can open/close fire hydrants.
*Can open/close gas valves.
*Can be used for light digging with it's spade attachment.
Probably some things I've missed, but one gets the idea.
The following is Ontario's link to their Sniper Spax SP36. They simply state "out of stock", but it does still show the full MSRP ($275). We knife folks tend to be very happy when we are able to find prices in the "half off" price range of MSRP, but paying 1/5 the price of MSRP.... Well, that's downright FABULOUS!
http://ontarioknife.com/tools/axes/sniper-spax.html
And here is a link to a post by the OKC Bladeforums Moderator a few years ago that pertained to this model, which at the time, was the first time it was offered to the civilian market...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/new-product-sniper-spax.1220479/
The following picture is of the specimen I received after I wiped it down with a little preservative oil. I know some may see this tool as a weird and downright ugly contraption... Well, maybe so, but in a Glock sort'a way... Just like a Glock pistol, the Spax tool is serious business. I guess beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder
In this next picture, taken right after opening the package, it shows the handle with a white powdery substance that was on it's kraton/rubber like handle. This white powder wiped off easily enough with the same lightly oiled cloth that I used for the steel portion of the Spax. The picture shows all that came in the plastic bag that it was sealed in... Well, everything, except the shoelace lanyard, which I forgot to throw into the photo shot.
It included the following items:
*Spax SP36
*Steel "spade" digging attachment
*Quality nylon Sheath (which has a integral/sewn in plastic liner to prevent the Spax from tearing up the nylon).
*Adjustable nylon leg strap with a plastic buckle.
*Removable nylon pouch for the "spade" accessory
*Shoelace lanyard
Like I said, this is a lot of product for the money.
Heck, the sheath alone, (MINUS the spade accessory pouch), sells for $66.95 from the same vendor. So $54 for a rare version of the Spax that includes the quality sheath... Um, yeah, a crazy bargain!
I can hardly wait for Toooj to pop in and possibly share more tidbits about this Ontario item with us. With his insight added, this post may become THE only real Sniper Spax SP36 online information resource
I may be asking way too many questions, and I hope that I'm not becoming a total pest for you. With that said, here I go with a few more
OKC designed a modified version of the Spax SP16 called the Sniper Spax model SP36. Was this something that OKC decided to do on it's own, or was it something that the military was requesting you guys design for them? Was the Sniper Spax SP36 ever officially adopted by any branch of the US military? Is this model still being manufactured, or is it now discontinued? And, finally, one last question concerning the SP36... They seem to be offered with a military type camo sheath, and I was wondering if the sheaths are US manufactured?
Any insight you could share about this model would be very much appreciated. It just seems like such a rare version of the Spax, and I'm simply intrigued to know some of it's history/specifics. Thank you in advance, Sir
Update: Looking at some venders online, it seems that Ontario may have possibly sold off their remaining Sniper Spax SP36 inventories at closeout prices, (maybe surplus supplies that were originally slated for possible military contracts?). Why am I guessing such a thing? Well, the prices that they can currently be had for, even with them including their better sheaths and the all steel digging attachment, is less than what the standard Spax sells for. The SP36 was retailing quite high a few years ago, but rock bottom deals can be had today. Well, I thought it was way too cool and unique of an item to pass up on the chance to own one, so I decided to order it. One is now coming my way via Priority Mail
The online vendor I ordered it from, offers both the Spax SP16 & the Spax SP36, and they sell the SP36 for $20 LESS than what they are offering the standard SP16. If one is considering the Spax, this may be the one to buy, and the time to buy it. The all steel digging attachment does not have to be installed, and it's pouch on the sheath is also removable. There is only one screw that either removes or installs the "spade" accessory to the Spax. So, just consider the Ontario SP36 to be an Ontario Spec Plus "PLUS" SP16
Two photos of the Sniper Spax, (found online)...
In the following photo, (which I also found online), it shows the all steel digging attachment not having the window cutouts that shows the tip of the spike when mounted to the Spax (compared to the two pics above showing it WITH the window cutouts). The attachment screw itself also looks different. Maybe it's an earlier version?... I don't know. But, it does lead one to believe that even the uncommon Sniper Spax SP36 may have some variations/design improvements amongst it's model history.
I could see why the window cutouts may have been added. They likely help in keeping the mounting channel free from debris. Without those window cutouts on both sides, dirt could jam in there real good, and then be hard to clean it out, possibly making installation and removal of the accessory more difficult.
Well, it arrived today, (April 14, 2018). It sure is a lot of quality, uniqueness, and coolness, for the total price of only $54, (shipping included). That means I got it for over $200 off the original MSRP. The only other completely outrageously great price I got on Ontario products, (which are already a great value), was a couple/few years ago on three Ontario stainless steel Marine Corps knives (P4 model?). I purchased those from the 'Task Force Dagger' Foundation. The price was only $25 + shipping each! 100% of the proceeds went to help vets and their families, so it was a win win situation! Kudos to Ontario Knife Company for having donated those knives to the TFD Foundation! Of the three knives I purchased from them, I gave one away to a friend, and have the other two in my collection.
With this new SP36, my eclectic "Man Gadget Collection" has now grown a wee bit more
Yup, it's just another cool collectible for me, (which will in some-way be incorporated into my decor). I don't need it for any other reason, but that's reason enough for me. And, as far as the coolness factor goes, what rating do I give this Swiss Army Knife of the axe world?... I give it a perfect ten
Why do I call it the Swiss Army Knife of the Axe world?...
*It can do some axe specific duties... chop (and some cutting ability from it's lower sharpened edge), breach, self defense (with either end).
*Can be used for some prying.
*Can open/close fire hydrants.
*Can open/close gas valves.
*Can be used for light digging with it's spade attachment.
Probably some things I've missed, but one gets the idea.
The following is Ontario's link to their Sniper Spax SP36. They simply state "out of stock", but it does still show the full MSRP ($275). We knife folks tend to be very happy when we are able to find prices in the "half off" price range of MSRP, but paying 1/5 the price of MSRP.... Well, that's downright FABULOUS!
http://ontarioknife.com/tools/axes/sniper-spax.html
And here is a link to a post by the OKC Bladeforums Moderator a few years ago that pertained to this model, which at the time, was the first time it was offered to the civilian market...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/new-product-sniper-spax.1220479/
The following picture is of the specimen I received after I wiped it down with a little preservative oil. I know some may see this tool as a weird and downright ugly contraption... Well, maybe so, but in a Glock sort'a way... Just like a Glock pistol, the Spax tool is serious business. I guess beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder
In this next picture, taken right after opening the package, it shows the handle with a white powdery substance that was on it's kraton/rubber like handle. This white powder wiped off easily enough with the same lightly oiled cloth that I used for the steel portion of the Spax. The picture shows all that came in the plastic bag that it was sealed in... Well, everything, except the shoelace lanyard, which I forgot to throw into the photo shot.
It included the following items:
*Spax SP36
*Steel "spade" digging attachment
*Quality nylon Sheath (which has a integral/sewn in plastic liner to prevent the Spax from tearing up the nylon).
*Adjustable nylon leg strap with a plastic buckle.
*Removable nylon pouch for the "spade" accessory
*Shoelace lanyard
Like I said, this is a lot of product for the money.
Heck, the sheath alone, (MINUS the spade accessory pouch), sells for $66.95 from the same vendor. So $54 for a rare version of the Spax that includes the quality sheath... Um, yeah, a crazy bargain!
I can hardly wait for Toooj to pop in and possibly share more tidbits about this Ontario item with us. With his insight added, this post may become THE only real Sniper Spax SP36 online information resource
Last edited:
