Ontario Mark 3 Navy Knife.....Opinions?

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To be honest, it looks like a really soft 440a knife that is way overpriced (but, that's msrp, so you're right you wouldn't likely pay that).

It also has a low grind, and a thick spine. Also, no idea on the tang.

In short, it would be way down on any list of "outdoor" knives I may ever consider.
 
For a woods/camping knife, the double guard is detrimental, the sawback would be pointless as teats ona bull, and, in my opinion, the grind is entirely wrong.

A Vic Farmer would be a hundred times more effective as a general woods/camping knife as would any fixed blade designed to be used as a woods/camping knife.

Here's a quick pro tip...the Navy doesn't spend much time in the woods camping.
 
Well you could pound tent pegs with that hammer butt end of a pommel,
And saw too to a limited extend.
It will work wonders once you tell others that you had it since BUD school.
 
I own one and am not impressed. The steel is very soft and dulls itself on the sheath. The tip is very thin and mine had to be reprofiled due to tip damage. The saw is dull and useless. The grind is steep and abrupt making it hard to slice or carve with. Build quality is excellent though, very strong, handle has a very nice feel and good traction. It's basically a well made knife with very limited abilities.
 
Very thick 440a blade stock with a very low hardness. It would likely take some punishment without breaking, but I doubt you would ever get it to take a keen edge much less keep it.

I would pass. That thing is practically a bayonet. A $15 Morakniv no 1 would make a considerably better choice for a general outdoors knife. If you want something built a little sturdier one of the Kabar Beckers would be a great choice over that. Heck, the Glock Field knife is probably a better choice.
 
Glad I asked first.

I always liked the LOOKS of it and thought that it would make a good hip knife for when I bowhunt hogs. I also like the Air Force Survival Knife with the leather handle, leather sheath with the stone in the pouch too. Guess that ain't a decent knife either. Why do they give our Service men and women this stuff if it isn't a good field knife to begin with? I don't get it.

Thanks for saving me from myself again.

Nalajr
 
The Ontario Navy knife is meant to be used wet or in the water is what OKC told me and is also why its 440A which Im no steel expert but confuses me as isnt 440C much more corrosion and rust resistant? OKC is currently making a huge push to improve manufacturing and there quality control. I just sent back an SP10 Raider with a totally uneven swedge grind at their cost they even emailed me a FedEx label. They claim their QC is now much better and theyve hired many more people and set up a large new QC center. They claim the SP10 they will send me back will be perfect. I hope it has a good edge on it as the first one was nearly blunt. My Ontario 498 while crude seems indestructible it also came with a not just bad but horrible edge it looked like someone tried to put a bevel on it with a hacksaw. I have since had the 498 pro sharpened on a Wicked Edge. It now has a pro bevel so sharp you could shave with it. It is now my yard knife for hacking back brush and unclogging the mower on my large property.

I wanted to buy the Navy knife just cause it looks so badass but have never been able to wrap my head around their choice of 440A and the fact that my experience with Ontario so far means the knife will show up near blunt or with an edge that looks like it was dragged on asphalt to form a bevel. OKC really stepped up to it by offering a free exchange on their dime for another copy they claim will be "perfect". I must say though that Navy knife done over serrations and all by a pro would be wicked as hell before the 440a lost its edge.

The handle on the Air Force knife is crude as hell. Would rather have the new Buck Brahma or any Esee with their glass breaking pommels. Am hoping OKC's current quality push they claim they are going for results in much refinement across the line. Would love a Chimera but would not love having to pay to send it off to be profiled and sharpened....
 
spikebot587 said:
On the contrary, the pilot survival knife is an excellent tool and I definitely recommend it
Click to expand...

I agree. I had one and intentionally beat the hell out of it to break it and it never broke. I hammered it completely into a tree and had to work it out by the handle and it was still relatively sharp. You can mod it too... i removed the back end of the guard and smoothed out the saw
 
I have no experience with the Mark 3, but I do own four variations of Ontario's pilot knife (499, SP2, SP25 and ASEK) and can't help but like them despite an utter lack of refinement and, quite frankly, a very limited range of applications. The same is true for the SP-15 LSA ("Land Sea Air") and some of the other Ontario knives, including the Mark 3. It's not a survival knife in the sense that some people equate puttering around in the woods as survival; it's a combat knife. Furthermore, it's a relatively inexpensive combat knife. I'm sure the 440A resists rust just fine, especially considering that there are a number of dive knives available in that steel. If it's like other Ontario knives, it will be durable, but never particularly pretty.
 
Nalapombu said:
Glad I asked first.

I always liked the LOOKS of it and thought that it would make a good hip knife for when I bowhunt hogs. I also like the Air Force Survival Knife with the leather handle, leather sheath with the stone in the pouch too. Guess that ain't a decent knife either. Why do they give our Service men and women this stuff if it isn't a good field knife to begin with? I don't get it.

Thanks for saving me from myself again.

Nalajr
Click to expand...

The air force survival knife is just fine, especially for the price. It would be a much better choice than the knife you asked about in the op.

And, if you're looking for a knife to take hog hunting, check out the JAB backonmaker. It's designed specifically for that task. The gamestalker might work well for you also.
 
I had to bring this thread back up.

In defense of the Navy knife. It can take an edge if one takes their time. The Ontario Navy knife is well balanced, not to heavy and can take a lot of abuse. Its like a small pry bar with an edge, and a so-so saw.

The Ontario Pilots knife is a great knife for the money. 1095 carbon steel, will take and edge and I will tell you this...it will take a beating. I used my old one to sharpen tomato sticks, cut open bags of fertilizer, peat moss, and lime. I used it to cut a truck tire off a rim. Threw and edge back on it and used it as a hammer on things, I cleared an AR-15, and at short ranges its a darn good thrower. Also it came in handy on a mountain trip. I have turned many friends onto the Ontario 499 USAF Pilots Knife. BTW: Mink oil the leather handle and sheath. It will cause the leather handle to expand and hold the pommel and hilt tight while keeping it water proofed. Water proofing with mink oil also works well with the sheath. Also the back saw though mainly for aircraft aluminum also works well on wood if you know how to rotate the saw and use various angles.
 
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I'm sure the OP is way past looking at this knife to purchase (looks like he voted against) and I'm not sure of everyone's opinion of Chris at preparedmind101 reviews on Youtube, but I find them very informative, especially related to this thread, plus IMO this one is funny as hell! Check it out at 1:10 min., 20:00 and 27:30 especially!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYPpI5RI2zo
 
I have both. Different environments. Requires different metals. Requires different sheaths. To the naked eye, the designs are nearly the same.

The knives are NOT designed for YOU. If you can not modify the sheath, the grind, the grip for YOUR purpose, simply don't buy the knife or sheath. When I read a review of the Ontario USAF survival knife and the complaints are that the knife blade is dull and the spine cuts are not a firestarter, that is the way the knife was designed. You change the grind and sharpen the knife to your requirements. The spine was designed to cut metal, not as a firestarter.
 
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