Ontario Knife 7500PC SK-5 Bird Noir Knife, Black

I have a knife fetish and own Randell's - Lile- Beckers- dozers- onteriro - esse - cold steel and plenty of Moras and the onterio blackbird sk5 and the kephart design is my go to field knife. For instance I have a cold steel outdoorsman that is a great knife on paper and actually kind of expensive... The outdoorsman has the wrong geometry for me and I just can't like it . The funky blade curve just does not feel right and makes chores like cutting camp food really difficult. The blackbird sk5 feels like an extenion of your hand when doing small / fine cutting tasks. And as far as Beckers and trailmasters with those 1/4 inch blades go good luck with cutting camp food like tomatoes.Bought the black version because I like the black / gray scales and black sheath, spent an hour or so stripping of the black blade coating. I used a citrus stripper and a fine scotch pad. I didn't strip the black off of the handle area just used careful application of stripper and blue tape to mask those areas. I like the way the blade looks after some 3000 grit polishing tape. The blade has a nice dull sheen that I really like.As for the knife what needs to be said ... This knife is a perfect homage to the kephart knife design a classic woodsmans knife. If you do some research or read kephart's book you will see that he even thought his design was ugly "so yea" it's an ugly knife but use it a few times and you will be sold. There is no Rambo complex or complete survial kit built into this knife, the blade thickness, handle and blade length and every curve - feature ( or lack of feature) is a result of years of outdoor research by kephart.The steel is stainless and a good comprise between durability and hardness and provides a fair amount of rust resistance. I actually like the stainless.The sheath is a nice sheath there is no tag that gives the origin of manufacture but from what I have read I understand it's also made in the US. The sheath is well thought out with plenty of Mollie on the back and a couple of loops on the front if you wanted to strap on a pouch. The retaining strap is adjustable and has a nice well made snap closure. There are plenty of details that make this a nice sheath. There are lots of options for aftermarket sheaths if you feel the need to get your sheath groove on.

You get Ontario quality (for better or worse), pay Esee prices, and get a decent design that will do a lot of things decently enough and never complain.It's not the most comfortable handle, the quality control is a tad off (badly edged blade and loose scales), but the overall quality and durability is still there and is ready to work. It's a versatile design, but not a tough enough steel or assembly to back it up. Fortunately for most modern-day campers, these details never really get in the way. If you're getting this for slicing, buy a Morakniv. If you're getting this to chop and baton, get an Esee 4HM. If you're getting this to stab something, get a S&W boot knife. If you're getting this for a relatively traditional shape of blade, get a PR4 or BK62...but if you want a knife design that can jump in and do bits of all these things try this one.The fit and finish is irksome at this price, but overall it doesn't really affect performance or capability.

First off , I own several other Ontario knives and love the quality and affordability you get from them. My package came on time and was at my door in 2 days flat! Upon opening the box the knife and sheath were packed well , with cardboard sleeve to protect the blade . After opening the box,it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!! (Pics and videos don't do it justice) The design is superb. The handle has just the right amount of palmswell . It fits Large hands ( like my own) as well as small hands (like my wife's) comfortably. There are no rough edges , and plenty of grip with the canvas micarta scales. It is full tang ,made from proven steel, and is the perfect size blade for almost any task. It has a round down drop point design that puts the point on a center point line and has a full flat grind for excellent performance for moderate camp tasks. The sheath is made of a durable nylon material with a plastic insert for blade perfection . Also it has a tough nylon molle strap that allows for multiple mounting options( belt, or molle/Alice pack) The sheath will work fine , but I will probably upgrade to Kydex personally. I can't say enough GREAT things about this knife . MY WIFE EVEN LOVES IT!! I have found my new favorite!! I like it so much , I will be purchasing a second one , so my wife can have her own. If your looking for an excellent camp knife , hunting, fishing, EDC , bushcraft , projects around the house, or just an all around PERFECT knife for the job knife, then look no further. P.S. You may want to pick up two. ( one for your wife also)

This is a fieldcraft knife. It wasn't made for anything else. It will do camp chores. It will do them all day. It will then do them all day tomorrow. It is a full thickness tang knife, the whole way through the micarta handles. It has a solid, respectable edge from the factory. Mine wouldn't pop hairs, but it would shave them off with a few passes. I have, thus far, beaten it through a two inch thick oak log, batoned, thrown sparks off the back and sharpened it. It is a knife, quite possibly the best mix of weight, edge geometry and grip I have ever held. It isn't pretty, it isn't huge, Rambo would pass on it. Rambo is a fictional character. You can put a very nice edge on it with a good stone and a few minutes. This knife will hold an edge through prepping small game, batoning logs, starting fires, pounding stakes, slitting blisters, soaking in water, skinning bark, and anything else you need it to do. The sheath is wildly substandard. Almost good enough to be bad. It's junk, bin it and get something that matches the knife you just bought. Buy it for yourself. Give it to your children when you die. Buy this knife. Upgrade the sheath. Customize the blade with whatever you wish, groove the handle. This one is worth it, every day of the week, and if you only have one, make it worth having.

You don't need this knife. It is too ugly for collectors and too "tactical" for any normal, sane person to own. You are not in some covert armed force, and you do not live in the wilderness, and it is almost certainly illegal for you to carry this knife in public where you are so why do you want it unless you are mental?You should be asking yourself this question.

Very very good blade. Keep an edge like nothing else. But hard to sharpen sharp. That metal is so tough. Never seen anything like it.

A really decent knife. The handle feels and fits very well, even in wet snow. The blade (once properly sharpened) holds an edge very well. I also like the sheath