Ontario Knife Company is among the oldest and the most respected cutlery manufacturers in the world. Ontario Knives are renowned for their 120 year old American heritage of great craftsmanship and flawless quality.
History
It was established in 1889 in Naples, New York. The company's name originated from Ontario County in New York and not from the Ontario town of New York as many people mistakenly believe. At present most of the manufacturing facilities of the company are situated in Franklinville, New York. One of the group companies of Ontario Knife is Queen Cutlery, which is a recognized manufacturer of high quality pocket knives. Ontario Knife is also one of the leading sellers of private label blades and knives.
Military Knives
Ontario Knife is widely recognized as one of the top makers of military knives. For many decades it has served the United States military 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. The U.S. Army has selected Ontario to produce Aircrew Survival Egress Knife (ASEK) Survival Knife System, meeting the harsh quality standards demanded from it.
Commercial Knives
Apart from the military knives, Ontario Knife is also well known for its impressive range of commercial knives. One of the popular series in commercial knives is the Spec-Plus. It is inspired from several military and survival blade designs with new handle and sheath designs. There is also the Freedom Fighter Knife series that includes metal hilts and pommels along with survival blades. Ontario Knife also produced 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, sports and outdoor knives, but it is equally well known for its comprehensive range of cutlery and tools. It 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 tied up with renowned knife designers such as Bram Frank and Bill Bagwell. The company offers many cheaper versions of Bagwell's exclusive designs.
Awards and Recognition
For several years, Ontario has won the Gold Award for excellence instituted by the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC). The award is recognition for the company's perfect score in quality, performance, and timely deliveries. In 2006, the company received a Material Readiness Award from the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). This was in recognition of its work done for the army for the Aircrew Survival Egress Knife (ASEK).
