Viewer Request - DocP's Favorite Fixed Blade - Ontario 499 Army / Air Force Survival Knife Review

Ontario 499 Hard Use Test 1: • Benchmade 275 Adamas &...
Ontario 499 Hard Use Test 2: • Benchmade 275 Adamas &...

[@majergens]

A classic example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" . Well done Doc!

[@thea77way]

I love the Ontario knife company. They make high quality, durable knives that don't break the bank

[@dgrantreiter]

Ad nauseum, its a rasp back for sawing or tearing through aluminum AC skin. I bought my first one in 1973 at a surplus store. It was a Camillus with the gray paint on the pommel, which I heard meant it was a USN issue? I also was in the CAP and had one strapped to outside of my GT go bag/ruck. Since I flew with CAP I also have one still on my USAF Survival Vest. (Cessna's and Gippslands are aluminum skined). Its also my favorite, not the best on the market by far of course, but its a badass tool that will last decades, take a razor edge and do almost anything you throw at it

[@hollandmin]

I love it Doc, I carried my USMC while in the Navy and National Guard as well as when I was with the fleet marine force. I don’t care what anyone says, those issue knives are bullet proof for what they were intended for.

[@michealwhitehead4081]

Great knife. The smell is something I remember

[@pboone1231]

When I was a kid you could pick up the Camillus Vietnam Era ones for a couple of bucks. Probably had a dozen of them. Wish I still had them.

[@mr.shrewsbury9433]

Great review. Its my favorite fixed blade knife as well. I was issued one in 1991 in the USAF. It was made by Camillus. I have the OKC version as well. 👍

[@ernestwalden3894]

I had one back in the early 80s but broke it. I was 16 when I baught it and got into wilderness survival. I just baught another one just for the memories and to add to my collection. But I definitely wouldn't trust it in a real survival situation. Anyway thanks for sharing and hello from Kentucky land between the lakes and God bless 🇺🇸

[@monaangeloutdoors514]

Great video! and you can’t argue with a knife that gets the job done! Thanks !

[@swampratsrants501]

That design is actually from a marine 1942 k-bar. It was later "borrowed" by the air Force. Great video. great knife.

[@briandavern8741]

Great video.. but is do you have one showing the wrap istallation?

[@ernestwalden3894]

When I started out with survival skills when I was a kid the first thing I did is get a knife and it was a bolt knife just like that one you got. I made my first bow n drill with it. Yep of course it failed bad lol. I wrap my handle to in para cord. That was a long time ago back in the late 70s early 80s. Back in them days nobody practiced wilderness survival. I would have never guessed that it would be so popular as it is today. I'm 52 yrs old now. I don't have the bolt knife anymore but I'm thinking about getting another one just for the memories of it. I actually bent the original one I had and when I bent it back it broke lol

[@michealwhitehead4081]

I got mine in cap too.just ordered another one due to losing my old one

[@tleon1960]

Great vid. I still have mine from the 80's issued to USAF Security Police in Korea. Love it.

[@kipperwhite2976]

Good work TY

[@BrewCityRider]

Thanks for your service, the detailed review, and for showing all three of the OKC pilot knives. Not coming from a military background with no attachment to any of these knives, I actually prefer the SP-2 out of all three. It is also by far the most inexpensive for some reason.

[@michellebradshaw2801]

Just watched your first Q&A and your love of the platypus has won me over to you being my favorite youtuber. And yay I'm early to a video for once

[@DocP91B]

+Michelle Bradshaw That's really cool! I will return that compliment and say that your comments are putting you on my list of favorite viewers!

[@utstzzz6166]

Why are these videos satisfying to watch?

[@LT905yoc]

Another quality vid Doc.

[@douglasgordon1822]

It’s a classic military issue, all small “gear” is designed with the following in mind: use, abuse, lose; repeat as necessary

[@alanrice39]

I have watched this video at least 5 times, I really like your passion for the 499, I’ve been using the 499 since the late seventies, and I still have my 499 from 1980, it’s been taken with me everywhere, it’s hard cord , I have a nice small nice collection of the 499, I consider it old faithful, you can put these rubber o rings that you get in the plumbing department in the groves of the handle for a better grip, i have done that with the 499 and the K Bar combat knife, works well, this is a good video

[@Xxxero42]

Great video! That is a nice knife! And a decent price as well.

[@richardhatt6541]

I do like mine. I was a Boy Scout leader and it worked well.

[@drmarkdc]

Still planning on showing how you paracord wrap your 499?

[@mikeoconnor6537]

Hey doc i was really intrested in the condor knive by matt grahm it was in a battlebox you did a while back i was hoping you could do a field test on that knife because i have seen the designer of the knife use it on dual survival and it performed well. Thanks again love the videos

[@kevinsmith4178]

my grandfather carried one of these in korea or vietnam, cant remember which one he was in both had the marine issued ka-bar for the other war. i got it when he passed recently and the only issue i have is that i cant get an edge on it. i would love to get it to have a good edge and have it for my camp knife. i can tell the knife was put to hard use the saw back has been beaten down flat from batoning.

[@OnTheRiver66]

I also love this knife. Mine takes and holds a razor edge, and I think the stone on the sheath is a necessity. Randall Knives puts stones on the sheaths of their knives. I don’t want to hunt for the proper rock to sharpen my knife in a survival situation so I consider the stone to be a must when alone in the woods. I’m not going to hit it with a stick, rock, ax, etc. to split wood. The woods I’ve been in have plenty of dry wood of all different sizes, from toothpicks to huge diameters, so I have never needed to split branches. This blade shape has been used as a hunting and butchering knife for over 200 years (just look at all the hunting knifes with this design) so this will do the job in any hunting situation. And if I fall the blade is NOT going through that steel covered sheath!

[@randallkelley3599]

I had a Ka-Bar in the military. Broke it twice, tip and tang. The tang seems skinny to me. Other wise I like the design.

[@samadler9253]

I've had two of them for years, one as a backup in my Bob and one as a backup in my backpack. Good knives not great but good.

[@billystink4611]

Bacon wrapped handle under paracord. Awesome 😎

[@gbro1988]

I bought one to use as beater my kabar has sentimental value and don't want to break it

[@aaronboyd2249]

Hi doc strange that I was searching for your review on this knife and as if by magic it appears, I wonder if I think about a rat 1/2 review that might just appear too we can only live in hope haha. But on a serious note cheers for these videos they are both informative and entertaining.

[@r1w3d]

Solid knife, many reasons this knife is still around so I'm not sure why anyone bitches about it

[@mikebsbd]

There is a 499 MOD version(sold at Walmart and other stores) from Ontario that isn't as good as the other model by Ontario(model 6150)and the Camillus knives model.

[@marktong6755]

Mine is the ka bar version. Nice!!

[@davidstevens6117]

I have one that I had in the Navy. It is a Camillus and has a date on the handle of 11-81. Does this one have a "rat-tail" tang like a K Bar?

[@DocP91B]

It does.

[@Hightex-lz5ky]

It's over a meter snow here I live in Norway

[@carcar246]

What knife did you reference that One Time Outdoor Dj Raynor did a review on? couldn't seem to find it.

[@DocP91B]

I think you are talking about the terava pukko. Try this link www.varusteleka.com/en/product/terava-jaakaripuukko-carbon-steel/56524

[@carcar246]

awesome, thanks for the reply, never heard of them I might have to check them out. I have a hand-me-down Ka-Bar i have used for years and love it.

[@DocP91B]

I'll bet that Ka-Bar is nearly indestructible! After i did the video on the Terava, I had to order one. They finally came back in stock and my 110 is on the way!

[@fernfawkes]

Ugh Jesus. It's NOT a saw. It was NEVER designed to be a wood saw. It was designed to tear (not cut) through aircraft grade aluminum of aircraft in the Korea-Vietnam era, which is why some variants are called "crew egress and survival knife." The pilot himself, or SAR personnel, could use it to help extract a downed pilot from mangled airframes. It also isn't designed to cut through Plexiglas, like others have claimed. Source: Air Force Survival Knife Military Specification MIL-K-8662 (16 October 1953).

[@DocP91B]

Ok. Yeah. That is what was intended 1953. Congrats, you can google. Now let me share with you what was actually taught in Air Force SERE since 1953 and some modifications of the design. I know...pesky details like actualy military training! How dare I?!? It CAN be used to saw wood for survival purposes. It cuts through plexiglass and Perspex (before that) to help escape from the aircraft. Again...how shitty of me to actually cite what was taught and part of real life training at Firchild, instead of keyboard warrior skills. Don't you hate when people who have actually veen there have to fuck thibgs up with reality?!? The only real "Ugh Jesus" moment here is that you're quoting a 1953 document for modern uses of a knife thats been in production with 2 design mods and carried and used for about 53 years. And really I'd prefer to just leave relegion out of it all together. But for real...thia is how you soend your time? Looking up AF tech specs from the 50s? Maybe you should just Enlist.

[@fernfawkes]

@@DocP91B All those flavors and you choose to be salty. It was an observation, and the "ugh Jesus" comment was only because I see so many people completely misinform viewers about what the philosophy of use of something is. How's this for talking out of your ass: "Maybe you should just Enlist [sic]" Proud Marine. Went through SOI and survival training. We were always taught that those knives (we DID use these as well) were shit for any kind of wood processing. Oh, and a lot of what I know is because we actually used these things in theater, not just in some school somewhere. A lot of standard knowledge/SOP comes from real life use in the field. But I'm an ignorant keyboard warrior, k, cool. I should just enlist, eh? Bahahahaha.

[@DocP91B]

Marine...should have known. That explain why you can comment without having understood what was actually said in the video. I mean flat out clearly said in the video. Like I have carried more than one operationally downrange. Yeah, you try to go for the snide quips and just look fucking stupid. So let me rephrase - it's fucking sad that someone who actually served plays the REMF game of quoting a 1953 tech order to make a moot point commenting on a video. You went from sad to...oh...don't mind him...he's just a Marine. And how fucking lame was that "All those flavors and you choose to be salty" What dumb ass Monster Energy meme did you rip that off from? But don't worry, A lot of the dudes that chaptered out type shit like "Bahahahaha". You've got to have a GT score of what like - 5 to come up with that repeating series of means nothing, huh? Your comment is pointless and I'll conceived as quoting the original C-130A TO to counter a comment on the SOPs of the Harvest Hawk, because Hellfires on a Herc isn't mentioned in the 1950 something manual.

[@DocP91B]

@@fernfawkes By the way you should know I'm just giving you shit about being a Marine. The same way a Marine would fuck with me fir being Army, and then Air Force. The way we always do. I don't really hold that against you. I think you're kind of a douche bag, but respect for the red leg stripe!

[@richpalmer3167]

IN 1957 MARBLE MADE THE FIRST ONE 5 INCH BLADE HAD ONE IN 66TO68 IN VIET NAM LOVED IT !!!!

[@dominikwolf1660]

Hey Man. Whats happen with your back on your Hand is this a Cut? Make you experience with this Knife?

[@DocP91B]

That is a cut left over from working on a project in my shot but I can't really remember exactly what it was.

[@isaacvarty1684]

I like it, where do I get one? Any recommendations?

[@DocP91B]

+Isaac Varty before a friend of mine got two bad ones, I would have said Amazon. Now I would recommend one of the big online retailers like Blade HQ or Knife Center.

[@MischiefGlowworm]

I do wonder how well that saw back would do against the hull of an airplane.

[@DocP91B]

Not well enough. That was one of the reasons they developed the ASEK.

[@tomritter493]

Carried one for yrs ..love the blade but it is stick tang the saw was meant to cut fusalage of a plane not wood .any way Ontario make a better one then camillius

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

I’m a little distraught. So I called Ontario Knives to get input on a modified 499 that I see on KZbin and elsewhere, but can’t seem to find. The version I’m looking for doesn’t have a ‘fuller’ or a swedge cut out. In essence, it’s almost like a straight drop point from the teeth to the point with the same thickness. Anyway, from what I’ve researched this modified version is a Walmart special. And Walmart can’t give me any info. So I called Ontario OKC Knife Company yesterday to get some information and to my dismay the nice lady kept calling it a ‘blood groove’. So I said there is no such thing as a blood groove, it’s called a fuller. She said we all call it a blood groove there. I know it’s semantics, but that is an irritating mistake. It’s like calling spiders, scorpions and snakes ‘Poisonous’ when they are ‘Venomous’. Poison is ingested, Venom is injected. There is a huge difference! I don’t know, I love Ontario Knives but I would expect the correct terms being thrown around at a knife company. I wrapped my handle like yours with black 425 paracord.

[@DocP91B]

You are probably expecting technical terminology from someone who works in a front office. That's kind of like if I would expect the registration person to speak actual medical language back when I worked on the ambulance and in the ER. What I would document as a myocardial infarction, they would just call a heart attack. They know just enough to navigate the place. I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about it.

[@samadler9253]

Same thing like helicopter or rotary wing aircraft. Get over it!

[@OnTheRiver66]

Fullers have been called blood grooves for many years, maybe hundreds of years. Both terms mean the same thing. Like clips and magazines, magazines have been called clips for many years, maybe a hundred or so.

[@brysonwine4512]

What's a cheaper knife brand that you say you would trust for folding knifes? Trying to look for a new knife but don't have a very high budget.

[@DocP91B]

+bryson wine Kubey, Ganzo, and some Kershaw and CRKT models.

[@thea77way]

DocP91B all of those brands have knives that are hit and miss

[@DocP91B]

TheA77Way Every brand has knives that are hit and miss.

[@thea77way]

That's a really good point, but can I ask why you don't recommend Ontario? They make the some of the most solid knives and they tend to be low- midrange

[@DocP91B]

TheA77Way Ontario doesn't have a whole lot of budget folding options.

[@Ferrari8168]

This knife have two holes, I don’t know how to use ? Can you tell me how to use it . Thanks !

[@DocP91B]

You use those two holes to put rope through to tie it to a pole to make a spear.

[@Ferrari8168]

DocP91B thanks !

[@thegit8698]

I know my parents had a favourite child and it sure wasn't me lol, just sharing.

[@edwardyork4321]

LOVE mine I received one while on Active Duty back in the '80s

[@JamesAnderson-db9oz]

The saw is not meant for wood. It's meant to get through the skin of an aircraft.

[@DocP91B]

My SERE instructors would disagree.

[@b2xd461]

Does the guard have play in it?

[@DocP91B]

Mine doesn't. None of the ones I've had ever did. I have heard from some people that theirs did though.

[@tomritter493]

Oh I did teach s.and r survival And subbed

[@dudelabowski2771]

Can you review a Blade City package?

[@DocP91B]

I have. Look back a couple of months in my videos. I did a whole Blade City Tactical Box.

[@dudelabowski2771]

DocP91B oh ok sorry, I just subscribed a few weeks ago. Thanks you man!

[@krknfmkr8919]

I was rather surprised by the Harbor Freight survival knife. I bought it for a pattern and it turned out to have a very good blade. I am a knifemaker so I know a good blade

[@DocP91B]

Harbor Freight huh? I have one pretty close. I might ahve to check it out. Thanks!

[@krknfmkr8919]

DocP91B I don't know if all of them have good blades or if this is a one-off. Also the tang isn't very long so I don't know how well it would stand up under heavy use.

[@krknfmkr8919]

DocP91B I once bought saber at a pawn shop that had an excellent blade even though it had clearly been made for show; the tang was 1/4 inch round bar to weak for a sword. It was a fluke

[@insert-one-liner5941]

you should do karambits if you haven't

[@DocP91B]

The reason I don't is because I don't like to talk about things if I don't really feel credible abut the item, and honestly, I don't have experience with them. I've never been trained to fight properly with them, and they aren't the kind of knife that I've been issued or carried on my own. So basically I could say I personally like it or don't like it, but anything else I said, I would be taking right out of my ass.

[@ScallopLover]

Why did you remove your video

[@DocP91B]

It wasn't supposed to be up for the public yet.

[@ScallopLover]

Oh it ok

[@trevorstokens2894]

HEy docp, i have a puma knife i can send you to review, if youd like.

[@erikschuetz5475]

And its affordable

[@samadler9253]

Very affordable!

[@ArcticGator]

The "saw" is neither a saw nor is it for tearing through aluminium hulls, its made for making notches in wood for shelter construction.

[@DocP91B]

Well, they taught us in survival school that is was used for cutting branches for making shelter, traps, fire wood, ect. Those guys are kind of experts.

[@DocP91B]

It's also supposed to be able to help you escape from your aircraft, though it does a miserable job of it.

[@richardhatt6541]

They have a survival school? I have seen the survival book. A little dated but...

[@hunterh9072]

First

[@jatbatman]

Big deal. So basically you feel the need to have someone know you exist. I wish first comments actually had some substinance. Look at that I'm the first to reply to your comment, and I did so to tell you... GROW UP!!!

[@alholsbo5934]

I never thought that was actually supposed to be a saw I always thought it was a gimmick

[@tombowers2020]

You are reviewing a knife, that by all indications has never been worn, hence, used. Just look at the sheath. I’m not convinced this knife ever saw any hard use, therefore the review is limited to the demos in this video.

[@DocP91B]

Actually I said in the video this is the 5th one I've had. I very clearly said I have been issued multiple ones throughout my career. I had stated that this one got minimal use (as I went on to favor other knives for deployments). For fuck's sake, I even put two links in the video description of a hard use test involving one of my old ones. Maybe if you spent more time listening to understand, rather than listening to respond, you wouldn't look like an obnoxious know it all jackass when commenting.

[@DocP91B]

By the way dumb ass, I just checked the video and you only had to go so far as less than TWO MINUTES in to hear me say This was the 5th Ontario 499 I've had...so I really have to ask - are genuinely this much of an asshole, or just stupid? Seriously, please do answer. I'm not the only one that is dying to know the answer to this one.

[@tomhickman1006]

@@DocP91B Patients, you did a informative good video. This coming from a guy who has been a Professional alpine climbing guide, also many years of mountain rescue, a deputy sheriff, and worked in aviation, and has been a crew member.

[@jatbatman]

Dude he says within the first minute and a half that he's owned several, and carried them in the military. Sure the sheath looks fairly unused, but blade shows it has been well loved. Try watching the video and having a clue about knives before you judge.

[@samadler9253]

You should have better listened to the what he said. He's had several over the years...Dumbass!