Review of the New Air Force SP2 Survival Knife

A small review of multiple generations of the Air Force Survival knife
OKC pilot survival knife "old style"
www.amazon.com/Ontario-Force-Survival-Knife-Black/dp/B001CZDQPI
OKC SP 2 Survival knife "new style"
www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?usrsearch=Pilot%20survival%20knife&

[@fred1barb]

I have the knife and sheath issued to me during flight training at Hunter AAF. Made by Camilus and marked "3-1967". It does not have the metal cover front or back. These were added sometime before 1969. Both versions were being issued in 1969. The sheath on mine has only a single rivet attaching the retention strap. The comment regarding the single rivet strap being made in China is not accurate. There is or was a Chinese made sheath sold by Ontario recently with a modified version of the knife (no fuller). The blade on mine and on the later versions issued to my class were not well sharpened. The false edge was not sharp at all. Later I used a large stone to reprofile the blade to get a uniform taper below the fuller and out to the tip and I sharpened the false edge. The temper on these blades was quite variable. Some were too hard, some too soft. I broke the tip on mine and had to reshape the point. The pommel was a workable hammer, and the blade when sharpened useful as a rope cutter and crate opener, I flew as a cavalry scout and I noticed that almost none of the scout pilots or observers carried this knife nor did the Cobra pilots. The Cobra drivers favored the Gerber MK 1, but for the reasons given below most of us did not carry a combat or survival fixed blade. The aero-rifles were different. Those guys were inserted and walked, They carried everything including knives, or bayonets , M-16s, CAR-15s, .45 pistols, loads of ammo and grenades, and a lot of water. Many teams liked to take a LAW or two but not because they expected to see a tank. I think the reason the knife was not used by scout and gun pilots was simple. We had a .38 in a shoulder holster, a survival radio, and a 20+ pound ceramic chest plate. Most of us also carried extra ammo for the pistol, and a flare pencil. There was also sometimes a survival vest. There wasn't a good way to carry the knife. Many of us also had a weapon strapped in the cockpit, my choice was an M3 grease gun with an extra magazine. The OH-6 did not have any cockpit stowage. The M3 was secured to the center pilar with a cable. Anything not tied down was going to fly in a hard landing or crash. Anything left in the aircraft was likely to be borrowed by a maintainer. Smokers would take the lighters our of a survival vest and the Swiss Army style pocket knife would walk away as well. I took note from our ops officer who was shot down in an OH-6 while scouting with a Cobra high for cover. His survival radio left the pocket on the front of his chicken plate and went out through the bubble, along with smoke grenades, concussion grenades, an M-16 and his sheath knife. His pistol was held in the holster with electrical tape. His extra ammo was in a plastic cigarette box and taped to the holster strap. His point was that anything not strapped on might as well have been left at the airfield. After that I left the knife in the hooch. Most scout missions were hunter killer teams, though I did a few solo missions for the engineers and also a BDA. If I went down help was going to come fast and usually the best thing was to stay at or near the crash site. If I had to evade it would knowing that there would be a massive search, making the radio and the flare pen the best tools.

[@frankezane583]

Really interesting listening to real world experience

[@vincedunn9983]

Absolutely love the much older one. Its served out military for many many decades.

[@treyblack5633]

I like the old ones

[@johnyule1473]

I have one I got when I was in the navy the date is 1969 the leather is worn out but the knife still in great shape.A shipmate of mine in the boson locker said we got some new knives you want one. I said heck yes the navy got four years I got a knife.Yes I would do it again God Bless America.

[@randomkid8941]

John Yule I have the lighter one with wedstone a.k.a.sharpening stone but the leather on the handle is gone (I’m 9)

[@TheCommonS3Nse]

That number stamped on the pommel is the date of manufacture. So that knife was made in October 1976.

[@firefighter6323]

TheCommonS3Nse thank you so much I couldn't find anything on it

[@airbornesoldieramerica7125]

@TheCommonS3Nse, I just bought a brand new Ontario USAF knife this past week on Amazon. On my handle it stamped 3-11. So does this mean mine was actually made back in March of 2011 , and its July of 2019 now and this knife I have is actually 7 years old ?

[@blondbowler8776]

I just last week got an Amazon USAF knife marked 3/11. I like it.

[@arctodussimus6198]

@@airbornesoldieramerica7125 Yes, your knife was seven years old when you got it. Still a good piece of kit 👍🏼👍🏼

[@KnivesSurvival]

This new knife you comparing it to is the SP2. You are looking for the 499 Survival knife which has the stacked leather handle and pommel .

[@l.peytonadams8570]

The middle one with the stone I think looks the best and feels the best for me.

[@Wildwestwrangler]

I have the sp2 and mine has a different sheath. It's all nylon with a kydex insert and it's molle compatible. I modded the guards and reprofiled the edge. Works much better now.

[@sputumtube]

I have (according to the pommel date) a 2011 version with the leather sheath etc. The blade shape must have changed slightly as mine is narrower towards the handle.

[@BushCampingTools]

My Ontario Spec Plus is over 20 years old and still serving well. I did a vid on it too, similar to the airforce survival featured here. Nice comparison.

[@McLaneCustoms]

I have the middle generation of the three you have on the table. Does the newer generation have better qc on the grind of the blade? I noticed the bevels were uneven on mine and it had a very dual edge out of the box. Still love this type of knife though!

[@woofman4796]

i reversed the top snap on my ontario knife so branches and such won't snag it and pop it open,, you can rotate the top snap on the new sheath

[@jonathonlang1844]

I was issued the sp2, its solid except that the “guard” is soft rubber so beware of hand slippage onto the blade. Also if you knock some of that black finish off the base of the spine and itll throw sparks pretty well.

[@RBG-tr9ce]

Mine was made by Camillus in 1967. I got it new in 72 while in the A.F.

[@dlondon1144]

okay - the video is 5 years old and you probably know this by now but here are a few facts regarding the Ontario 499. It's been in production, essentially unchanged since 1958. Until the new knife was accepted by the DOD, it was issued to every pilot and many aircrew members in the US Army, the USAF and USN. There were several manufacturers: OKC and Camillus being two prominent ones. All three of the knives you show are OKC and the two older ones are model 499. The pommel stamps shows that the older of the two was manufactured in October 1976, the newer was manufactured in July 2008. I doubt that the sheath for the older one is the original as it is the sheath for a 499-MOD, made in China for the civilian market version of the knife which has a slightly different blade, and other slight but notable differences. The easiest way to spot a 499-MOD Sheath is the fact that the strap is only held on by a rivet and is not sewn in place. The 499-MOD sells for between $15 to $25 less than the standard 499 but is still manufactured by OKC -- only the sheath is manufactured in China.

[@ernestwalden3894]

My very first knife was the bolt knife. I started in wilderness survival when I was in my teens. And I made my first bow n drill with it. It did the job but one time I was choping with it when I was making figure 4 dead fall and some how it got bent. I actually bent it back with my bare hands. No I'm not a Hulk of a man lol I'm just saying I shouldn't have been able to bend it back. I'm 52 now and a ka bar and cold steel fan. ☺✌👍

[@anthonyrichards7261]

On the newest knife the top snap keeps the knife from flopping over/around when strapped on. The serrated spine of the 3/11 blade is for sawing through aircraft skin as they are aluminum like a soda can, hence the Air Force designation of survival knife. Good review.

[@UUJman]

I love the original knife. However, I like using the SP2 better. The handle feels funny until you start to use it. I don't like the sharpened false edge. It makes it harder to baton with.

[@fokinwladimir376]

old is gold

[@wmsollenberger8706]

The earliest knife is dated Oct 1976. It has the "clip" point as opposed to the "spear' point. (clip is useful in scraping surfaces and producing "wood-cotton " for starting fires. The spear point is more of an offensive feature and also adds strength to the tip.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

I also have an older one # 1-86, and is identical to your 76'

[@John-li6tn]

Sorry meant to type month & year not month & day

[@Torqd_Off]

Wow, 5 years ago... I don't know if you are aware of it cuz you didn't make mention of it, but the hook down low on the handle can also be swung around and attached from the other side too... on the new knife

[@alaranger0215]

Great video brother , i subbed .

[@ronalddunne3413]

The new style AFSK lacks the hammer head of the original... which in a true survival situation might or might not- make a difference. I'll bet the new style lacks the weight of the old style too. And I guess the stone was used so little that it was done away with on the new sheath... The stones that came on the '60's versions I saw weren't the best- too coarse for making a fine edge.

[@treyblack5633]

Ronald Dunne Makes me wonder if the missing stone pouch on the older knife sheath was an intentional modification.

[@4alvearcar]

What would the hammer head be used for? I'd like to know because I just ordered this knife on Amazon witch by the way is a great deal @ $36. I only know about this knife because my son just bought it at academy for $54!! I really liked it so I'm really curious about all its features and uses. It is now discontinued so you may wanna order an extra one before there is no more from OKC.

[@firefighter6323]

I would guess that it was intentional as there are some light cuts in the sheath where the stitching would be. Maybe to make it more streamlined or less of a chance of it snagging something. Not sure too bad the knife could tell us stories lol

[@jameshodges1965]

the old knifes have the date made on the end cap

[@jerryst.leonard2971]

The spec plus models are not official issue for any branch of the armed forces. I'm sure there are plenty of private purchase ones in use. The current issue Ontario pilot survival knife is the ASEK. I believe it still retains the bolt pommel. Gerber also makes an ASEK model that was a contract at one point.

[@firefighter6323]

Thank you for that information been out for a while and only going off of what I was told about the knife couldn't at the time find much information about it other then it was a air force pilot survival knife

[@Wildwestwrangler]

Did you ever post a follow up review of the sp2?

[@firefighter6323]

No sadly I had to pack up and move so I may break it out and do a follow up once I can find the other products that I was going to review as well. Sorry for the long delay

[@rodneymatthews3944]

People if u buy this knife for a survival purpose Go by a different knife to use for survival and put this one in ur collection I’ve broke 2 of them I’m just talking about the new ones I’ve not had an older style I do love them though but I’m a knife collector

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Actually the SP2 is not issue, the Gerber LMF 2 is. The original is still one of my favorite knives.

[@lanedexter6303]

Plastic doesn’t rot, but I hate to lose that hammer pommel and the sharpening stone.

[@John-li6tn]

To clarify the numbers under Ontario on the bolt is the manufacturer month & day. I had mine issued in 97 or 98, it still has the nsn sticker on the back of the sheath that matches the bolt number. I never used it since I preferred more tactical. The sticker is 7340-00-098-4327 Knife,Hunting,Sheathed, Survival, Pilot MIL KZ8662E GS 07F-80790 Ontario Knife Company. 5/94

[@cuttin_hardtv1795]

can the new black one fit in the older brown ones sheath?

[@firefighter6323]

Cuttin_Hardtv I will have to try it out and let you know didn't think of that

[@cuttin_hardtv1795]

John Grimm Reviews thanks that would be great

[@cuttin_hardtv1795]

did it work out?

[@firefighter6323]

Cuttin_Hardtv it did but it was very tight but I think it would work overall

[@eaglesnest2881]

Yes old knives are better!!

[@MrJoshDoty]

The black handled one is a SP 2 (spec plus line). The new issue is called ASEK. Here is a link to it. ontarioknife.com/fixed-blades/tactical/asek-survival-knife-system.html good video! Peace

[@firefighter6323]

Joshua Doty thanks I'll check it out maybe do a review of that in the future

[@claudio35025]

That Ontário knife for sale in Walmart are made in USA or made in China? Congratulation for the vídeo.

[@kevinbeck6419]

Most okc knives are made in china

[@Eurotrash4367]

They are made in New York state.

[@Eurotrash4367]

It's made in New York state.

[@mrterrylw]

Do you have links to the products for purchase?

[@firefighter6323]

FEMA Resident #20314 I can find them and ill link them may take a little bit for the older style but I will try my best to find them :)

[@firefighter6323]

FEMA Resident #20314 oh no I don't but I put links in the video description

[@airbornesoldieramerica7125]

I have the Army KA-BAR knife for 10 years now. I like it. This past week I just ordered the USAF pilots survival knife and the USMC KA-BAR fighting knife from Amazon for my Military knife collection. The one they mailed me is the USAF knife you have in the middle there, with the Marine fighting knife. This Ontario USAF survival knife is the very first knife I bought from Ontario. Out of all 3 of these Military knives for style I like the USAF survival knife the best. But bad thing about Ontario USAF survival knife out of all three knives it does not have a good sharp blade like the KA-BAR Army and Marine fighting knives I have. So for sharpness on this with my experience I think the KA-BAR Army and Marine knives a a lot better. So from this I do not think I will buy another Ontario knife. And my Ontario knife does not say its made in USA, like your newer one you have in the video there. Then the stamping on my handle of the USAF knife is 3-11. So in my case is this USAF survival knife was actually made back in March of 2011 and they finally sold it to me ?

[@firefighter6323]

Yes they stock the knives and store them in a warehouse so you could get one made a year ago or five years ago. It may be that you got a chinese knock off of the Ontario it is possible, every knife that I have received from Ontario is razor sharp but it could also be someone might of had a off day at the factory who knows. But KA-BARs are fighting knives where the SP-2 is a survival knife so you must keep that in mind that they were built with different purposes in mind. Thank you for your comment hope you have better luck in the future.

[@OnTheRiver66]

I have one made in 1993 and I cannot remember what the edge was like when new but I have had no trouble keeping it razor sharp, and the stone that came with it does a decent job for use in the field. I would go to a finer stone but sometimes the coarser stones produce an edge that actually can slice better (like little saw teeth).

[@skylerbond56]

Old one was made October 1976

[@danieloshea3326]

They have dates on the pommel

[@scouttroop291]

Ontario ASEK knife your missing this one

[@firefighter6323]

j lin indeed I just got one and will be doing a review soon

[@franknapolitano9144]

Nice knife... I wish Minichamps made more Diecast Tanks !

[@firefighter6323]

Frank Napolitano for a small scale diecast they are highly detailed I did a search it seems they did quite a few tanks mostly cold war era not sure if your looking for world war two era tanks

[@franknapolitano9144]

I have a few of the Minichamps WWII era tanks and some Unimax Tanks. I think you have some of the Motorworks or 20th Century Tanks there in the background.

[@firefighter6323]

Frank Napolitano I think one is a 21st century and I'll have to find the other to find out what it is but I like to use them as a backdrop gives you something else to look at besides what it is I'm reviewing may switch to a rifle or flag in the future haven't decided yet

[@firefighter6323]

Frank Napolitano I have a Ferdinand by minichamp I love the detail of it

[@ernestwalden3894]

It has the handle of a KA BAR.

[@woofman4796]

the handle is kraton

[@matthewray4415]

Camillus used to make them in the 60's.

[@mrwdpkr5851]

I have a bright 1-1970 Camillus jpk.

[@adamdavis2132]

well, i pretty much hate the new edition.

[@calvinm3538]

same.

[@clutchmasters3402]

Haha no. Sticking with my gen 2

[@bryanbaker5942]

I love Ontario knives, but that newer knife is a let down.

[@Matersoup]

I would not own the new one with the cheap, slippery, plastic handle.

[@cadenrosenbaugh17]

The new one is kind and of crap

[@Wildwestwrangler]

Caden Rosenbaugh the sp2 is a decent knife with a little modification