Ontario Knife CompanyOld Hickory OH7026 kitchen knife,Brown

Bought this to use as a camp kitchen knife. I also have the OH Fish and Small Game knife which I keep on my hip – so this knife is for family camping where I’m doing a lot of cooking. The quality out of the box was very good. The scales were even and only needed a light sand, but that’s just because I’m nit-picky. The grind was completely even (a surprise!), and it was very sharp. I always regrind every knife I buy because I’m a bit of a knife snob, especially for kitchen tasks. I thinned the edge down about 50% with a mill file (hint: put a welding magnet in a vise, stick the knife on the magnet, file away) and then put on an 11dps edge with no micro-bevel. This will only be for cooking, with no bone chopping, so I skipped any kind of micro-bevel (by comparison, my fish and small game knife is 11dps with a 22dps micro-micro bevel because it does a lot of wood tasks). This knife now absolutely screams through meat and veggies with little more than gravity alone. The fact it has a ton of belly at the front is nice for camping when you are often cutting on a picnic table that is awkwardly low and that’s one of the reasons I picked this knife. The fact it has a sheath means I don’t have to come up with a solution for protecting the edge while transporting it, or when the knife is just knocking around on the camp table. And the fact I can belt wear it is certainly handle, especially if I use it for occasional other tasks besides cooking.It’s carbon steel, so obviously there is maintenance. I don’t like rust so I forced a patina to provide some protection. When storing in the sheath between camping trips I do give the blade a super thin wipedown with a drop of mineral oil. I’m not shy of carbon steel, but if you are, the stick with stainless knives. I feel like 1075 is a good all-around steel for camp duties. Tougher than 1095, but holds an edge more than long enough to get through a half-week camping trip without having to hit the strop. And, of course, 1075 sharpens up REALLY easily.

I used an OKC knife years ago working on fishing boats in Alaska. Loved that knife, but lost it somewhere along the way.Considering the price, and some reviews, I was expecting a knife that would need some work to make functional. The knife I received exceeded those expectations. The handle was well-sanded, with smooth, rounded edges all around. No need for further sanding on this one...just oil it. The blade out of the box was sharp enough to easily shave hair on my arm. I wasn't expecting that.This is a well-made, practical and versatile tool. For the $$$ it is a terrific value. Great in the kitchen, great in the bag for hiking/camping. I may have to buy the 7" version. It's certainly priced right. I love 1095 carbon steel.The sheath seems decent, but it's made in the CCP, so we'll see how it holds up. Either way, this knife is a solid winner.

* Blade is stamped, rather than forged; but it's 1095 so for the meager sum it costs, it's all good.* Straight carbon steal holds an edge a bit better than quality stainless, and touches up easier.* Blade comes nearly shaving sharp (at least mine did).* Scales are decent wood (I think mine is American walnut) and are tight to the full tang* Sheath is worth $20 all by itself.* Some may not like the blade profile, but it's terrific as a hunting and camping knife; this knife is exceptionally good for skinning due to the blade shape.* Overall fit and finish is more than acceptable at this price point.So, if you're looking for a solid hunting knife, this is a solid value. If you are interested in a 'bushcraft' blade, but don't want to fork over a tidy sum for a Kephart pattern or an Esee PR4, then this is a good alternative.

It's a great knife at a great price. The pattern is a fairly classic pattern that is reminiscent of the old Marbles Ideal.Please note: This is a Carbon Steel knife. It says so in the description. It will rust and blood pit if it's not properly maintained.Pro:High quality American steel. No chewy gummy import mess here.Good sheath.Easy to sharpen carbon steel. I was able to hone the already sharp edge to an extremely razor sharp level quickly.Great price.It's a good useful general purpose hunting knife pattern. I think it would do well as a camp cook knife as well.Mine came very sharp right out of the box.Cons:The handle while utilitarian isn't super comfortable.It really needs a finger guard/bolster. While they get in the way in the kitchen - in the field they are pretty important for keeping your fingers off a razor sharp blade.

My mom had the 10 inch in our kitchen for years. She still had it when she passed. It went away then.. I saw these here and bought the 5 inch one first. I did the patina with cold bluing kept around here for keeping my guns in shape. Not for everyone, I know, but it works, and the patina is not splotchy, just all one color of gray. I liked it so well, I bought the 7 inch on sale, then I saw the 14 inch on sale. And Tuesday the 10 inch one went on sale. I don't need them. But as others have said, customize it some to fit your hands, just oil the handles once in awhile after you get the patina. All have been sharp out of the box. they make great camp knives. They take a beating, and if you damage it, or even lose it, 20 bucks will get you a new one. I bought the 14 inch one as a joke, as in "THIS is a BLOODY KNIFE" ,,, always gets a laugh... but it actually works quite well slicing a brisket... Since I was raised with Mom's, using one is like it's an old friend... I have 4 of them, waiting to get the slicer, on sale of course... I won't have a $100 in them. the only one I paid over 20 for was the 5 inch, but it has a sheath, pretty decent one at that. I only gave 4 stars for comfort because as great as the handles are, there are a lot of folks making them right for their hands...