Ontario Knife Company has been creating works of cutlery art since 1889. One of the few knife makers still manufacturing in the United States, OKC is based out of Farmville, New York and has a long standing relationship with the Military and has been producing products for our armed forces since WWI. Today OKC creates not only Military but also hunting, camping, fishing, survival, ranger and Military Tactical knives. Here are the 5 newest and best Ontario survival knives on the market.

Ontario Rat-7 Survival Knife

The Rat-7 is a survival and utility knife created by (RAT) Randall’s Adventure & Training who produced this beautiful knife exclusively for Ontario Knife Co. The knife design is for outdoor/survival use but is used by Law enforcement, hunting, fishing, camping and any other outdoor activity that requires carrying a sheath knife.

I personally use this knife for camping, hunting and hiking as well as general outdoor stuff. It is one of my favorites and the blade is very durable, sharp and well balanced. The only issue I have had is the sheath is a little weak but for the money you simply can’t beat it.

• 1095 carbon steel blade
• Micarta handle
• Black powder coat finish
• 7″ blade
• 12 1/4″ overall
• 8 RAT options to choose from
• Made in USA
• Retails for $99.95

Ontario 499 Air Force Survival Knife

This survival knife made by Ontario Knife Company is manufactured to strict government specs for each branch in the Military. One of the best characteristics of this knife is the lightweight and balance it carries in such a sturdy frame.

• Made from 1095 carbon steel blade
• Zinc phosphate finish to eliminate rust
• Sawteeth spine
• Leather handle
• Steel butt Cap
• Made in USA
• Retails for $39.95

Ontario Blackbird SK-5 Hedgehog

The newest and perhaps most decorated addition to the Ontario family is the SK-5 Hedgehog by OKC. This hunting and survival knife won “Field & Stream Magazine’s” “Best of the Best” for 2011 in the knife category. Paul Scheiter of“Hedgehog Leather Works”is responsible for the design of the Blackbird SK-5 which is best known for it’s tough durable frame and stainless steel mirror finish blade.

• 154mm stainless steel blade
• 5″ blade
• 10″ overall
• Weight 8.4 oz
• Micarta handle with sheath
• Made in USA
• Retails for $217.84

Ontario 1403 ASEK Multi-tool & Rescue Strap Cutter

This Multi-tool was developed by (ASEK) Aircrew Survival Egress Knife system and features an anodized aluminum construction, screwdriver, lanyard and replaceable blade. It is perfect for any situation in need of emergency cutting or survival.

Aircraft and Emergency response personnel often keep them handy for cutting seatbelts, clothing, harnesses, etc.. A great thing about this knife is the replaceable opposing blades and the deep knotch that guides the blade for precision cutting.

• 6.6″ overall
• 1″ blade with 20 degree angle
• Black 440 stainless steel handle
• Weighs 1.5 ounces
• Sheath not included
• Made in USA
• Retails for $26.99

Ontario 8980 Steel Camp Folding Knife

This knife is a great everyday carry knife especially for camping and outdoor situations. Everyone needs a pocket knife they can take with them daily. It is not only a knife but a multi-tool that features a stainless steel handle, screwdriver, can opener, punch, cap lifter and 3.25″ stainless steel spear blade.

This article was written by Clayton Ensminger an outdoor enthusiast and writer for www.eknivesstore.com, an online authority on camping, hunting, fishing, tactical, survival and Ontario knives products.

The Garmin eTrex is a superb handheld GPS navigation device which is proving to be very popular with hikers and campers who want to make the most of their adventures.  It works in all kinds of terrain including heavy foliage and deep valleys. The Garmin handheld comes with a high-sensitivity receiver which should manage to get a GPS signal in the toughest of outdoor environments. This GPS handheld from Garmin comes with a bright color touch screen and lets the user locate their exact position quickly and clearly via GPS.

As you first ever handheld GPS you might find the Garmin eTrex a little bit confusing at first.  This is because the user manual is not really detailed enough. The best thing to do if you want to get started is to create some waypoints and routes around your local area and try different navigation options.

Check Out The Full Garmin eTrex Range At Amazon

Easy to Use Buttons

There’s a couple of buttons on the unit which are simple to operate and let you access all the different options available.  There’s even a geocaching mode which is great for families.  If you have not heard of geocaching, it’s the 21st century treasure hunt where you can find geocaches out in the wilderness using GPS co-ordinates.  You will need the most up to date Garmin maps though if you want to use this functionality.

Download New Maps and Load Using an SD Card

The maps on the SD card aren’t always great, but you can download new ones using the “Open Street Map” website if you want to expand the maps to other regions.  But beware though, for those people hiking in mountains or in remote locations you might need to buy updates – which can be expensive (although you could use this Garmin Code 2012 – gives you money off map updates).

When using the Garmin eTrex you just need to give a simple glance at the GPS display every now and again, as this will allow you to get to your destination without error.   There is a small electronic compass on the display (which is touch screen) and the GPS accuracy tends to be accurate to around 3 or 4 meters where you have clear visibility of the sky due to satellite signals.

The Garmin eTrex takes two AA sized batteries and can give up to 48 hours of battery life.  This should make it the perfect hiking companion for weekend’s away and any other adventures you might have when camping.

Product Specification

If you decide to purchase the Garmin eTrex, this is what you will get for your money.

• Garmin eTrex Legend HCx – GPS receiver
• Recommended Use: Hiking
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 5.6 cm x 10.7 cm x 3 cm
• Weight: 156 g
• Software provided: MapSource Trip, Waypoint Manager, Garmin Recreational Basemaps
• Compatible GPS Software: MapSource BlueChart
• Connectivity: USB
• Waypoints: 1,000
• Tracks: 20
• Plotting Points: 10,000
• Routes: 50
• Built-in Display: TFT – 176 x 220 – color
• Supported Memory Cards: microSD
• Waterproof: Yes

Conclusion

This is a great entry level handheld GPS from Garmin.  As the world leader in GPS technology you can’t really go wrong with their products – you will need to give yourself some time in advance before you go camping or hiking though as it’s not really a GPS you can simply pick up and start using unlike some rival models.