I have recently purchase the Ontario Knives SP8 survival knife/machete. I am very please with the quality and multiple uses of this fixed blade. I know its not something you would wear traditionally on your belt, but strapped to my back pack it is growing in usefulness more and more. It functions in between a hand axe and a short machete. The heavy blade is excellent for chopping and splitting, proven when making a shelter recently on an outing. During that same outing improvised snow shoes were built and the blade was effortless in cleanly splinting green branches to act as cross bars for weight distribution. The synthetic handle is also great for a non-slip and non-cold conducting surface. I intend to update as I put this blade through its trials. And input from other purchasers whether pro or con is greatly appreciated.<br><br>A quote for thought: "the best equipment in the world can be taken from you, the knowledge within the mind can not......" <br><br>

The larger blades are finally matching the egos that created them! I've used machetes/large knifes in rainforests and in the snow to build igloos.My only wish is for an "anvil" to be incorporated on the spine for hammering .I shattered an Ontario AF survival knife doing just that while attending arctic survival school.<br><br>

When hammering with the knife you shattered did you use the contact method and a piece of wood to drive the knife through the wood. And just curious did the company stand behind its product?<br><br>

I used a piece of wood .The temperatures were sub-zero which may have contributed to metal brittleness.See Doug's comments on sawback teeth weakening the blade.The only person that stood behind ANYTHING was my instructor.He cursed the knife ,me, the Coast Guard and procured another one . That worried me(no supply clerks in a crashed c-130) so I began my search for a better knife. <br><br>

Thanks for your input. Hopefully the increased thickness of the blade will improve strength. And as of yet myself and a friend who cleared a small lot of sapling this winter, haven't had any problems. And hope we won't keep you updated.<br><br><br>