The Ontario 18” machete is often referred to as the military machete mainly because the Ontario Knife Company has provided many of the best survival machetes, survival knives, and bayonets used by the US military since WWII.
This particular machete, model number 6145, is a very simple yet well made American machete based on the classic Latin machete shape and style and with the proper care and maintenance there is no reason why this sturdy tool shouldn’t last you a lifetime.
The Ontario may cost a little bit more than the bog standard machetes (at the time of writing you can pick one up relatively cheaply on Amazon – click here!) However, you could always make do with a machete that has been grabbed without much thought off the ‘cheap shelves’ of your local hardware store, but by opting for the Ontario 6145 you will definitely get what you pay for, and more besides.
Description
Blade
Weighing in at around the 1 pound 7 ounces mark this particular full tang, Latin style, Ontario machete, feels quite heavy in your hand. It is 23 inches in total length, 18 inches of which is the blade length; Ontario also produces a 12 inch and a 24 inch machete.
The blade is made with 1095 high carbon steel and is 0.12 inches thick which is finished with a hard wearing black zinc phosphate coating which does a good job of protecting it from corrosion. Although the factory edge is up to cutting paper which is ample good enough for use in the real world, if you want a razor sharp shaving edge you will have to put in a little work!
Handle
Handles are invariably an area of complaint with most machetes and this Ontario machete is no different. Every user will have different sized and different shaped hands, or have a different preferred grip which makes it almost impossible to keep everybody happy, no matter what type of handle a machete has. In the case of the Ontario the handle is quite stocky so it may not be suited to individuals with smaller hands. That being said, when held for the first time the heavy duty molded plastic handle is a lot more comfortable than would be expected after an initial inspection.
Sheaf
SheafAs of writing the 18” military machete from Ontario is sold without a sheaf, although this will obviously depend upon individual vendors and what deals they offer. Ontario does have a durable nylon sheaf specifically designed for this machete for sale, it is nothing special, in fact it is what we would class as simply functional and serves its purpose but that’s about all. If you want a sheaf for your new Ontario Machete then we would advise you to go for a tougher plastic sheaf rather than Ontario’s nylon one. A particularly good choice would be the Rothco sheaf which you can check out here.
Specifications
- Total length 23.25 inches
- Blade length 18 inches (also available in 12” and 24” lengths)
- Blade thickness 0.12 inches
- Weight Approx 1 lb 7 oz
- Blade Material 1095 High Carbon Steel
- Blade Grind Full flat taper w/flat bevel
- Blade Finish Black Zinc Phosphate powder coated (any corrosion)
- Blade Edge Plain
- Handle Black molded toughened plastic
- Tang Full
- Country US
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Our View
The 18” Ontario Military machete is a solid and trustworthy piece of kit. A little on the heavy side should the only intended use be for light clearing jobs, but for heavier clearing and chopping work this is a seriously good machete.
As far as survival machetes go, the Ontario 18” is a great choice, can be used for pretty much every task you could possibly need your machete for, it’s a no frills machete but it gets the job done and it’s certainly sturdy enough to be relied upon should the need for self defense come into play.
If you want to check out the best price for the OKC 18” military machete and read some trusted customer reviews on Amazon simply click the button below.
