Ontario Machete

[Aragorn243]

Picked up an Ontario machete that I believe is Vietnam era but have no real way of knowing the actual date as it is not dated.

Came in a 1945 hard scabbard made by Victoria plastic with olive green metal and a straight hanger so I at least know when that was made. From what I could learn on the net, these were produced before the end of the war but never actually used in theater as the war ended. Is this a rare or uncommon type? Later models were made with an angled hanger and black metal.

I'm pretty happy with the condition but I overpaid for it. I really liked the scabbard. (and the original binder twine cord was a plus )

[jmoore]

My favorite gardening tool! Inherited my uncle's which is at least 40 years old. Not pretty like the one above, but it works better than any other brand machete I've ever tried. Have a 1980's version with scabbard also, but it doesn't get used near as much.

Your 1945 scabbard is quite the find.

[browningautorifle]

You must be aware even the Canadian army used those and I think still do. It could be a pipe dream that it was an RVN castoff.

[gew8805]

Since the the machete is "US" marked, it is not a stretch to say that it's provenance is from the Vietnam War era. Ontario Knife also had a contract for M1917 bayonets for the US military shotguns during that period.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I think I saw Aragorn on American Pickers. Looks like you sniffed out another good one.

[Aragorn243]

The age is determined by the placement of the Ontario Knife from what I've learned. Vietnam blades have it as shown. Later and current production have it the same direction as the "US". This was in a flea market booth that was mostly junk modern "movie" knives that have little purpose other than to impress those that don't understand function. I spotted it hanging on the wall just before I left the booth, the scabbard just looked different from any I've seen before. I've been wanting to get one for quite a while, just wish the blade were WWII but I'll take Vietnam rather than modern. I don't know when Ontario started making them for the US but it seems like it must have been shortly after the war was over. They claim 60 years, that's about 7 years after the war was over.

[browningautorifle]

Since the the machete is "US" marked, it is not a stretch to say that it's provenance is from the Vietnam War era.

Ours were marked exactly as this one is. They're still in use. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

[Peter Laidler]

Ontario machette................ sounds like one of those plays on words, like Chicago Piano or Egyptian briefcase (a carrier bag.....)

[jmoore]

Ontario machette................ sounds like one of those plays on words, like Chicago Piano or Egyptian briefcase (a carrier bag.....)

Or Ontario Knife. Those two words are always pleasing to my ears! I've probably more time wielding one than time at the range. Which is not inconsiderable...

The only bad things about an Ontario Machette are the blisters you get after the winter lull and the rivets in the grips loosen over time. Tape will help control both problems. I generally just use masking tape.