If you’re into camping, bushcraft, or just like a sturdy pocketknife, chances are you know the Ontario Knife Company. It’s one of those quietly famous American knife brands—around for ages, tough, a little old-school. But lately, you might have seen chatter online: “Did Ontario go under?” “Are they still around?” The answer isn’t as dramatic as it sounds, but there’s real change behind the rumors.
Big Sale, Big Changes: What Actually Happened to Ontario Knife Company?
Let’s clear up the rumor first. Ontario Knife Company isn’t actually out of business. The company didn’t just shut its doors and disappear. Instead, it got sold—and the factory that made its knives for over a century did close down. It was a complicated summer for people who care about knives.
Here’s how it played out. In 2023, Ontario’s longtime owner—Servotronics—decided it was time to focus on its aerospace business. So Servotronics put Ontario Knife up for sale. The company ended up selling the Ontario brand, its designs, trademarks, and what was left of its inventory to a Virginia-based distributor called Blue Ridge Knives. The sale price? About $2.1 million, which is a pretty straightforward number in the knife industry.
The sale meant big changes for the people and the town around Ontario’s factory in Franklinville, New York. The building that produced knives for generations closed its doors in July 2023. Around 56 employees were out of work. For folks in knife circles, the news felt like the end of an era—even when the business reality was a bit messier.
Factory Closes, Brand Lives On
So if the Franklinville, NY factory shut its doors, does that mean Ontario Knife is gone? Here’s the key detail—no, the brand didn’t get shut down. Multiple business reports, as well as knife industry blogs and message boards, are clear about this. The Ontario Knife Company was sold, not scrapped.
The easiest way to think about it is: The machines in New York stopped running, but the Ontario name, the classic models, and the overall brand moved to a new owner. It’s the kind of business outcome that happens quietly a lot—especially with legacy American brands.
What About the Knives? Are They Still Being Made?
After the closure, things were a bit uncertain. Blue Ridge Knives basically bought everything except the actual Franklinville manufacturing building and its machinery. That created a weird in-between moment—Ontario’s website was still online, but you couldn’t actually order anything. The note on the website spelled it out: “Our website is currently under construction…we are unable to process orders (items display as Sold Out to prevent placing of orders).”
If you browsed knife forums or the Ontario site around the transition, you’d see another announcement: “Ontario Knife Company has been purchased and relocated to Virginia. We appreciate your patience during this transition.” Knives were showing up at major industry shows like SHOT Show, but details were slow to trickle out.
Where Are Ontario Knives Made Now?
This is where things get a little murky if you’re a collector or just care a lot about “Made in USA” labels. At the time of the sale, the Franklinville production was over, and none of the factory machines changed hands right away. That put a question mark around models that were always assembled in New York.
Blue Ridge Knives, the new owner, did hint they were talking with Ontario’s former management about buying the machinery and maybe restarting at least some of the American-style production in Franklinville. There’s no public evidence that this has happened at scale yet—especially by early 2024.
In knife circles, the current best guess goes like this: The Ontario-branded pocket folding knives (like the famous RAT folders) and larger items probably now come out of overseas factories, mainly in Taiwan or China. These were actually already being produced overseas for some years. The real question mark is the military fixed-blade knives and machetes, which were a Franklinville specialty for army and government contracts. Some sources suggest maybe a few of these are still being made in New York, but there’s no hard confirmation.
So right now, if you buy a new Ontario Knife product, it’s probably imported unless you really dig into the details and find a U.S.-made one left over at a dealer. For most people, the difference comes down to whether you want an affordable working knife or you really care about keeping things U.S.-made.
Why Do So Many People Think Ontario Went Under?
Let’s be honest—when a more than 100-year-old factory goes quiet and most of the people are out of a job, it feels like the company should be dead, even if the brand isn’t. News about the closure spread quickly, especially in knife enthusiast circles. For a while, it almost became a “Did you hear…?” sort of thing, with YouTube “end of an era” videos and Facebook posts saying Ontario was gone for good.
But as the dust settled, fans and industry insiders pointed out that this was only partly true. The factory closed, yes. But the brand, the product names, and the company’s intellectual property just moved. This isn’t unusual for legacy manufacturers. Think of all the old car or tool brands whose names get bought and continue in some new version.
Some of the confusion comes from how quiet the sale was. Servotronics didn’t make a huge public push to tell the world what was happening. Ontario’s own communication was limited, other than the “under construction” notice and a few scattered web updates. The low-profile transition meant regular buyers and even fans were left connecting the dots for themselves.
So, Is Ontario Knife Company Still Around?
Right now, yes, Ontario Knife Company is still operating. It’s just owned by Blue Ridge Knives and run out of Virginia. The look of the brand—the website, the product names, even the classic knives like the RAT folder or Old Hickory kitchen blades—still exist. But there’s a lot that’s changed under the hood.
Ontario knives are mostly in stock at large online knife dealers and outdoor stores. Some listings will show the new “imported” label, or say “country of origin: varies.” Others, especially for older models, might still say “Made in USA.” If you’re hunting for a specific older U.S.-made Ontario, this is a good time to double-check before you buy. Prices for discontinued or New York-made models may go up over time, too.
If you check the Ontario Knife Company website, it’s active but still doesn’t process orders directly. That’s typical of a brand in transition. Inventory may fluctuate, and new product launches are deliberately slow as the new owner figures out suppliers and contracts.
Is Anything New Coming From Ontario?
If you follow knife news or browse forums, you might have seen reports about Ontario appearing at trade shows, including SHOT Show. Under Blue Ridge Knives’ ownership, Ontario unveiled a new MagnaCut steel version of its RAT folding knife and hinted at updates to other classic models.
That’s actually a pretty strong signal that Ontario isn’t just fading away. It’s staying involved in the knife community, showing off prototypes, and keeping its product lines in the spotlight. Dealers and buyers are watching closely to see if some of the heritage fixed blades—like classic machetes or combat knives—will stay in production or get a refresh.
The company’s willingness to show up at big industry events suggests they want Ontario to be an active brand, not just a once-a-year catalog name.
If You’re Shopping: What Should You Know About Ontario Now?
For day-to-day buyers, the big takeaway is simple: Ontario Knife Company still exists, but it’s changed. If you want a new Ontario knife, you’ll find plenty in stores or at online retailers. The main differences are country of origin and a bit more uncertainty around exact specs for some models.
If you’re a collector or deeply care where your knives are made, check the packaging or reseller details. Many models are now made outside the U.S., but the Ontario name and style are sticking around. There’s no longer a guarantee that a new Ontario knife is an American-made product.
If you’re curious about how these kinds of business transitions play out for other brands, or you’re interested in other real-world examples, you can learn more at sites like Quick Business Point.
The Ontario Knife Company’s website is still active, but not taking orders directly while the new owners figure out supply, distribution, and inventory. That will probably change as things settle under Blue Ridge’s control. For the time being, most people should shop through trusted retailers.
The Bottom Line: Ontario Knife Is Still Here, Just Not the Same
To wrap up—Ontario Knife Company didn’t go out of business in the classic sense. The Franklinville, New York factory closed and the original employees were let go. The Ontario brand, the knife names, and most of the products moved over to Blue Ridge Knives in Virginia.
Will things ever go back to the way they were for U.S.-made Ontario knives? Hard to say, honestly. Market forces and costs suggest that imported models will now be the norm. But the brand itself is alive, with plans for new product launches and a continued presence in the knife world.
If you care about a good, affordable knife—or just want a piece of American knife history—Ontario is still an option. It’s just under new management, with a different backstory, and a bit less rooted in small-town New York than before. That’s the real story, minus the drama.
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