Quartermaster Knife Review.....

Bishop · 10-03-2005, 18:02

Ontario Quartermaster Army-95...
A review by William J. Hedgepeth

First off a story about a knife very much like the one I am reviewing here.
My grandfather, the man I was named after at birth was a great man. He was a wise man. He was my friend. I never understood the things he tried so hard to teach me but now whenever I do something stupid I hear his voice. The knife in this review is very close to the knife my grandfather carried in the ARMY in WW2. It was the case 337 Q 6" (or quartermaster knife) Far from a "military style" knife like you find today but at the time it fit the bill perfectly. It is also my favorite military knife of all time.
My grandfather brought home his beloved knife when he retired from the ARMY. Sometime later I became it's new owner. Not given to me by my grandfather but taken from my mother who stole it from him trying to sell it. She would have gotten $150-$250 tops for this knife but because of the owner it was priceless to this young man. Years later it was stolen from me. After searching for one in decent shape that could be used the same way it was many years ago I found none. To this day I have not found one worth buying. I did however find one with some help from a friend with a knife shop near by. He told me about a knife made by Ontario that was very close to the original. I bought it and the rest is what you are about to read here. Thank You Grandfather for your wisdom that I did not understand then by try to live by now. This is for you.......

The blade on this knife is 6" with about 5" of useable edge. It is an old drop point hunter style knife with an unsharpened false edge. The blade has a fuller or blood groove. The blade itself is wide at 1-3/4". The handle is leather and shaped nicely. A brass butt cap and a single guard also add to the beauty of the knife. It comes with a leather sheath as did the first. The only changes really is in blade steel. This one is of the 440 verity but the case was a carbon steel of course. I hate stainless blades over 3" long but this was different. As much as I dislike stainless I love this knife. I have not had any trouble sharpening or using this knife hard. Enough of the BS on to the tests....

In the kitchen....As in other reviews I believe a knife like this needs to do many things and preparing food is high on the list. I chopped veggies and sliced chicken breasts for my Alfredo sauce over Penne. It did this with no problem. (like I knew it would it is a hunting knife right) The blade has plenty of belly for slicing so the chicken was a breeze to cut and clean. Over all I think it did better than some of my real kitchen knives do.

In the woods....Again I think a blade should do certain things in the woods and do them well. Unfortunately this is not always the case, is it? Forget chopping down anything without a baton. I tried and it sucked. It's 6" blade just could not bite in deep enough to make this a viable option in the field. Don't do it!! However, with a baton it was decent enough and if it was your only tool out there you would be ok. Carving and cutting wood was pleasant. I carved out some fuzz sticks and attempted to make a spear shaped thing that well, failed. But the act of carving went without a hitch. I even tossed this knife into a tree at some distance which I never do and often yell at others for doing. I just had to. I made a rough walking stick for myself while out there as well.

Fire duty....In the woods? Yes, but I like making spaces when I write it looks nice.
Splitting already cut to length logs was easy enough. Place blade on top, drive down with baton. Split!! I split plenty for starting the fire and a bit extra for whoever may find this spot after I leave. I'm such a nice guy.

Closing....Basically I like using this knife both because it brings back memories of my Grandfather and because it is so nice to use it for what it made. A hunting/camping knife. Although I may never find another real Quartermaster like he had this is very close and works just as well. I would recommend it to anyone needing a 6" blade for hunting/camping. It is a good all around knife that will serve the owner well for a lifetime.
Thank You again Grandfather.....

---William J. Hedgepeth

Chip · 10-03-2005, 18:26

Nice review as always Bishop

Bishop · 10-03-2005, 18:32

Thanks Chip. It was one that I had been meaning to do but never got around to so a few nights ago I just did it. It is a decent knife.

Chip · 10-03-2005, 18:36

Have you tried freelancing your reviews, contacting knife companies asking to review their equipment for fee or reward?
Chip

Bishop · 11-03-2005, 01:02

To be honest I do not feel that I am anywhere good enough to even think about doing something like that. Thank you for thinking I am though.

Bishop · 14-03-2005, 00:07

Hey guy's as a side note to my review here I forgot to mention that Ontario also has a 1095 carbon steel model. It's not as pretty but I would think it would be a much tougher knife. 1095 happens to be one of my favorite steels and most of my knives are made of this. I also love D2 but I tend to only get this steel in my custom knives. I figure it is better to have one man heat treating my knife. Less room for error or maybe I feel it is easier to yell at one man if it gets done wrong

nate1714 · 04-05-2005, 00:13

wow great review i am impressed...

Bishop · 05-05-2005, 10:22

Thank's Nate. I hope you enjoyed the read.

Scotty · 05-05-2005, 15:16

Yes great review and a moving story behind it aswell

Glad to see you back Bishop

retrohiker · 01-11-2006, 21:39

An older thread but I believe this is the knife the Bishop is so fond of....

10-03-2005, 18:02	#1
Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Branchville, NJ Posts: 158	Quartermaster Knife Review..... Ontario Quartermaster Army-95... A review by William J. Hedgepeth First off a story about a knife very much like the one I am reviewing here. My grandfather, the man I was named after at birth was a great man. He was a wise man. He was my friend. I never understood the things he tried so hard to teach me but now whenever I do something stupid I hear his voice. The knife in this review is very close to the knife my grandfather carried in the ARMY in WW2. It was the case 337 Q 6" (or quartermaster knife) Far from a "military style" knife like you find today but at the time it fit the bill perfectly. It is also my favorite military knife of all time. My grandfather brought home his beloved knife when he retired from the ARMY. Sometime later I became it's new owner. Not given to me by my grandfather but taken from my mother who stole it from him trying to sell it. She would have gotten $150-$250 tops for this knife but because of the owner it was priceless to this young man. Years later it was stolen from me. After searching for one in decent shape that could be used the same way it was many years ago I found none. To this day I have not found one worth buying. I did however find one with some help from a friend with a knife shop near by. He told me about a knife made by Ontario that was very close to the original. I bought it and the rest is what you are about to read here. Thank You Grandfather for your wisdom that I did not understand then by try to live by now. This is for you....... The blade on this knife is 6" with about 5" of useable edge. It is an old drop point hunter style knife with an unsharpened false edge. The blade has a fuller or blood groove. The blade itself is wide at 1-3/4". The handle is leather and shaped nicely. A brass butt cap and a single guard also add to the beauty of the knife. It comes with a leather sheath as did the first. The only changes really is in blade steel. This one is of the 440 verity but the case was a carbon steel of course. I hate stainless blades over 3" long but this was different. As much as I dislike stainless I love this knife. I have not had any trouble sharpening or using this knife hard. Enough of the BS on to the tests.... In the kitchen....As in other reviews I believe a knife like this needs to do many things and preparing food is high on the list. I chopped veggies and sliced chicken breasts for my Alfredo sauce over Penne. It did this with no problem. (like I knew it would it is a hunting knife right) The blade has plenty of belly for slicing so the chicken was a breeze to cut and clean. Over all I think it did better than some of my real kitchen knives do. In the woods....Again I think a blade should do certain things in the woods and do them well. Unfortunately this is not always the case, is it? Forget chopping down anything without a baton. I tried and it sucked. It's 6" blade just could not bite in deep enough to make this a viable option in the field. Don't do it!! However, with a baton it was decent enough and if it was your only tool out there you would be ok. Carving and cutting wood was pleasant. I carved out some fuzz sticks and attempted to make a spear shaped thing that well, failed. But the act of carving went without a hitch. I even tossed this knife into a tree at some distance which I never do and often yell at others for doing. I just had to. I made a rough walking stick for myself while out there as well. Fire duty....In the woods? Yes, but I like making spaces when I write it looks nice. Splitting already cut to length logs was easy enough. Place blade on top, drive down with baton. Split!! I split plenty for starting the fire and a bit extra for whoever may find this spot after I leave. I'm such a nice guy. Closing....Basically I like using this knife both because it brings back memories of my Grandfather and because it is so nice to use it for what it made. A hunting/camping knife. Although I may never find another real Quartermaster like he had this is very close and works just as well. I would recommend it to anyone needing a 6" blade for hunting/camping. It is a good all around knife that will serve the owner well for a lifetime. Thank You again Grandfather..... ---William J. Hedgepeth __________________ "Pay no attention to the things I say because they mean nothing, instead look for my actions for they say everything!" -William J. Hedgepeth

10-03-2005, 18:26	#2
Chip Admin Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Norfolk Age: 43 Posts: 488	Nice review as always Bishop __________________ To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.

10-03-2005, 18:32	#3
Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Branchville, NJ Posts: 158	Thanks Chip. It was one that I had been meaning to do but never got around to so a few nights ago I just did it. It is a decent knife. __________________ "Pay no attention to the things I say because they mean nothing, instead look for my actions for they say everything!" -William J. Hedgepeth

10-03-2005, 18:36	#4
Chip Admin Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Norfolk Age: 43 Posts: 488	Have you tried freelancing your reviews, contacting knife companies asking to review their equipment for fee or reward? Chip __________________ To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.

11-03-2005, 01:02	#5
Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Branchville, NJ Posts: 158	To be honest I do not feel that I am anywhere good enough to even think about doing something like that. Thank you for thinking I am though. __________________ "Pay no attention to the things I say because they mean nothing, instead look for my actions for they say everything!" -William J. Hedgepeth

14-03-2005, 00:07	#6
Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Branchville, NJ Posts: 158	Hey guy's as a side note to my review here I forgot to mention that Ontario also has a 1095 carbon steel model. It's not as pretty but I would think it would be a much tougher knife. 1095 happens to be one of my favorite steels and most of my knives are made of this. I also love D2 but I tend to only get this steel in my custom knives. I figure it is better to have one man heat treating my knife. Less room for error or maybe I feel it is easier to yell at one man if it gets done wrong __________________ "Pay no attention to the things I say because they mean nothing, instead look for my actions for they say everything!" -William J. Hedgepeth

04-05-2005, 00:13	#7
nate1714 Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: IL Posts: 16	wow great review i am impressed...

05-05-2005, 10:22	#8
Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Branchville, NJ Posts: 158	Thank's Nate. I hope you enjoyed the read. __________________ "Pay no attention to the things I say because they mean nothing, instead look for my actions for they say everything!" -William J. Hedgepeth

05-05-2005, 15:16	#9
Scotty HERE'SSSS SCOTTY Admin Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 5,071	Yes great review and a moving story behind it aswell Glad to see you back Bishop

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