If you know knives, the Ontario Knife Company (OKC) is likely a familiar name. For more than a century, OKC produced knives, tools, and machetes out of Franklinville, New York, supplying everyone from outdoor enthusiasts to the U.S. military. They’ve been around so long that their knives were almost a rite of passage for many, and a staple in both kitchens and campsites.
But recently, people have been asking: “Is Ontario Knife Company going out of business?” The answer, at least when it comes to the company as most people knew it, is yes—the old Ontario Knife Company is gone. Here’s what happened, what it means for the brand, and why it’s caused such a stir for longtime fans and the Franklinville community.
The Factory in Franklinville Shuts Down
At the center of the story is Franklinville, a small town in Western New York where OKC set up shop over 100 years ago. The heartbeat of Ontario Knife Company was this local factory, where generations of workers made products that traveled the globe.
But in the summer of 2023, things changed quickly. The company announced it was closing the Franklinville plant, putting 56 people out of work. These weren’t temporary layoffs—they were the final chapter for American-made Ontario Knives from this location. That was the end of a huge era for local manufacturing. For those who’d driven by the factory every day, or knew people who worked there, it felt like losing a piece of the town itself.
Local leaders tried to find a way to save those jobs. They looked for buyers and brainstormed solutions. But by September, the plans were finalized: the Franklinville manufacturing operation would close for good.
Sale of the Ontario Knife Company Name
Around the same time as the closure, OKC’s parent company—Servotronics—entered into a deal with Blue Ridge Knives out of Virginia. This wasn’t a purchase of the entire company as it existed, though. Blue Ridge Knives bought the Ontario Knife Company brand and the inventory that was left, but not the actual factory or the machines used to make the knives.
This type of asset sale is pretty common when a company is struggling. Blue Ridge didn’t pick up the physical operations in New York—they just wanted the name, the designs, and whatever knives were still on hand. That means the products and know-how tied to the Franklinville factory stayed behind, at least for now.
For collectors, this creates a sharp dividing line: knives made in Franklinville before 2023 are officially part of history.
Why Did It Happen? The Real Reasons for the Shutdown
So why did a company as established as Ontario Knife close up shop after more than a century? The main reason is financial trouble. The parent company, Servotronics, had been struggling for some time.
Several factors pushed them over the edge. Material costs have gone up a lot in recent years. Steel, packaging materials, even routine expenses like shipping—all of those costs squeezed their profit margins. On top of that, OKC faced heavy global competition, especially from overseas knife makers who could produce similar products much cheaper.
Big national contracts, including U.S. military contracts, are fickle or harder to win when international rivals can undercut on price. While quality and legacy matter to some buyers, the pressure to keep prices low is real.
So, between mounting costs and tougher competition, Servotronics made the decision to sell what they could and shut down what they couldn’t afford to keep running.
What’s Next for the Ontario Knife Brand?
Let’s talk about Blue Ridge Knives, the company that bought the OKC brand. They’re a major distributor, best known for wholesaling knives from various makers. But it’s unclear what they’re planning to do with the Ontario Knife Company name.
Right now, the old Ontario Knife Company website is gone. You can’t order the classic American-made models from the old factory anywhere. Blue Ridge has said very little publicly about their plans. Will they relaunch the Ontario brand? Will future “OKC” knives be made overseas instead of New York? Will old designs appear again, just with different manufacturing?
As of now, no official announcements have confirmed if or when new Ontario Knife Company-branded products might appear. For fans of the original company, this creates lots of questions: If they see a knife with the Ontario name in the future, will it have any connection to the stuff made in Franklinville? Or is it just a brand label that’s been sold and slapped on something new?
The Local and Community Impact
Ontario Knife Company was a big deal in Franklinville, not just as an employer but also as part of the town’s identity. Losing 56 jobs may not sound massive on a national scale, but in a small upstate town, it’s a big hit. Families who’d worked at the factory for decades found themselves at a loss for what comes next.
Local officials, business leaders, and even some former employees brainstormed ways to keep things going, maybe by finding a new buyer or repurposing the space. Unfortunately, nothing came through. Now, the old factory site is quiet. The machines are silent. If you drive by today, there’s no sign of the busy workplace it once was.
Franklinville is now another example of what’s been happening in a lot of small-town America—longstanding manufacturers shut down, forced out by global economics and shifting markets. The loss of a business like OKC ripples through the coffee shops and schools, not just the factory floor.
What Happens to Dealers and Collectors?
With the Franklinville operation closed, many knife collectors and dealers scrambled to buy the remaining American-made Ontario knives. There’s real nostalgia attached to these products. For some, a U.S.-made OKC knife is more than a tool; it’s a piece of family history, or a reminder of a parent or grandparent who worked there.
Dealers are now left with a challenge: Do they sell their remaining stock as “the last of a kind”? If Blue Ridge Knives ends up making new “Ontario” knives overseas, collectors may have to pay closer attention to value, origin, and authenticity.
Prices on classic Franklinville-made models could rise, especially as the supply dries up. On knife forums and collector groups, there’s some friendly debate—does a future version of the Ontario Knife Company, without the original factory or American workforce, still count as the same company?
The Ontario Knife Brand’s Uncertain Road Ahead
Blue Ridge Knives could choose to keep the Ontario Knife Company name alive with new products, overseas manufacturing, or updated designs. Or, the brand could just sit on the shelf as a legacy name with no real future.
People who want to keep tabs on the story can watch dealer announcements and the few updates from Blue Ridge. There are no active websites or press releases outlining a return. The old OKC social media has gone quiet. If you’re following the situation for business reasons or as a collector, you might want to check news sources and small business coverage, like this one, for any new information.
For Franklinville and a lot of knife enthusiasts, this transition feels kind of like losing a hometown sports team. There’s pride in what was, some uncertainty about what comes next, and a lot of mixed feelings about whether it’ll ever be the same.
The Factory Site: Now What?
After a shutdown like this, there’s often the question of what to do with the empty factory. Local leaders in Franklinville are hoping to find a use for the property that will bring new jobs to the area. But, for now, there are no announced plans for redevelopment. The old building and machinery sit as a reminder of what the community had for so many years.
People have floated ideas—from industrial startups to turning the facility into warehouse space—but without a committed investor, the space remains in limbo.
Wrapping Up: Current Status and What Could Come Next
So, is Ontario Knife Company going out of business? The classic version—the factory, workforce, and everything that made up the Franklinville operation—is, for now, gone.
Blue Ridge Knives now owns the name and inventory. It’s unclear if they’ll produce anything under the Ontario Knife Company brand, where those new products would be made, or if the unique spirit of the Franklinville-made knives can ever be recaptured under new ownership. The old website’s gone, the phone lines are disconnected, and for former employees, it’s simply the end of the road.
If you see the Ontario Knife Company name out in the wild later on, check the packaging twice. It may look the same, but whether it’s connected to that century of New York craftsmanship is a whole other story. For now, there’s not much for longtime fans to do except keep an eye out, remember what used to be, and hope someone finds a new way to honor the brand—and the people behind it.