Ontario Knife Fortitude 2 S00 Edition Review: A Lighter, Sharper Take on a Solid Bushcraft Knife

Introduction

The Ontario Knife Fortitude 2 S00 Edition is an upgraded version of the original Fortitude knife, produced under a branding and marketing collaboration with the S00 personality known for outdoor gear, firearms, and survival content. Ontario Knife, which operates as a cutlery and tool division, kept the spirit of the first Fortitude while changing the parts that mattered most in hand.

The result is a knife that is noticeably lighter, uses a higher-grade blade steel, and swaps G10 for Micarta, all while holding onto a full tang build and the practical layout that made the original appealing. This review looks at what changed, why it matters, and who should consider it.

Build and Materials: From D2 and G10 to S35VN and Micarta

The first Fortitude shipped with a thick D2 tool steel blade, Cerakote coating, and heavy solid G10 scales. It was a remarkable, substantial knife, but it was heavy. The Fortitude 2 changes that formula in three key ways.

First, the blade steel moves from D2 to S35VN, a powder metallurgy steel developed primarily for the knife industry. D2 is a tool steel, repurposed from the industrial world of saws, planers, and drills, designed for sharpness and hardness over corrosion resistance. S35VN brings excellent corrosion resistance to the table, which matters when a knife lives outdoors.

Second, the Micarta scales replace the G10. Micarta has a softer, warmer feel in the hand and is thermally neutral: in cold weather it does not conduct heat into your grip the way other materials do. It can cost more than G10 because of the manufacturing process, which partly explains the higher price of this edition.

Third, the design refinements: the lanyard hole moved from the center back to one edge, the overall shape has been rounded off, and the bright yellow G10 accents remain, inspired by the collaboration. The handle keeps a solid index point for control during fine work.

The Fortitude 2 remains a full tang knife with scales attached to the tang, not a partial tang construction that saves weight at the cost of strength. This is the modern approach many makers favor: a full handle of blade steel running the length of the grip, with scales screwed on over it.

Blade Geometry and Size

The blade is thinner than the original, with a moderate drop point profile that is not overly aggressive. The overall length measures around 8 and 5/8 inches, with roughly 4 and 1/4 inches of sharpened edge. Some bushcraft users prefer a shorter blade around three inches, but this length gives comfortable reach for general camp work.

The design reminded us of the Benchmade Bushcrafter, a knife with a dedicated following among certain professional users. Where it differs from some aggressive survival designs is in the point: some modern knives are simply too sharp and too pointy for controlled bushcraft work, where a palm-sized handle, a thumb ramp, a defined finger index point, and a spine that is not razor-sharp all matter when you are shaping wood, making tent stakes, or working on traps.

Weight: The Biggest Practical Upgrade

On a scale, the Fortitude 2 comes in at almost exactly 5 ounces. The original Fortitude weighed 7.18 ounces, more than two ounces heavier. Comparable fixed blades in the same class, including the Fallkniven F1 at 5.6 ounces and several G10-handled and Gerber StrongArm style knives in the six and seven ounce range, are heavier as well.

This is the change most people will feel immediately. A knife carried on a belt all day, or packed for long trips, benefits directly from that weight saving without giving up the full tang structure or the substantial feel.

Sheath and Carry

The Fortitude 2 comes with a well-made leather sheath in smooth leather. The fit is snug but not so tight that you struggle to draw the blade. The sheath has a dual direction belt clip, a design request from the collaboration: the idea was leather plus the ability to mount on a gun belt. On a standard belt, carried sideways, there can be a little play because the sheath is sized a bit large for that use.

One honest note on leather sheaths in general: the seam inside can be sliced by the blade edge over time. This is common with leather and not a defect unique to this sheath. Sheaths with a snap-over retaining strap reduce the risk because the blade can be stowed repeatedly without contacting the seam. If you draw carefully, you will extend the life of any leather sheath considerably.

Bushcraft Use and Handling

Woodworking, not wood chopping, is where this knife belongs. The thumb ramp and the finger index point give you a confident grip for carving, notching, and shaping. The spine is not overly sharp, which matters when you push on the back of the blade to drive it into wood. Batoning is not something we recommend here; an axe or hatchet handles that job better, and this knife is more at home shaping and cutting.

On the fire steel question: yes, you can strike sparks with this knife. Quality steels like S35VN hold up well, and after repeated fire steel use on the edge there were no visible marks. A very sharp edge is not ideal for scraping a ferro rod, and if your fire steel is unusually hard you could do some damage, but the blade handles it fine with a bit of care. A sharp tip also lets you do something the spine cannot: bury the tip and pull the fire steel away for precise spark placement.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Fortitude 2 costs a bit more than the original Fortitude, and that is justified by the more expensive blade steel and the Micarta scales. If absolute long-term durability of the handle material is your top concern, G10 may outlast Micarta by a small margin, but Micarta remains far better than the plastics used in older budget knives. The slightly larger sheath sizing may also matter if you plan to carry it on a standard belt rather than a gun belt.

Buying Advice

For anyone after a genuine bushcraft knife, the Fortitude 2 S00 Edition is an easy recommendation. It keeps the full tang structure and the controlled, non-aggressive blade profile that defines the category, then improves on the original with a lighter build, better steel, and a more comfortable handle material. If you loved the original but wished it weighed less, this is the version you were waiting for.

Conclusion

The Ontario Knife Fortitude 2 S00 Edition takes a knife that was already well liked and refines it in all the right places: S35VN steel for corrosion resistance and edge quality, Micarta for a thermally neutral grip, and a two-ounce weight reduction over the original. It is a thoughtful upgrade, not a redesign, and for bushcraft use that is exactly what it should be.