Survival knife

[SMUDGE]

My brother in law showed me this knife at $300 dollars it better be good!
http://www.coldsteel.com/sanmaigurkha.html

[TFin04]

Lynn Thompson is the most unethical business operator in the knife community.

Cold Steel makes some okay working blades, they also make a lot of junk.

Their marketing is designed to attract buyers who aren't "knife people" by luring them in with ridiculous claims.

Overall, I hate them. :D

[SMUDGE]

Really this is the first I've seen of them never really handled one to know just saw the video. I guess I'll just stick with my kershaw then. Did you own one in the past that you had a bad experience with?

[Astrogiblet]

I like Cold Steel. I own several of their knives.

Not as good as Spyderco or Benchmade but still good knives.

[TFin04]

The Kukri design is a good knife (that's what your link sent me to), but Cold Steel isn't the only maker of those blades.

A lot of CS's stuff is more market driven than user driven. Their blade steels often aren't as good as their competitors, and the style/design of the knives lack as well. For people who want a cheap pocket knife that "looks cool" and they can post videos from the company about how awesome they are, CS is perfect. For someone who wants a knife to last and be comfortable to use, there are much better choices.

I will say the base model CS Kukri is a pretty decent value. I've beat up on one pretty good and it has held up. If I didn't hate the company so much I'd buy one.

For anyone who wants to, do some searching on bladeforums about CS. You will find all you want to know, and I bet will never send them your money again.

[Astrogiblet]

For anyone who wants to, do some searching on bladeforums about CS. You will find all you want to know, and I bet will never send them your money again.


Yea, I own this knife:

http://www.coldsteel.com/reconi.html

I'm a member at Bladeforums but I think I've only posted maybe 10 times in the year or two I've been a member there.

The Recon I is a decent knife, I think I only paid $80 for it new. It supposedly has one of the strongest lock designs you can find in a knife. The teflon finish on mine wore off in places cutting cardboard boxes so I definitely would not brag about that..

When I bought it I was about to go on a big outdoor trip and I needed a knife quick. Went to a local store where my buddy works and ended up picking this one up. Its a big knife which is awesome cause I have massive hands. The G10 handle is really a weird feeling, it grips great.

I probably would not buy this knife again though. The "awesome lock" on it sometimes jams and its been a pretty shitty design overall.

[johnzilla]

I carry a Benchmade 552 (Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 Griptilian). I absolutely love the Benchmade AXIS lock system. I've got the fixed blade version in my BOB and I've been thinking lately that I should switch to the mini version for EDC. I about scared the crap out of a woman at work the other day because I needed to open a box and one second my hand was empty and the next there was a (to her) big huge honking knife there. :D The AXIS system has that blade out one-handed just a hair slower than a spring assisted blade...it is really that fast. I think the mini would attract less attention, especially in an office/cubicle environment where I spend most of my time. LOL

[Astrogiblet]

I've got this Benchmade knife in Silver:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10300

I absolutely love this knife. Its smooth, I can flick the blade out and it almost feels like its an assisted opening blade its so smooth, its super light and just a great everyday knife.

Unfortunately, last weekend it seems to have fallen out of my pocket and I have no clue where it went.

I actually got the knife for free to. Ordered it from a company that told me it was in stock and they gauranteed it would be here before a trip I was going on (same one I bought the Recon I for), and then it was magically "out of stock". They ended up refunding my money and then a few days later it "magically appeared" on my doorstep overnighted to me.

I've heard the Griptilians are awesome knives. I used to watch a knife reviewers videos on Youtube and he was always talking highly about those knives.

[RSF]

It was lynn's own brother whom stated he shouldnt be alive. if i recall correct.

[TFin04]

It was lynn's own brother whom stated he shouldnt be alive. if i recall correct.
Yessir.

This thread was about 'survival' knives, not EDC's.

For your survival/hunting/outdoor needs, www.jkhandmadeknives.com I may be bias as a few of them are my design. :gavel:

[Donzie]

if you looking for a Kukri https://www.kabar.com/product_detail.jsp?productNumber=1249
far better quality(imho) than cold steel.
or look at Columbia River Knife and Tool

[RSF]

Im a fan of JK knives and tops

[TFin04]

Im a fan of JK knives and tops
Still gotta show ya the little bushcrafter backup I had done. It replaced my Rat3 entirely. :cheers:

[mlh10475]

My user is a Strider SnG. Save your money and buy one knife that you willl have forever. If you break it opening a manhole lid, MicK Strider will replace it.

[Knimrod]

Moved to Knife forum - Admin

[josey wales]

for a fix blade i like bark river.they have a life time warranty and made in michigan,how can you go wrong.
check out the bravo or a gunny

[SMUDGE]

Maybe somebody can help me out on this one... I ran into a guy at the gun and knife show at the gibralter trade center in taylor(the dirt mall) and he made custom knives out of old metal files. Had a cool look and a real nice feel to them fixed blade full tang the works. Just can't seem to remember the name of the company.

[josey wales]

just saw him at mt clemens gun show he had some cool knives,i talked to him he just started to make full time.
i think this is him
http://www.morrisknivesonline.com

[SMUDGE]

That's him. Look like nice knives I am going to check him out again at the next show.

[karcent]

Files make excellent knives.
It's hard to beat good carbon steel that is properly treated.

[firebert]

Cold Steel knives are way overpriced for the mall ninja junk they are.

Spyderco,Benchmade,and Kershaw are good options with some research into picking out the right models.

If you want one of the best Cheap knives out there. Go with a Spyderco Tenacious.

And TOPS knives Steve? GROSS

[macman37]

Folders: Spyderco Delicas and Benchmade Griptilian

I have a couple CRKTs and they're OK but their QC is spotty.

Fixed: Ek bowie for a big blade, Wilson Combat Tanto Cop tool for a short blade.

[MattB1969]

This really is a great knife for the $$. I use this knife all the time and it hasn't failed me yet. What are your thoughts of this knife?

Matt

[SMUDGE]

This really is a great knife for the $$. I use this knife all the time and it hasn't failed me yet. What are your thoughts of this knife?

Matt
I've actually been looking at this one a while now seems like a pretty good knife. Handled it a little bit in the store and it seems durable. I may be picking one of these up soon. I think its one of the better designs out there, sure no storage for matches or anything but easily lashes onto a pole to make a spear, full tang blade nice sheath. I like it myself.

[TFin04]

I dislike the blade steel used for the LMF, especially for something marketed as a hard use knife.

[firebert]

I dislike the blade steel used for the LMF, especially for something marketed as a hard use knife.

seconded.

I dislike gerber these days, They used to be a great company, but every other company has passed them up as far as quality, materials, and innovation goes.

Gerber knives don't even tell you what kind of steel the use.

[Astrogiblet]

seconded.

I dislike gerber these days, They used to be a great company, but every other company has passed them up as far as quality, materials, and innovation goes.

Gerber knives don't even tell you what kind of steel the use.


Yea, Gerbers gone the way of a lot of different high end brands and realized they can make a cheaper, shittier product that Walmart will gladly purchase and put on their shelves and make a TON more money than selling a quality product you can only find in specialty stores.

Same thing happened with Mongoose bikes. Or Schwinn. Both brands used to be top of the line until they realized they could get their bikes into Walmart, Kmart, and Sears.. Now they are just a generic shitty low end bike manufacturers.

[thatguy423]

I usually carry a 3 inch buck that was made in America "b4 they started making them in China" But I also have a couple mad by SOG which are very high quality pieces.

[firebert]

Yea, Gerbers gone the way of a lot of different high end brands and realized they can make a cheaper, shittier product that Walmart will gladly purchase and put on their shelves and make a TON more money than selling a quality product you can only find in specialty stores.

Same thing happened with Mongoose bikes. Or Schwinn. Both brands used to be top of the line until they realized they could get their bikes into Walmart, Kmart, and Sears.. Now they are just a generic shitty low end bike manufacturers.

Exactly, I remember when I used to race dirt track BMX I saw the downfall of all those bike companies as a good manufacturer, such a sad story.

[Astrogiblet]

Exactly, I remember when I used to race dirt track BMX I saw the downfall of all those bike companies as a good manufacturer, such a sad story.


Yea, I raced mountain bikes for a year or two. Right around that time was when Schwinn started going downhill. :(

[mechredd]

Its my understanding that most of the CS knives are made of AUS8 steel which is good stuff, and better than 440 stainless that you find on most of the cheapies. Benchmade and Spyderco use S30V for allot of their stuff. S30V is supposed to be the best blade steel around right now, but its expensive.

[Astrogiblet]

AUS8 steel is prety low-end. Its like a step or two above 440 stainless, IMO.

S30V is considered the best by most knife efficianodos, and myself.

[TFin04]

"Best" is relative. It all depends on the application. S30V is a good hard steel that holds a great edge, but can be brittle. It would make a good EDC folder, but not a good woods blade.

High carbon steels like 1095, D2, O1, etc make an excellent woods blade because of their edge holding ability, plus their resistance to chipping. They would make a poor EDC knife because of their tendency to corrode quickly.

Mission drives the gear.

[firebert]

"Best" is relative. It all depends on the application. S30V is a good hard steel that holds a great edge, but can be brittle. It would make a good EDC folder, but not a good woods blade.

High carbon steels like 1095, D2, O1, etc make an excellent woods blade because of their edge holding ability, plus their resistance to chipping. They would make a poor EDC knife because of their tendency to corrode quickly.

Mission drives the gear.

Exactly, This is why I don't like a lot of Chris Reeve and Strider Fixed blades because they use steels more suited for folders in their fixed blades.

Also Steel is only one component of how well a knife performs, blade geometry and heat treatment are crucial to how well a knife works in it's given task. Also I see a lot of companies using a higher end steel, without gaining any benefit from it's properties to cut better.

I.E a blade will be available in 154cm and S30v, however both knives are ground at the same angle! Virtually no difference in blade performance.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Anybody have an opinion on the SOG Seal knife? Seems well designed to me for a utility type knife.

[mechredd]

Anyone know what the military uses in their combat knives?

I forgot the Benchmade uses D2 for their utility knives, and S30V for their defensive knives.

[firebert]

Anybody have an opinion on the SOG Seal knife? Seems well designed to me for a utility type knife.


Don't care for sog knives. Shitty Aus-8 steel. They mostley rely on marketing gimicks like using the word "seal" etc to get your to buy their stuff. "OH MAN THE SEALS USE IT!!!!!"

For the price they charge for that thing you can get a much better knife made by RAT cutlery, look at the RC-4.

[firebert]

Anyone know what the military uses in their combat knives?

I forgot the Benchmade uses D2 for their utility knives, and S30V for their defensive knives.

not true, they use 154cm,d2,s30v etc across the board for all types of their knives.

[boganz45]

I have Benchmades in S30V, 154CM, D2, and 440 all from their black class and will hopefully be adding an M4 in there too; it all depends on what you are looking for and what you want to spend. All of the different steels have pros and cons and are better suited to certain situations than others.

Regarding survival knives, check out Bark River, Strider, RAT, Scrap Yard, Reeve, Becker (although no longer around they can still be found), SOG, OKC, and KA-BAR. Again it all depends on what you are looking to spend and what you need the knife to be able to do / stand up to.

[boganz45]

S30V is considered the best by most knife efficianodos, and myself.

Not sure this is a fact.

[Astrogiblet]

Not sure this is a fact.


Correct. It was an opinion.

[boganz45]

Correct. It was an opinion.

I don't fully agree with the "most" other people part.

[Astrogiblet]

I don't fully agree with the "most" other people part.


Wait.. your telling me not everybody agrees with my opinion? :shock:

[Mainspring]

for a fix blade i like bark river.they have a life time warranty and made in michigan,how can you go wrong.
check out the bravo or a gunny

:yeahthat: While you're up in Escanaba, stop in at the Rapid River knifeworks as well. Between Bark River and Rapid River you're sure to find something that'll float your boat. Both make extremely nice knives for the money, and they're made right here in MI.

[RSF]

And TOPS knives Steve? GROSS


Dude i once chopped open a car with my tops steel eagle at an auto wreck in rual ohio...

and my new Mtn lion is a work of art..

the steel eagle also once opend up a sub floor after breaking the tile floor.. to get to the sub floor


then it spent 2 years in the desert cutting hacking and even taking a life.. i say it preformed quite well........the guy i let have it to take to sandland has kept it now very dear to his heart.. he will disagree with you.

[firebert]

Dude i once chopped open a car with my tops steel eagle at an auto wreck in rual ohio...

and my new Mtn lion is a work of art..

the steel eagle also once opend up a sub floor after breaking the tile floor.. to get to the sub floor


then it spent 2 years in the desert cutting hacking and even taking a life.. i say it preformed quite well........the guy i let have it to take to sandland has kept it now very dear to his heart.. he will disagree with you.

right on, I just don't like how they price some of their ridiculous knives.

[RSF]

right on, I just don't like how they price some of their ridiculous knives.


LOL its only money

[Sammy_K]

I just recently purchased a new Kabar owned Becker Campanion. Anyone know if they are being made differently than before? I have not had the chance to use it yet but i bought it based on recomendations from others. Anyone have thoughts on the Beckers?

[Sweet James]

[QUOTE=josey wales]just saw him at mt clemens gun show he had some cool knives,i talked to him he just started to make full time.
i think this is him


I bought one of his knives about six months ago. It's a great user. He makes very good knives. Often out of files, which means the steel is real hard and doesn't rust easy. Hope this helps.