Dan Jackson

Dan is the creator of BladeReviews.com. He founded the site in 2010, and for the first 5 years Dan wrote all of the reviews and recorded all of the video reviews. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. At this point he has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is widely recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design and has been featured on national media outlets including the WireCutter. In 2016 Dan decided to branch out and experiment with the website by reviewing watches, flashlights, and multi-tools. Today BladeReviews.com features a number of expert authors reviewing a wide range of daily carry gear. He is proud to write detailed long format reviews with original photography. The website remains largely independent with the vast majority of the products reviewed being purchased by Dan personally. When he isn't writing knife reviews from his home in Southwest Florida, or talking about himself in third person, he enjoys practicing law, reading, fishing, cigars, and weight lifting.

At this point he has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is widely recognized as an authority on daily carry knives. He has consulted with knife companies on product design and his opinions on pocket knives have been featured on national media outlets including the WireCutter. In 2016 Dan decided to branch out and experiment with the website by reviewing watches, flashlights, and multi-tools. Today BladeReviews.com features a number of expert authors reviewing a wide range of daily carry gear. He is proud to write detailed long format reviews with original photography. The website remains largely independent with the vast majority of the products reviewed being purchased by Dan personally.

When he isn't writing knife reviews from his home in Southwest Florida, or talking about himself in third person, he enjoys practicing law, reading, fishing, cigars, and weight lifting.

Emerson Horseman Mini CQC-8 Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
I have bought a number of Emerson knives under the guise that they were going to be my next EDC. Ernest’s blades have an American bravado to them that I really enjoy, and on several occasions I’ve found myself say, “Oh yeah, I’m going to EDC the heck out of this thing,” as my cursor hovers over the buy button. When the knife arrives it’s usually about twice as big as I imagined. The unfortunate truth is that while I enjoy the knife for what it is, it never ends up staying in my pocket.

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I have (presumably) learned from this mistake several times now, and purchased my latest Emerson, the Horseman (aka the mini CQC-8), because it is a smaller knife.

Ernest calls this scaled down version of the CQC-8 “the Horseman” because it was designed to be carried while riding a horse. I haven’t been near a horse for at least a decade, so unfortunately I will not be providing any commentary on the blade’s equestrian capabilities. That said, I do hope to answer whether the knife is a worthy urban EDC.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Horseman has an overall length of 8.35″, sports a 3.54″ blade, and weighs 4.8 ounces. Compared to previously reviewed Emersons like the Super Commander and CQC-13 this is a much smaller knife. That said, this is still an Emerson, and it still has a blade over 3.5″ inches long. It’s got a pleasant thickness to it, a reassuring heft, and generally isn’t what I would call a small knife. While it is definitely more pocketable than some of their other offerings, it’s no gentleman’s folder either.

It’s hard for me to determine what exactly the blade shape would be classified as – perhaps a modified clip point? Some call it “the banana blade,” and to me that is as good a classification as any. The curved edge comes to a very acute tip thanks to a finely ground swedge. Like all of my other Emersons I have handled, the blade has been beautifully ground. I once again opted for the stonewashed version. I love the way stonewashed version is finished with it’s sparkling flats and satin grinds.

Like most Emerson knives this blade has been V ground, but is left with a chisel ground edge. Ernest claims this is done for ease of sharpening, and I must say that the edge was very easy to maintain. The steel is 154CM: a well-balanced blade material that should be no stranger to regular readers of this blog. 154CM sharpens nicely and holds a good edge.

I tested the Horseman out on a variety of materials. I started with a 6-foot length of 1/4″ thick sisal rope and had no issues cutting it inch long sections. I then moved on to a piece of 3/4″ thick manilla rope – a pretty nasty material – and the Horseman once again cut cleanly and with confidence. I found the jimping on the spine of the blade a bit aggressive under repeated hard cutting, but for normal work I think you will find it is alright.

I touched the chisel edge up on a strop and then moved along to several pieces of cardboard. The Horseman cut without issue although I do prefer a more conventional V ground edge over a chisel edge for cardboard. I find that a V edge tracks through cardboard a little easier, but that could just be due to my relative inexperience with chisel edges. I will say that the chisel edge is capable of getting razor sharp with very little effort. Ultimately I was satisfied with how the Horseman worked on cardboard.

I rounded things out with a little carving on a piece of pine 2×2. The fine chisel edge made for an aggressive carver, and I was pleased with how quickly the knife removed material. I have to admit that I found the handle pretty uncomfortable under this kind of use, and resorted to wearing a glove to finish the job. That is pretty much par for the course with most folders, but I felt it was still worth mentioning.

Ultimately I found the Horseman to be a capable cutter well suited to a variety of tasks. As expected, the 154CM held onto its edge, and was easy to keep sharp. I had no issues with rust or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Horseman’s handle follows the same formula of all of Emerson’s other knives: black G10 scales over a steel non-locking liner and a titanium locking liner with a black G10 backspacer. Everything is held together with Phillips and flat-head hardware. If you have seem one Emerson handle, you have pretty much seen them all. My Horseman came well finished. All of the parts are well lined up, there are no tooling marks on the liners, and everything is very solid. It’s simply constructed, but also well done.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the Horseman benefits from Ernest’s decades of knife design and martial arts experience. The Horseman feels very natural in both forward and reverse grips. The deep finger guard makes it difficult to slip forward on the knife, and the thick handle provides plenty of support for your palm. The jimping on the thumb ramp provides good traction, but it can get uncomfortable under extended use. For normal use I think most will find the thumb ramp to be comfortable.

The pocket clip is the same clip found on all Emerson knives. It’s a simple black parkerized clip and is very similar to the standard Benchmade clip. This isn’t an ultra deep carry, but the Horseman rides reasonably low and carries discretely in the pocket. Despite being a “mini” Emerson, this is still a thicker knife, and it still weighs 4.8 ounces. I definitely felt it while carrying it around, but there are certainly bulkier knives on the market. It carries better with jeans and thicker fabrics.

Deployment and Lockup

The Horseman makes use of Ernest Emerson’s patented wave feature for deployment. For the uninitiated, this is a tried and true method of rapidly opening a folding knife. They also included a thumb disk on this model, which is easy to access and suits the lines of the knife. My model came a little stiff, and could probably stand to be taken down, cleaned, and reassembled with some tuf-glide or other high end lubricant.

For lockup we have the aforementioned titanium locking liner. It is a bit thicker than the steel non-locking liner, and engages nice and early. There is a little stick on the lock of my knife, but it isn’t obnoxious. There is no blade play in any direction. There is something very purposeful about the way this knife was manufactured and assembled, and the solid lockup adds to that feel.

Emerson Horseman Review – Final Thoughts

The Horseman is another well contemplated offering from Emerson, and I think it will satisfy fans of Emerson’s products that want something a little more manageable for carry on a daily basis. It has the same features and design quirks of its bigger brothers, but it doesn’t compromise in ergonomic or cutting performance. That said, this is still a thick knife, and at 4.8 ounces I definitely feel it in my pocket. Whether it will make a practical EDC knife for you is entirely subjective.

I will say that this is a sturdy no-nonsense knife, and I was surprised with how much I have enjoyed it. My particular knife is immaculate, and it has been fun to carry. If you can find one as solid as this I think you will like it.

I recommend purchasing the Emerson Horseman at BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much.

Emerson Horseman
From: BladeHQ

Emerson Knives Horseman SF

I recommend buying the Emerson Horseman at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out the review.

Ontario Machete Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Over the years I have had several requests for machete reviews. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to deliver. The machete is a timeless tool. Although it is most readily identified with jungle survival, its applications are far reaching and potentially adaptable to a wide variety of climates. I happen to live in SW Florida and can safely say that the machete is well suited to this semi-tropical region carpeted with fibrous palms and grasses, thick vines, and relatively soft woods.

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I’ve had the ability to sample a number of machetes over the years, but can still think of no better machete start with than the Ontario 18″ Machete. The model number is 6145 ad the knife is sometimes referred to as the “military machete.” Whatever you want to call it, this is a high end take on a classic tool. This knife will cost a little more than a $10 or $15 Chinese machete, but I humbly submit that this American made piece is well worth the premium. If adequately maintained the Ontario Machete will provide a lifetime of service and is an extremely rugged and capable tool.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

This particular Ontario machete has an overall length of 23″, an 18″ blade, and weighs in the neighborhood of 1 lb 7 ounces. This is a heavy machete with a thick 1/8″ (3.2mm) blade. Ontario makes their machetes in 3 different sizes: 12″, 18″, and 24″ blades. I like the 18″ size. It has good reach for clearing light vegetation, but the thick steel has enough meat behind it to tackle much harder tasks. I feel that the 24″ machete is too heavy for my purposes, while the 12″ model lacks the reach I want for a machete. Of course, everyone’s needs are a little different. I like the 18″ configuration and think it hits a nice sweet spot for my purposes.

The blade itself is a classic latin machete pattern. The knife features a partial flat grind that travels about 1/2″ up the blade. I have read that the edges these knives ship with can be kind of hit or miss – some arrive very nicely ground with shaving sharp edges, others are uneven and dull. My edge was serviceable and able to cut paper – completely adequate for the kind of bushwhacking I put it up to.

Ontario selected 1095 high carbon steel for the blade, and heat treated it to approximately 55 HRc. I have talked about 1095 time and time again, but it’s a great tool steel that can get nice and sharp while remaining incredibly tough. It’s a great choice for a heavy duty chopper like this, and the heat treat has been done right. This is where the Ontario steps away from the $10 and $20 machetes you will find at Wal-Mart. Those tools are absolute crap and will not hold an edge like this machete which tend to warp, bend, and even break in half under use. Ontario coats the blade with a zinc phosphate coating that has held up really well in my testing and use.

Speaking of testing and use, lets talk a little about what I did with this machete. Since I recently moved into a new apartment I had to get a little creative. I figured hacking through 2x4s in my living room, while thoroughly satisfying, was neither a good test of the knife nor a sane strategy for retaining my security deposit. So I moseyed on over to a piece of private land a few miles into the interior of South Florida.

A fire raged through these parts a few years ago, and the charred remnants of scrub pine still stand sentry to the sandy trails and switchbacks the landowners have carved through their property. I spent the better part of an afternoon clearing low lying palmetto plants, chopping through downed limbs, and even felling a fairly substantial dead pine tree (and nearly killing myself and my camera in the process – don’t try this at home). The Ontario machete exceeded my expectations in every regard.

The knife is so sturdy and heavy it’s almost too much to wield for traditional machete work. If all you are looking to do is clear very light brush, you may find this to be too much knife for your purposes. I won’t claim to be in great physical shape, but I think the 1/8″ steel will wear down even a practiced arm after a while. It’s a big and heavy knife and throwing that much carbon steel around quickly soaked my shirt with sweat.

I will say I pushed this machete far beyond the natural limits of this kind of tool. I think it is important to emphasize the bad experiences I have had with cheaper machetes that have bent and even broke in half on me. I took out a 8″ diameter tree (a dead tree) with this knife and the edge was still sharp. This is thing is a beast. If you are looking for a budget chopper but still want quality I think you will be pleased with the capabilities of this knife.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Ontario machete is a full tang knife with thick plastic handle slabs riveted in place. It’s an extremely strong design and it comfortably fills the hand. There is an extended pinky notch on the back of the handle that helps hold your hand in place. The corners are rounded and comfortable and there is a hole for a lanyard.

Having spent some time with this thing sweating under the southern sun, I will say that I noticed a distinct absence of traction with this handle design. I’m not one for overly textured handles, as they can quickly beat up your hands, but I advise either making use of the lanyard hole or wrapping the handle in some sort of athletic tape. I will say that I had no issues with hot spots or blisters.

Sheath

The Ontario machete does not come with a sheath. It’s ok because many aftermarket sheathes are available. I advise going with a classic plastic Rothco sheath (pictured) over a nylon sheath. The nylon sheathes get torn up easily while the plastic is both reasonably light weight and secure.

I modified my sheath a little by removing the stock belt clip the sheath ships with (it only works with old school military belts), and drilling 2 holes to make a paracord sling. I took some scrap leather and made a little shoulder pad and carry the machete over my shoulder. I then used some ranger bands (thin strips of cut up bicycle tubing) to attach a sharpening stone. Big hat tip to David Canturbury for the idea – it all came from his YouTube video that you can watch here.

I ended up spending an extra $15 or so for the sheath and sharpening stone, and maybe half an hour modifying the sheath, but the end result carries well and is quite comfortable. I highly recommend this style of sheath and carrying configuration.

Ontario Machete Review – Final Thoughts

The Ontario machete is an excellent all-around chopper. While it can certainly handle light brush and grasses, chores typically associated with machete like tasks, the knife is overbuilt to handle far heavier jobs as well. Ontario’s offering is made of solid materials, benefits from a classic design, and is well made. I am of the opinion that every man should own a machete, and if you can only have one then the Ontario should be at or near the top of your list.

This is a little more expensive machete than the bargain bin crap that you will find at big box stores, but for around $50 you can put together a machete and sheath system that will serve you very well and last a lifetime.

The only potential downside I see to this kind of machete is the weight. If you are looking to work with this machete in a field for 8 hours a day you either have to have way better technique than me or resemble The Rock, because this is a heavy knife capable of far more than light clearing tasks. In that case you may want to consider a smaller and/or lighter option.

Ontario Knife Company unisex adult 1 18 Military Machete, Black, Pack US, 1 Pack

Overall length is 24"
Made of 1095 Carbon Steel
Blade is hardened to 50-55 HRC
Molded plastic and riveted handle
18" blade

I recommend purchasing the Ontario Machete at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much for reading.

Spyderco Southard Flipper C156GBN Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: July 30, 2019
If you have been following the production knife scene the past couple years, then you know that titanium framelock flippers have gotten extremely hot. This has a lot to do with custom and mid-tech makers that often set the trends, which eventually trickle down into production knives. Larger companies have finally taken notice, and now they want their piece of the framelock flipper pie.

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This has resulted is something that Andrew and I refer to as the “framelock flipper arms race.” When Zero Tolerance released their 0560 model not too long ago, it upped the ante in terms of materials selection, build quality, and technology. ZT loaded their knife to the gills with features like a caged bearing system, 3D contoured handles, and even going so far as to pocket out the titanium to lighten the knife. The 0560 continues to be a technological marvel as far as the production knife industry is concerned, but other companies, including Benchmade and Spyderco, have stopped to take notice – to the point where both companies have released their first models featuring a flipper in 2012-2013.

In this case we have Spyderco’s addition to the framelock flipper arms race: the Spyderco Southard Flipper. They decided to damn the titanium torpedoes and embark on a high-end collaboration with acclaimed custom knife maker Brad Southard. Known for his practical and well engineered designs, Brad has slowly carved a name for himself since he started making knives full time in 2009. Brad subscribes to the ideology that form should follow function, and he ultimately believes that good design is a marriage of aesthetics and performance. Technology also plays a key role in his knives, and this collaboration with Spyderco is a veritable cornucopia of the latest and greatest. Unfortunately for the consumer the price tag reflects this as well, with the knife arriving with a whopping $399.95 MSRP.

Does the fabled Southard Flipper deliver enough bang for the buck to make it worth adding to your collection? How does it stack up to something like the ZT 0560? Lets find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Southard Flipper has an overall length of 7.96″, features a 3.46” blade, and weighs a solid 4.1 ounces. This is a jewel of a knife, beautifully manufactured for Spyderco in Taichung, Taiwan. Proud Americans may dismiss the knife offhand for having both a $250 retail price and the words “Taiwan” laser engraved on the blade, but I assure you the quality is 100% there. The knife is beautifully made and has a reassuring heft to it – made possible by thick slabs of steel, titanium, and G10.

As for the knife’s intended use, I mainly see the Southard Flipper as a collectible or high end EDC option. I have mostly been carrying mine on the weekends, as I find it a little too chunky to be paired with slacks in an office EDC. Your mileage will certainly vary.

The blade is a signature Brad Southard modified drop point design. Cut from a thick piece of Carpenter CTS-204P stainless steel, the profile swoops and slopes into an abrupt tip. The partial hollow grind terminates at a neatly applied edge, and the entire blade has been given the ever popular stonewashed finish.

CTS-204P is apparently the latest in a line of high performance steels from Carpenter. According to their data sheet this steel has been specifically formulated for high end cutlery applications. This is the part of the review where more sophisticated reviewers would spend a few moments to wax poetic about the chemical structure and technical merits of the steel, but I have neither the time nor the inclination for such diversions. Instead, I elected to simply start cutting stuff. Hey, at least I’m honest.

My knife came with an extremely sharp and aggressive edge. It almost reminded me of the M4 on my Gayle Bradley in how razor sharp and aggressive it was out of box. I actually moved to a new house in the middle of my testing phase, so the Southard Flipper got a chance to open up many cardboard boxes. It zipped through cardboard with alarming speed and efficiency. I decided at this point I wanted to try a more formal cut test to get a better feel for the knife and the steel.

I started out with a 6″ length of 3/8” sisal rope. I made cuts every inch. In some cases this is a difficult and painful test for me to get through. The Southard Flipper crunched through the rope without even blinking. It was one of the easier rope cut tests I have done, and the knife could have easily handled 2-3x as much rope.

I then moved on to some more cardboard boxes. The Southard flipper once again worked with impressive speed and agility as I cleanly cleaved a couple pieces of 3-ply commercial grade cardboard into confetti. At this point in the test I felt the edge could use some help, so I stropped it briefly. The 204p came back to factory sharpness with little effort – surprising considering how the blade has likely been heat treated to well over 60 hrc (Spyderco does not list the actual hardness of the steel).

I wrapped things up by whittling some 2x2s. It worked through the wood, but I was not super impressed with the carving performance of this knife. This shouldn’t be too surprising as the blade is 4mm thick and features a partial hollow grind. I found it was not the most efficient tool for cutting up apples either.

At the end of the day I was pleased with the performance of both the knife and the 204p steel. The steel is capable of taking an amazing edge, I had no issues with rust or corrosion, and the edge held up well. It’s a nice knife and is well suited for EDC tasks.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Southard Flipper is primarily comprised of titanium and g10. On the locking side you have a full titanium frame lock with a G10 overtravel prevention mechanism. On the non-locking side there is a brown G10 scale over a thick titanium liner. Everything is screwed together, and features flow-through (pillar) construction.

The knife is immaculately finished. The hardware gleams, every corner has been meticulously finished, and the knife feels like an absolute gem. The titanium liner has been drilled out to reduce the weight somewhat, but this is still a knife that I feel in my hand and in my pocket.

One thing to note is the asymmetry of the thickness of the handle; the non-locking side is noticeably thicker than the locking side. I am not sure if this was a conscious design decision, or if Spyderco was not willing to have the G10 side 3d machined like on the ZT0560. Since the knife is equipped with an internal stop pin and captured ball bearing system, it is necessary to have a metal liner of some sort. At any rate the asymmetry is interesting. In my video review I talk about the character of the knife and the odd juxtaposition of high end materials and meticulous finish next to the somewhat quirky and almost primitive design. I think it’s an interesting contrast, although I’m sure the asymmetrical handle will drive some people nuts.

Moving to ergonomics, I find the Southard Flipper to be extremely comfortable. A rope cut test is always a good workout for the handle of a knife, and hard carving / whittling can also quickly reveal hot spots and ergonomic issues. I found that the Southard performed fantastically in the rope cut, and was decently comfortable when carving. The knife is pretty thick and that chunkiness serves it well when putting some extra force behind the edge. The jimping on the spine of the blade is damn near perfect in my book. It’s got a little bit of traction without being obnoxiously sharp or painful. It’s just a comfortable knife.

In contrast, the pocket clip is a little underwhelming. Stylistically it looks cool, and is plenty sturdy / well made. However, I find it’s a little sharp on the tip, doesn’t exactly run with the lines of the handle, and doesn’t carry particularly well. I think a thick and heavy knife like this could benefit from a deeper carry clip. Although none of this strikes me as a deal breaker, I’ll openly confess that I feel the pocket clip is the weakest link.

Deployment and Lock

The more reviews I write the more I wonder how painfully obvious this section is. Of course what we have here is a flipper mechanism, and Spyderco’s first at that. I find it generally works pretty well.

When you have a firm grip on the flipper the detent is strong enough to easily pop the knife open. That said, I’ve flubbed the flip many many times, and wonder if an even stronger detent would be appropriate here. I’ll be the first to admit that this is me being nit picky, but on a knife of this caliber I might as well provide the entire story.

The knife does open nicely however, and the blade rotates smoothly around an over-sized pivot and caged bearing system. There is also the “trademarked” Spyderco thumb hole on the blade, but it’s impossible to use with your left hand, and a challenge to actuate with your right, so I find myself not having a whole lot to say about it.

Lockup is exceptional. My lock engages around 40-50%, and has been like that since the day I bought it. The lock engages easily, has no stick at all, and the knife is absolutely rock solid in every direction. The pivot must have some industrial strength [easyazon-link asin=”B0043EK14O” locale=”us”]loctite[/easyazon-link] on it, because I have been opening the knife obsessively for weeks and have yet to have a need to adjust it.

There is also a small g10 lock bar stabilizer inset into the framelock that matches the G10 scale on the opposing side. It looks interesting and does a good job of preventing the lock bar from over-extending. All said and done I am impressed with the lockup on this knife.

Spyderco Southard Flipper Review – Final Thoughts

So, Spyderco’s first flipper… did they nail it or fail it? I have to say, I like the knife a lot. Brad’s design is sexy and sophisticated, and the Taichung factory has once again produced an amazingly well built knife. Say whatever you want about overseas manufacturers, but the Southard Flipper is immaculately made.

The Southard Flipper also performs. It’s comfortable, balanced, and cuts nicely. I had a blast working through rope and cardboard. It’s not the keenest slicer, so chores like cutting apples and carving wood won’t be it’s forte, but overall the Southard Flipper is a capable tool.

If I had to point out the weaknesses of the knife, I’d say the pocket clip could use a little work, the flipper could benefit from a stronger detent, and I could live without the lanyard tube. Aside from that I find little fault with the knife. I will say once again that this is a heavier knife and in my pocket it is more appropriate for jeans or casual clothing – this is not a gentleman’s folder.

And lets spend a moment on the “value proposition” of the Southard Flipper. Some will balk at the $220 price tag, and I can appreciate that – this is an expensive knife, and it isn’t for everyone. But frankly, discussions about value don’t interest me much. Sure, I appreciate a good deal, and understand the value of a dollar, but much like a Chris Reeve Sebenza or a Strider SNG, we are looking at luxury items. No one ‘needs’ a Southard Flipper.

As someone who owns a wide range of folding knives I think the Southard Flipper will be well worth it to fans of high end Spydercos, and fans of titanium framelocks / flippers. It’s a beautiful knife.

And where does it stand next to the ZT 0560? Personally, I prefer the Southard. The 0560 is a cool knife, but I prefer the size of the Southard more and the knife has this wonderfully solid and well balanced feel to it. Practically speaking I find it more comfortable to cut with too. Sure, the 3D machining on the 0560 is nice, and it’s great to see the 0560 being made in the USA, but I still prefer the Southard more. Have an opinion? Feel free to leave it in the comments section below.

Spyderco Southard Folder G-10 Plain Edge Knife, Brown

Made using the highest quality materials
Tested for quality and durability
The most trusted name in you cutlery needs
Flipper blade opening device
CTS 204P hollow-ground blade

I recommend purchasing the Southard Flipper at Amazon, or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much for reading.

Cold Steel SRK Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Last Updated: April 3, 2020
The Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) has been a staple in Cold Steel’s catalog for well over a decade. In its role as the company’s go to mid-size survival / utility knife, the SRK has been selected as standard issue for U.S. Navy Seal team members going through BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal) training. With that kind of pedigree I doubt I will be able to add much to the conversation that hasn’t been already been discussed, but this blade has been in my collection for some time now, and I have always wanted to do a full review on my SRK.

Buy the Cold Steel SRK at BladeHQ

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General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Cold Steel SRK has an overall length of 10-3/4 inches, a 6 inch blade, and the knife weighs 8.2 ounces. I believe the sheath on this knife is 4 ounces, bringing the overall carry weight up to a very respectable 12 ounces. What I like about the SRK is the versatility a blade like this offers. Of course the “Survival Rescue” moniker suggests that this is both a survival and rescue knife, but the SRK could also be used as a combat knife or as a camp/utility blade.

In my case, the SRK serves as something of a bug out bag knife, although I have occasionally pressed it into service. For example, it accompanied me on my last trip up to Canada where I did a fair bit of wood processing with it.

The blade on the SRK is a classic clip point. Cold Steel started with a 3/16″ (4.75mm) thick piece of steel, gave the knife a hollow grind starting 2/3 of the way up the blade, and added a swedge to form a very fine tip. Cold Steel has applied a black coating to the blade. The coating comes off easily under use, and is not included on their laminated stainless [easyazon-link asin=”B0030DBGXY” locale=”us”]San Mai III[/easyazon-link] version of the knife.

I have run a battery of tests on the knife (covered in the video) in addition to general use over the years. I found the knife has held up reasonably well under a variety of tasks including carving, light chopping, and batoning. The partial flat grind splits wood easily, and the thick spine makes the knife fairly comfortable when used for draw cuts with the spine backed up against the knee. The tip is needle sharp, but it held up really well – even after boring several holes through a hardened 2×4.

While the blade lacks the weight and refinement of something like the Fallkniven A1, it did cut pretty well. I wasn’t blown away by the SRK’s performance, but I found I was able to get through a variety of tasks without too much trouble.

The SRK was originally made in the USA and featured Carbon V, a nice beefy high carbon steel, for the blade material. These days the SRK is made in Japan and comes with either an AUS 8 blade (shown here), or the aforementioned San Mai III blade. San Mai III is Cold Steel’s proprietary laminated stainless steel featuring a VG1 core. Unfortunately I haven o experience with San Mai III yet.

AUS8 is a steel that people seem to love to hate. I’ll admit, in the world of exotic steels AUS 8 isn’t the sexiest choice, nor is it the absolute best in the edge retention department, but when AUS 8 is done right I happen to like it for a number of reasons. In my experience Cold Steel does a great job with their AUS 8. For example, I thought the results from my cut test with the CS American Lawman was especially impressive (well, at least I was impressed).

True to form, I found the AUS8 blade on the SRK easy to maintain, very tough (no chipping or rolling), and capable of getting extremely sharp. When working with wood I found the SRK held it’s edge nicely. When I switched over to cardboard I found the knife did lose it’s luster after working through a few boxes, but considering the primary intended use for this knife (a woods knife – not a box cutter) I thought Cold Steel did a good job here. This is a tough steel that is not likely to chip out, and should hold up well under general outdoor tasks. For the money (~$75) I think it’s a decent choice.

Handle and Ergonomics

The tang of the SRK is encased in a thick kraton handle. Kraton is a high density rubber commonly used as a handle material for survival knives. The large handle fills the hand and is heavily textured to provide a secure grip. There is a finger guard (quillon) that keeps your fingers in place, and a lanyard hole large enough to pass 550 cord through.

I found the handle to be comfortable – even after extended use. Kraton is nice because it’s rubbery qualities help absorb shock. The straightforward handle design didn’t form any hot spots. I found the texturing struck a nice balance between being practical for use with bare hands (even wet/sweaty ones) without being irritating.

One thing I noticed about the SRK is that after batoning and chopping the handle is ever so slightly loose around the blade now. This is a pretty common occurrence on the SRK, and is something to consider before purchasing. Some people inject epoxy into the handle when this happens – my handle hasn’t gotten that loose yet, but I may decide to go this route eventually.

Sheath and Carry Options

The sheath is probably my favorite part about the SRK. Originally the knife shipped with a leather sheath, but Cold Steel upgraded that a few years back when they switched over to a Secure-Ex (molded plastic) sheath. I really like how many options you get with this sheath, and the fact that it is generally well made and sturdy.

For starters there is a nylon belt loop that is both reversible for left or right carry, and fully removable in the event you don’t want to carry the knife on your belt. This belt loop also includes a quick release so you don’t have to take off your belt to attach or remove the sheath.

The sheath itself is sturdy and lightweight, and is ringed with rivets for paracord. There are also wider slots to weave straps and belts through. Retention is excellent and the knife slides into place with a firm “snap.” Rounding things out is a small drainage hole – always nice to see.

All in all this is an excellent sheath that provides its user with many options for carry.

Cold Steel SRK Review – Final Thoughts

It is easy to see why the SRK has remained in Cold Steel’s lineup for such a long time. This knife is simple, rugged, and versatile. While it doesn’t excel at anything, it does a decent job with pretty much everything. If you need one relatively lightweight knife to handle tasks from food prep and carving, to light chopping and batoning, the SRK has you covered for well under $100. I am not a fan of how the handle loosened up after use, and I am sure some will not be impressed with the selection of AUS8 steel, but I am a big fan of the sheath and generally see merit in this compact offering from Cold Steel.

While I don’t think it is anywhere in the same league as the Fallkniven A1 (a knife it sometimes gets compared with), the SRK is a nice knife in it’s own right, and can be had at a fraction of the cost.

Cold Steel 38CKJ1 Hunting Fixed Blade Knives, Black

10 3/4" overall length, 6" blade length
Vg-1 stainless steel w/black Tuff-Ex finish
4 3/4 inch long kray-ex handle

I recommend purchasing the SRK at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews, and keeps this review train running.

ROSarms Companion II Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

I have always enjoyed things that are authentic and simple. I don’t think I’m alone, and that may explain America’s recent re-interest in craft beer and artisanal cheeses. At any rate, as much as I enjoy reviewing the latest and greatest knives, I occasionally return to the simple stuff. Case in point, I’ve been carrying a very basic Swiss Army Knife for the past month. No super steel, no titanium framelock, no stonewashed thrustbearing-enabled flipper madness. Hell, I need to use 2 hands to open it, and the thing doesn’t even lock. Sure I sacrifice some performance with a knife like this, but I still enjoy the simplicity.

That same interest in authentic simplicity drew me to ROSarms Companion II. The Companion II is a traditional knife made of old world materials, and is built on time-honored traditions of Russian knife making. The knife is actually surprisingly capable and full featured. And it’s also lightweight – VERY lightweight. At under 3 ounces you would think this was made of space age materials. Maybe authentic and simple doesn’t have to mean sacrificed performance afterall…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

ROSarms makes knives out of their factory in Zlatoust, Russia. Much like the cities of Solingen, Maniago, and Seki City, Zlatoust has a serious cutlery pedigree. ROSarms takes that pedigree seriously – to the point where all their knives are still hand made.

The Companion II is a little knife with an overall length of 7-3/4″, a 3-3/8″ blade, and a weight of 2.9 ounces (4.6oz with sheath). The knife is aptly named, and is a good size tool to have on a trail or around a campfire.

The Companion II has a simple drop point blade with a full hollow grind. It’s a proven blade shape and complements the traditional look of the entire package. The blade has been given a highly reflective satin finish that borders on a mirror polish. Blade thickness is 1/8 of an inch, and is plenty stout for the kinds of small tasks the knife was designed for.

The steel used here is 110x18MШД. This is a Soviet-era stainless steel forged in Zlatoust and it is apparently a popular choice for both military and aviation needs. In this case the steel is heat treated to a minimum of 58HRc so it’s hard enough to make a decent knife.

This is my first experience with the steel so needless to say I was a little curious to check it out. ROSarms says it’s very similar to BG-42. BG-42 is a former super steel manufactured by Latrobe, and was once the steel of choice for Chris Reeve Knives. If you are curious about the more technical aspects of the steel I invite you to check out ROSarms’ FAQ page where they have described the steel and its chemical composition in detail.

I found my Companion II to be a little on the dull side out of box, so the first thing I did was actually sharpen it up on my Spyderco Sharpmaker. I found that the Companion quickly took a nice edge, so I began to attack a 6 foot section of 3/8″ thick sisal rope. After cutting the rope into 1 inch pieces with relative ease I stropped the edge and moved on to some wood. I had some standard 2x2s and I also had some live branches to whittle on. I found that the knife carved wood well and cuts easily. Happy with the results, I tested the slicing capabilities on some cardboard boxes. Once again the Companion II performed faithfully, and it’s lean hollow grind proved to be a capable slicer. After the wood and cardboard the edge needed another good stropping.

All said and done I am pleased with the performance of this blade and the 110x18MШД steel. Rope and cardboard are actually pretty tough tests of an edge, and the Companion fared well enough (although it clearly wasn’t some kind of miracle super steel). My carving and whittling was a much better representation of what “real life uses” the Companion II might realistically be designed for. In those roles I was very happy.

Handle and Ergonomics

ROSarms offers the Companion II with a couple different handle styles. Shown here is a birch wood handle with stacked birch bark accents and micarta bolsters. The handle is well shaped and nicely executed. There is a slight amount of texture on the birch wood which provides a pleasant amount of feedback yet the handle is completely smooth and very comfortable. The knife is of stick tang construction and is well made. While the knives are plenty sturdy for normal cutting tasks, I would not baton with them.

The ergonomics are where the Companion II really shines. Although this is a smaller fixed blade, the handle is generously sized and accommodates my larger hand nicely. The handle itself simple, smooth, and has no hot spots. As I mentioned earlier, I did a rope cutting test with this knife. This can be absolute hell on your hands with an uncomfortable handle (or a knife with excessive jimping). The Companion made the work feel easy, and I was happy to spend some time carving and slicing in my back yard. There is a small guard that keeps you from slipping forward on the blade and the knife came with a lanyard that I ended up removing because it felt unnecessary with a knife of this size.

All things considered I found this to be an extremely comfortable knife.

Sheath

The Companion II arrived with a simple leather sheath. The leather is a rich red-brown and is thick and soft. It’s stitched and has a belt loop riveted to the back of it. Like many of these traditional sheathes the knife buries deeply and is held very secure. I carry the knife on my belt with no problems and feel that it’s good given the price ($75) and traditional nature of the design.

ROSarms Companion II – Final Thoughts

The Companion II is a well made knife and has a very interesting story. It’s not everyday that something handmade winds up on my review table, so I took my time to admire not only this knife, as well as the people and process behind it. ROSarms has done a great job educating their customers with their website, and have included background material on how the knives are made. I found that aspect of my experience especially interesting.

The knife is also very practical and is well made. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and cut very well in my hands. With a MSRP of $75 I also think the Companion II also represents a good value. I would have liked to have seen it arrive a little sharper out of box, but aside from that I have few complaints. Whether you are a fan of handmade traditional knives, or are seeking a compact fixed blade for general use, the ROSarms Companion II could be a great option.

ROSarms sells these directly on their website. That is where I recommend buying this knife. As always, thanks for reading.

Fallkniven A1 Review

by Dan Jackson 26 Comments

Last Updated: September 22, 2018
When I was a child I had the experience of packing up and shipping off half way around the world. The destination was Sweden, and I couldn’t have been more than 5 years old. My family stayed in Stockholm for 3 months in the summer as part of my father’s work. I don’t remember much. Gray clouds, a day that never ended, red horses, the churning belly of an old wooden sailboat, blue and yellow. Three months of existence now just fleeting memories of a time and place.

Buy the Fallkniven A1 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

It would be unfair to pretend like I really know anything about this country yet old experiences still rise to the surface like a whale cresting on the Norwegian sea. But, deep down I feel like I have some connection to this country. Some shared history.

In many ways the Fallkniven A1 typifies what this Yankee would view as the ultimate Swedish survival knife. Hefting this thing I can just imagine gently padding along Sweden’s forest floors. You can immediately tell that this knife was meant to be used, and it was meant to be used hard. And then there is that Scandinavian design. It’s charming in it’s simplicity, yet the knife has real weight to it. The Fallkniven A1 is definitely a knife where style and substance go hand in hand.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The A1 has an overall length of 11″ (280mm), a 6.3″ (160mm) blade, and it weighs 12 ounces (305g). As I mentioned earlier, there is a real feeling of heft here. When I compare the A1 with my Cold Steel SRK there really is no comparison – the SRK feels like a toy. Fallkniven describes the knife as “semi-large” and I’d say that works well enough for me.

This is a medium size survival knife. It would work fine around a campsite or taken along on hikes or excursions. Of course it would be at home in a survival situation or bug out style scenario as well. My review protocol mostly involved screwing around with the A1 in my back yard.

The blade is a modified drop point design with a generous sweeping belly and swedge for improved tip strength and penetrating capability. The 6mm thick stock is partially flat ground and terminates in a convex ground edge. It’s really worth making a point to say that the cutting performance of this knife is extremely impressive. I have not had much experience with convex edges up until this point so I wasn’t sure how much I would really like it. The A1 came exceptionally sharp out of box working through a sheet of paper as if it didn’t exist.

This knife reminds me of an NFL linebacker. It’s heavy, but it can move when it needs to. It wasn’t long after the A1 arrived that I was in my back yard working through a large felled branch. I’d love to say I took this knife up into the mountains for an extended trip, but the truth is I’m currently trapped in a Florida suburb where retirees flock for the mild winters and early bird specials. So instead of temperate hardwoods I worked with native sea grape, palm fronds, and even treated lumber. The A1 took devastating chunks out of anything I put it too. The cutting performance is frankly unlike anything I have previously evaluated and truly needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated.

The knife doesn’t quite have the forward heavy weight of a true chopper like the Ka-Bar Kukri Machete, but the knife could definitely get some chopping done and batoned like an absolute champ. The wedge like geometry of this blade pounds through wood with ease. If batoning matters at all to you I think you will be extremely pleased with the A1’s performance.

At this point I want to talk about the steel. Fallkniven uses a laminated steel for many of their fixed blade outdoor knives. Their laminate features a 420J outer cladding with a VG10 core. The VG10 is hardened to 59 HRc and I had my concerns as the steel sometimes has the reputation for being brittle, especially when compared with a high carbon like 1095 with a much softer heat treat. The geometry of the knife makes all the difference and VG10 held up phenomenally under use. I had no issues with chipping whatsoever, although I made a concerted effort to not chop or baton into sand or rock. The knife stayed extremely sharp throughout my testing. When the edge finally dulled on some heavy cardboard I found that gently stropping worked well for me. The edge is easily restored to factory sharpness, which was great to see.

A benefit of selecting a stainless steel is that the knife will hold up in wet and snowy conditions. It’s an interesting departure from many of the outdoor knives I have previously tested, but I was extremely impressed by every aspect of this knife’s performance. I found my arm tiring well before the edge did and feel that the performance of this knife is a testament to the extremely smart design. To get a blade this stout that cuts this well is really pretty amazing.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle on the A1 is constructed of kraton, a semi-rubbery high density polymer. The A1 is a full tang knife and the thick laminated stock pokes out through the handle. Overall, handle design and construction is simple, with a single forward guard and a lanyard tube inset near the pommel.

In practice I found the handle of the A1 to be extremely comfortable. I had no issues with slipping or hot spots after extended use. Kraton has a nice tackiness to it (very important for chopping) and the grip has been accentuated by some fine diamond-pattern texturing. The handle is thick and provides plenty of support, while the rubbery Kraton absorbs some of the shock from hard pounding.

Sheath

This particular model of the A1, is technically the A1z. The “z” is used to designate the Zytel (polymer) sheath that the knife shipped with. Fallkniven also offers the A1 with leather (A1L) and lefty sheath configurations. The sheath is simple and lightweight. Next to the knife itself it feels a little flimsy, but those who are weight conscious will probably appreciate it. I went for the polymer sheath because I feel it has several advantages: they are easier to clean, and won’t react adversely to water or freezing temperatures. I like that the sheath holds the knife in securely, has a drain hole, and allows, for easy one hand insertion and removal. It has a simple belt loop and hangs easily and freely. It’s simple, but it gets the job done.

That said, it would have been nice to see a few more frills with this sheath. The belt loop requires you to remove your belt to put the sheath on or take it off your belt – there is no quick release with velcro and/or snap closures. There are no options for horizontal carry and no integration with a tek lock. To be completely honest I am fine with the way the sheath is, but a couple more options would have been nice. As it stands the sheath earns passing marks.

Fallkniven A1 Review – Final Thoughts

The A1 is a knife that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. The sleek and simple look belies a true performer. It’s all in the convex grind and meaty slab of steel and the knife just cuts. You can tell the folks at Fallkniven know their way around a knife as the A1 feels so “right” in the hand. Sometimes I find knives can get in the way of themselves, or really need good technique to be effective. The A1 is not one of those knives (although technique is always important). If you haven’t experienced a knife of this size with a convex grind, you are in for a serious treat.

As for the potential negatives, well, if the A1 had a weak link in my book it would be the sheath. The sheath totally works and calling it a “weak link” isn’t entirely fair, but it is relatively flimsy and spartan on options. It is nice and lightweight however. It has also held up well in my use, and easily gets the knife from A to B. It’s a high performance sheath, but I wouldn’t turn down a more heavily built option with additional bells and whistles. Maybe that is where my feature-obsessed American nature clashes with the elegance and restraint of Scandinavian design.

All things considered I am thoroughly impressed with the Fallkniven A1 and highly recommend it. It’s a beautiful knife and it cuts exceedingly well – what more could this Yankee ask for?

Fallkniven A1 Fine Edge Fixed Blade Knife, Black

Blade material: lam. Vg10
Blade length: 160 mm
Total length: 280 mm
Zytel sheath included

I recommend purchasing the Fallkniven A1 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews, and keeps this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.