Review Ofcold Steel Master Hunter San Mai Knife
Interested in the Cold Steel Master Hunter fixed blade survival pocketknife?
Wondering if this is the survival pocketknife for you?
Check out our review below.
In previous articles, we discussed choosing a fixed blade survival knife. Check them out in the links below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
A knife is one of the more important pieces of equipment you can have with you in a survival situation. Every bit such, a skillful, survival advisable, stock-still blade pocketknife is your best choice for inclusion in a survival kit or BOB (Bug Out Bag) or equivalent, and/or to be strapped on when an emergency is probable. In this article, we will consider a contender for "Best Survival Knife".
As mentioned in the general articles, there are two classes of fixed blade knife which tin can be advisable for survival scenarios, the "bush" (medium) pocketknife and the "field" (large) knife. This knife belongs to the bush class.
Why did I consider this pocketknife?
It was a no-brainer; one of my current bush-league knifes is an original Cold Steel Primary Hunter knife (the other is a Common cold Steel SRK), from dorsum when they were fabricated of Carbon 5 steel, built in the Us, no less. These are no longer available from Cold Steel, simply the company does all the same sell versions of the Main Hunter (and the SRK). I was hoping to exist able to review the current models since it seemed likely they would still be an excellent choices for survival, but they are not inexpensive, and it took a while to find 1 in my toll range.
The Cold Steel Master Hunter survival knife.
Common cold Steel started out in 1980, coming upward with innovations such as checkered Kraton (rubber) grips and the "tanto" bract point, which were quickly adopted by the pocketknife industry. President Lynn C Thompson is responsible for many of the Common cold Steel designs, but several custom knife makers have collaborated on some models. The product line consists of a wide selection of knives also as other martial arts related items and weapons. Their marketing mode is heavy with videos displaying the abilities of their products, and many of their items have showed upwardly in movies and Goggle box shows due to their interesting and unique appearances.
The Specs
| Blade Length | four.v″ | Overall Length | 9 ane/4″ |
| Blade Width | 1 1/8″ | Weight (Knife Only) | vi.0 oz |
| Blade Steel | VG-1 San Mai III | Grip Material | Kray-Ex |
| Blade Shape | Drop Betoken | Guard Type | Half, Molded into the grip |
| Blade Grind | Flat | Fake Edge | No |
| Blade Thickness | iii/16″ | Spine "Jimping" | No |
| Choil | Yes | Lanyard Hole | Yes |
| Made in | Japan |
Special Features: None
Initial Impressions
On the ane paw, it is hard to consider this "initial" impressions, since I've had a version of this pocketknife for well over a quarter century. From several feet abroad, they announced to be the same. Comparing them closer up, you tin can run across some small differences, but pregnant differences, if whatever, are not visible. What are the small-scale differences? The newer grip checkering is a bit courser and deeper, the terminate on the blade is not quite as uniform, and the choil is not as wide. Looking at the dorsum edges (spines), you lot can encounter at that place is now a noticeably more pronounced taper to the point, and the new grip is slightly thinner than the old one.
Elementary is the word here. A basic drop signal blade with a mostly straight grip. But what a grip; Common cold Steel's signature Kraton/Kray-Ex checkered condom grip, with one of the few molded in (bolster) guards I'm fully comfortable with. Every bit far every bit I'k concerned, this is the grip all grips are measured against. Information technology is incredibly skid resistant, with the paw moisture, dry out or even oily. There is no jimping, simply with this grip material and blueprint, that is not really necessary. It is totally comfortable and secure in all grips. except the sideways grip is a bit uncomfortable due to the square-ish edges of the pommel.
The pocketknife comes really razor precipitous. Information technology is not the sharpest knife I've seen, simply certainly a contender for second place. There did appear to exist a very slight chip out of the edge, but since it came without the packaging, information technology is non clear whether this is a manufacturing defect or was introduced sometime betwixt manufacture and me receiving it.
Balance is a bit behind the guard, very common in bush knives and not a problem for whatever task except perchance chopping.
The edges of the spine seem to exist sharp enough to be useful.
The lanyard pigsty is first-class; big enough for paracord, with a rounded finish tube through information technology. No worries about lanyard wear with this knife.
The Cold Steel Master Hunter in a Filipino grip.
There is no blade blanket; none is needed since the steel is "stainless". The finish is rather "satin" so can't be effectively used as a mirror or bespeak.
The pommel is flat, but covered with the Kray-Ex, so probably won't work well as a hammer, and will likely suffer damage if so used.
The sheath is Common cold Steel'southward Kydex like "Secure-Ex" and appears to be pretty decent. Retention is pretty skillful.
The original version of this knife seems to me to accept been one of the ultimate survival bush-league knives; from the appearance, information technology seems likely that the electric current version(s) might also exist a peak choice.
The Steel
San Mai 3 is a LAYERED (laminated) steel; that is, a number of sheets of unlike steels fastened together side to side. This is a relatively rare knife blade making process, because information technology is more difficult to exercise, only by intelligent pick of the layers, y'all can cease up with a blade which is better than one made of whatsoever of the component steels. About the but better process is if layered steel is folded, the more times the meliorate, which gives the do good of more (with several folds, many, many more) layers. VG-1 San Mai III is a three layer laminate which is made in Nippon only for Cold Steel. The core steel, which is used for the edge, is specified to be VG-one, a hard, high-carbon stainless, whose primary do good is relative ease in sharpening and ability to exist hardened to 61 which can support a wicked sharp edge, although there are some who claim it does not hold that edge for long. It is not quite as adept as the more than common VG-10, and seems to be a slight step up from AUS-8, The other two, outside, layers of the laminate are not specified; it is theorized they are 420J2 due to their softness and toughness. This means that the resulting blade tin exhibit the sharpness and ease of sharpening of VG-1, too as the toughness, flexibility and corrosion resistance of the 420J2. Notation that although the VG-ane is a "stainless" steel, it is non as rust resistant as some (due to that loftier carbon content); you may want to dry out it off to the degree practical when it gets moisture, and perhaps even utilize some rust preventative to the edge while in storage.
I did not try sharpening this, every bit the edge was already truly razor precipitous.
During l slices through cardboard, information technology non only lost it'due south razor edge, but later did but a fair task slicing paper and an acceptable job of slicing tomatoes. Attempting sharpening with a Smith's Pocket Pal did not seem to improve the sharpness significantly. A Vulkanus sharpener, packable although non quite "pocket sized", did set up the chip in the edge and got information technology sharp plenty to easily slice paper. Evidently, getting a razor edge is possible (it came that way), only restoring that in the field seems like it might not be practical.
The Cold Steel Master Hunter in a hammer grip.
To summarize, it appears that the steel has fair rust resistance (at the edge, superior elsewhere), moderate or ameliorate strength, superior border capability, good ease of sharpening, fair resistance to chipping and fair edge property adequacy. I'm starting time to wonder if this is a good steel for survival purposes.
Evaluation
General tasks
- Cutting string – This is frequently necessary during construction of shelter, fishing, sewing and making snares and traps, equally well equally other times. As the most normally available to survivalists, I tried fish line and paracord, also every bit 3/eight″ Manila and three/4″ Sisal, but because fish line and paracord would seem to be trivial for any knife worth having. Cut the fish line was no trouble, as was cut paracord both under tension and laying on a flat surface. Information technology went through the Manila adequately well, and did an adequate job cut the Sisal; not the best I've tried, merely by no means the worst.
- Making notches in branches – This could exist required for shelter construction and making snares or traps, as well as other times. This knife did information technology, but slower and requiring more force than other knives tested, although sharpening it role way through helped significantly.
- Trimming/Sharpening/smoothing branches – This would be for shelter construction, besides equally making arrows, spears, stakes, walking sticks and even bows. The knife did a fairly proficient job of this.
The Common cold Steel Principal Hunter in an upside-down grip.
- Pounding in stakes – This could be required for making shelters, snares and traps. This knife may or may non be able to perform this function, simply with a rubber covered pommel, information technology is non likely to exist effective and is highly likely to result in damage to the knife, so I did not try it.
Firemaking
- Apply with a magnesium bar or ferrocerium rod worked well using the edge of the spine.
- Making a "featherstick" with this knife was moderately easy; information technology fabricated small curls and did not require a lot of control to continue the curls fastened to the stick.
- Drilling a pigsty (for a burn drill) was adequately easy, although the result was a smaller and less shine hole than some knives tested. The tip is quite hard stainless steel, so try to avoid farthermost stress on the tip.
- Batoning for access to tinder or making kindling from logs was not tried. The bract is a bit short for that, just if I was going to go on this, I would have tried it anyway. But with the soft steel used for the sides of the blade, the odds of this task scratching the blade are quite high, which would make selling it off more hard.
Food Gathering/Preparation
- Employ equally a throwing pocketknife – A word to the wise, don't. If you throw your knife, you may non get it back, or information technology tin exist damaged, particularly if information technology is made of stainless steel which is a bit brittle. I did non try throwing this (probably not Any stainless knife).
The Common cold Steel Master Hunter in a contrary grip.
- Employ every bit a spear – Turning your knife into a spear gives you additional reach, merely throwing a spear made of a stainless steel knife is more susceptible to damage than is adequate. Besides, the grip is one piec1e and not removable, so this will demand to exist lashed "to" the shaft, meaning it will exist fairly off center and not throw well any way.
- This chops veggies pretty well and the bract shape should be very skilful for skinning and butchering. It is probable to be decent for filleting too. Although all these tasks will be enhanced if you have a way to rapidly restore the razor edge.
- Digging for grubs and bait. It is hard to imagine anything which can wearisome or damage a pocketknife quicker than digging with it, and stainless is at risk of chipping if it hits a rock, so I don't recommend using this knife for digging.
Chopping
- Sticks or fronds – For shelter and other construction, splints and firewood. This knife is but also light and wrongly balanced to chop well; I got bored and gave upwards before even getting through a iii quarter inch branch. This is not unacceptable in a bush knife, but does brand likewise having a good field knife a useful pick.
Defense
- The grip and point are not the best possible for combat, but they are quite decent. The blade length is too short to exist infrequent, only is adequate in many cases. There is, of course, little protection from your opponents blade, but it is better at preventing your hand from sliding onto your own blade than many knives of this pattern. I would say this pocketknife could most exist considered a "combat" pocketknife.
Sheath
The Cold Steel Principal Hunter sheath.
The sheath is pretty good. It is a well formed, Kydex like, sheath, with clip memory of the front of the grip, and a adept pick of grommets and slots around the edges, for a wide range of attachment and accessory possibilities. The belt loop is bolted on, and can exist bolted on the other side allowing true left hand carry. The chugalug loop is closed with Velcro and a snap, allowing it to exist added or removed from your belt without disturbing anything else on the belt. It is just two″ webbing, and then is a flake more floppy than I similar, but is tolerable, and there are grommets at the lesser for a leg necktie if y'all need one. A snap attached grip strap adds to the acceptable retentiveness provided past the sheath, plus stiffens the belt loop when fastened.
Accessories
Information technology appears simply custom sheaths are available specifically for this knife. With the slots and grommets of the standard sheath, a number of generic mounting options and accessories should be available.
Price and Availability
The list cost of the Master Hunter at this point in time is $159.99. You tin usually find them new on eBay for $95 or so.
Company Website
This Knife
Information technology is listed as being in stock at the company, and there are a bunch of people selling it new and used on eBay, as auctions (perhaps cheaper) and Buy Information technology Now (quicker). Make sure y'all are getting the version you lot actually desire; sometimes the discontinued Carbon V version or the original San Mai III version using something else (such as AUS-8) as the core steel prove up, as well as the electric current VG-one San Mai Iii version. In that location is also the current "Plus" version which has a gut hook (better for skinning and field dressing, lousy for combat and batoning) and the 3V version made of CPM 3-V carbon steel with an anti-corrosion coating.
The Cold Steel Master Hunter in a saber grip.
Amazon seems to have a competitive price (for the standard version at to the lowest degree), and information technology is on the Prime plan, but tax volition be added.
Conclusions
I was actually prepared for this to be my bush-league knife of choice, just the steel just did non live up to my expectations. The knife and grip design is, equally it was originally, infrequent; perhaps the 3V version would be superior or at least equal to my old Carbon V version. Only the San Mai version does not appear to exist a superlative selection due to not belongings an edge well or being hands able to get a razor border back with a pocket sharpener (or at least one that I have, although the Vulkanus comes close). At that place are those who call this steel a "gimmick" and afterwards this exam, I'grand non as sure as I used to exist that they are incorrect.
Sadly, I do not recommend this for survival, although it might be quite decent as a "hunting" knife. In any case, this knife should never become anywhere without a sharpener shut at hand.
One oddity. Most major pocketknife companies seem to offer a well publicized "lifetime" warranty. Cold Steel'south warranty is more difficult to decipher. Here is what is stated on the web site:
"We stand up backside our knives and swords 100%. We subject field them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to brand each as perfect as possible. We warrant that our folding knives, fixed blade sheath knives, and swords are costless from defects in workmanship and materials."
The Common cold Steel Chief Hunter in a sideways grip.
Sounds skilful, just it is not clear for how long this is good for or the definition of "defect". I accept two contempo Cold Steel fixed bract boxes with the warranty details on the bottom; one has no limit stated and the other says five years. And I have two recent Common cold Steel folding knife boxes; again ane has no limit stated and the other says only 1 year. So whenever buying a Cold Steel knife, discover out how long the warranty on THAT item knife is, and make sure you keep the receipt and warranty documentation.
I still remember Cold Steel has some of the all-time designs out at that place, but at this point in fourth dimension I don't recall I'll be recommending any VG-1 San Mai blades for survival purposes, although they exercise have loftier potential for more than curt term uses.
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Source: https://blog.gunassociation.org/cold-steel-master-hunter-review/
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