Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist 8" 52100 High-Carbon Steel Clip Point Fixed Blade EDC Tactical Hunting Utility Knife, 5" Ergonomic Handle, Weather-Resistant Secure-Ex Sheath

This is a truly awesome knife, and the value for the dollar is out of this world. This is quite likely the best value anywhere!Being a one piece unit, the knife is massively strong. The steel is the key. 52100 steel is industrial grade strong. It's used in roller bearings and tool and die manufacturing. It's used to make tools that make other tools, so it's strength and durability has to be top shelf.This knife came to me razor sharp, and the geometry is as perfect as one could hope for. The lines, angles and grinds all reflect top-notch quality. It is one solid mass that's nicely balanced and not unduly heavy or unwieldy. The tip comes to a very sharp and thin point, and will penetrate easily. It's backed up by a lot of steel, so the odds of one breaking it are practically nil unless subjected to massive amounts of abusing force. I have never broken a knife in my many years, so this is not something I am concerned about. The top handguard is smaller than the bottom guard, which I like. There is no need for a top guard at all, so a smaller one works for me just fine.The scales are textured to provide a very secure grip, even when wet, and they do their job perfectly. I wear a size Large glove, and the handle fits me very well. The color of the knife's finish is battleship gray and seems uniformly applied. Only time will tell how well it holds up. Even if it wears, I don't care. I care more about durability of the steel and its performance.While I don't care for the sheath overall, it does have some practical value. The knife snaps into the sheath with a loud and very positive click. It's not coming out until one makes a conscious effort to draw it. When fully seated into the sheath, there is almost no movement. What movement is there is so slight that it's a non-issue. What I don't like is the nylon portion that connects the sheath itself to one's belt. If you try and draw the knife, the flexible nylon allows the sheath to ride up, making the draw slow and cumbersome. I have two of these knives. One stays in my car inside the Secure-Ex sheath and does it's job well. For wear, either on my belt or attached to my backpack, I use a Spec Ops brand nylon sheath. These sheathes are extremely well made and practical. They will cost as much or more than this knife, but for one who truly needs a professional grade sheath, it's a great way to go.Although many novices believe that one knife can do it all, the truth is that they cannot. Professionals know that different knives have different purposes. Knives are not intended to be used as pry bars, hammers, screwdrivers and axes. In times of contingent situations, however, a knife may be called upon to handle jobs outside its intended purpose. The Cold Steel Survivalist is a knife that can handle these situations if necessary. It's as tough as they come. When I hit the field, I have one of these either on me or on my pack, a smaller utility knife, a Leatherman tool and a Cold Steel War Hawk axe. The key to survival in any situation is BE PREPARED. If you go to the field with only one knife, you are asking for problems. That being said, if I could have only one knife, it would be this one. I love everything about it.The $60-some dollar cost of this knife is almost beyond belief. This knife has as much quality as knives costing $300-500 easily. While any knife can break, the Survivalist is so strong and durable that I don't give the possibility a second thought. Again, this is in all likelihood the very best value for your dollar that you will ever find - anywhere! I have replaced my field grade knives with the Survivalist and have absolutely no regrets. It is an amazing knife. Don't buy one, get two. You will be glad you did.

Awesome Tool! Goes great with the rest of the gang. Excellent Value for what you get. Have recommend to multiple friends & family.

The knife appears to be indestructible, with an integral metal handle and hard handle slabs. The hard handle slabs are not as comfortable as the rubber on most CS knives, but is not objectionable. The design is excellent and well made, with an excellent blade shape. The only downside might be the extra weight in the handle, though this allows for easy and quick control of the blade. The edge is sharp out of the box, but probably not up to some user's standards. CS states the hardness is 58-59 hrc, which is plenty hard enough for a good knife and should not be brittle. My first sharpening of the blade included a mild reprofile of the factory edge. The steel responded well to traditional sharpening methods and produced an extremely sharp edge with a little effort. The drop forging process should, in theory, produce a better blade than simple flat stock removal knife production (most good axe/hatchet heads are drop forged). The Secure-Ex sheath is well made, nice fitting and comfortable to carry. 52100 steel is excellent for both durability and edge holding, so I expect this knife to perform any task very well. At the current price, this knife may be the best value available for this size and style of knife. Considering the weight and the 8 inch blade, this is more knife than most hunters or campers will need or want to carry on a typical outing; however, if the plan is a wilderness experience of indefinite length, the Survivalist might be the best choice. A good knife to have in any situation. My personal thought is the design of this knife is in response to the popularity of batonning, a trend not favored by us old timers.

Built super solid very heavy in a good way. I could chop down a tree if I wanted to

I could not find anything to dislike about this knife. Chopping, batoning, feathersticking, general cutting, delimbing, tinder making. Everything I did with it, it just laughed at. This is one of cold steel's finest, at any pricepoint.

great knife from CS /Taiwan, thick, feels good, about 7 inch blade, mine was sharp.But, the plastic sheath is minimalist flimsy sheath, does not retain the knife. Maybe make a leather sheath.Maybe some DIY mod's on the sheath could press it into service, duct tape can do amazing things.My purchase was Amazon discount, so I feel a good value under $70, Amazon has lots good knives in avg man type price range for the heavy thick stock removal big blades.

So this knife is a typical cheap item from Cold Steel. It is sturdy and well built, and Im sure it will handle all the bushcraft I will be able to throw at it. It comes with the same cheap sheath as a GI Tanto. The weird thing about this knife is it’s finish. I expected it to look like the same black finish as the GI tanto. Instead it looks like it has an entire spray can of blueish gray spray paint applied to it. I dont really care a whole lot bc Im going to beat the crudd out of this knife…but its weird. Came super sharp as most Cold Steel items do.

This is the sharpest knife, out of the box, that I have received. It will push cut a rice rolling paper with ease. I usually have to spend half an hour, at least, to get an acceptable level of sharpness but not for this.The 52100 steel is hardened and tempered properly and will last for lifetimes with minimal care. The blade shape will work for many uses and the handle scales are extremely 'grippy', even when wet and slippery from processing an animal.The sheath is secure and protective of both the user and the blade and offers many optional for carry position.A great value for just over 65$.Overall a great option for an outdoor blade for camping, hunting, or 'prepping'.