Anybody got the Cold Steel Survival Edge yet ???

C

Cyblade

Joined
Aug 16, 2001
Messages
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I know some people don't like CS but I'm still interested in the knife and would like to see a review of it good or bad before I think about buying one. Just hoping to hear something about it from someone thats got one.
 
I've got one of each color on the way as we speak to trial for the shop. If I like 'em they'll go up on the site. If I don't they'll go up for sale here cheap. I'll be sure to snap some photos and post my impressions. I'm actually very optimistic about this one, and that's coming from a guy who normally doesn't care for double guards or hollow handles. In this circumstance I actually think it's very appropriate.
 
Those guards were the first things I saw, guess CS can't back-away from the "tactical" mentality. At least it'd be relatively easy to cut them off.
 
Well, given that the guard is intended in part to form additional security for the firesteel and also has lashing holes in them I can see the utility aspect there. That being said, Mora makes (and has made for a very very long time) a number of models with double guards. Guess those are tactical too, eh? :D

Just sayin'. ;)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Well, given that the guard is intended in part to form additional security for the firesteel and also has lashing holes in them I can see the utility aspect there. That being said, Mora makes (and has made for a very very long time) a number of models with double guards. Guess those are tactical too, eh? :D

Just sayin'. ;)
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Yeah, but those Moras are advertised as meant for children! ;)
 
I've been intrigued by these a few times, but I just can't see them passing as a good knife. Can't wait to see what you think of them, 42.
 
hlee said:
So the moras and the CS have something in common???
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I wouldn't say that. On Moras, they are meant for children who are either too immature or young to know how to safely handle a knife, for CS ... well, l guess you are right!
 
The whole thing about guards being only used for kids knives in Nordic countries is bunk. Many high end premium models that Mora no longer produces featured double guards, and several of their models that are still in production and aren't advertised for kids feature them as well. This has been spread as "fact" by the bushcraft community at large as part of their dogma of "guards suck", but it doesn't hold water under closer scrutiny. ;)
 
Call_to_Arms said:
well put 42, but guards still suck. :barf:
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For most circumstances, yes. But not in all. There's a reason why they exist. And there are actually very few circumstances when they actually get in the way--forward ones at least. ;) Personally, however, I just like to have the blade broad enough that the base of it forms an integral "guard" of sorts. No clearance issues or anything to snag on stuff, but lots of security as well. In the case of the Survival Edge, however, I can see the point of a double guard in that if you're in a survival situation your hands are a vital tool. Protecting them at the expense of making a couple of limited cuts more difficult seems an acceptable tradeoff, if not to everyone's tastes.
 
I was not aware of this new knife until I went to the CS web page today and looked at it.

My eyes are still smarting from the pain. :eek:
 
I doubt it'll be for everyone, but to be honest I think that it's one of the best applications for a hollow-handled knife. If you're going to have a partial tang it may as well be made like a Mora. I wasn't sure whether it was an abomination or not until I saw them do some testing videos batoning through 2x4's and prying with the tip. It basically is a double-guard Mora with a large blade, hollow storage handle, and a firesteel on the sheath. If Mora came out with this how many of you would think it was the bees knees? Just gotta' throw that out there.
 
If Mora came out with this I would think the same. I have not liked anything that is not a one piece hollow handle since I was 10. Hopefully I'm wrong, as I'd like to have one of these.
 
Like I said, I don't care for hollow handles usually, but with a stubby keyed tang like is common on many classic Mora models it at least makes good use of the remainder of the handle plastic. The handle is solid down to the first O-ring or so I've heard.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Like I said, I don't care for hollow handles usually, but with a stubby keyed tang like is common on many classic Mora models it at least makes good use of the remainder of the handle plastic. The handle is solid down to the first O-ring or so I've heard.
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Now that you have had one in hand how do you like it?
 
It's a decent enough knife but I can't stand the sheath. The retention method just plain ol' SUCKS, at least in my opinion. It's just a big ol' flap on the front with notches that catch on the double guard, and not only does it have rattly retention, it's also very difficult to disengage and feels very flimsy. The firesteel looks like like it's good quality, but I can't be sure since I'm not using them myself, but it's nice and stout and secures nicely in the sheath. The clip is like on the Mora Companion/Craftline series, complete with button snap, but is a little overly angular and would be more likely to abrade your belt over time.

Regarding the knife itself it's a nice large blade with a properly squared spine and a true scandi grind with microbevel, though it's not as sharp out of the box as a Mora. The double guard does not feel as though it would get in the way at all, though the edges of the lashing holes are overly square and sharp and you'd want to sand them down just a little. The handle is reasonably comfortable with the tapered top and the O rings sit about 75% of the way recessed so they give a good grip without being too agressive. The combination of the cutouts in the guard and the taper of the top of the handle allow you to index the knife well in spite of the otherwise round grip. The hollow handle is decently spacious inside and is, as previously suspected, as deep as the topmost O ring. The final O ring of the grip acts as a seal for the cap. The orange version is almost painfully bright.

All in all I'd say the knife itself is a modest success, but the sheath is a total failure because it's a step backwards compared to a Mora. The knife is neither a step forward nor a step back, but gives you some unique features not found in any other knife on the present market.

It's not a bad knife, and certainly not just a silly gimmick, but it could be better in my opinion. I don't intend to add it to my site, so if you or anyone else is interested in grabbing either the black or orange one super-duper cheap just send me a PM.
 
Thanks for the info. It sounds as if I wouldn't like it. One of the things I wouldn't want to do is spend a lot of money on a sheath of a knife I was already unsure of in the first place.
 
Yeah, like I said the knife itself is pretty decent and I like the overall concept. But the sheath is awful and the whole package could have been executed with a little more grace.
 
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