Bear Grylls uses Cold Steel

The Hawaii episode knife looked to me to be a Gerber Gator also. As for Grylls getting paid to use a particular knife on an episode, I've wondered that myself. However, when I checked the show's web site (go to Discovery.com and you'll find a link to it) I could not find any mention or suggestion of what type of knife Grylls uses. I've also noticed that unless you are a knife nut and know a knife instantly when you catch a glimpse of it, I doubt you would be able to identify the knives Grylls has used. If knife companies were paying Grylls to use a particular knife, then wouldn't he mention it or at least show a clear and up-close view of it on the episode so the average person could know what type of knife it was? I don't know, but it doesn't look like Grylls is being paid to use a certain knife, though it certainly would be a good way for a company to advertise. Who knows how many Swiss Army Knives were sold due to Richard Dean Anderson always pulling one out on "MacGyver".
 
I thought he used T2 from Lone Wolf line in Hawaii volcano episode, too brief of a showcase for any marketing campaign. In that jungle episode the fixed looked like SOG but I couldn't find any SOG's with blade opener. A discontinued model perhaps?
 
well i'm no knife expert but in the savannah episode, and the hawaii episode the knives both look to be Gerber gator drop points in fact the hawaii episode im almost positive that its a gator...i say this because i have owned one for 5 years and find them to be very reliable
 
He was using a Gator(clip point) to open up a lion killed zebra to dine while in Africa. Most of what people need to do can be done with a cheap knife. He even lashed it to a stick later for a standby-weapon while he dozed. A Gator isn't going fall apart all that easy. I got one for a beater knife and it's tough.
 
I carry a Cold Steel X2 Voyager in my waistband, along with my Spyderco Civlian (pocket), and Spyderco Ronin (in the Teklok sheath on my hip, underneath a pullover or Marmot rain jacket) whenever I travel. When I go camping with my Scout troop, it's my number-one knife (along with my Spyderco Salt) because it's good sized, light weight, holds an edge, and is a surprisingly good cutter. I've had it for a while and have done some really tough stuff with it; it doesn't corrode and it stays sharp and that's all I can really ask of it. The 6" blade is awesome. It's a great knife for $60.
 
I saw a Gator, never a CS on his shows. But who knows. I carried a CS Voyager in the Army for a few years and abused it. Definately not a knife that I'd choose for a survival situation, but I think that Bear tries to use a "common" knife for his show, just to be realistic. The serrations on the Voyager blow. Mine broke off after some not so heavy use. The rest of the knife has held up well. Its very easy to sharpen. I'll include a picture below. I would be much more inclined to have a fixed blade w/ me if I had a choice - Ontario RAT, Ranger RD, Scrapyard, Swamp Rat, Busse, whatever I could afford, but the Voyager is definately not anywhere near my "ideal survival knife."

P1030029.jpg
 
i have the small (well they call it a 'medium', but if its a medium, wheres the smalls at?) clip point voyager. very robust, light weight, nice design, and good price. (29 bucks out the door at the px) but hard to sharpen in my opinion. it doesnt keep its edge long either. I still like it but, i grab other knives over it every time.
ive never seen bear use a coldsteel. though, as many really sharp eyed knife experts are here, im suprised noone named his folder yet. Ive been trying to find out what it was for the longest, and cant figure it out. its not an emerson or coldsteel or gerber either. the one i keep seeing, over all the rest of his folders, is a black bladed knife, with an elongated hole near the spine, for opening. Ive never seen this knife before, but he always beats the crap out of it, and it takes it. of all the episodes i watched of his, he uses this the most. i cant for the life of me, figure it out though. it was something like the old uzi's i think. Id like to know as well.

just ran across an ontario folder that looked like it as well.
 
just keep everything in perspective. This is the same guy that gets his water by squeezing this:












hastys-shit.jpg
 
is the show staged? SURE it is ! lol. its SUPPOSED to be. I think a LOT of people are misinterpreting his show. its NOT, i say again, its NOT a show of 'hey look at me. im going to have these guys drop me off in a nasty enviroment with nothing, and well see if i can actually make it out alive.' Guys, its NOT a competition. Im PRETTY positive he learned what he needed to know, in the very elite special air service... if you know otherwise, tell me about what the sas has taught you then. His show, is a show on HOW to do certain things. It's not a 'lets see if i can' but rather, 'if you get your butt in a sling, these are some of the things ive learned, maybe you could use them as well.' Does he snack on some little crap off camera. im absolutely positive he does. its ok though. hes not in a genuine life threatening situation, nor does he try to jip you into thinking he is.
Lets not get down on him, just because the show wasnt quite what you thought. Im pretty sure hes a couple times more qualified in survival than most of us here. but like i said, if not, tell me how much better the sas trained you over him, and we'll see whats up.
 
Here's a list of the knives he has used on the show he seems to use the Gerber Gator more than the rest.

Africa/Mount Kilauea:
Gerber Gator combo edge.

Moab Desert/Alaska:
MOD ATFK

Costa Rica/Desert Island:
Scuba Max Titanium DIve Knife (model KN-200 in black)
http://www.escubamax.com/.sc/ms/dd/KNIVES/260/KN-200

European Alps:
Wenger serrated Mountaineer
 
he used a switchblade in the moab? really? im thinking that i seen a hole in this blade on that one. did i? wasnt there an elongated hole in that one?
 
MOD ATFK Knife

Advanced Tactical Folding Knife. 4 3/8" closed buttonlock. 154CM Stainless Steel modified false edge clip point blade with matte diamond black DLC coating and ambidextrous thumb studs. Mil spec black aluminum handles with anodized wingwalk inserts. Comes with matte finish Stainless Steel pocket clip.

This is the non auto model.
 
The best survival knife is the one that you have on your person. I use five different ones here in Afghanistan. I had a cheap Chinese one in Eastern Oregon once while lost in the high dessert with just a ruck and it served me well. I like some brands better than others, but ALL of them work in survival. I think we under rate some knives and brands on this site due to "unfair bias." The British Commandoes and French UDTs like Gerber, the French Legion Cold Steel and Randalls. I like Spyderco, Ontario, and BK&T. All of the above are excellent knives. To say that one brand is better in survival is just pure BS. I say step away from the computer and come join us and prove it? There is great deal of information on this site, but also a great deal of pure BS.

Jim
Afghanistan

AK or M4: which is best? THE ONE IN YOUR HAND!
 
I agree. the best knife there is, is the one you got. but if we have a choice, while still inside the wire, or still at home, i think people here still like to choose something quality, so that if shit does go south, theyll have something reliable to use in the weeds. although i agree, there is a bit of unfair bias here, from what i see, most people here know whats goin on with their steel. at least thats what i get from this board.

so he uses a mod eh? thats cool. i see him beat that knife pretty regularly, and it seems to hold. pretty good. thanks. and jim, when do you rotate back home?
 
Buddiiee said:
is the show staged? SURE it is ! lol. its SUPPOSED to be. I think a LOT of people are misinterpreting his show. its NOT, i say again, its NOT a show of 'hey look at me. im going to have these guys drop me off in a nasty enviroment with nothing, and well see if i can actually make it out alive.' Guys, its NOT a competition. Im PRETTY positive he learned what he needed to know, in the very elite special air service... if you know otherwise, tell me about what the sas has taught you then. His show, is a show on HOW to do certain things. It's not a 'lets see if i can' but rather, 'if you get your butt in a sling, these are some of the things ive learned, maybe you could use them as well.' Does he snack on some little crap off camera. im absolutely positive he does. its ok though. hes not in a genuine life threatening situation, nor does he try to jip you into thinking he is.
Lets not get down on him, just because the show wasnt quite what you thought. Im pretty sure hes a couple times more qualified in survival than most of us here. but like i said, if not, tell me how much better the sas trained you over him, and we'll see whats up.
Click to expand...

Very good point. If a person actually watches more than one episode, it is easy to see he studies up on an local people who survive in that environment and uses those skills through the show. For example while traveling down the Sierra mountains in California he used skills learned from local Indian techniques. Those techniques were of course useless in his African poop drinking adventure.

One can learn many overall themes and points that are important in any of his episodes.

It would be funny for him to take a POS knife and have it break in one episode...reduce him to using a pointy rock or something. :D
Begin Bear narration:
"I bought this knife at a gas station for $1.50 just before the crew dropped me off in Upper Elbonia. It shattered in the first attempt to use it. Now, I have to face the environment without one of man's most important tools...his knife...
 
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