Before I go spend $200 + on the Cold Steel Recon Scout San Mai

C

charlesbjr

Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
448
I love the Cold Steel Recon Scout San Mai, but before I spend $200 + on it, I was wondering if you had any suggestions on a similar knife. I love the look and feel of this knife and it will be used for my big game hunting trips.

Any other suggestions?
 
if it doesn't have to be stainless, the Scrap Yard Regulator looks like a pretty good deal at the moment if they have any of the military overrun models left.
 
A great bargain right now is the Swamp Rat Ratmandu at $138.95. They are only available on a limited basis and they are for sale right now (lucky you). Pre order it here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=721907

I own one and can assure you that it is top quality. The steel is 52100 with the infamous Busse heat treatment. Here is a pic borrowed from the thread above.

RatManduGrayBlk.jpg
 
Personally, while I like CS San Mai III blades, I'm really not sure if it is worth the approximatly 100% mark on the carbon steel Recon Scout. That's really a personal call, though.

In the same price range, although slightly smaller, is the Fallkniven NL5 IDUN. A beautiful drop-point hunting knife in Fallkniven's laminated stainless steel. Or the larger but more utilitarian Fallkniven A2 Wilderness Bowie (also laminated SS):

Fallkniven%20Idun%20Cowry%20X%20Damascus%20(NL5cx).jpg
FK-A2EL.jpg


I think either would probably be a better choice as a hunting blade than the Recon Scout.



Actually, if you are willing to spend $200+ for a knife, it might be worth looking into a custom of some kind. There are a number of good knife makers here on the forum who do custom work at very reasonable prices.
 
If you like the recon just get the sk-5 version. Mine has seen 4 years of hard use going strong. I have a sanmai that I just can't bring myself to use with the carbon around. You won't need a hatchet to split bone with that knife.
Pair it with a little skinner/caper and your good to go. I have been thinking about rangerbanding a guardless laminated mora to the kydex sheath on mine.

that ratmandu is a nice looking blade as well. Looks more functional as an overall skinner/guttinghunting knife but less choppy.

The best large hunting knife I have seen for a while is the ESEE-6. Good slicer/skinner with enough backbone for heavy use. A flat ground drop point has got to be the best overall hunting blade design IMOP
Love my recon and trailmasters but for a large dedicated hunter get the esee-6, plus you could get an izula with it for your 200$, thats a perfect little skinner/edc.
 
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