Benchmade or Cold Steel?

S

Squeezymo

Joined
Feb 4, 2008
Messages
315
Hey, I have been browsing the forums for a while, but this is my first post.

I am going to get a new fixed blade knife, and have recently realized the importance of blade steel. I own a Gerber Big Rock Camp Knife, and I got it as a gift. It was $30 bucks, and has good reviews, but I noticed the 440A blade, and I am not impressed. It seems like the lowest grade steel you can get on a production knife, and I've heard terrible things about Gerber. I recently purchased a Kershaw Blur S30V, and am looking forward to being impressed by it.


But as for my new fixed blade, what I want to use it for is hiking/camping/survival (if the former situations go wrong). I want a full tang blade with a quality steel that doesn't rust, and holds a sharp edge well.

So I narrowed it down to this:
A Benchmade Griptillian for $68
(154CM Steel, drop point, fine edge)
or
A Cold Steel 38CK SRK for $64
(Carbon V Steel, drop point, fine edge)

So which do you guys recommend? Which is the better deal? I've been leaning towards the Cold Steel, but I don't know whether it is full tang. I assume it is though.
 
If you do decide on a Cold Steel SRK, make sure your getting a Carbon V one if that's important, they are discontinued and newer ones are AUS8.
 
1st Pick: Carbon V SRK
2nd: Griptilian
3rd: AUS8 SRK, or better yet, go with Ranger knives
 
Well I've seen that video of the Cold Steel SRK on youtube where they plunge it through car doors, leather shoes, and a kevlar vest, in addition to standing on it and prying wood with it. So I can trust the durability of the knife, but those tests just demonstrate the durability. It doesn't show edge retention after those tests or it's corrosion resistance or anything. I know carbon steel holds an edge quite well, but I just wanted input. I'm sure the Benchmade could withstand such treatment as well, I just don't see anyone wanting to ruin a good knife.
 
Not everyone agrees with Noss' methods, but his tests are at least insrtuctive as to how much outright abuse and punishment a knife can take. Take a peek at his test of the Carbon V SRK: http://www.knifetests.com/coldsteelsrkcarbonv.html. A lot of the trouble Noss had cutting could very well be due to the SRK's rather thick edge grind, something several members have commented on and something that can be rectified if you have decent sharpening skills (or know somebody who does). :thumbup:

For purposes of full disclosure, I happen to be a fan of Noss' tests. :thumbup:
 
I think the navy seals used to, or currently use, the SRK in their training phase. I read that on the Spyderco forums form some ex navy seal, so YMMV.
 
I'm just wondering how sharp you can get the blade on the SRK as opposed to the Griptillian. The SRK seems too thick to get a fine edge.
 
Id go with the Griptilian .... I trust benchmade and I love the axis lock.

You can also get the grip in D2 steel from cebelas or a ritter s30v version too.
 
delkhouri said:
Id go with the Griptilian .... I trust benchmade and I love the axis lock.

You can also get the grip in D2 steel from cebelas or a ritter s30v version too.
Click to expand...

he is referring to the fixed version of the grip, but i also prefer benchmade.
 
I dont own either of the fixed blades you mentioned, but i do have two folders from those companies. I used to love my CS Recon 1 until i got my benchmade minigriptillian. The Benchmade was just better quality all around, it came sharper, can get sharper, and had a stronger lock. Who knows maybe CS' fixed blades are much better than thier folders, but based on my experience between the two companies i'd say go with the benchmade.
 
i still trust benchmade more then cold steel so id go with the fixed grip anyways. Sorry about my error though.
 
From Benchmade or ColdSteel I personally choose Benchmade. But there are a lots of good words for ColdSteel Master Hunter in carbon V steel.
 
I have had both and sold both. I didn't like the SRK because it was very heavy and the edge was too thick to cut well. The fixed grip was in a whole different world as the SRK when it comes to durability. The grip will hold up just fine for what a knife is meant to do, but it was really just like having the folding knife without the folding part:) The handle also bugged me as the tang isn't flush with the handle scales and it cut into my hand with use. I prefer Moras and Puukos for hiking and general utility work, but if I was going to use a knife like as a sole survival tool, I would get a Ranger.
 
To answer your question, I will say Benchmade, the quality was far better than Cold Steel.
 
I vote for the Benchmade as well. All of my Benchmades have served me well. I have an SRK in Carbon V; hate it. The blade is too thick to be useful for everyday camping. If I have the SRK, then I have to bring a smaller knife for the more delicate tasks. My limited experience with the fixed blade Griptilian has me wanting a few of them. Nice steel, nice length, and the grip feels very good in my hand. I'm not crazy about the nylon sheath; I'd prefer leather, but that's a personal choice. Buy the Benchmade and you won't be sorry.
 
If you take off some of the shoulder on the Carbon V SRK, and thin the edge, they're great.:thumbup:
 
Good advice. But I've heard some negative things about 154CM. I always figured it was ahigher grade steel, but what are the opinins on that?
 
Better yet, save up a few more dollars and get a Bark River.

U.S. made of A-2 tool steel, with a convex edge, razor sharp right from the factory. And about a million models to choose from. A true "Knife KNut's knife."
 
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