- Joined
- Apr 21, 2010
- Messages
- 1,981
I picked up a CS Drop Forged Survivalist on a fluke while looking at knives on line. I've always loved the lines of the Recon Scout, so this was too hard to pass up for $59 shipped. It is essentially a one-piece Recon Scout forged from 52100.
This is an updated version with a gray finish and plastic inset scales. The milling for the scales reduced the weight from the old version as well. It’s listed as 15.5 oz., but many reviewers weigh it at 14.5. It comes with a very good plastic sheath too. These CS plastic sheaths are under rated in my book. They’re tough, light, hold the knife very well, and weigh little.
The blade came razor sharp and stayed that way throughout my short yardcraft session. The coating immediately began to rub off on the wood. The edge still cut well and shaved surprisingly well. I imagine it would really slice if stripped.
This knife has a reputation for being tough, as it should. So, I first batoned off a small piece of rock hard, bone dry Live Oak. This is nasty wood and the blade had to be beat through it. The coating immediately started to smear off on the wood, but the blade hammered on through. I didn’t baton a wheel barrow full. People have already done that online. I just need a piece to work on.
Next, I wanted to see how it would carve a feather stick. It did a surprisingly good job. Imagine how it’d do stripped. This is great considering the horrible wood I was using. This stuff is beyond words tough.
I then chopped some pieces from a stick of apple wood, or that’s what my neighbor told me it was. All I can say is it’s hard as a rock. The knife chopped off some small pieces, enough to show me it’ll chop. It has a pretty neutral balance, which does not help in chopping, but it would make a great fighter! Anyway, it’ll chop anything you reasonably need to chop, short of seasoned oak firewood.
I did t want to spend too much time, since the sun was setting, but I wanted to knock out a quick tent stake. Easy enough.
I took a minute to carve. It did fine.
I finished up by testing the tip. I dug a small hollow out of the live oak. I started by driving the tip in and prying the wood. I followed up by twisting the tip in the wood. It held up great!
All in all, I really like this knife. It’s a big survival/combat type blade, so it won’t be a great bushcrafter. It’s also a fighting style clip point, so it’s not a dedicated chopper. But, I believe it’ll do most of what we like to do in the woods pretty well. Ultimately, it’s a big, cheap, fun knife at a great price. It should last for generations. 52100 is a good and tough steel, and CS is known for giving whatever steel they use a great heat treat. Thanks for looking!
This is an updated version with a gray finish and plastic inset scales. The milling for the scales reduced the weight from the old version as well. It’s listed as 15.5 oz., but many reviewers weigh it at 14.5. It comes with a very good plastic sheath too. These CS plastic sheaths are under rated in my book. They’re tough, light, hold the knife very well, and weigh little.
The blade came razor sharp and stayed that way throughout my short yardcraft session. The coating immediately began to rub off on the wood. The edge still cut well and shaved surprisingly well. I imagine it would really slice if stripped.
This knife has a reputation for being tough, as it should. So, I first batoned off a small piece of rock hard, bone dry Live Oak. This is nasty wood and the blade had to be beat through it. The coating immediately started to smear off on the wood, but the blade hammered on through. I didn’t baton a wheel barrow full. People have already done that online. I just need a piece to work on.
Next, I wanted to see how it would carve a feather stick. It did a surprisingly good job. Imagine how it’d do stripped. This is great considering the horrible wood I was using. This stuff is beyond words tough.
I then chopped some pieces from a stick of apple wood, or that’s what my neighbor told me it was. All I can say is it’s hard as a rock. The knife chopped off some small pieces, enough to show me it’ll chop. It has a pretty neutral balance, which does not help in chopping, but it would make a great fighter! Anyway, it’ll chop anything you reasonably need to chop, short of seasoned oak firewood.
I did t want to spend too much time, since the sun was setting, but I wanted to knock out a quick tent stake. Easy enough.
I took a minute to carve. It did fine.
I finished up by testing the tip. I dug a small hollow out of the live oak. I started by driving the tip in and prying the wood. I followed up by twisting the tip in the wood. It held up great!
All in all, I really like this knife. It’s a big survival/combat type blade, so it won’t be a great bushcrafter. It’s also a fighting style clip point, so it’s not a dedicated chopper. But, I believe it’ll do most of what we like to do in the woods pretty well. Ultimately, it’s a big, cheap, fun knife at a great price. It should last for generations. 52100 is a good and tough steel, and CS is known for giving whatever steel they use a great heat treat. Thanks for looking!
Thanks ! Great review . 
