Cold Steel 30ULH Ultimate Hunter

[chiral.grolim]

I think this needs to be linked here, and here is the photo... so awesome https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...-cutting-ability.1257278/page-7#post-15785915

The ultimate Ultimate Hunter as modified by Josh of @razor-edge-knives

 

[Dadpool]

The ultimate Ultimate Hunter as modified by Josh of @razor-edge-knives

Is that a full zero grind? Impressive!

 

[ursamajor]

Sure I've seen those, always felt rather contrived and not real world to me. Have you also seen tests regarding the reliability of the lock mechanism when it gets crud in it? In addition to lock strength, that always seems to me like an equally valid thing to be concerned about. I know in the firearms arena, a whole cottage industry has sprung up of people doing YT videos and various "torture tests" of pistols where they run each pistol thru the same regimen of rolling in dirt, dunking in water, etc., to see how long it'll go until it fails to feed or fire. With a knife lock mechanism, in addition to the straightforward strength tests of hanging weights off the blade, a perhaps more real world test would be how reliable is a locking mechanism under real world conditions of dirt and grit. This isn't a make or break question for me here, I already ordered the UH. But would be really interested to see side-by-side lock reliability tests, and haven't found too many of those that seemed credible.

Last winter I took my 2 youngest sons up past the Mogollon rim, so they could play in the snow. I brought some firewood, and fat wood sticks. I used my Recon 1 closed to scrape some Maya Dust off from the fat wood. Quite a bit of it worked its way into the lock notch. The rocker lock was slightly sticky, when I opened it to make feather sticks, but lockup was still rock solid, and I had no issue disengaging the lock to put it away.

If it can handle what is basically sawdust, and pine resin, I feel confident that it can handle whatever dirt and grime gets in there. Mind you, the temp was hovering around freezing.

 

[maximus83]

Very cool. Might be interested in that myself. So 2 Q's:

1. What did Josh charge for that
2. How do you keep it sharp going forward

I think this needs to be linked here, and here is the photo... so awesome https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...-cutting-ability.1257278/page-7#post-15785915

The ultimate Ultimate Hunter as modified by Josh of @razor-edge-knives

 

[chiral.grolim]

Very cool. Might be interested in that myself. So 2 Q's:

1. What did Josh charge for that
2. How do you keep it sharp going forward

Well, it's not my knife, but mods like this are pricey to have done right, in this case the regrind costs more than the knife:
http://www.razoredgeknives.com/services-fees/sharpeningmod-prices/

As to sharpening, that remains the same as for nearly any cutting implement - touch up the microbevel at the edge with a strop or suitable hone Depending on your use, it will be a LONG time before a 15-20 dps microbevel reaches a very noticeable width, and then you can just blend back the shoulders on a strop.

 

[marthinus]

Here was my review of the UH.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/cold-steel-ultimate-hunter.1413017/

Apologies for the lack of photos, photobucket with its issues.

Here are two photos of my regrind.

Much prefer the high hollow compared to the standard grind.

Compared to other knives what do I like the most? The contoured handles. Though it rides thicker in the pocket that has never really bothered me.

 

[maximus83]

Received mine today, wait is over. Couldn't be more pleased on initial glance, Cold Steel is kind of on a roll with the 2017 changes to some of these knives like this one, and the Recon.

As Marthinus posted, one of the best things for those of us with big hands: the nice big comfortable handle. Slightly more bulky to carry, I'll gladly pay that tax. This is probably my most comfortable folder to hold, or at least it's tied with my ZT 0561.

 

[maximus83]

Follow up on this thread. Sent the CS UH off to Josh at @razor-edge-knives to get the zero edge convex as above. I was so interested in his regrind work, I sent another ZT blade in the the package to be done as well. Looking forward to see how these regrinds will transform these thick blades into better performing knives.

 

[maximus83]

Final follow up. Here's the regrind by @razor-edge-knives:

 

[marc_s]

I wish Cold Steel made a 3 inch Ultimate Hunter... The UH is amazing. But I would love to have a smaller version. And I always wondered if anyone felt the same. I think it would be a sick little knife. It would be light, super strong and I think really good ergos.
Love the UH blade shape, lock, thin liner-less handle.
Not sure it's relevant to this thread but I had to say it.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind that regrind either. Great job.

 

[whp]

I know that regrind makes for a better slicer. But, like everything else in life, it s a trade off. Better blade strength or thinner grind. I m ok with my UH the way it comes from the factory. Mine seems pretty slicey to me.

 

[chiral.grolim]

I know that regrind makes for a better slicer. But, like everything else in life, it s a trade off. Better blade strength or thinner grind. I m ok with my UH the way it comes from the factory. Mine seems pretty slicey to me.

Definitely a trade-off But dang does it ever look good besides being WAY more "slicy" But yeah, if yours serves your needs and has the strength you prefer, winner I really have to get me one of these... just wish they were USA-made (call me foolish)

 

[Alberta Ed]

I wish Cold Steel made a 3 inch Ultimate Hunter... The UH is amazing. But I would love to have a smaller version. And I always wondered if anyone felt the same. I think it would be a sick little knife. It would be light, super strong and I think really good ergos.
Love the UH blade shape, lock, thin liner-less handle.
Not sure it's relevant to this thread but I had to say it.

Oh, and I wouldn't mind that regrind either. Great job.

The American Lawman is pretty close, IMHO, and a superb slicer with that thin high grind. Thin, easy to pocket or carry IWB. The Tri-Ad lock clicks in like a Cadillac door lock.

 

[maximus83]

The American Lawman is pretty close, IMHO, and a superb slicer with that thin high grind. Thin, easy to pocket or carry IWB. The Tri-Ad lock clicks in like a Cadillac door lock.

Exactly. I think if I wanted a more compact version of the UH with similar steel, smaller size, thinner factory blade stock--the Lawman is pretty g2g. For a solid compact slicer in that space, I'm already happy with what I have though, it's a bit different but I like my Spyderco Native for something in that role.

 

[NJBillK]

I know that regrind makes for a better slicer. But, like everything else in life, it s a trade off. Better blade strength or thinner grind. I m ok with my UH the way it comes from the factory. Mine seems pretty slicey to me.

This is exactly why I was thinking that now he can not really take full advantage of the lock strength (not that I put much stock in CS lock tests, but I digress)...

If the blade is now not able to handle the abuse that it was able to do so originally, then the lock strength is overkill and the OP would have been better served with a high end alloy to take advantage of sheer slicing capability.
M4, M2hss, Maxamet, or just about anything from Bluntcut Metalworks or Big Chris (if a small fixed blade was acceptable).

Nice knife, and I am happy that you are content with the end result, but for the total funds spent, I would have looked longer at my other options.

 

[maximus83]

For folks interested in facts about the before/after details of the regrind:

Weight:

• Before: 4.9oz
• After: 4.8oz

Blade thickness at spine:

• Before: 0.130"
• After: 0.130"

The blade stock is certainly thinned due to the convex. However, the relatively slight weight difference and same spine thickness also shed some light. I do not sense this blade is significantly weakened for the tasks involved in ordinary EDU knife duty. I personally do not subscribe to the "hard use" meme for folders anyway, I believe this is largely a marketing concept not founded in reality. And I reserve fixed blades for "hard use" tasks. A strong back lock is a good thing on any folder, but this blade is both strong, AND a much improved slicer, so it fulfills the "mission" I had for it to be an improved general purpose folder. I'm pleased with the investment on the regrind, and would recommend this to folks who otherwise like this blade profile but also want a better performing knife.