- Joined
- Oct 4, 1998
- Messages
- 529
Just got one of those new Cold Steel Black Bear Classic copies (OSS model) with the kraton handle and the 420 J2 stainless blade. I got this knife as a goof just to test it and see if all the negative hype about 420 J2 was true. I have a good handful of United models all made of J2 but never really used any of them. CS claims their J2 is "sub-zero quenched" so exactly how different it is from United's J2 is still unknown and no comparisons are meant to be made. This review is for CS only.
First of all, the product- This knife is a copy of the CS Black Bear Classic sub-hilt fighter. The main differences are the steel, the handle (kraton) and the sheath (concealex as opposed to leather). I think the OSS may be a tad smaller in OA dimensions, also. The handle is completely kraton including the sub-hilt which is simply molded into the shape. If you like kraton handles, this is OK but if you are not a fan of rubber handles, don't bother. Don't know the actual tang configuration because I wasn't going to cut off the handle, but I suspect it's a rat tail type like their other models of this style. The sheath is concealex and looks kind of like a "toy"... more plastic-like than the quality of kydex, but a "decent" sheath, nonetheless. As mentioned, the blade is "sub-zero quenched" 420 J2 stainless steel with no coating. It is a clip point style blade but is completely sharpened all around, even on the spine, which renders it almost "dagger-like". This knife is extremely light and well balanced at the choil. It feels excellent as a fighting bowie and other than the structural flaws of the kraton guard it would probably perform quite well in a blade to blade confrontation. It is very "fast" in the hand and I have always been a fan of the sub-hilt in a fighter.
I wanted to see if this steel sucked as bad as everyone believes so I took it to the test. First I cut up some cardboard boxes that were left from the new entertainment center we just bought!! ;-) After a few large boxes (including some staple collisions!) there was no change at all in the blade, not even chipping from the staples. Blade still shaved. Then I went to do some chopping. Keep in mind this knife was not meant for chopping and the handle shape is extremely uncomfortable, especially when chopping with the spine side (I did this to preserve the other edge) which is what I did. The chopping was not to evaluate the knife as a chopper, but to test the steel and the edge. I found a 4" sweetgum sapling. I first limbed it around the bottom, then chopped it down, then limbed it all the way up, then chopped it into about 4 or 5 pieces. Granted, this took a LOT of work because like I said... this knife is EXTREMELY light and not blade heavy at all and is definitely NOT a chopper! Anyway, the knife was coated in sap and it was raining so I headed back in to clean it up and assess the damage. On the way, I passed my knife throwing target so I thought, "What the hell?". I was afraid to throw by the blade because it was double edged and VERY sharp and the handle, especially having a sub-hilt, was not the best for a throwing knife. At any rate, I was able to throw and stick it maybe 12 times out of 15 using 1 full rotation from about 16 feet. Not bad.... The only problem was that on one throw, it over-rotated slightly and the extreme tip bent over. Hardly noticable by the naked eye, but you could feel it if you ran your finger across it. After cleaning the knife up I could see some flattening on the chopping edge. No denting, rolling or chipping. A few swipes on the steel and it was as good as new!!! I was even able to fix the tip on the steel. Not only was I not disappointed in the performance, I was actually amazed!!!
I'm sure Cliff Stamp could destroy this knife, but for the record, it held up very well. This would be a good general purpose knife (not a great chopper, but will in a pinch) and for the price is an excellent beater. I didn't pry with it or anything so it still has some testing coming but I mainly wanted to test edge retention, which it passed quite nicely. Edge retention is the main gripe I hear about J2...
Anyway, Take it for what its's worth....I may even get the other 2 models in this new line.
Peace-
Cam
First of all, the product- This knife is a copy of the CS Black Bear Classic sub-hilt fighter. The main differences are the steel, the handle (kraton) and the sheath (concealex as opposed to leather). I think the OSS may be a tad smaller in OA dimensions, also. The handle is completely kraton including the sub-hilt which is simply molded into the shape. If you like kraton handles, this is OK but if you are not a fan of rubber handles, don't bother. Don't know the actual tang configuration because I wasn't going to cut off the handle, but I suspect it's a rat tail type like their other models of this style. The sheath is concealex and looks kind of like a "toy"... more plastic-like than the quality of kydex, but a "decent" sheath, nonetheless. As mentioned, the blade is "sub-zero quenched" 420 J2 stainless steel with no coating. It is a clip point style blade but is completely sharpened all around, even on the spine, which renders it almost "dagger-like". This knife is extremely light and well balanced at the choil. It feels excellent as a fighting bowie and other than the structural flaws of the kraton guard it would probably perform quite well in a blade to blade confrontation. It is very "fast" in the hand and I have always been a fan of the sub-hilt in a fighter.
I wanted to see if this steel sucked as bad as everyone believes so I took it to the test. First I cut up some cardboard boxes that were left from the new entertainment center we just bought!! ;-) After a few large boxes (including some staple collisions!) there was no change at all in the blade, not even chipping from the staples. Blade still shaved. Then I went to do some chopping. Keep in mind this knife was not meant for chopping and the handle shape is extremely uncomfortable, especially when chopping with the spine side (I did this to preserve the other edge) which is what I did. The chopping was not to evaluate the knife as a chopper, but to test the steel and the edge. I found a 4" sweetgum sapling. I first limbed it around the bottom, then chopped it down, then limbed it all the way up, then chopped it into about 4 or 5 pieces. Granted, this took a LOT of work because like I said... this knife is EXTREMELY light and not blade heavy at all and is definitely NOT a chopper! Anyway, the knife was coated in sap and it was raining so I headed back in to clean it up and assess the damage. On the way, I passed my knife throwing target so I thought, "What the hell?". I was afraid to throw by the blade because it was double edged and VERY sharp and the handle, especially having a sub-hilt, was not the best for a throwing knife. At any rate, I was able to throw and stick it maybe 12 times out of 15 using 1 full rotation from about 16 feet. Not bad.... The only problem was that on one throw, it over-rotated slightly and the extreme tip bent over. Hardly noticable by the naked eye, but you could feel it if you ran your finger across it. After cleaning the knife up I could see some flattening on the chopping edge. No denting, rolling or chipping. A few swipes on the steel and it was as good as new!!! I was even able to fix the tip on the steel. Not only was I not disappointed in the performance, I was actually amazed!!!
I'm sure Cliff Stamp could destroy this knife, but for the record, it held up very well. This would be a good general purpose knife (not a great chopper, but will in a pinch) and for the price is an excellent beater. I didn't pry with it or anything so it still has some testing coming but I mainly wanted to test edge retention, which it passed quite nicely. Edge retention is the main gripe I hear about J2...
Anyway, Take it for what its's worth....I may even get the other 2 models in this new line.
Peace-
Cam