Cold Steel K4 Neck Knife

C

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Cold Steel has really come up with some winners lately. Their Tri-Ad lock system, designed by Andrew Demko, is being used on a number of new knives, and, of course, there's now the K4.

The K-series is really designed for the kitchen, but the K4 Neck Knife comes with a Secure-Ex plastic sheath and is available in both serrated and plain edges. The blade length is about four inches and the steel is a very thin VG-1, honed for slashing and fine cuts. It also has a Kraton handle, which is very comfortable for a variety of holds.

Simply put, this knife is easy to use and it handles well. It comes with a black steel bead chain for neck wear, but honestly, it's a bit heavy and uncomfortable for concealed carry. Worn outside the shirt, it flops around awkwardly. With some nylon paracord, I was able to quickly set mine up for under the arm (sideways) carry, which I found much easier to deal with. The Secure-Ex sheath has about eight lanyard holes, so it's easy to carry in a variety of ways.

This is not a knife you want to baton with. The steel is thin and reminds me of the diminutive Super Edge knife, made of 420 stainless. At around twenty-something bucks, it's a great price. Not only is it capable of saving your bacon, it's actually capable of slicing bacon...well, the plain edge version, anyway. It's also a great letter opener. In short, I can't really think of any reasons you wouldn't want one of these, and many reasons why you would.

It's a great little knife.


ColdSteelK4_2.jpg
 
I almost got the serrated version, but opted for the plain-edged. It's barely left my pocket since the middle of last month (small enough to not interfere with carrying a small folder clipped to the same pocket sometimes). How's the serrated version treating you?
 
To be honest, the serrated version is best for self protection, package opening and is fine enough that it will even cut paper strips. That said, I'd probably opt for a plain edge version for food preparation and general use, and serrated for other uses. I do notice that the serrations use long, tiny teeth, and I worry that they might pop off or be otherwise damaged.

Cold Steel used two serration patterns. The one they used for their 440A knives was perfect. They were just stubs, incapable of breaking off. The ones on their AUS8 and VG-1 knives are much thinner. I'll try to take some photos and post them in the general knife section if you'd like to see them.

Overall, for the price, I'd take either version. Or better, one of each.
 
I have a plainedge one that I keep in my backpack with a small Epicurean cutting board. Great little on-the-go chefs knife!
 
How does VG-1 handle corrosion? The wife and I are doing the whole cruise thing later this summer. I want something cheap that I can stuff in my pocket when we hit the beach or go off exploring the natural scenery. I don't want anything that is expensive as I would hate to lose it or have to leave it behind. I also don't want anything that I have to baby. Finally, it just hast to be packable to slip in my back pocket and not be noticed until i need it.

This might be just the thing.
 
VG-1 is pretty corrosion resistant - not as much as X50CrMoV15, but it's one of the more popular stainless steels in medium-to-OMGexpensive kitchen knives and often ran a few points harder than that other alloy as well (the X thing is usually ran between RC52-54 and RC56 if you're really lucky and VG-1 is usually RC58-60 with more expensive knives clocking in at RC62). The tip of the K4 is very thin (distal taper), so it's a knife that will require some babying, but not a stropping or wiping after every cut.

If you hadn't mentioned the ease of carry, a stainless knife from Mora of Sweden (formerly Frost's and formerly Ericksen - they merged) would've been an even better option (with a worse sheath - the sheath on the K4 is awesome).
 
Thank you, sir:)

I have been looking at the Mora's as well. The K-4 looks a lot more packable, though. I was looking at Spyderco H-1 knives, which I love, but I figured for this trip I am going to need a cheap beater.
Something that I won't care about if it gets dropped in the ocean, left on the beach, broken, or stolen. I don't mind if it spots up and stains, but I was hoping that VG-1 didn't corrode inside the sheath or something:D I have never handled that particular steel before.

Thanks for the info, the K-4 is in the running.
 
Denada. Get some gummy glue for the tang/handle area, though. T1mpani mentioned it in another review. Some sort of rubber cement that'll bend with the Kraton handle and keep water and sand from getting into the tang and finding its way out while you're cutting food.

3M 847 was the stuff.
 
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Steely_Gunz said:
How does VG-1 handle corrosion? The wife and I are doing the whole cruise thing later this summer. I want something cheap that I can stuff in my pocket when we hit the beach or go off exploring the natural scenery. I don't want anything that is expensive as I would hate to lose it or have to leave it behind. I also don't want anything that I have to baby. Finally, it just hast to be packable to slip in my back pocket and not be noticed until i need it.

This might be just the thing.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind, the majority of cruise ships have metal detectors. I've heard that they don't really allow any type of "weapon."
 
The K4 might be a bit thin for casual use. Most stainless knives won't corrode or rust if even minimally cleaned. From what I've read, 440A blades do rust faster than other steels because of the lack of nickel.

About metal detectors, yes, it can be a problem, so check the cruise rules. I'd pick up a little thicker blade that can do some light prying. A Byrd hawkbill might be a good choice. Any Wal*Mart or similar store should have a relatively inexpensive folder that would be more than adequate. Or you might have one in your collection. (I have an ugly little folder I picked up a few years ago at Target. It was an Eddie Bauer w/a 3-inch 440C blade and titanium coating and a surprisingly sturdy button lock mechanism. I've used it in situations where I might lose a better knife and it works just fine.)

With all the piracy at sea and kidnapping going on in the world, it's odd that anyone would be overly concerned with pocket knives.
 
The K4 is indeed a VERY--and I cannot stress it enough--VERY thin blade. It's not designed for hard use.
 
When we went on an Alaska cruise a couple of summers ago, my Fallkniven neck knife was confiscated as we boarded and returned at the end of the cruise. The crewman was very apologetic, and told me that all fixed blades were banned regardless of blade length while even large folders were permitted. He didn't think it made much sense either.
 
I got one when they first came out. I will not carry this as a neck knife!! It likes to fall out.
 
I use mine as a portable mini chef's knife for lunches. As a result I use the sheath just to keep it from cutting up the contents of my backpack. Does great for that.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
How does VG-1 handle corrosion? The wife and I are doing the whole cruise thing later this summer. I want something cheap that I can stuff in my pocket when we hit the beach or go off exploring the natural scenery. I don't want anything that is expensive as I would hate to lose it or have to leave it behind. I also don't want anything that I have to baby. Finally, it just hast to be packable to slip in my back pocket and not be noticed until i need it.

This might be just the thing.
Click to expand...

I met my wife on a cruise, and we've been on a few since then.

The cruise I met my wife on didn't notice my Benchmade Stryker that I had in my luggage, inside of a first aid kit.

Cruises after that (Norwegian Cruise Line) began stating that no weapons were allowed. I've taken my Boker Subclaw on two cruises, again tucked inside of a first aid kit. While in line to get on our last Carribean cruise, a man had a large folder clipped to his pocket. They took it away and were going to give it back after the cruise.

Even if you can get onto the boat with the knife, you won't be able to take it ashore. You go through a metal detector and they inspect any bags you have if they see anything fishy.

Most of the security guys that I chatted with were Fillipino, and were all into Kali or another knife/stick oriented martial art. They know their knives, I wouldn't try to pull a fast one on them.

A Surefire flashlight is your best bet for self defense. I kept my E2D in my pocket when I wasn't wearing a swimsuit, whether on the boat and ashore. On the ship, the only real SD scenario would probably involve one or more drunk 20 year old men looking for a fight, or fighting you over a girl. I can't imagine anything going wrong, on the boat, that would require more than a bright beam of light in the eyes for you to escape. Going ashore is a different game, most of the islands in the Carribean are on the verge of chaos, barely contained only in the tourist areas.
 
I may have to get one of these knives, as I waat to play with VG-1 and all of this talk of it being very thin warms my heart. I love thin knives made of quality steel for a cheap price, this may be a winner for me.

Mike
 
Just a note: there are a number of cases of missing, young female tourists on cruise ships.

The fairly large size and somewhat convoluted interior of cruise ships make for a place where kidnapping, rape, and such can be done in relative safety. Is it likely - no. But it can and does happen.

Re: K4

I might just have to get one now... it does look pretty darn useful.
 
i wish the width of the blade was slightly smaller. i had a chance to handle one of these a while back and it felt too much like wearing a kitchen knife around my neck.
 
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