Cold Steel K4 - sleeper of EDC knives

T

thombrogan

Joined
Nov 16, 2002
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Just got a Cold Steel K4 for my birthday and can't get over its greatness. The blade is very thin and has a distal taper; its sheath is light and secure; the handle is on the small side, but works with every grip I use; and the factory edge was a bit thick (still freaking sharp, though), but is made from a steel that takes and holds a good edge while still being easy to thin out (further aided by the knife being thin to begin with).

The K4 is a light use knife (very thin tip) and won't provide its owner with a sense of "it's not really a prybar, but it doesn't mind playing one in my hands" security like one gets from a Howling Rat or similarly robust carbon blade, but it zips through cardboard and plastic with greater ease.

I thinned mine out using coarse and extra-fine DMT benchstones loaded with water and pumice-free Goop (it's some sort of shop soap) the K4 had a very shiny edge with the extra-fine DMT (1200 grit). Edge was probably perfect, but I stropped it anyways and the knife went from being more than adequate from the factory to being even better.

The knife comes with a chain for neck carry, but it's perfect in my left front pocket. The Secure-Ex injection-molded sheath holds the knife snuggly, but doesn't stick to the blade when drawing from the pocket. Having had more than one pocket-carried fixed blade take its sheath with it, this was quite pleasing.

Will try taking pics tonight.

Definitely a knife to join the list of knives included when a knifeknut says "I totally hate Cold Steel and Lynn Thomspson, but I do like their..." And priced right, too.
 
Cool review! Ive always wanted to get one to use around the kitchen. Looks like it might be the perfect candidate.
 
It looked like an interesting knife---thanks for the review. :thumbup:

Another one to add to that same list as the Voyager, the Vaquero...
 
Kim Lau said:
Cool review! Ive always wanted to get one to use around the kitchen. Looks like it might be the perfect candidate.
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It does indeed look like a pretty fair candidate for that. I was thinking the same thing.

Thom, thanks for the review.
 
No pics tonight, but the knife has one culinary shortcoming - its width at the heel, while allowing for forceful cutting - makes it take a slot in the knifeblock which would normally be reserved for a knife with a longer blade. Otherwise, it's thin and made from a grade of cutlery steel popular in high-end Japanese-made knives (VG-1 is like Sandvik's 19C27 only with a dash of molybdenum and impurities) which is a winning combination. And "they should make a 10 inch chef knife with VG-5 and a santoprene handle instead of Kraton" is my whining combination.

Thanks for your kind words, Knarfeng.
 
Bad photos, but the best of the bunch:

01k4.jpg


02k4.jpg

As you can see, the heel has mass for utility functions and the point is quite fine. It won't replace a Shun Classic paring knife, but I doubt it'd be an accursed cutter (mine's been carried in my pocket for days, so it ain't touching food even with a thorough washing - the handle scares me so).
 
I also love my K4,it came pretty sharp but not as sharp as it could be.It sure was handy in the kitchen,sliced carrots effortlessly because of it's thiness. The only thing that bothers me is that Cold Steel doesn't bond the kraton handle and water quickly enter from the ricasso.

So,I was thinking of using an adhesive to bond the handle,preferable one specifically for rubber.Would anyone have suggestion.
 
I keep one in my pack along with a tiny Epicurean cutting board. It's great for those impromptu out-of-car picnics!
 
razorburn said:
So,I was thinking of using an adhesive to bond the handle,preferable one specifically for rubber.Would anyone have suggestion.
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I've done just what you're describing on some Cold Steel products (and other rubber handled knives besides) with this stuff, and it's always worked great.

http://www.ellsworth.com/display/productdetail.html?productid=1200&Tab=Vendors

Thats 3M 847. There's a low viscosity version of it, too, but that's really better for filling serious gaps.
 
t1mpani,thanks for the link.That's the exact same stuff I was thinking of using on my Kraton handled knives.The problem was I never ever saw it at any of the small or large hardware stores.Only in a catalogue.I sure wish Cold Steel bonded them to save the customer the aggravation of moisture getting inside the handle, resulting in rust.
 
Little fixed blades are so handy. Good review. For a really good pocket sheath check out the AG Russel bird and trout. It isn't made for the pocket but the push button sheath works great for pocket use. The knife is a great little thin blade cutter too.
 
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razorburn said:
That's the exact same stuff I was thinking of using on my Kraton handled knives.The problem was I never ever saw it at any of the small or large hardware stores.Only in a catalogue.
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Sadly, the VAST majority of hardware stores today are really general stores, with extremely, well...general product lines. Back in the day you'd go to a hardware store and could find all fifty billion different lengths and diameters of fasteners and all the weird little tools and products required for specialty work. Lowe's and Home Depot cleaned 'em out, providing 95% of the customer base what they were most likely to need 90% of the time. I'm all for free market economy and hey, business is business, but I do miss the old days.

The price on that link is about as good as I've found.
 
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