CS Master Hunter vs. Fallkniven F1

The Bear

The Bear

Joined
Nov 23, 2001
Messages
162
Cold Steel Master Hunter vs. Fallkniven F1
Which is the best small, fixed blade outdoor knife?
 
I prefer the F1, it's slicker/slimmer and more wellbalanced in my opinion.

Quality wise i'd give an edge to the F1 to, it seems more "refined"

But both are good quality knives.
 
I have not handled an F1, but I can't remember a single bad comment about one.

However, I do have a Master Hunter, and it is a sweet knife. The edge geometry is very good, and Carbon V is a great steel.

They are both fine knives, but the Cold Steel is roughly half the price. It just depends on what appeals to you most and what you want to spend.
 
This brings up a good point. I love my Master Hunter, takes a great edge, and keeps it. It sharpens very easily.

I've never heard anything bad about Fallkniven, BUT, I've also heard it said that a good quality high carbon steel is superior to stainless. Is Fallkniven soooo good that we overlook this? Or is VG-10 comparable to a good high carbon steel?

I'm interested in the replies. Come on guys, you can't have it both ways! :D ;)

Just for the record, I would love to buy an F1, but can't justify it due to the great performance of my MH.
 
I like my F1. I use it for skinning/ dressing deer.
Never handled a Master Hunter but if I were to buy one I'd get a factory second, only $26 in their Xmas sales flier.
 
I second that advice... a co-worker just received his CS Master Hunter second, and it is an absolute "steel" (pun intended) at $26, complete with a decent concealex sheath. I'm thinking of ordering one myself, and I don't deer hunt. Also, I bought one for my brother as an early x-mas present. He baptized it this season, and said it was a great knife for the job. I am also thinking of trying the CS SRK second, depending on what kind of sheath the give out with it. The handed out a POS sheath for their factory second recon Tanto. Kinda disappointing. I have not seen first hand your other choice, but the concensus seems to be excellent quality. Price however I do not know. Good luck.
 
I have both a CS Master Hunter and a Fallkniven F1, and have used them on moose and bear. The MH is a little larger, bulkier, and under extreme conditions, probably grippier. Tough to beat Kraton when it comes to cold, slippery and bloody conditions. And Carbon V is just a small notch below my all-time favorite steel, 52100. The Fallkniven is a little smaller and handier to tote, particularly with a Concealex sheath from Normark. The handle material is a little harder than Kraton but still affords a very good grip under adverse conditions. VG-10 steel is the best stainless steel I've come across, and it holds an edge comparable to Carbon V; my buddy and I field dressed and skinned a bear, he with his CS Elk Skinner in Carbon V, and me with the F1, and I couldn't tell the difference between the two blades when it came to edge holding. For some reason, VG-10 has more 'bite' than any other stainless steels I've used. Takes a little longer to sharpen, but that's no big deal with diamond hones these days. Solution: get one of each:) !
 
I agree with you about VG-10, Ed. It is my favorite stainless, and takes an edge more like a carbon steel blade than any other I've used.
 
Thanks, Ed, for the great review! I was hoping someone who has used both would answer. I have been wondering if VG-10 is now in the same league as a quality high carbon steel, or if it was the design and edge geometry of the F1 that made it so good.

Sounds like it's both.
 
Mundele,
Goto the cold steel web site & you can register to get their Special Projects ads, only place I know of to get the 2nds. Dunno if you'll get it by Xmas if thats what you're aiming at.

Forgot to add the I also have a Normark sheath for my F1, makes it even handier to carry. :cool:
 
Good posts...thanks guys!


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
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