CS Maurader still decent.

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Jan 5, 2015
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Using the CS Maurader with the, stone scrape finish and REAL SABER GRIND, is pretty decent for a large ss knife. I use it for tacti-camp tasks, food prep, and light batoning a bit. (Kindling making). It has good cutting curve that is slices nicely as well. (UNDER AUTO CURRECT CURSE!) I use it for light to medium tasks usually. Aus 8 is good enough for most general tasks, most other heavy tasks I suggest a tougher steel or an axe or hatchet. Heavy as in twisted logs and such. But one of the most important tool I learned to have is a saw with spare saw blades!
 
My medium use others call hard use. I use 5160 steel blades that would break most other blades. I find using a hatchet at times more dangerous to use for me with my heart meds. So using a heavy 5160 steel blade as a froe (batoner) I can slit fire wood for a fire, after I cut it with a saw.

The CS MAURADER is too good of a wilderhood multi-tool to risk breaking it on a knotty log being beaten on hard. Light machete work, critter cutting (great and small), other knife use, even most bushy craft tasks. (Jack of all trades type) and the light to medium batoning mentioned earlier.
 
I like mine. I find it to be a bit too thin and "specialized" with the sub hilt design. I bought mine as a purely defensive knife and even opted to go the full serration route for added nastiness. I don't like a tip that fine on my woods knife either. However, as a lightweight and easily carried knife, it makes for a formidable peace of mind carry.

AUS8 is no slouch. It's easy to poo-poo it as an outdated steel, but it does the job and doesn't fall apart with rust. I have a SOG Seal Pup that has spent the better part of a dozen years rattling around under my dirty truck seat. Still sharp and in good condition.

The Marauder is one of those knives I would like to see a more premium version of, like the OSS (I think that's the right model) and the Blackbear Classic. That profile in San Mai or even a high polished AUS10 and sporting a pinned handle with steel sub hilt? Yeah, I'd drop $300-400 on that.
 
The Marauder is one of those knives I would like to see a more premium version of, like the OSS (I think that's the right model) and the Blackbear Classic. That profile in San Mai or even a high polished AUS10 and sporting a pinned handle with steel sub hilt? Yeah, I'd drop $300-400 on that.
Not only yeah, but hell yeah!
 
Some makers/modifiers will strip off the rubber and build you a proper handle, for a fee of course. Someone posted a CS fixed blade a while back, possibly in this thread.
 
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I like mine. I find it to be a bit too thin and "specialized" with the sub hilt design. I bought mine as a purely defensive knife and even opted to go the full serration route for added nastiness. I don't like a tip that fine on my woods knife either. However, as a lightweight and easily carried knife, it makes for a formidable peace of mind carry.

AUS8 is no slouch. It's easy to poo-poo it as an outdated steel, but it does the job and doesn't fall apart with rust. I have a SOG Seal Pup that has spent the better part of a dozen years rattling around under my dirty truck seat. Still sharp and in good condition.

The Marauder is one of those knives I would like to see a more premium version of, like the OSS (I think that's the right model) and the Blackbear Classic. That profile in San Mai or even a high polished AUS10 and sporting a pinned handle with steel sub hilt? Yeah, I'd drop $300-400 on that.
I find the Hollow Ground Marauder to be a bit thin of blade, but I use it for lighter tasks and food tasks. Its Bowie profile makes it a great self defense tool if needed for saber grind or hollow grind. Due to the blade size mostly, but the sub-hilt and lack of a real guard does limit it. But it still can do the job with its large curved blade.

The stone scrape saber version is more "Durable" blade wise. Again the Bowie Profile makes it very useful as well, its more capable of full light to medium wood processing, and a stand alone camp knife.

The nice curve on of the blade makes it very useful for various tasks. The sub-hilt is ok for general use.
 
I have the original model with a plain edge and hollow grind. Mean piece of steel. I love how light it is in hand. I've used mine as a woods kitchen knife, and also carried it while patrolling the property when I was living out in the bush for a time.
 
I saw that Joe X U-tube destruction video of a CS Marauder. Showing how Wimpy it is! LOL.

Well seeing how it held up for what would be "normal heavy use" with the wood working and how well the point held up for metal poking. It shows how much better it could perform if you HAD to push it at that level. I have used my saber grind CS Marauder for what others call "Heavy Use" (I call it medium use) for wood working and wilderhood stuff. The CS Marauder with its Bowie profile makes it a multi-tool large blade. Yes I take other tools with me. But the Secure X sheathed CS Marauder makes more safety sense for a decent weighted belt rider when slogging with a canoe and such through various wet areas.

I don't consider it a "True" primary fighting knife as the rubber hilt really isn't good if the opponent's blade can cut down through it. How ever if needed for defense, the blade size and Bowie profile with that long curving blade makes it one heck of a performer if needed.

I hear people even use it as a Pig Sticker Killing blade when they run a feral down and kill with a CS Marauder. I'd like to hear about that from any one who uses it for hunting like that.

I'd like to see a full tang CS Marauder Profile in a higher grade steel from CS myself.
 
Its a really cool blade. I didn't give it much thought, since I'm fat on knives, until the usual place put them on steep discount a while back. Once in hand, I was like, "wow, this is a bad a$$ design!" In typical Lynn Thompson fashion, its a great knife with serious capabilities, at camp and on a Mississippi River delta. As we all know, LT knows his stuff and even the ridiculous looking knives are good, solid performers. This one looks great, as well!
 
The hollow grind one seems to be a great fish cleaner. Medium to bigger fishes, smaller ones are Recon 1, buck 110 or a gerber gator folder
 
aus8 seems to hold up better in toughness than the numbers would make ya think it would. I'm still a fan of cold steel Taiwan makers aus8.
I was fortunate enough to have started picking up my SRK’S and Recon Tantos back when they were still stamped Japan. I’ve never had an issue with them. 👍 I think that this was a little after Getting a Becker BK1, then the original Camillus manufacturer folded. I guess I’m getting old. ☺️ I was surprised to see the old CS forum here still up. Carry on gentlemen.
 
It’s a really cool blade. I didn't give it much thought, since I'm fat on knives, until the usual place put them on steep discount a while back. Once in hand, I was like, "wow, this is a bad a$$ design!" In typical Lynn Thompson fashion, it’s a great knife with serious capabilities, at camp and on a Mississippi River delta. As we all know, LT knows his stuff and even the ridiculous looking knives are good, solid performers. This one looks great, as well!
Ive gotten my wife to carry one now and then in bear country, because it’s light for the size. I was just pizzing around putting grip tape on my #2 Condor Undertaker when I wondered if the old CS forum was still up, for whatever reason, lol. Nice to see it still up.
 
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