I don't know why, but I want a Peace Maker II

D

dogstar

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Jan 23, 2011
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I just got me a Compact SRK. It's a really nice knife. I have other fixed blades in the 3.7"-4.5" range that can do anything I need. Yet, I was attracted to the PMII even before I sprung for the SRK-C. I've read a bunch of reviews, which are mostly, "meh." Yet, I still hear the siren song of the Peace Maker.

Is it the 4116 steel that no one respects? Maybe I'll learn that it is a perfectly serviceable steel: easy to sharpen and takes a good edge. Is it the low $20's price? You can try it out and foggeddabboutit if it ain't good. I want to build a fire with it alone, baton it through some gnarly oak and see if it cries uncle. I suspect it won't, because it is a Cold Steel knife. How about that sheath that no one likes? I want to mod it, try cutting off some excess plastic. There's that strong, well respected belt clip that seems like it'd be great to wear on the hip. Maybe the blade will be so handy, I'll end up doing everything with it: chop onions, open some packages, break open a new sack of cat litter. Hmm, that sounds fun.
 
I've had a Pendleton hunter lite for a short while...so far so good.
U can't go wrong for under 18.00 on this one,shipped.
 
Whelp, the Peace Maker II arrived today... I can dig it! It's a big thumbs up from me.
  • It is a substantial feeling blade, just shy of 5.5" The spine is nice and square for throwing sparks. I've read more than one opinion that the blade is too thin. To me, it's just right. There is a lot of steel behind a scandi grind.
  • The tang goes all the way to the end of the handle, and the knife feels like it can take abuse.
  • I only wish the tip was a bit thicker. I get that this is meant to be boot knife, so it has to be pointier than a field knife. It's easy for me to reshape the tip for more strength if I need to.
  • The handle is made of strong, dense rubber. It's thin, but I can get a nice grip nonetheless.
  • The much maligned sheath is not bad at all! There is no rattle at all and retention is excellent. There is plenty of exposed handle to pull on to draw the knife. I was going to cut off the extra "ear" on the sheath, but now I don't see the need.
  • As with all CS knives, factory sharpness did not disappoint
  • All told, this is a very compact, capable package!
If I was put in a survival situation with only this knife, I'd be happy with my chances. Dollar for dollar, only Mora gives this blade a run for its money, but the PMII is bigger than any Mora I know. If I had picked this up before I bought the SRK-compact, I would have passed on the junior SRK. The SRK-C has a nicer sheath and handle, but it is very similar in terms of capability to the PMII. This is an agile blade with good reach for self defense. The PM II would make a good off hand mate for a hawk. The only thing left to do is to take this knife to camp and put it to work. Thanks, Cold Steel!
 
This thread needs some pictures!
4116 Krupp Family Portrait
IMG-20200307-135538722.jpg

Compared with Mora 511
IMG-20200307-140004652.jpg

IMG-20200307-140319640.jpg
 
This image shows a few advantages of the sheath
  • I don't wear belts outside of work, so the clip offers more options for wearing the knife
  • The sheath accommodates the blade both edge forward and backward, so you do not have to change any hardware to mount on your left or right side.
  • The whole system is just small enough to fit inside the front pocket of my Dickies
One thing I will say is I'd prefer a black clip instead of a shiny, attention getting one.
IMG-20200307-193314052.jpg
 
I was looking at it too... but passed since the blade is pretty thin.

Testing it's toughness would be appreciated.

Enjoy your knife man, and congrats :D
 
I decided to test the Peace Maker II the same time I tested my SRK-compact. The PMII suits me better: does better at wood carving, more versatile sheath, better value. I'm surprised by the chopping ability of these 5 oz. knives. The Peace Maker II is my favorite CS knife!
 
I have been drawn to this knife for some time, I never pushed the button because bad reviews on sheath, clip, steel, thin blade.

I am resolved now not to purchase another knife until I have a PMII in hand.

Thanks for the thread.
 
Houlahound said:
I have been drawn to this knife for some time, I never pushed the button because bad reviews on sheath, clip, steel, thin blade.

I am resolved now not to purchase another knife until I have a PMII in hand.

Thanks for the thread.
Click to expand...
Awesome :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Let us know how you like it!
 
My review at Knifecenter:

If you reading this, buy one.
Tom H's review from Nov. 2019 really says it all. This knife is greater than the sum of its parts. I can see why people don't understand this knife, because it is a mishmash of design ideas. It's got the Mora 2000/Kansbol compound Scandi grind with the clip point of a Bowie. There's the double guard from a dagger, and throw in a curved butt from a saber. The sheath is unorthodox, too. It's got these long flaps that are meant to be comfortably worn against your body, but they also hide part of the handle. Nonetheless, THE PACKAGE WORKS. The sheath is light and can be easily concealed. You can insert the knife with the edge facing either way, so you can draw with hammer or reverse grip. The strong clip lets you wear the knife without a belt. It easily clips onto your pant waist, pocket, backpack, you name it. The knife is also light enough that you can wear it and forget it is there. I have no problem drawing the knife with two fingers, and you can trim excess sheath to your liking. The spine is 2.75 mm, which some people consider thin, but there is a lot of steel because it's a Scandi grind. Modest thickness also means this knife will do well at food prep. At 5.5", this blade has reach, and is a surprisingly good chopper. Like all Scandis, the PMII is a pro at carving and making feather sticks. The spine is nice and square for striking fire steel, and the edge is razor sharp. 4116 Krupp, the blade material, is a low-end stainless, but I don't need great edge retention. As long as the knife is easy to sharpen and able to take a wicked edge, I'm happy. I pried with the tip and it held up, which is reassuring even though it's rare when one actually needs to pry with a knife. The handle is hard rubber, molded over the full tang. Even though it is only 0.55" thick, the handle is comfortable. So, the PMII does everything you want from a knife this size. Factor in the price, and this is a no brainer.
 
D dogstar Great review!!!

I have a Peace Maker III and it is my little shed knife.
It really is a great knife especially for the money.

I really want to check out the PM II now just to see how that compares.
 
willc said:
D dogstar Great review!!!

I have a Peace Maker III and it is my little shed knife.
It really is a great knife especially for the money.

I really want to check out the PM II now just to see how that compares.
Click to expand...
I like the PMII so much, I was thinking of picking up a PMIII, but I have lots of ~4" knives. There should be a significant difference when you get the bigger model in hand.
 
IMG-20200404-142930960.jpg

I did a little fire steel practice on my dining table today.
  • Square spine? :thumbsup:
  • Strike fire steel? :thumbsup:
  • Make wood scrapings? :thumbsup:
  • Make fine curls? :thumbsup:
  • Start fires? :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I friggin love this knife.
 
Call me crazy but I like solid (hard) PM sheaths. So much more robust for guys like me that store their knives on the floor of their truck cabin.

Never had a kydex sheath but every one I have seen has that wide boundary area where I guess they join the top and bottom of the sheath in moulding/manufacture. I hate the look and the concept. The PM sheath lacks that flat edge area which i think is way better albeit there are no lashing points as provided on the typical kydex sheath.
 
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