Just arrived today. Move over, my Moras!

H

hikeeba

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
1,073
When I placed my order, I received a message that this item was out of stock and wouldn't ship until Jan. 29. Imagine my surprise when I found the box at home today after work!

Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Is the #1 doubled? A shadow, perhaps?
DosCanadians001.jpg


Nope! The #1 was laying on top of Cold Steel's new Canadian Belt Knife!
DosCanadians002.jpg


The Cold Steel CBK is a spitting image of the Grohmann DH Russell #1. Same blade size and shape, same blade/handle angle, and same handle shape, although the CS CBK handle is thicker. Oh, and different steel, of course.

I really like my DHR #1, but because it came to me in sort of a special way, I am hesitant to really use it in the field. Enter the Cold Steel CBK. Same feel, but at a fraction of the cost of a replacement DHR #1. And speaking of price, the Cold Steel CBK came in right at the same price point as a lot of Mora knives.

Shape and feel of a DH Russell #1, at the price point of a Mora knife? Add to that the fact that I've always been pleased with the performance and durability of the CS pieces that I do have. I figured the CS CBK was well worth looking into.
 
Grab one now before the lawsuit puts a freeze on sales, that is almost pathetic it was ripped off so blatantly.
 
Liam Ryan said:
Grab one now before the lawsuit puts a freeze on sales, that is almost pathetic it was ripped off so blatantly.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's the case. The Cold Steel knife is waaay too close to the exact shape of the Grohmann to be a blatant ripoff. I was actually stunned at how similar the two knives were. Perhaps there was a deal struck and Grohmann is making the inexpensive copies for Cold Steel. Or, maybe Cold Steel has a licensing agreement with Grohmann on the design.

As I mentioned, I like the design of the Original #1, so for the price, I figured I'd try the Cold Steel version. Someday when I have the funds, I'd like to try Knives of Alaska's version of the #1, also.
 
Congrats on your new blades. I've heard a lot of good things about the #1. I just can't get my mind around the thin handle.
 
Grohman is a neat little company from not far from where I grew up in Nova Scotia, and this design for the #1 won them awards a while back. However the handle didnt fit my hand well, so I returned it for a survival model, is that the #4?
Much better handle for what i use it for, very nice blade from a great company.
 
The thin grip always stopped me from buying one too - might pick up a CS one day to see if I like the design before springing for "the original."
 
pit man - I am also curious as to what the tang looks like inside the handle. I'm guessing it is only a partial tang.

j_aime_k - I really like the #1. It definitely has a more delicate or precise feel to it. It slices and carves well. I won't put the baton to it, though.

Liam - Grohmann's #4 is marketed as a Canadian Survival Knife. Although the general shape of the #4 is similar to the #1, it is a gazillion times (well, maybe not a gazillion, but a lot anyways) heftier than the #1. I have a #4 also, but I haven't used it much at all. The edge needs to be reprofiled, and I just haven't gotten around to doing that yet.

Comparison pics.

Left to right: Grohmann #4, #1, CS Canadian Belt Knife, Frosts 780 Triflex Craftsman.
LeafsPlus001.jpg


Closer pic of the blades. Although the CS handle doesn't look to be much wider than the #1, it is quite a bit beefier from top to bottom.
LeafsPlus003.jpg


Group shot.
LeafsPlus002.jpg


Blade thicknesses:

#4 - .150"
#1 - .111"
CS - .095"
780 - .098"

Again, I place the CS Canadian more in the class of the Mora knife, and not in the same class as the Grohmanns. The jury is still out on the Krupps stainless steel used in the CS knife. I am not familiar with the steel, nor could I find much info on it on the interweb. Time will tell. If the steel turns out to be cruddy, well, it wasn't an expensive knife, so I won't feel bad. I am confident the knife will easily live up to it's $16 price tag.
 
I used to sell Grohmans at an outfitter I used to work for, and we couldent keep the freakin things in stock...for the price, they are a very well constructed knife, and the full leather sheath isn't too bad either.
 
Yep, very nice pics. They show me what I needed to see about the #1 being too slim. The craftsmans handle is the same as the SwAK and I really like the feel of the SwAK in my hand, so I'm thinking that the #4 would be closer to something I would buy. Too bad there's no place around here that sells them, so I can get a good feel for the knife in my hand before hand.
 
From what I've been reading, the steel in the Canadian Grohmans IS the same Krupp stainless that is in the new Cold Steels. Look over on AG Russells Grohman page, the steel listed is I think the same. I don't know who is making the newest Cold Steels, but I have a feeling it's a familiar maker from Europe who uses the same Euro spec'd stainlesses. Just can't quite nail down which one yet. I think the actual Grohmans are also available in carbon steel, which is also given as CK75, a European spec'd steel similiar to 1075, made by Krupp, and commonly used by Boker and Olbertz. Either Grohman is ordering blade blanks stamped in a European factory, OR they are buying their steel from the same places in Europe that companies like Boker and Olbertz purchase from. Cold Steel kills me with their smoke and mirrors marketing, they would be better off to just tell people who they contract with to make the darn knives to start with. I'd bet their product would get more respect if they did that. :confused:
 
Not if it's a Chinese knockoff of the steel. I've long figured that CS had most of their knives made overseas (East) and their CarbonV here in the states by Camillus and now, another company I'm sure.
 
Hey Guys..

I've got an email in to Michelle at Grohmann..

I'm hoping that she is able to comment on this..

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Interesting stuf Phil in AL. And Normark, let us know what you learn.

wannabemarine, the handle on the CS is the same shape as the Grohmann, but it is thicker top to bottom. I find the handle comfortable. The handle material is polypropylene. It isn't textured, but it doesn't feel too slick, either (dry). It does feel like a softer plastic compared to a Frosts Craftsman or SwAK.
 
longbow50 said:
Yep, very nice pics. They show me what I needed to see about the #1 being too slim. The craftsmans handle is the same as the SwAK and I really like the feel of the SwAK in my hand, so I'm thinking that the #4 would be closer to something I would buy. Too bad there's no place around here that sells them, so I can get a good feel for the knife in my hand before hand.
Click to expand...

Longbow, aren't you in Canada? I may be selling my number 4, I could get it sent to you (from NS)and if you like it you can buy it, if not, you are only out shipping.
I just got a RAT5 so I am pretty sure that will be my mid sized fixed blade of choice. Let me know if you are interested.

Liam
 
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