Messed up a Cold Steel Long Hunter today

D

DocGP

Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
586
Well, I really like this knife. For the price point, it has been great (although it is one slick son-of-a-gun when it gets bloody). It is totally my fault, as I did something I shouldn't have. Sorry for the crappy pics, but here it is;

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I had it extremely sharp to start with. I had to perform a necropsy on an 1800 lb bull (large animal vet). Well, it cut through 1/2" skin like nothing. Problem I had was that I needed to get access to the chest cavity, and did not bring my hatchet. OK, we'll see if it can baton large bull ribs..........

Guess not. It did cut through and let me see what I needed to see, but pretty much trashed the edge. NOW, question is, how to save the knife.

How do you repair damage like this? It is a flat ground blade. Would you start on the flat grind and work your way back? Or would you run the sander perpendicular to the cutting edge, shape the blade the way you want it, then work on the edge?

Any input would be appreciated.

Doc
 
Looks like a crocodile tried to eat it.

I would use concrete or a cheap whetstone, or a belt sander(you must dunk it in water every few second if you do it on a belt sander because the thin edge will heat up very fast) to flatten the edge and make the edge straight again(yes it will dull the edge severely), then I would use a belt sander to redo the flat grind at the tip(remember to keep it cool), and resharpen, I'm not sure if the sheath will fit good after the whole blade is reground though.
 
I'd do much the same- that looks like some of my wood chisels after "finding" nails buried invisibly in wood. Use a stone or a file to reshape the edge completely blunt but smooth, then resharpen. The sheath should fit just fine, as you're not making the blade bigger. It may be a hair loose, but doubtful.
 
bro, there is no saving that knife. Trash it and buy another. If you grind on that thing to make it look like a knife again your going to screw up the temper. Just buy another for 30 bucks.
 
You could also try to bend it back to straight using very light strokes with a hammer and small anvil. Then using the Concrete, or coarse diamond stone, get it truly flat.

Then use the same concrete block or stone to work the edge back to where you want it.
Lots of work, but it could be a fun project.

If all you are looking for is a knife, then I agree, buy a new one. However, if you want a project. There you go. :D
 
I agree with doubletap, just spend the extra money to get a new one. That knife pretty is pretty much toast. However, if you're determined to get it back to shape by yourself I'd recommend using a belt sander. I'll send you a PM...
 
i would try to save it.
and if it doesn't work, well, at least you tried, and learned a lot in the process.
 
If it was me, I'd make it into a wharncliffe.
 
Just sharpen the interior of the chips into massive ugly serrations! :D :D :D

Seriously though, a few hours with a fresh coarse file would probably get the blade back into shape...a shape at least. It's a fairly thin knife, so it's not like there's really that much material to remove--it just looks that way in profile. I personally think it's worth filing. Why spend money if you can fix yours and make it unique in the process? Who knows, you might even enjoy it. ;)
 
kiahs said:
If it was me, I'd make it into a wharncliffe.
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup: Yup! You'll have a few less inches of blade, but at least you'll have the knife. Heck, you'll probably get a lot more good use out of it as well. Why junk it? Look at it as a project of sorts.

Regards,
3G
 
If you go with a wharncliff you won't have to regrind the whole profile but you will lose like 3" of cutting edge, and it will bury deep inside the sheath because of the shorter length.
 
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I'd send it back to Cold Steel with a note telling them what you did.
Don't be surprised if they send you a new one.
 
stormyone said:
I'd send it back to Cold Steel with a note telling them what you did.
Don't be surprised if they send you a new one.
Click to expand...

I'd be very surprised if they sent him a new one! That type of abuse, which they themselves perform in their videos, is listed in their ad copy as not covered by their warranty. Does Cold Steel's CS/Warranty Department have a reputation for going 'above and beyond?'

Regards,
3G
 
You're a lg animal vet, so you ain't poor and these are cheap buy a couple more. To cheap to try and save, just buy a new one. keepem sharp
 
In this disposable world I think it's a fine idea to fix this knife. Clamp it edge up in a vise and have at it with a file as mentioned above. No need to throw away a knife with lots of life left in it.
 
It's not just about the money is it? Some knives are like old friends and we're loathe to lose them. I'm working on my son's Puma that had it's tip broken off. Depends on whether or not you want to spend the time on filing (not grinding) it back with a bastard file, then resharpening on stone (diamond is faster). If very careful you can use a belt sander but risk losing temper
 
i would try and fix it! Its a rewarding project if ya can pull it off:thumbup:
Take a sharpie, etc and carefully draw your new profile and have at it, its gonna be a pain, but you'll learn alot and still keep your knife
ivan
P.S. I toiled away rehandling and fixing up an old tramontina carbon steel bowie that cost a helluva lot less than 30 bucks, waste not want not;)
 
Doc-

I talked to Anthony, the Customer Service Mgr. at CS, and he said to send the knife back to his attention and he would take care of it for you- either repair if possible (unlikely from the photos) or replace it.

He said if you have any photos of using the knife for the necropsy they would like to see them. He understands that it was probably used improperly (from the way you describe above), but said he would be willing to help you out this time.

You can call CS for details on shipping, or just pull up the address and send it to them with a note to Anthony describing the problem.
 
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