Sorry but the Cold Steel Master Hunter is a far cry from a "starter knife" and it sure isn't a "Walmart knife" if you are using to term to suggest a cheap toy of a knife.
I'm not addressing all the knives made by CS, just this particular model.
I don't think there is any hunter who has actually used one to dress game who would think so. And that's even when they own much better/more expensive knives like I do.
I have carried a Cold Steel Master Hunter with carbon-V blade for many years and never been disappointed with it. My other favorites for your intended use are the Buck 110 and a made in the USA Schrade Sharp Finger. If you are lucky and vigilant you can pick up the old Sharp Fingers for reasonable prices although they are steadily getting more difficult to find.I'm looking for a new hunting knife. My main use for the knife is field dressing and processing game.
While Cold Steel are decent knives(I have owned several), let's not overinflate what they are here; cheap, mainstream, mass produced Asian knives(hence the Walmart reference). Kind of in the same class as SOG and Gerber imo. While I like some of the CS models I have owned, I think for just a little more money you get a much nicer, better performing, and more unique knife. And, from a company that doesn't think there market is ninjas and assassin's to boot lol.
Seems that unlike me, you are addressing all of Cold Steel's products, not just this particular model. With which I am certain you have no experience, otherwise you'd never be able to dismiss the
MH as you do. "Asian Knives= Walmart" doesn't make much sense because Walmart is famous for "Made in China" and Cold Steel's MIC knife products are minimal. Actually so are SOGs.
CRKT on the other hand I believe are all MIC. If you are using "cheap" to mean relatively inexpensive, then yes you are right. But if you mean "cheap" as in poor quality, I suggest you look
at all the reviews of CS fixed blades done by many people over the decades.
The CS MH provides a high degree of functionality and performance for the dollar. It continue to be made today because it has actually done so since the 1990s.
This model needs no "inflating". Sure there are better knives out there but the OP stipulated about $100. I don't think there are many non-mass produced knives
of this category in that price range regardless of where they are made.
Svord Curved Skinner. 5 3/4" blade, L6 steel, differentially heat treated. Economy, Deluxe or Master Cutler.
http://www.svord.com/index.php
No, I have not owned the MH(although a few other CS models) . I stopped buying CS products a few years back for a number of reasons. I like that the MH is available in 3V as long as they get the heat treat right but, it is still a CS. They are still mass produced, mainstream, mid quality knives with crappy polymer handles that wear quite fast. I just think that for a bit more cash you get a much nicer knife with much better performance that not every Joe blow has or can easily get at a department store. And, your not supporting an offshore company that's marketing is rediculous and just generally bad for the knife industry in general.
No, I have not owned the MH(although a few other CS models) . I stopped buying CS products a few years back for a number of reasons. I like that the MH is available in 3V as long as they get the heat treat right but, it is still a CS. They are still mass produced, mainstream, mid quality knives with crappy polymer handles that wear quite fast. I just think that for a bit more cash you get a much nicer knife with much better performance that not every Joe blow has or can easily get at a department store. And, your not supporting an offshore company that's marketing is rediculous and just generally bad for the knife industry in general.
So you're telling the OP that the CS MH is crap even though you've never owned one.
So please tell us what knife for hunting you'd recommend to the OP that's not made offshore, not mass produced, not mainstream,
and not mid quality for under $100. BTW my Kraton handle on my SRK I've had since 1990 is perfectly fine.
Clearly you dislike Cold Steel as a company and as a whole. Fine, so what's your alternative?
Go over to the KnifeMakers Market right now.
Keith Willis has a custom version of the old Schrade Sharpfinger for an unbeatable price.
Here is the link for you: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...quot-Sharpfinger-quot-with-Mesquite-(reduced)
......I don't find CS handles that durable. I almost wore threw to the tang on one of their models and wore the grip off at least one side of the others.
So what knife do you suggest for the OP?
I'm not sure how many CS knives I have owned over the years. I still have a few including a Master Hunter that has processed many deer over the years and a LTC Kukri that has chopped loads of brush and firewood. Both of these are close to if not 20 years old, have seen extensive use, and the handles are holding up fine. I have many knives suited for hunting that cost much more than the Master Hunter but I never go deer hunting without it.