SRK Alternative?

E

e1harris

Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
9
I'm essentially looking for an identical knife to the Cold Steel SRK but in a 5.5" blade (maybe like 4.5" to 5.5") It needs to be stainless.

I'd love to get a Fallkniven S1, but I'm cheap. I think the Fallknivens are practically perfect, but a person could buy two SRK's for the price of one Fallkniven.

Any suggestions?
 
Seal Pup Elite has no serrations, comes in AUS-8, features a swedged clip point and a 4.75 inch blade. That's as close as you're going to get in the 85-90 dollar price range, if you're looking for a quality blade.
 
If you like the SRK then you're in luck, SRK's made today are of Aus-8A steel which is stainless!

Alternatives off the top of my head:

Buck Nighthawk - These are well made, made in the USA too
Rock Creek - Some are in your price range, newer company (a line from CAS Hanwei/paul chen, so quality stuff) but they have had some good reviews
Sog fixed blades
 
Just googled the model for you
[/U]Benchmade 158BK CSK II : 6inch clip point blade in superior 1095 high carbon, blade looks identical to the srk.

I handled the benchmade and srk last year and the CSK II is around the same price with a better sheath and steel.
 
PayetteRucker said:
Seal Pup Elite has no serrations, comes in AUS-8, features a swedged clip point and a 4.75 inch blade. That's as close as you're going to get in the 85-90 dollar price range, if you're looking for a quality blade.
Click to expand...

I'll look into that. I didn't realize that they were making the pup with a straight edge option now. Thanks.
 
Javelin said:
If you like the SRK then you're in luck, SRK's made today are of Aus-8A steel which is stainless!

Alternatives off the top of my head:

Buck Nighthawk - These are well made, made in the USA too
Rock Creek - Some are in your price range, newer company (a line from CAS Hanwei/paul chen, so quality stuff) but they have had some good reviews
Sog fixed blades
Click to expand...

Thanks for the list. I'll look them up. Unfortunately I'd stick with an SRK, but in Texas you can't carry anything over 5.5".
 
Brad "the butcher";10531190 said:
I think benchmade has a srk lookalike in 1095, saw one in a shop a while back and looked better than the CS.
Click to expand...

Wow, that does look just like an SRK. It would be a great alternative if someone wanted an SRK in 1095.

Thanks.
 
You may have answered your own question. I know its hard to make the jump into the over hundred dollar range, but the S1 really is an amazing knife. It was a difficult decision for me but I was so happy with it I went on to get the F1, another great blade. As for the SRK in AUS8, after using it a few times I gave it to my twelve year old son Shane. I did pick up a CS Master Hunter in VG1, It holds an edge quite well and I love the belly on the blade. It has the same super tacky handle as the SRK and comes with a great sheath.
 
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FTR is right...spend it now or you will buy 2x. The S1 is under 150. I bought mine for $108 a year ago, prices have certainly gone up! But an SRK is around 65 bucks...not bad and I think it is a decent knife. But is is AUS8A which is an ok steel. You cannot compare that steel to there VG-1 or Fallkniven VG-10. There is a tremendous difference between VG-10 and AUS8A!!! Oh and whatever you do, my suggestion is dont buy either in black. My A1 was a black coated blade and it looks terrible now! These coating dont stick well to stainless...different story with 1095 or non-stainless but VG-10 no! All the streaks in the black from baton, chopping, and general use have made my A1 look like hell!!! FTR also mentioned the master hunter...another great and around 90 bucks in VG-1! It has VG-1 steel...not as good as the VG-10 Fallkniven uses but still very good. Alos remember neither CS has an exposed pommel...which I like so you dont bang up the handle! CS isnt a bad blade at all but the Fallkniven is a smarter long term choice to invest in instead of rebuying later. Had I bought right to begin with I would have saved a ton of money. I had a SOG Seal Pup Elite and hated it...hard handle was so horrible it was a tuning fork...tons of vibration and hard to hold for it is not very grippy and torn up my hand! Also Buck NightHawk...actually quite good and worth a look for you grippy, soft handle but will not take a beating! Steel is decent buck does a good job on heat treating. BK2...too thick for easy all around use IMO. It is a pry bar/ shovel!! I do like it but it is just too thick to use for fine work. I also had an LMFII from gerber...save your money, it isnt bad but you will buy something better later. I recommend bucking up now for I have a pile of knives I dont like as much and therefore dont use because of it!
 
e1harris said:
Wow, that does look just like an SRK. It would be a great alternative if someone wanted an SRK in 1095.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Nutnfancy reviewed this and it was bad. It sure looks awesome! But BM cant heat treat like ESEE. If they did, I would have that CSK II now!! Take a look at this lengthy video from NutnJob! HAHAHA

[video=youtube;iTWffDF1_Y4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTWffDF1_Y4[/video]
 
[video=youtube;e-FqugTYsQ8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-FqugTYsQ8&feature=player_embedded#![/video]

speed up to 11:45!!! HOLYSHIT!
 
What about a SOG NW Ranger? It's not exactly looking the same but i think it fulfills all your other criterias perfectly!
 
I completely forgot about the NW Ranger, I have the old serrated version and it was my backpacking fixed for a few years. Good blade with the flatgrind for general use.
The new version is without serrations.
 
The CSK II does NOT have a better sheath than the SRK. The CSK II sheath is the chintziest leather sheath I've ever seen. It looks and feels like it was made out of cardboard. At least the examples I've seen. :barf: And they run their 1095 too hard for a knife of that size and style.

But it's a moot point since it's not stainless, anyway.
 
Another good one is the Kobun from Cold Steel. It is hollow ground, but the tip is full flat ground for strength, and the spine is full thickness. I've used it for woods and hunting tasks, and it works just fine. I bought it specifically because I wanted a 5.5" stainless fixed blade.

The sheath isn't the best, and it will dull the blade a bit until you've drawn the blade a few hundred times. However, after doing that, it only took a few seconds to resharpen the blade, so that's not that big of a downside.
 
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