SRK info.

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Radman607

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Apr 10, 2022
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Hi folks, new member long time lurker. So, some time back I sold my SRK that I had aquired new in the 90's. Yesterday my cousin told me I was an idiot for selling it because it was Carbon V and collectable. Can anyone fill me in on the history of the Carbon V blade/steel history and why its so desirable/collectable??
 
Radman607 said:
Hi folks, new member long time lurker. So, some time back I sold my SRK that I had aquired new in the 90's. Yesterday my cousin told me I was an idiot for selling it because it was Carbon V and collectable. Can anyone fill me in on the history of the Carbon V blade/steel history and why its so desirable/collectable??
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"Carbon V" isn't a steel; it's a trademark owned by Lynn Thompson and used for whatever carbon steels his suppliers were using to manufacture the knives he sold. Some years his carbon steel knives were 0170-6 or 0170-6c, some years other things.... They were all good, but just plain ordinary carbon steel, not at all deserving of the hype. With the rise of the internet that became well known and eventually he stopped using the trademark.
 
Camillus knives used a lot of the steel Lynn Thompson called Carbon V. I’m definitely not anything close to and expert on the subject. I thought Dan Maragni from Ontario might have had something to do with the steel as well ? Those CarbonV SRK’s were nice users, not very rare though. You’ll have no problem finding one if you look.
 
As others have said, Carbon V is a non-stainless alloy steel. The exact composition depended on who was making the knives for Cold Steel. Always had 0.95% carbon. For a while it was the same steel KaBar uses, 1095 Cro Van. Later it was a similar, but different alloy. 1095 Cr Van is still the closest alloy commonly available. There are collectors who lust for it. The last company to make Carbon V blades was Camillus. When they went belly up in 2007, Cold Steel switched to AUS 8 for the SRK. More recently, they switched to SK5, which is on the order of a straight 1080 carbon steel.
 

Mini History of Cold Steel SRK and Recon Tanto

Quickly threw this together based on catalog info...not planning to add any pics. Have included model numbers, blade steel, blade finish, and type of sheath. SRK: Introduced in 1990...I have a copy of the "New Products for 1990" flyer that announces it. Early models had markings on one side...
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To see how much the price of a product increased, go to https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ and type in the price the item sold for in the year you bought it and it will show you how much it would cost in the current year.

Then go to a site that sells the product and compare the prices.

I paid $70.00 for a Carbon V Recon Tanto in 1997 and in current dollars it would be $123.74. This would make it maybe three or four times the price of the current SK5 version and about as much as the current San Mai III version, and a bit less than the old Carbon V Recon Tantos sold on auction sites.

I don't know how much the SRK sold for in 1997 but remember it was a little less than the Recon Tanto, and the auction prices I checked after reading this thread were between $140.00 and $300.00, so a new condition SRK in Carbon V, judging from what that site lists them at today (it could change next week), ranges from just a little more than their original cost to over twice the original cost.
 
Benjamin Liu said:
To see how much the price of a product increased, go to https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ and type in the price the item sold for in the year you bought it and it will show you how much it would cost in the current year.

Then go to a site that sells the product and compare the prices.

I paid $70.00 for a Carbon V Recon Tanto in 1997 and in current dollars it would be $123.74. This would make it maybe three or four times the price of the current SK5 version and about as much as the current San Mai III version, and a bit less than the old Carbon V Recon Tantos sold on auction sites.

I don't know how much the SRK sold for in 1997 but remember it was a little less than the Recon Tanto, and the auction prices I checked after reading this thread were between $140.00 and $300.00, so a new condition SRK in Carbon V, judging from what that site lists them at today (it could change next week), ranges from just a little more than their original cost to over twice the original cost.
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In 1994, Skylands Cutlery, who was a really good dealer, sold the Recon for $59.50, and the SRK for $55 even.

Some other prices just in case it might be useful -

Trailmaster - $175, Tanto - $133, Master Tanto - $175, Magnum Tanto 7.5 - $203, R-1 - $98, Defender 1, 2 (push daggers) - $70, $55. Recon Scout - $113.50, Master Hunter (choice carbon or stainless) $52.50, Voyager 4" - $41 (clip) $46 (tanto).
 
Carbon V is an excellent high carbon steel. I have several CS knives in Carbon V: SRK, Master Hunter, Twistmasters (large and small), Red River Elk Skinner. Takes a very fine edge, extremely tough, easy to resharpen. I'd rate it very similar to 52100. My Kabar Mark 1 is in1095 Cro Van, for all practical purposes the same steel.
 
Along with the performance hype, I think part of the reason they are so desirable is that they were made in the USA. Once Camillus went out of business, CS switched to SK-5, and they were made in China for a year or two and then changed to Taiwan. After a few more years they switched to O1. They were supposed to switch to A2 a few years ago but it never happened, and now they're doing 3V at crazy prices.
 

Carbon V Steel vs 1095 Steel?

:confused: Hey guys, maybe you can help? I am not that good with telling the difference between all grades of steel. As such, does anyone know the difference between the Cold Steel Carbon V steel and a 1095 steel? If so, is one better than the other? Thanks!
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Dan Maragni came up w the heat treat process for Carbon V so if anything its those steels mentioned above w a real good heat treat.
 
jlauffer said:
Along with the performance hype, I think part of the reason they are so desirable is that they were made in the USA. Once Camillus went out of business, CS switched to SK-5, and they were made in China for a year or two and then changed to Taiwan. After a few more years they switched to O1. They were supposed to switch to A2 a few years ago but it never happened, and now they're doing 3V at crazy prices.
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Hmm..you sure you aren't thinking of the Trail Master?
As far as I am aware, after Camillus went under the SRK was only offered in Aus8 made by Kinryu Japan. Then for a year or so they were made in solid VG1. They were also made as a VG1 core San Mai III for many years.
I do not recall the SRK ever having made in China. Or any SRK in 01 steel.
After Cold Steel ended their contract with Kinryu Japan, they produced a VG10 core San Mai in Taiwan, as well as an SK5 version.
Then finally CS introduced an SRK in 3V made in Taiwan.
 
KenHash said:
Hmm..you sure you aren't thinking of the Trail Master?
As far as I am aware, after Camillus went under the SRK was only offered in Aus8 made by Kinryu Japan. Then for a year or so they were made in solid VG1. They were also made as a VG1 core San Mai III for many years.
I do not recall the SRK ever having made in China. Or any SRK in 01 steel.
After Cold Steel ended their contract with Kinryu Japan, they produced a VG10 core San Mai in Taiwan, as well as an SK5 version.
Then finally CS introduced an SRK in 3V made in Taiwan.
Click to expand...
Sorry, was talking about CV in general, and what CS used for carbon steel after CV.
 
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