SRK steel?

A

afrookie

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
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how quality is the SRK steel? I bought my knife about 10 years ago and it didn't seem to hold up all that well when i butchered my deer last year with it. i'm thinking about taking it to iraq with me in january but might want to get something a bit better
i just want something that i can sharpen (I don't have good sharpening skills yet) but that will hold an edge well - my cold steel tanto folder was really hard to sharpen and i don't want something like that
 
"Carbon V" is a high carbon steel, so it is naturally fairly tough and will take and hold a good edge. But you really do have to know how to maintain that edge. It's easy once you learn how. :)

The SRK is so thick, it's on the tough end more than the sharp end of the spectrum!
 
Well, if the SRK was dissatisfactory, time to try something else.

Have you looked at the BM fixed blades. I found the handles on the 140/141 knives a bit short (I like a longer handle than most, apparently), but for general use I'd think they would be fine and dandy. Plus, there are newer designs in the catalog.

154CM and D2.
 
I have an SRK. I've heard it's great for cutting off mudflaps and opening metal drums and cans, not so great for butchering deer.

BTW, even sharpening gurus say the v-shaped carbide gadgets like the Smith 2-way and the Accusharp actually work, and in my experience, they do. I still want to build sharpening skills, but not when I'm in a hurry.
 
afrookie said:
how quality is the SRK steel? I bought my knife about 10 years ago and it didn't seem to hold up all that well when i butchered my deer last year with it. i'm thinking about taking it to iraq with me in january but might want to get something a bit better
i just want something that i can sharpen (I don't have good sharpening skills yet) but that will hold an edge well - my cold steel tanto folder was really hard to sharpen and i don't want something like that
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Ease of sharpening tends to be determined by how the knife is ground and how suitable the steel is to the type of knife. How exactly did the SRK now hold up to working on the deer? What did you find hard about sharpening the tanto folder? What exactly was the problem?

-Cliff
 
You would do well with a Camillus BK-7. It's well made, tough, and reasonably easy to sharpen. They run around $45-50 dollars.
 
afrookie said:
how quality is the SRK steel? I bought my knife about 10 years ago and it didn't seem to hold up all that well when i butchered my deer last year with it. i'm thinking about taking it to iraq with me in january but might want to get something a bit better
i just want something that i can sharpen (I don't have good sharpening skills yet) but that will hold an edge well - my cold steel tanto folder was really hard to sharpen and i don't want something like that
Click to expand...

Leave it home and use the M9 knife-bayonet the military should give you (or the newest model that I hear is out). Some units don't allow you to carry whatever you want to. Everyone carries the same thing.

http://www.m9bayonet.com/
 
I don't have much experience sharpening either. I loaned/gave my BK7 to a friend who went to Iraq with the Guard. I saw him on leave and asked him how it was doing, all he said was that the tip "bent". Not sure where the BK 7 is now. I'm guessing that he was doing things that would constitute "abuse" for most blades, that being said I'd recommend something with a strong thick blade. I think the "edge" (pardon the pun) would go to the SRK over the BK7. I like both blades and prefer the BK7 for a number of reasons, but given my friends experience I'm thinking he'd have been better off with the SRK.

If it were me I'd contact Busse Combat, Swamp Rat Knives, or Scrapyard Knives and see what kind of military discount they offer and what they have available before you buy. Also, keep a check on the forums. If I had to take a knife to Iraq it would be something from one of these three companies.

Be safe.

GregB
 
Take the SRK to a sharpening service & have them grind the edge down for you, get a Sharpmaker & problem solved :thumbup:

The SRK is thick as all get out - something you might want in a utility knife - but it is a bear to resharpen unless you have the edge ground down.
 
They both (SRK & BK-7) use the same steel. I don't know who has a better heat treat though.

Regards,
3G
 
I had an SRK awhile back & sold it very quickly to a Survivalist work buddy...Sucker! He loves the knife. A lot of people just don't realise that these 1/8..1/4..and 3/8 inch spine knives just don't make very good cutters. Impressive looking...heck ya.. good cutters..heck No. JMHO.
 
pogo said:
I had an SRK awhile back & sold it very quickly to a Survivalist work buddy...Sucker! He loves the knife. A lot of people just don't realise that these 1/8..1/4..and 3/8 inch spine knives just don't make very good cutters. Impressive looking...heck ya.. good cutters..heck No. JMHO.
Click to expand...

They can make great cutters if they have a wide blade and a high grind.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
They can make great cutters if they have a wide blade and a high grind.
Click to expand...
I just got a Puffin Magnum. O-1 steel, 3/16" stock, primary bevel 5/8", secondary bevel is almost 1/8" and hollow ground. Heavy blade but it slices well.

Even the SRK is a good basic blade that can be modified for better cutting. But I agree with pogo too that people don't always realize till they handle them what prybars they are. :)
 
Id reccomend either a swamp rat or a ranger knife. I also fall into the catagorey of sharpening challenged

Good luck
 
pogo said:
A lot of people just don't realise that these 1/8..1/4..and 3/8 inch spine knives just don't make very good cutters.
Click to expand...

Turn it over and use the edge, you are not supposed to cut with the spine.

-Cliff
 
LAO :D :D :D

The SRK should serve you well in Iraq. It is definitely not the best knife to skin and butcher a deer, but it can handle the job if necessary. That tells you something about the versatility of a knife known for its toughness (really a sharpened pry bar) not it’s cutting ability.

On sharpening, some of the comments here are on target. Use a 2 sided Carbide/ceramic pocket sharpener. Problem solved. If that is not enough for you, consider grinding the edge down, just don't grind it to much. For military use you probably want a tough multiuse utility knife, not a slicer. If you feel you need a slicer, a good pocket knife (perhaps a Benchmade Griptilian with 154CM blade) would take care of that need. On second thought, having two knives with you may not be a bad idea.
 
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