Cold Steel SRK 6" SK-5 Clip Point Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Durable Kray-Ex Handle Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath

If you're looking for the "perfect" do everything knife, let me know when you find such a magical critter. In the meantime, the Cold Steel SRK is about the closest thing to perfection that you'll find.This knife will do just about anything you need it to do. Except bring you coffee. It doesn't do that.The size of the knife (6" blade) is just right for handling most tasks, from the most mundane to the almost intricate. It's strong, it's designed well, and it fits so well in my hand that it feels lighter than it actually is. This is the knife that "becomes a part of you."Straight out of the box, this knife is sharp. It's not shaving sharp but, it's close. The blade's edge and logos come with a slight bit of what seems to be grease which is an added step Cold Steel didn't have to bother with but, they did it anyway.Unlike some other "name-brand" knife companies out there, the grip isn't flimsy plastic. It is heavily stippled on all surfaces and it gives a really great feeling of control.The sheath is a combination of kydex and nylon. It is amazing how well the sheath works at keeping the knife in place without using the nylon keeper. Personally, I hope it maintains that snugness so the knife and sheath never get lost.If you're new to knives, this isn't the one to start with. But, if you have experience you'll like this knife.

It's incredible that they can offer a knife this nice for this price. VERY stout and sturdy knife and came shaving sharp out of the box. Granted with a little work on my Spyderco sharpmaker it shaved a lot nicer and with almost no resistance but they don't have that kind of time at the factory for a budget knife. I see a lot of people complain about the hollow grind but i don't see the big deal because it is a VERY shallow hollow grind. It honestly looks more like a nice saber grind but if you run your fingers down it you can feel a slight belly to it to know it is a hollow grind. The handle is very comfortable and the knife balances very nice in the hand right at the guard.The sheath is a pretty nice sheath too and on par with much more expensive knives like ESEE. Yeah it's not kydex but it is still a very tough and durable feeling polymer. I love that it has several holes and slots to lash it or secure it just about any way you can think up. It gives you MANY options to attach it to about anything.Finally for anybody turned off by the "made in Tiawan" part, do some research. Tiawan is a very good metal and blade producing country on par with Japan and the US. Some REALLY nice blades and steel come out of Tiawan. Ask any Spyderco collector and they'll tell you that the blades from Tiawan are some of the better ones made. Tiawan doesn't mean cheap as far as quality goes.Overall this knife is a really nice knife and would give most $100+ knives a good run for their money. Trust me I own several. I have to put this knife in the same category as my beloved Mora's as far as value for the money goes. Yeah this knife costs as much as three Mora's but it's also substantially more knife too with a nicer sheath. That's a good compliment too because the Mora knife is probably the greatest "knife for the money" knife on the planet.

Although this is not a knife I would bet my life on within the context of a military or other genuine survival scenario, it is an extremely nice piece for pretty much everything else. It's a great all-around working tool. I have said many times in my various reviews that Cold Steel quite probably, IMO, offers the best budget-grade, dollar for dollar value in the industry. Because I have an absolute favorite brand and model of knife that is capable of handling serious applications, and that I trust completely, I have sold all my other fixed blade knives with one exception: the Cold Steel SRK. I bought this to use as a knock-around beater, but it is capable of greater things.I know some folks cringe when they see that many CS knives are made in Taiwan. Don't let this bother you because from what I have seen, those made in Taiwan are every bit as good as those CS used to make in Japan. These are also as good as some US made blades.The SRK comes in three different blade materials. SK-5, (a good, high carbon steel), Sani Mai (meaning "three layers" in the ancient Japanese manufacturing style), and CPM 3V (a high end "super steel"). I opted for the SK5 carbon steel version because I know it to be a very good functional material that holds an edge well and is pretty easy to sharpen. The cost for the other two materials will be two to three times that of the SK5.The SRK (SK5) will cost in the vicinity of $45, give or take. Now, these days one does not get much for $45, but that is not the case with this knife. There is a lot of quality here. The lines, angles and geometry of this knife are very nice. The tip is quite pointed and will penetrate easily, and it arrived razor sharp right out of the box. The blade is 5mm thick at the widest point. To me, this is a good dimension: not too thin not too thick. The finish is pretty durable as well. Unlike blades made from different kinds of stainless steel, carbon blades are a bit more prone to rust. The easy fix is to simply wipe down the blade with an oily rag or give it a shot of WD40. Problem solved. If you are too lazy to take a few seconds to do this, then you don't need a knife this nice.The rubberized handle is stippled on the sides and serrated on the top and bottom to help provide a secure grip under a variety of conditions: wet, cold, you name it, this handle always feels good in my rather large hands. It even has a palm swell to aid in maximizing comfort. It's nicely done. The guard is just the right size for me. I don't like guards that are too big as they can interfere with the cutting process. I always laugh when I read a review by someone nitpicking a knife to death. It's too light, it's too heavy, the angle is off by a fraction of a millimeter. Some people just love to complain. Cold Steel are production grade knives, they are not custom made safe queens designed to impress one's friends. These are working tools, and they do their job well.This SRK weights about 8 ounces and feels solid and secure in the hand. It's light enough to be maneuvered quickly and heavy enough to be practical.Contrary to popular belief among novices, there is no such thing as any one knife that will handle all tasks with equal effectiveness. Knives are intended to cut material softer than the steel from which they are made. You should not use a knife as a pry bar, hammer, or axe. There may be times when one is confronted with a contingency requiring an extraordinary application, and this knife can pretty much handle a variety of chores. Anyone going into the field with only one knife is asking for trouble. Remember, the key to survival is being prepared.While CS knives are pretty darn good overall, I do not like their scabbards. It's just a personal thing. I prefer military grade scabbards for their durability. The material from which CS scabbards are constructed is some type of light duty plastic with a nylon strap connecting the body to the wearer's belt. This nylon portion allows the entire scabbard to ride upward a couple inches, making the draw slow and labored. The design does allow one to secure it to MOLLE gear, backpacks, etc. In the final analysis, however, these scabbards do their job of keeping the knife secure, and it does help keep the overall cost down.When it's all said and done, what we have here is a very affordable, good quality knife that is a great jack-of-all-trades. I determine the value of an item by comparing it's quality and practicality to it's price. In this case, I believe that the SRK (SK5) is a tremendous value in every respect. God bless America and our troops!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: 9. Looks tough and has nice clip point.FIT & FINISH: 9. very solidFUNCTIONALITY: 10. Sharp out of the box. Handle is extra grippy and feels good in the hand. Cuts into wood with ease.DURABILITY: 10 Built to last.MATERIALS: 8.5 Tough cold steel blade with tuff finish.VALUE: 10 excellent value for the money.RECOMMEND TO A FRIEND: 10