Experiences with Cold Steel SRK 3V?
- Thread starter GreyDog
- Start date
I Prefer the SRK still to an S1, their handle is just too small. Had an old one and it was a good knife but it wasn’t this steel which I presume is better.
To be honest don’t get hung up on the steels there is so many good ones out there and choice compared to the past. As long as you know how to sharpen a knife it really doesn’t matter.
Size, comfort and fit more important to me.
Given the choice I would rather have a 5 inch blade every time to the more current popular and common 4 inch.
To be honest don’t get hung up on the steels there is so many good ones out there and choice compared to the past. As long as you know how to sharpen a knife it really doesn’t matter.
Size, comfort and fit more important to me.
Given the choice I would rather have a 5 inch blade every time to the more current popular and common 4 inch.
I agree that the SRK has a better handle than the too-small Fallkniven S1, but that is not saying much, and I would not say that the SRK has a good handle.
I bought a CarbonV SRK in 1995 and the design itself was an enormous disappointment. The latest incarnation does look better, but I would be very cautious all the same. They have shortened the ricasso, which is good, and may have thinned the ridiculously thick edge, but you could half the thickness of the early knife and still have too thick an edge. I would expect the edge angle to be the same too-obtuse 40+ degree affair that nearly every company uses. The handle looks the same and while broad enough it is basically a rubber rectangle. It was never comfortable to hold for heavy wood work.
If you want CPM 3V, as I did, I would suggest looking at the Benchmade Leuku 202. Currently out of stock with Heinnie, but there may be other options.
https://www.moonrakerknives.co.uk/shop/fixed-knives/benchmade-leuku-202-bushcraft-knife
I did a review here of this knife's smaller brother and while I was not entirely smitten, it was streets ahead of the Cold Steel, and it is significantly cheaper. With the Benchmade I would think about getting a sheath to replace the factory one, and one needs to work the edge down if one wants a wood cutting tool, but the blade shape and handle shape are much better
I bought a CarbonV SRK in 1995 and the design itself was an enormous disappointment. The latest incarnation does look better, but I would be very cautious all the same. They have shortened the ricasso, which is good, and may have thinned the ridiculously thick edge, but you could half the thickness of the early knife and still have too thick an edge. I would expect the edge angle to be the same too-obtuse 40+ degree affair that nearly every company uses. The handle looks the same and while broad enough it is basically a rubber rectangle. It was never comfortable to hold for heavy wood work.
If you want CPM 3V, as I did, I would suggest looking at the Benchmade Leuku 202. Currently out of stock with Heinnie, but there may be other options.
https://www.moonrakerknives.co.uk/shop/fixed-knives/benchmade-leuku-202-bushcraft-knife
I did a review here of this knife's smaller brother and while I was not entirely smitten, it was streets ahead of the Cold Steel, and it is significantly cheaper. With the Benchmade I would think about getting a sheath to replace the factory one, and one needs to work the edge down if one wants a wood cutting tool, but the blade shape and handle shape are much better
The bark river aurora 2 is spot on as a user in this size and steel. I did have a little QC use in mine, but got for a very good price in the end so going to use and sharp the angle in
www.knivesandtools.co.uk
I have the SRK and the A1, between the two, I would go for the A1. Between the three, it would be the bark river aurora 2
Bark River Aurora II CPM 3V, Green Canvas Micarta bushcraft knife
Handle/blade: micarta/CPM 3V Blade length: 14.0 cm Weight: 195 grams
www.knivesandtools.co.uk
I have the SRK and the A1, between the two, I would go for the A1. Between the three, it would be the bark river aurora 2
Much obliged Gra, never seen the Bark River before, looks to be a beauty - and the sheath!The bark river aurora 2 is spot on as a user in this size and steel. I did have a little QC use in mine, but got for a very good price in the end so going to use and sharp the angle in
Bark River Aurora II CPM 3V, Green Canvas Micarta bushcraft knife
Handle/blade: micarta/CPM 3V Blade length: 14.0 cm Weight: 195 grams
I have the SRK and the A1, between the two, I would go for the A1. Between the three, it would be the bark river aurora 2
I had the SRK in Carbon V. I found it too long and with too much ricasso for my needs - so I shortened it from the tang end. I disliked the handle - so I replaced it with Oak. I was not keen on the grind so tried (and failed) to give it a Convex ... and then had Dave Budd give it a good High Saber grind. I disliked the sheath - so made a leather one.
Quite a nice knife now ....
Quite a nice knife now ....
So not much left of the original and you got a knife you liked. Did you ever think of purchasing the "right" knife in the first place? I have been quillty of similar modification and that got me thinking ...
The resulting knife is one of my favourites 
I have very few straight commercial knives (apart from my teaching set of Moras) as I find my tastes require a bit of custom work on most any knife I buy. I have several knives I had built from scratch - and even those could use improvements
I guess that I am one of those folk who are never satisfied
I have very few straight commercial knives (apart from my teaching set of Moras) as I find my tastes require a bit of custom work on most any knife I buy. I have several knives I had built from scratch - and even those could use improvements
I guess that I am one of those folk who are never satisfied
Pictures please JohnThe resulting knife is one of my favourites
I have very few straight commercial knives (apart from my teaching set of Moras) as I find my tastes require a bit of custom work on most any knife I buy. I have several knives I had built from scratch - and even those could use improvements
I guess that I am one of those folk who are never satisfied
I'll go along with gra-farmer. My bit of 3V is a Bark River too, a Bravo 1.5 rampless. I'll be be doing something to thin out the convex behind the edge since I recently got the hang of that trick.
A friend had a Bark River Canadian in 3V, but the edge badly chipped out while shaving some bamboo. He ground that out and it was fine after. Point being: you sometimes hear about a fragility in the factory edge.
A friend had a Bark River Canadian in 3V, but the edge badly chipped out while shaving some bamboo. He ground that out and it was fine after. Point being: you sometimes hear about a fragility in the factory edge.
I forgot the Bradford guardian 5.5, that is a brilliant tool, handle shaping a little narrow for my liking, but very good 3v steel, an option in the CPM 3V line up
Bradford Guardian 5.5S, 3D Green Micarta Guardian 5.5 CPM 3V, Sabre Stonewashed 5.5S-102-3V
Bradford Guardian 5.5S, 3D Green Micarta Guardian 5.5 CPM 3V, Sabre Stonewashed 5.5S-102-3V: null
www.knivesandtools.co.uk
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Too much of a thread hijack
Interpretation of request is about 3v steel mainly, with the SRK as a 3v option.
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