Cold Steel Master Hunter Fixed Blade Knife

Although it is nice to have a knife that looks as good as it cuts, sometimes you just want a basic, practical, and effective tool, which is where the Master Hunter fixed blade knife from Cold Steel comes in.

The blade

The 4.5” drop-point-style blade is in VG-1 San Mai III stainless steel with a satin finish and has been flat ground and honed to razor sharpness, resulting in great edge geometry and very effective cutting. The spine of the blade is a generous 3/16” thick, ensuring it has the strength and rigidity for tough jobs like field dressing a large animal. It is no exaggeration to describe the finish on the blade as faultless and Cold Steel has put a lot of work into achieving this.

Get a grip

The handle is made from a material called Kray-Ex, which has a deeply chequered surface and a slightly tacky feel to it. It will not rot, shrink, crack, or split and it is completely impervious to the weather. You can clean the whole knife in very hot water without any harm.

The material is also shock absorbent, and the handle is designed and shaped for extended use without fatigue, so you can fully field dress and skin an animal without your fingers aching. The handle is on the large side and the subtly contoured shape fits into your hand really comfortably. This, combined with the sticky feel, ensures a really good grip, even when wet.

At the front of the handle, the Kray-Ex is shaped to form a large and very effective guard between your fingers and the edge of the blade. The fit between the handle and blade is very good, with no gaps, and there is a lanyard hole at the back end of the handle.

The sheath

The knife comes with a heavy-duty Secure-Ex sheath, which holds it very tightly, and a strap that closes with a large press stud for added security. It has a large loop that can be used to attach the knife in various ways, and there are several eyelets for alternative fixing options.

Verdict

This tool is highly effective, durable, and provides excellent value for money. The blade is very strong and, although the knife is a bit plain, it is a real workhorse that’s comfortable and easy to use. Edge retention is very good, and the flat grind is an easy profile to maintain. The thick spine of the blade makes it totally rigid, even if you put more sideways pressure on it than you should, and it also stands up well to being used as a small log splitter. The handle is comfortable to use and very ‘grippy’, thanks to the textured surface, the shape, and the apparent ‘stickiness’ of the Kray-Ex. With all of the money going into quality and strength, not whistles and bells, you know you are getting a knife that will last.