Is the Cold Steel SRK a good budget Survival Bushcraft Knife?

Taking a look at the Cold Steel SRK to decide if it is a good Bushcraft/Survival knife.

[@jeffhayden2737]

I came to your channel for the pups, I stayed for the review. Great job

[@howardvarley8795]

You dont need the 'budget' label. It will keep you Alive, and compares to a Chris Reeve, Spartan, TRC, Becker, Gerber, Bayley, Mora et al. All of which I own. In extremis the SRK will manage just fine!

[@jasonbritt2497]

I bought the old one while in Iraq didn’t pay attention and got the made in Japan blade. 1 week after purchase I snapped the blade in half. Next time I was at PX I bought another and made sure it was made in USA with carbon V and still have it today, love it. I wrapped the handle in 550 cord to better fit my hand and removed the blade coat like yours.

[@dogy6995]

Great video! Your kabar modification video also helped a lot.

[@8626John]

I picked up one of these a couple of months ago and it's a very sturdy knife!

[@memmim6239]

thanks for the helpful comparison! I have now decided against the compact because of the small handle. Greetings from Berlin, Germany

[@contrabassbob]

Good to see the handle can hold up! I have 2 of each size, I really like the Compact. The sheaths are hit or miss though.

[@brianfischer5609]

So I probably just got a bad sheath then? It's a suuuuuper tight fit. If I have the knife on my belt, I almost can't unsheath it with only 1 hand

[@jimbusmaximus4624]

I had an SRK for years and I just got my first SRK-C and I only got it to have a more concealable blade but I actually like it better than the original! It just feels more solid somehow and I can get it much sharper!

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

I've always liked these SRK's. Never owned one though. I have a 1995 Buck 650 Nighthawk which I think is in this class of knives. 1/4" of 420HC Bos heat treated. Great blade for wet conditions especially a river knife.

[@WoodsmanHobo777]

The hollow grind ruins that knife, they should have kept the saber flat grind

[@jrbarilla]

Have the Carbon V made in USA version One of my favorite budget friendly versatile fixed blades I’m guessing the carbon v is less budget friendly today than the newer versions like you mentioned ✌️

[@gtrfreak]

The compakt is where its at for me, would make a great little portable fruit knife 🔪 assuming you have a good sheath for it

[@ulary]

I thought they made it flat grind now

[@aj5748]

Seems like they are if you aren’t being stupid with your knives like some channels. Thanks!

[@dennisleighton2812]

I think we have a misunderstanding here about what bushcrafting is, as opposed to survival. The SRK is an out-and-out survival, maybe camp knife, but most certainly not a bushcrafting knife. Bushcrafting is a specialist field where high precision crafting of items from wood is the main aim, and which needs a specific tool to enable one to do that, to exacting standards (set by the craft gurus). This has resulted in very specific tool design being either created or adopted and made into a standard for the craft of bushcrafting (eg the Scandi grind knife). So much so that most bushcrafters disregard any other knives from serious participation in their craft. This is their right and that is how they like it to be. No quibble. A survival knife is a much more generic term for a tool that will help one complete a wide variety of camp, trail, or outdoor tasks needed to make being there more comfortable. There aren't any "rules" or "norms" as such. If a particular knife works for you when engaging in such activities, you may well regard it as a good survival knife, or camping knife, or as I call them a belt knife. After all the SRK' s name actually includes the word Survival in it - surely a hint as to its purpose. So, short answer to your question - No, it's not a "bushcrafting knife". Is it a good outdoor/camp/belt knife? Undoubtedly! Glad you have several. [Do you have a CS Trail Master? Now THAT is a brilliant knife!]

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@Butch_Deezlsteak Yeah Jakob, but I don't particularly want to buy a file and "modify" it into a "bushcraft" knife that will satisfy their "rules". Or a car spring, or a saw blade. I think you sort of missed the point of my message.

[@dennisleighton2812]

@@Butch_Deezlsteak What I meant was, I agree with you! But try telling that to the members of the Bushcrafters' "guild"! They are the ones who make up all these rules not me. I just try to make sense of stuff. I wouldn't actually buy a Scandi knife, yet they regard that as the ultimate and only true bushcrafting knife! The CS SRK is my first choice for a belt knife anyway!

[@adrianotero7963]

You need a better microphone.....I like your content but unfortunately I find it hard to hear you.

[@throatpunch4789]

Buddy you need to speak up!

[@1s1k97]

You need to listen better.

[@calvincurry2456]

𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚖 😢