Cold Steel SRK Survival Rescue Knife Tactical Fixed Blade (6" Black SK-5)

When it comes to the balance between cost, performance, and materials, The SRK in SK-5 is a knife that hits all the marks. This can be a general camp knife, "bushcraft-esque" knife, or combat knife with equally great performance. The combination of the blade shape, thickness, and grind allow the SRK to be an excellent performer while still maintaining strength for tougher tasks. The edge can get very sharp and maintains its edge for much longer than you think it would. I saw that it was advertised at one point that it was treated to 65 Rockwell. Not sure if that is true, but the SK-5 in this knife has held its edge for me far longer than comparable 1095 steel knives. Sharpening the edge, it definitely sharpens like its treated very hard in comparison to similar carbon steels of 56-58 Rockwell. The coating is very good and the sheath has the best fit I've ever seen from Cold Steel. If you are on the fence, just spend the $43. You wont be disappointed

I bought this knife more as a bushcraft knife, and it's awesome. For around ~40 bucks you get pretty great fit and finish with an amazing sheath. Seriously, this is the best sheath you'll find on a fixed blade in this price range. It's basically kydex, and I especially like how you can snap it into place without securing the strap, if you're accessing the knife frequently. SK-5 is a pretty standard lower-end carbon steel. It has acceptable edge retention, is easy to sharpen, and is incredibly durable. You'll have a hard time snapping or chipping this steel. It will rust though, so be mindful of that. The handle is nice. You'll often see knives with lots of choils and grooves, but a simple broomstick-style handle is the way to go. That's why bushcraft knives' handles are so simple- they're the easiest on the hands during extended, hard cutting (through wood and cordage, for example). The SRK handle is a bit square for my taste but it's still comfortable. Unfortunately I tipped my knife on a backpacking trip. I was splitting wood by stabbing the tip into it and twisting, which is obviously abusive. I don't fault the knife for this and I still love it. Just be weary of how acute the tip is-- it'll stab and pierce nicely but it's not as robust as on a Becker knife, for example. The saber grind is very robust but it also is thin enough behind the edge for finer cutting tasks like feather sticking. The blade stock is just under 1/4" so it's plenty durable and also has a bit of weight for chopping, especially if you choke back and pivot the knife in your hand using the little flared out portion by the lanyard hole. Overall it's a great knife. Admittedly it's more suited toward tactical use with its clip point and sharp tip, but don't let that stop you. It's also good for bushcraft and survival. Just be mindful of its shortcomings (unlike me...).