The Problem with the Cold Steel SRK SK-5
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- An otherwise great knife for a wonderful price, there is one thing I would like to see improved with this.
I would still recommend this knife, especially if you are new to knives and maybe don't want to spend a fortune on your first knife. This is a really good all-round knife for almost any survival situation.
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I've had a srk for a long time and never had one problem
Me to
That is why there is a hole to attach a lanyard to your size preference. The SRK is perfect, and C.S. has been producing it for over 1/4 century.
Yep
You can solve your problem with a small para cord lanyard. I like to use the rescue cord so I have fire starter material if things are bad. I make the lanyard so it goes around my middle finger. You can always make a adjusting lanyard with two overhand knots.
I think if you give the lanyard a try you will be amazed how helpful it can be.
That’s a very good point! I’ll try that next time I’m out with the SRK! 🙏
Or you can buy a real knife like the Buck 650 Nighthawk.
And I don't mean that retarded tops version with the holes in it.
that is what the lanyard hole is for,to attach a lanyard.that part of the knife is called the quillon,The choil is the space between the cutting edge and the handle and is part of the actual blade
I know, I realized too late that I was mixing up choil and the fingerguard/quillon.
There is a lanyard hole in the handle. Add a little paracord and it will help with the grip while chopping. It would be interesting to see if Cold Steel comes up with something.
Add a short lanyard to the handle, insert last two fingers into the yanyard and chop. It secures the knife in your grip quite well. Works for me.
Most knife guys know what that lanyard hole is for 🤦♂️
My problem with SRK Compact is that it is a bad knife for carving, which is what I mostly do with my knives. Otherwise it is a nice knife.
The original name of this knife is "Search & Rescue Knife" but the people changed it in "Survival & Rescue Knife". Two things I would change. 1. No falso edge for better tip strengt when prying or batoning. 2. Bring back the AUS8 version with the saber grind instead of the current hollow grind. But you are giving your view so why would I dislike the video? It was just never designer as a chopping knife.
That knife is marketed towards military like Navy Seals and other units as well as law enforcement- with that said your idea of actually having it for chopping with a curve handle might interfere with changing the grips from a standard position to a reverse position
You want to keep it simple so even in a high stress situation you don't want to dropping the knife when you need it most like somebody's trying to shoot you or stab you and you decide to change grips only to get caught on the part of the handle
Thx for the review. As previously stated- use a lanyard. There is a good reason this knife is popular for both defense and survival. Bigger hands require bigger handles. Improvision and creativity are irreplaceable survival characteristics! That and having the will to survive. 👍
Thank you for the kind words, and I agree! 😊
I have one, with the fancy steel. Looks like a seriously strong knife from my use so far. I have changed the angle of the blade at the finger guard end to 20 degrees, for stick feathering.
Nice constructive criticism. It was done professionally. Haters always gonna hate
Not a problem for me since I don’t chop with my knives, but I would like the tang exposed at the pommel.
Similiar to how when I used a finger grooved Randall "Airman" (#15) and moved my fingers down two grooves when chopping. Also put the Kabar's pommel in my palm. Works much better than it sounds.
YES! 🤗
I get your point. A lanyard would definitely help, but longer handles are always welcome. For now, I do suggest a two-finger lanyard loop in the 'paracord bracelet' form. In a full grip it helps prevent secure your grip, while in a three finger chopping grip it will also give you something extra to grab onto.
The problema is when you do not have one 😅
The srk is designed for buds not just survival. I carried this knife for years and never had an issue with it.
Good quick review, thank you. Have you tried an adjustable lanyard that can tighten around your chopping hand adding both length of reach and control of chop? I just put one on my SRK and it does work well though not as good as other knives I have for that purpose.
Ooh, I like the idea of an adjustable lanyard! I will try it, and I think it will be part of my next video 😋
to be fair the knife is not build to chop its way to light for that. Cross batoning might be a better way to use it then and thicker wood can be "beaver chewed" with this and you still would need less energy
Fair point! Although it has a decent chop for it’s weight, wouldn’t you say?
@@KnifeySurvivalist absolutly and the handle absorbs shock extremly well
Agreed. Too, btw 😄👍
I've never had issues with this (you can always attached the lanyard). However, my one and only problem with SRK is missing the exposed tang (similar to Fällkniven A1/S1, as example)
That’s a good point! Maybe Cold Steel could fix both of our problems in one change? By extending the tang to a full tang + make it an exposed tang + adding a little curve to the handle (like the Espada XL).
What do you think? 😊
Find a rock
Hahahahaha....LMFAO!
@@KnifeySurvivalist It is a full over molded tang. Use a magnet and you will find that out. The tang goes all the way back to the lanyard hole.
It's actually a decent suggestion.. I have one but I mainly carry it for utilitarian tasks at work and concealed for self defense . But they should take your suggestion for a specialized bushcraft edition.
I think it's great, too. Especially, for it's price point. For chopping, add a Lanyard... :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
I actually agree, and having read all the comments here, I will definitely add a lanyard and maybe make a video apologizing for critizing the people's knife 🔪 😅
Liked your review. The knife is a search and rescue knife by design, not a survival knife. More suited for knife fighting and basic camp chores. My 2¢ LOL.
Thank you! Yeah, that’s true. But one can always wish… 😁
Concerning chopping, I have seen other vids where they attached paracord loop to A knife to aid in chopping? Would that work better for you?
Yes, I think that’s the best way to solve this for now 👍🙏
I have an srk and I put a braided lanyard on it to give me more grip on extended grips.
👍 one my favs for sure but i just put a lanyard on it to grab. Thanks for the vid
Use a Lanyard, then it will not fly out of your hand. I like the SRK, which is why I bought one.
Me too. Ended up with 4 !
@@adods9824 I only have the one. But I do now own 6 Khukuri's from Nepal, of varying sizes ;)
People love the SRK because it's a long knife with a shorter handle. (Thats what makes the SRK what it is!)
Just put a short lanyard on it. It’ll give you more to grab at the end.
You can baton the knife into the branch at an angle and then baton it at the apposing angle instead of chopping with it.
I’ve never chopped with a knife. I don’t even know why it gets tested so much. Looks silly to me.
@@pugilist102 It's not ideal but there are ways to make it work. A small knife might be all you have for some reason. You don't always get to choose your circumstance.
@@seanhewson1341 I’m not gonna chop with it. Using a baton like you stated is feasible. Wasting energy trying to chop with a small knife is silly. Find another way.
Agreed. The only chopping I do is whacking off side branches off a main stem or chopping off a palmetto leaf. I will always prefer to use my Corona folding saw or a hatchet. But batoning is perfect with the SRK!
You may like the cold steel AK 47 handle
put a lil lanyard on it or put longer handle, to make it chop better
SRK is my favorite production mid-size survival knife by far. Knives shouldn't be used to chop. Cross-batoning is infinitely more effective
Going to try that next time! I’ve only used cross batoning to notch so far, but I will definitely try it to split some wood next time I’m out!
No Man! A pinky lanyard! That's what you need.
Lanyard would do, or wrap the end with tape
Add AddI short 10cm long paracord (knoted) other lanyards hole. Bend it back over two fingers and under the rest( towards the edge). Never get the same problem again 💫
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the SRK. Although, I get what you're saying, I personally don't have any issues with my SRK for what I use it for. It's not designed to be used as a chopper, so I don't use it as such. I have other knives in my collection that are better suited for that task. 👍However, if you want to use it for chopping, I'd recommend adding a lanyard as other have also mentioned here. ☺Take care and Cheers!
You're
Excelente comentario..saludos desde Ecuador
Probably a weight/material/cost/ergonomics decision that doesn't factor in XL hands. They're going for optimization for median/average hands for their end users.
Yes, I'm sure there are a lot of factors weighing in, but they have made quite a few of their other blades with the curve I'm talking about, so maybe it could be possible down the road that they make a variation with that?
Well...I was going to suggest a lanyard. Then I scrolled down a bit and yeah...Lanyard. A good snug pair of gloves with a rubber palm grip helps too.
What holster is that on the knife?
It’s the original sheath that comes with the knife, but I removed the belt part of it, and added two Velcro straps, so I could carry it horizontally on my belt,
Works for both scout carry and front left side, although it sticks out a little bit
Put a lanyard on it and use that to put your wrist through when you want to chop.
For combat use the cold steel tanto. And for choping a machete
I just got one
Alk you have to do is learn to make a snake knot 550 cord lanyard its what I do on a lot of neck knives and for bigger knives for extended grip for chopping
Simple fix: attach a heavy lanyard.
i agree add a lanyard
Put a lanyard on it to hold it take it off when not needed
I saw a broken one in SK5 with huge grain which means bad heat treatment. That is probably why it broke so easily. It is a very visually appealing knife to me. I have the laminated version and it is great.
I stick with case and k bar, never a problem.
1:44 all starts
SRK is search and rescue, not survival! If you want to chop, use a lanyard.
That is definitely not a chopping-weight knife. The way to use a small blade like that to fell or section trees in the unfortunate absence of a folding saw is to use it like a chisel with a baton.
Hm, hadn't thought of that! I will definitely try that next time I'm out with the SRK 😊
Gonna piss off the fan boys with this one
Hehe yeah, that is a risk that comes with taking a shot at their favorite knife 😅
Hopefully (albeit unlikely,) it leads to a new and improved SRK from cold steel, and maybe then they will forgive me 😋😛
I've been rocking Cold Steel's SRK since 1990 with 7 of them in my rotation now and I have to say "Nyet knife is fine"!.
I understand what you are saying and what you want to accomplish. What you need is a heavier knife for chopping chores. Try one of Cold Steels Bowie knives for chopping. After 33 years with the SRK I'm convinced that it is the perfect all around Survival and Combat knife. When I'm out in the woods it's like a extension of my body and always ready for whatever task I have to accomplish.
Me too. That's how I've ended up with 4 of them! 2 old skool carbon v and 2 newer SK5 ... 😄👍🤘🇦🇺
@@adods9824 I love the Carbon V blades because they really perform great. The SK5 performs every bit as well with better edge retention. I have 2 of the SK5 SRK's and I use them exactly the same as the Carbon V.
Knife has a user problem. Not a knife problem.
Love the design, like the steel, but the handle is shit. Tore mine after one day of use.
I disagree. I think it's good the way it is. Especially for the price.
Wow….just wow…..🤦🤦♂️
Mine broke on the second day of batonning wood for a fire... not impressed at all
Oh no! I would not expect that from mine, I’ve used it a lot and not seen a hint of it breaking
Just use a lanyard.
Just use a lanyard for chopping, and I would use at least 8 inch blade for chopping.
.......and a SEAL Team if you got mugged? You'd use what you had with you.
1:41
It's a good jack-of-all-trades knife, but it's too small to be an efficient camp/survival knife and too big to be a practical bushcrafting knife. If all you're going to do is a little bit of both, go for it, but if you do a lot of it you're better off carrying something for both applications, like an Esee6 or RAT 7 and something small. Even a slipjoint stockman would be an infinitely better bushcrafting knife than the SRK.
Lanyard!
Better to get a different knife that suits you.
This is clearly a “user” problem…certainly not a knife problem. 🤦🏻
Haha yeah, that could
very well be the case 😅
Tbh you shouldnt be trying to chop with a smaller knife like this, its not bot what its made for. Its like saying theres a problem with a shovel bc you cant rake the leaves with it. If youre going to chop get a larger heavier knife, a machete, a cleaver, a hatchet etc
In the real world, you "run what you brung". Iast winter I spent a night in a ravine with a dislocated knee. All I had to make a cane with was a Emerson "Horseman" POCKETknife. It chopped...
Sorry. Nope. If you don't know what a lanyard hole is for, I can't take you seriously as a knife guy.
Lanyard
It’s not full tang either
Ah yeah that’s true, but I don’t really have an issue with that, it handles abuse quite well, I’ve been throwing and beating mine so many times and it doesn’t even hint at breaking 😁
It is ! Has been for over 30 years
Its a stick tang so weak. Its a cheap survival knife.
U.S. Navy Seal knife made by the cheapest bidder. Cold Steel.
dude...for your complaint...buy a hatchet
Clickbait alert. A knife that isn't ideal for chopping ? What next ? An ax that feels blade heavy ?
Haha 😂 when you put it like that 😅
I feel like a bit more of a rounded handle would make it a better survival knife overall, but maybe that’s an unrealistic request
Just no.
It is a piece of overpriced junk.
I disagree, but I still like the video! My friend, you can easily rectify your concern with the issue of the knife flying out of your hands should you chose to chop with a very low handle hold, add a finger lanyard to accommodate a a secure hold. It would also improve your chopping by allowing the knife to pivot and torque with a greater range of motion making your chopping more efficient and effective. Use 550 paracord or a piece of leather rope and you would have your perfect knife.
For Coldsteel to modify the SRK would increase the cost of a great cheap knife, change the balance of the knife, and people with smaller hand would not like that change. They made this knife with 90% of users in mind with small to large hands. Unfortunately your extra large hands falls outside of intended users. But again, a little simple modification could easily remedy this.
On another note, have you taken a look at the Recon Tanto? I believe it is an even better knife than the great SRK! Longer blade making it a better chopper and a much better batoning knife!
Thank you for the constructive advice! I have added a lanyard now, and it feels safer to chop with now!
I don't have the Recon Tanto yet, but I will probably add it to my Cold Steel collection next year! 😊
Right on brother! Right on!
maybe you know better knife for the buck?😮I'm not
Hm, good question! Of the ones I own, I would say the Schrade SCHF52 is a close competitor when it comes to an outdoor/bushcraft survival knife, and it is very close in price and capabilities, but a bit heavier.
I recently got the Condor Jungle Bowie, and that one is similar in price to the SRK SK-5, and a bit more combat geared maybe, but it could probably pull off the same tasks with the same weight 😊
@@KnifeySurvivalistI should definitely try shcrade 52m. Thanks for advice
Use a lanyard
The problem with democracy is that everyone has the right to speak! So your solution to this design "flaw" will be to make the knife ugly and unwieldy by adding 2-3 inches of curved plastic to its rear end? Absolutely Moronic!
Mine arrived horribly assymetrically ground with burn marks on the edge
Oh no, that doesn't sound like cold steel normally, maybe they will be open to replacing it?
You can baton the knife into the branch at an angle and then baton it at the apposing angle instead of chopping with it.
Hm, that's an interesting take, I will definitely try that with this one and my other smaller knives 🙂
@@KnifeySurvivalist I have a hatchet that can be used for chopping, batoning and feather sticks. A Ka-Bar Jaroz Chopper that can be used for chopping batoning and feather sticks and a TOPS HOG that can be used for smaller Batoning and things like feather sticks. Smaller knives aren't going to be much for chopping but you can baton them like I said to chop through the branches. A folding Silky saw can be a very useful tool as well. If you are stuck in the wilderness and want to build a strong shelter the saw would be better than chopping with an axe or a knife.
Oh yeah; search around for a stick of firewood every time you want to chop something real quick.. get off the pavement for once my friend.
@@ahhamartin I don't have any lazy friends