Cold SteelMaster Hunter 4.5" VG-10 San Mai III Drop Point Blade 4.75" Kray-Ex Handle Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath

I really like everything about this knife. I had one years ago. Even though it was designed to be a hunting tool, it will tackle any job that one could reasonably expect a compact knife to do. The overall length is around nine inches, which is about the size of many folding knives when open. Weighting in at a comfortable 6 ounces, it is light and easy to manipulate. I have folding knives that weigh more than this. The blade is thick (5mm) and strong.I especially like the San Mai manufacturing process. San Mai essentially means "three layers", and this style has been in use by the Japanese for over 1000 years. One cannot argue with success. What we have here is a piece of hard carbon steel in between two layers of softer steel. What this does is give you a strong and durable cutting edge and enough flexibility to avoid damage from heavy use. It's true that some modern "super steels" offer similar capabilities, but I have found that in some cases the cutting edges are brittle and can lead to problems. The San Main process is still used today by some of the top custom bladesmiths.The tip of the knife is pointed and sharp. It will pierce easily, and is backed up by enough steel to be strong and resistant to damage. The cutting edge is shaving-sharp. The handle is a thing of joy because it's comfortable and gives the user a secure grip in all environments: wet, cold, you name it. It is secure.While many Cold Steel knives are now made in Taiwan, this model is still made in Japan. At least the one I just received is. I like this aspect a lot because the quality and manufacturing processes are superb. The Japanese absolutely know how to make high-quality blades. Don't shy away from the Taiwan blades because Taiwan is not China. The CS knives I've seen coming from Taiwan are on par with those from Japan and the United States.Some people don't care for the sheaths that CS knives come with, but I have found them to be just fine for most applications. If you need a sheath for military or other extreme-use situations, then I would invest in a Spec Ops brand sheath and be in fat city. When you sheath this knife and then push a bit harder, it locks into place very well. It's not going to fall out. The sheath attaches to a nylon strap that itself attaches to one's belt. While not a heavy duty system, it does what it's supposed to do. For those wanting to use this an an EDC item, you can remove the nylon strap from the sheath and attach a belt clip. It works beautifully.Dollar for dollar, the price is also quite attractive. I have had knives costing a lot more than this that realistically were not any better. This is not a $1000 safe queen. It's a highly versatile working tool designed for hunters, campers, backpackers, and military applications.When you compare features, quality, and price, this truly becomes one of the very best bargains on the market today. I'm one of these guys who has been there and done that, so it takes a lot to impress me, and the CS Master Hunter does just that.Be safe out there and God Bless.

Okay. So you might be wondering why you need this knife. I will tell you. But first off, let me remind you that this is my opinion. Everyone believes something different and has a different opinion. So don't let anything I say offend you. I am 17 years old and my Hunter has field-dressed, skinned, and processed several deer and cleaned countless dove, many pheasants and even a turkey. My dad has had one at least as long as I've been alive and has cleaned more deer than I've ever seen with it. In fact, he bought another one because he liked it so much. This is one of the best hunting knives that money can buy, if not the best. First, why you don't want to buy other knives:1. Cheap knives- Most people have the Schrade, Gerber, knockoff brand, etc. that cost $10 or less. You get what you pay for: a dull piece of *#%@ knife that doesn't hold an edge, won't sharpen well and breaks and chips easily. The sheath gets torn up quickly and the handle breaks and/or has no comfort, whatsoever. Unless you plan on never using it again, there is no sense in NOT getting a more expensive knife. This knife has a quality steel that is easy to sharpen and holds an edge. It is 3/16" thick. That will hold up and more to any normal hunting situations, even survival if your hunting trip goes awry. In fact, I use it to break the pelvic bone by pounding on the end of the handle with my fist. Also, the handle is awesome. It is comfortable and grips your hand even when wet. So if the handle gets rain on it or gets bloody, you can still use it without fear of slippage. The one downside is that the high carbon blade rusts more easily than Stainless Steel. But some silicone spray before it's put away will prevent rust.2. More expensive knives- This knife is perfect for the average hunter it is a good-looking knife in design, but I will admit that the handle could look better. But what's important is you know that your money is being spent on functional, hardy Kray-ex instead of wood or bone which does not have nearly as much grip and will likely not last as long as other materials. Besides, the Master Hunter is not so pretty that you don't want to get it dirty or bloody.3. Longer or shorter knives- You definitely don't want any longer knives. Longer knives make it harder to make those precision cuts and they are harder to carry. Shorter knives are alright, but I like the size of this because the the handle is very comfortable, the larger size is more useful in possible survival situations, and also, to be frank, the size of the blade compared to the handle make it look good, unlike the large handle to small blade ratio of the Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter.To be honest, if I could go back to when I bought this knife, I might choose a different one . The only reason would be so I could buy the guthook version of this knife or the new version with the American 3V steel and the black blade coating. This will always be my favorite hunting knife and is in fact my favorite knife, period. I hope this helped in your decision on choosing a knife.