Cold Steel SRK in 3V / 10 3/4" Overall / 6" Blade / 5mm Thick

The sheath is a bit tight but I prefer this. In contrast to my compact C which slides in quite easily with a single click this knife is quite snug against the insides of the sheath itself when you insert it. It is probably the same mold from when this was a hollow ground blade years ago . When I push the blade in up to the handle it goes into the sheath with a double click. At first you push it in and the handle is a snug fit and can't come out easily. But if I push it in further then it's very tight. That allows me to have a snug fit if I want to use the knife or have a very tight fit if I'm traveling around and don't want it to fall out and lose it. The blade was extremely Sharp and the fit and finish is excellent. In the past this CPM knife steel was made in the USA and the blanks were sent to Taiwan to have the handles put on and the sheath made. I'm not sure if they do that still. I put a tiny magnet on the butt end of the knife and it sticks so this knife tang is all the way to the end. The spine is extremely sharp so if you want to strike a fire steel it's not a problem. I coated the knife edge with magic marker and inserted the knife into the sheath several times to see if the blade was rubbing but it doesn't seem like it's touching. However in any case it's always better to ride the knife on the spine while inserting it into the sheath.

A beautiful knife at a really great price. It is sharp as a razor and made of CPM-3V steel, so it is a really tough, solid knife that is not too heavy.

Get this instead of the sk-5 steel version. Much better knife, and a significantly stronger tip. SRK in 3v is better than san-mai or Fallkniven vg10 laminate- both have a tip made of exposed vg10- which is not as though as 3v and doesn't hold the edge nearly as well either. Stunning knife a perfect sweet spot between fallkniven A1 and S1 in terms of size/weight. Blade came razor sharp. The sheath, while not incredible, doesn't bind on the blade, good positive retention.

In my opinion, Cold Steel may well offer the best production-grade knives on the market today. Their SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) is no exception, which is why the Navy issues the SRK SK5 to all SEAL trainees. There are three variations of the SRK: SK5 (Japanese high carbon steel), San Mai (three layers of good VG10 steel), and 3V. This review is for the 3V version. I have owned the SK5 and San Mai versions, and they are excellent in their own right. The 3V model costs about twice that of the SK5 and roughly $35 more than the San Mai. At this point, the question is whether or not the 3V model is worth the additional cost. In my opinion, the 3V is absolutely well worth the extra money. It's the best of the SRK lineup. The main reason lies within the heart of the blade, the steel itself. 3V is a high-end steel with a stellar reputation for quality, durability, edge retention and strength. Another outstanding feature of the 3V version is that it has a full tang, whereas the SK5 and San Mai do not. I have never broken an SRK, but I do appreciate the fact that it is going to be more durable overall. The lines, angles and grinds of the 3V reflect amazing attention to detail, and the cutting edge is so sharp that it shaves hair from my arm with absolutely no effort whatsoever. It is scary sharp, and will cut you if you stare at it too long. Well, almost. Like the other two SRK models, the classic drop-point blade is about 5mm thick, but yet does not feel overly large, heavy or cumbersome. The Kraton handle material provides a very secure grip even when one's hands are wet, and it feels good. I know that some folks hate the sheath that CS supplies with their fixed blade knives. While I don't particularly care for them myself, I have found, over time, that they do what they are intended to do. They are just fine for a camper, hunter, backpacker, etc. If I were back in the military, I would absolutely feel comfortable with the 3V on my side, but would use a much better sheath, such as the Spec-Ops brand. Some reviewers have stated that the sheath rubs against the cutting edge of the knife, causing it to become dull. I have never found this to be the case. If you want to check yours, here's how. Using a black marker, color the cutting edge on both sides and then insert the knife into the sheath and withdraw it. Repeat this process several times. If the cutting edge is rubbing against the sheath, it will rub the black marker in the affected areas. The knife fits snugly into the sheath, and it is quite secure. It's not coming out until you make a conscious effort to draw it. What I don't like about the sheath is the nylon strap that connects the body of the sheath to one's belt. During the drawing process, the nylon strap allows the sheath to ride up a couple inches before the knife is removed. This does no harm, but definitely makes the drawing process slower and less efficient. The sheath itself can easily be attached to one's backpack or other such gear through several different processes. All things considered, the sheath is acceptable for all but military applications. The 3V is such an awesome knife that it's worth the expense of obtaining an aftermarket sheath should you so desire. To me, value is the sum of an item's quality, practicality, and price. Using this formula, I can say that the SRK 3V is simply amazing. I am definitely impressed. This knife is as nice as others costing hundreds more. I would prefer that it be American made instead of Taiwan, but theirs is not a communist country, so I can live with that. If it were US made, it would cost a LOT more and may not have the same quality. Don't let the Taiwan manufacture deceive you. Via Cold Steel, they produce quality blades on par with those of Japan and the United States. For its current approximate cost of $118, this is truly an amazing value and is well worth the additional funds.

Best knife ive ever owned. Expensive but you get what you pay for.