Sleeper Knife Bargain

[foakes]

If we hang around long enough in this life, and more importantly, stay focused and pay attention to quality and common-sense principles —- we will occasionally find some really good and solid values that most others never realize.

This is true with many things —- fishing tackle, vehicles, tools, clothes, homes, and more.

I call these "sleepers".

In this case —- a cheap knife that is a good value.

COLD STEEL FINN BEAR 8.5" KNIFE AND SHEATH

A recent long and glowing review of this knife in Blade Magazine turned me on to this excellent knife.

4" blade, strong backbone, 8.5" length, 2.8 Oz., 4116 German Stainless Steel, polycarbonate handle, great sheath, CHEAP price.  $15.95 at Blade HQ (think shipping not included, $20 on Amazon with shipping included).

Lots of folks would never consider this knife since the price is so reasonable & cheap.  Encourage you all to take a look.

Mine is very impressive and will now live in the travel trailer.

Best, Fred

https://blademag.com/buyers-guides/cold-steel-finn-bear-review

[jgp12000]

Fred, I have the same knife, got it my 1st trip to SMKW.It's scary sharp ! It's what I use to cut the heads off & "notch" them, is what we call it in GA. when I scale fish.I fillet most everything when possible.I have some cold steel kitchen knives as well,keeps an edge a long time.No flex strong blade.

[boon]

A cheap, relatively good quality knife is a wonderful thing. Especially if the cost savings are in things like the sheath and the handle (within reason) with good steel. Sometimes there are tasks where I need a decent edge but I would be hesitant to use a "proper" good knife for fear of damaging it.

I really like the Bahco 2444 for a little utility knife. Sometimes can be found for $10 and amazingly good steel.

[foakes]

For me, the 3 things I look for first in a "working knife", are —- blade material with the ability to stay sharp longer.

A good, solid and thick "backbone" on the blade for effective cutting and control.

A non-slip and good handle for safe operation.

Anything else is a plus.  And there are a lot of plus features in this knife.

In this knife, the German 4116 stainless steel, heavy backbone, and good gripping handle —- are key features for me.

Heck, I tip more than this at a decent restaurant, and with the new Postal Rates —- a 1 pound small package from California to Florida is $18.95!

No brainer for this child!

Best, Fred

[redfish12]

Fred, how do these compare with the moraknivs?

[foakes]

Fred, how do these compare with the moraknivs?

I wouldn't know, RF —-

Never handled the Mora's.

Maybe a more knowledgeable knife person on our site might have an opinion.

Nowadays, a quick search on the internet will yield some reviews also that might be accurate & useful.

Blade Magazine seldom (never) gives this much time, space, and kudos to a less expensive knife.  That is what surprised me.  And I was even more astounded when I received the knife.

Best, Fred

[Bill B]

Cold Steel has been making knives for quite a while.  Most of their knives are not my style, but I will definitely be taking advantage of this STEAL! Thank you Fred for the heads up.  Bill

[jtwill98]

FYI,  One of the listings on Amazon yesterday had it priced at 19.95 with a 15% discount coupon thus the total with tax shipped to your door was $18.82.

[jgp12000]

Be careful as with any tool,had a friend cut a tendon with a cold steel on a camping trip.He had to have surgery.These cold steel knives arrive really sharp & with no blade guard you gotta be vigilant

[foakes]

Be careful as with any tool,had a friend cut a tendon with a cold steel on a camping trip.He had to have surgery.These cold steel knives arrive really sharp & with no blade guard you gotta be vigilant

All true, James —-

My first knife was a Cub Scout camping knife when I was 8 years old.  My Dad needed to talk my Mom into me having a knife, but it was required as part of my Cub Scout uniform —- so she said OK.

Dad also showed me how to always have respect for the business end of a knife, and how to always cut away from myself.

Then my Dad instructed me on how to sharpen a knife.  He plainly and firmly stated that the safest knife is always razor sharp.  Not to play around with knives, because they are tools, not toys.

I guess that I have never forgotten those instructions.  The only cutting tool in our family that ever had a shield was my Dad's folding machete which was part of his survival kit as a pilot flying P-61 Black Widows during WWII in the Pacific Theater.

Most folks do not realize how dangerous a knife or a hatchet can be when camping.  Especially a hatchet.  Guy thinks he is a lumberjack gathering and chopping up firewood.  Not familiar with a hatchet's use safely —- he swings the hatchet downward, not fully realizing how short it is.  Then he impacts a calf or thigh at tremendous force with the hatchet.  Help may be a ways off, and maybe too late.

Best, Fred

[JasonGotaProblem]

Fred, that's lost on too many people. My wife and I use very different knives in the kitchen. She refuses to use anything that's "too sharp" because her parents taught her to fear the blade, and nobody taught her to respect it. Her mom is the same way. I bought them a ceramic knife for Christmas one year and I'm told she took it out front and rubbed the edge on the curb.

Why is the safest blade a sharp blade? Because it'll cut whatever you point it at, with minimal effort. A dull knife takes an unknown amount of force to do the job and as such is far more likely to surprise you.

I got my son a Swiss army knife for his 8th birthday. My wife and her family acted like I bought him a noose and a stool. Against my better judgement I agreed to wait another year to give it to him.

Sorry for rambling on your thread.

[foakes]

No rambling, Jason —-

I agree 110%.

Best, Fred

[pjstevko]

I was taught the same as Fred! Probably because of Boy Scouts as well

[steelfish]

.....because her parents taught her to fear the blade, and nobody taught her to respect it. Her mom is the same way. 

..my parents were the same way, I actually laugh hard on this "My wife and her family acted like I bought him a noose and a stool." because I could imagine that scene on my own family.

knives and guns are not regular tools for us, I dont know any member of my relatives (big family) or close friends that have given a swiss army knife to his kid as gift      so, maybe its a cultural thing.

[Bill B]

I started using a knife at around 16 y/o as a produce clerk.  I had a 4" sheep's foot paring knife, a 8" chopping knife,  and a 22" heavy chopper for large melons.  Each day started with a few minutes on the sharpening stones.  Back then I could sharp3n to a razors edge on a stone, sadly now I have resorted to a Lansky sharpening system.  Even when working in the prison I carried a pocket knife (just don't tell my warden  )  Now each month 1/2 of my kitchen knives get the Lansky treatment but hon3d on a steel each day.  Bill