"A knife is a tool, and I make ’em to be used. It burns me up that most of them wind up in velvet boxes and display cases, priced so high your average deer hunter or cowboy can’t afford ’em."
-Bob Loveless
"This knife is not a tool!"
-Manly
After receiving this purchase, I was disappointed to find this truly ironic text printed in the product information & warranty card.
Although after sharpening, testing and using this "not a tool!" for a good while, I can assure it is nothing short of an excellent tool. I have no clue why they would print such nonsense in the warranty card.
The steel is heat treated to be a real performer. Edge stability is great, it does not roll or chip in my use which was a surprise to find out. Edge retention is very nice, especially when the blade is so easy to keep shaving sharp. Much better than your average stainless or carbon steels.
All it takes to bring sharpness back to hair popping level again is few strokes with a (very)fine pocket stone. This CPM-154 is like 12C27 on steroids. Love it!
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this blade.
The blade geometry is fairly thin for an outdoors knife (15° edge, FFG), so it cuts well and still takes batoning with no edge problems. This blade is done right.
The things i don't like about this knife are the these points which take out the 5th star:
-unnecessarily handle heavy, this knife would be so much better with some weight shaved off of the handle, maybe some of the weight is due to the use of G10
-that crazy extrusion of steel in the end of the handle that digs into your fingers, I used a diamond file to get rid of that
-no drain hole in the sheath, moisture stays on the blade for a long time when sheathed
-edge was so dull out of the box, it could be not used as a knife
The sheath itself is otherwise up to my liking, retention is great and can be used horizontally on the belt with some paracord threaded through the holes. I found no use for the hardware that came with the sheath.
The real highlight of this knife is the blade itself, it is very versatile and the steel is superb.
The handle is on the thin side of the spectrum, maybe not the best for bushcrafting if you have large hands, but is very nice for fishing and hunting. The grip is not agressive, but not very slippery either.