Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter

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My second attempt at reviewing knives at this eminent forum. This time it’s time for a American Taiwanese:

– A true Jack of all Trades

High on the wish list of many potential customers, including me, aimed at Cold Steel has been “better steel and more down to earth designs in general”.

That is less excesses and fewer blackened blades – less tacticool and more of utilitarian knives. The CS catalogue has not been a total void when it comes to practical knives, they keep popping up at regular intervals, but they haven’t exactly dominated the range and then it was the constantly present issue of steelchoice.

What happened in 2015? Well, more or less overnight CS made it possible to get their line with a supreme steel and then comes a Finnish wolf with a scandigrind and howled and now this! Talk about listen to their customers. By the way, you can still get all the spears, swords, sticks, and giant Espadas if you so prefer.

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Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter​

The Ultimate Hunter is almost a direct translation from Andrew Demkos customdesign “AD10” to a more productionfriendly format. An interesting aspect of these knives from CS and Demko is that they departs from the prevailing trend that produces a steady stream of titanhandled framelocks with ballbearings and flippers. Instead they bring robust knives with thumbstuds and lockbacks to the table.

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A deceptively simple design​

And when CS also releases their knives with such an advanced steel as CTS XHP they become a really competitive alternative. Their former bread and butter steel AUS 8A, even though not bad in their version, is a lesser steel no matter how you look at it.

Blade

You can often decide a knives qualities just by looking at how the blade is shaped. This is such a case, no extravagances, no decorative elements or unnecessary details just pure function – “knifebladeextraction”.

The blade is a droppoint with an almost full flat grind. The tip is capable but not very aggressive. It’s a compromise made to match the name “Hunter”. If you gut animals it’s always a good idea to avoid puncturing things and a very pointy tip can then be troublesome to handle.

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A flatground droppoint blade, well proven and functional​

The blade stretches 3.5″ lengthwise and is a tad over an inch wide before the belly. The thickness over it’s neck is 0.13″. It’s a large blade without being excessive, wide but not to much and thick enough to be robust without transforming into a sharpened prybar.

The finish is a really well executed two-tone satin. It provides some luxuary at the same time as it is practical. Scratches doesn’t show to much and it makes for low friction when cutting. If you ask me it’s a real progress in comparison to all the black coated blades CS persists with.

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A step up the ladder in the steel hierarchy – CTS HXP​

Carpenters XHP is a real upgrade compared to earlier steel. Their fomer standard steel AUS 8A isn’t a bad budget choice given it’s proparly heat treated but, and it is a big but, it doesn’t match the competitors and the pricerange. And besides the edgeholding capability isn’t the best.

The factory edge on the Hunter was good but not extremely sharp. Previosly I have had mixed experiences with Cold Steel when it comes to initial sharpness. This one gets passing grade.

But why on earth have they made such a sloppy plungeline? As it is now the actual edge starts about 8 mm from the heel of the blade. It makes for a make shift choil for detailed work but that is completely unnecassary. If you grind the edge all the way to the heel you do not need a choil and as a bonus it’s both easier to sharpen and you will get more edge length. A big miss on an otherwise very good grind.

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But what were they thinking here? Not pretty at all​

The edge itself is rather robust, I don’t know the exact angle, but it doesn’t shine when it comes to cutting paper and other thin materials. Out of box it shaved hair but only with some force.

On the other hand it performs much better when it comes to other, sturdier materials. It slices cardboard with ease even after both two and three boxes and the egde bites really good in wood, both dried and saplings. Hard plastic and the like the blade just glides through.

Since I’m not actually a huntsman I haven’t tested the names credibility in the field but used the knife in the kitchen. The bladeshape is actually rather allround given it’s shape and sturdiness.

An ill hidden secret to cutting efficiancy is to make flat ground blades fairly wide so that the angle towards the edge isn’t too steep. All kitchen knives are designed that way and Spyderco is a company that mastered it to perfection for folding knives. That idea is present even here and that makes for a decently good cutter when it comes to fruit and greens and root vegetables despite the fact that it is much steel behind the edge. From looks alone I had expected more resistance and a more wedge like performance and was therefore pleasantly surprised.

The closest I’ve come to handle meat is debone pork loin and cut up a chicken or two. And here is where the Ultimate Hunter really shines. The bladegeometry really works as intended. But of course the blade is too short to make perfect slices compared to a chefs knife but that’s another issue.

Handle

Upon closer inspection you will notice that this is a folder with a somewhat whacky blade to handle ratio. The blade is substiantially shorter than it could be. It’s by the way the same designfeature found on for instance the Spyderco models “Gayle Bradley” and “Military”. In this case the generous handle is a result of wanting to have a knife for serious use both with and without gloves and fitting most hand sizes.

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Two folders with short blades in relation to handle length​

Part of the explanation behind the appearence can also be found in the fact that this is a very strong built folding knife. The pivot is placed a bit further back than normal which gives a shorter blade in relation to the handle but it makes for a stronger knife because of the extended area of contact in the joint.

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A handle that works fine even for bigger hands or working with gloves on​

One of the reasons to why the knife feels very strong yet light is that it’s built without a frame. The stability instead comes from the thick slabs of G10. They don’t give even when provoked. Thus there is no flex in the knife. The material also has the advantage that it feels good in lower temperatures.

The handle has a backspacer of black aluminum and stainless steel fasteners. The Ultimate Hunter has a lanyard hole for the ones who wants to add extra security. Something that could be useful not least at sea.

The handle stands out since it’s 3-D contoured instead of having flat sides which is the case with most simpler knives and most older offerings from CS.

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Not the usual grater like handle from CS​

The handle seems to be sandblasted which gives a slightly rough but still soft feeling. It’s a good finish that provides a solid grip without being extremely coarse like other models from CS can be. Because of that you don’t have to modify the grip in order to be able to carry the knife without it eating your pants for breakfast.

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Some well placed indentations facilitates good grip​

In hand the knife feels excellent. There is no grip that does not work and the handle just feels natural. Towards the front of the handle there are som indentations that thinns out the handle in certain grips and gives your index or middle fingers somewhere to rest.

On the spine of the handle you can find some wide jimpings. They give a good amount of traction if you are gripping the knife hard and slides back a bit otherwise they are not present. On the top of the handle there is a small cutout for your thumb to rest in reverse grip. I usually don’t use my knives that way but I remember from back in the days then I used to work as a butcher that it can be useful sometimes.

Deployment and Lockup

Both lock construction and the shape of the thumbstud is familiar and can be seen on many Cold Steels folding knives. It means an assymetrical thumbstud that is reversible for you lefties out there.

The thumbstud is very accesseble and this knife is one of the smoothest knives equipped with this lock I have encountered. The walk is smooth and the knife locks with a sound reminding of a cracking walnut that inspires confidence. The knife is best opened with dignity, that is slow and steady. If you concentrate it is flickable but given the strength of the backlock it doesn’t feel all natural.

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The assymetrical and reversible thumbstud works well for opening​

The lock is the for Cold Steel knives usual “Tri-Ad”. This beefed up version of a lockback has proven to be a very sturdy and not the least highly reliable invention. There is no detectable bladeplay at all in any direction. This construction has the advantage that it besides being strong doesn’t wear out over time. The lockbar is self adjusting. The drawback with this lock is that it more often than not is hard to disengage.

A small warning though. Even if the knife can be closed one-handed it’s best done with two hands for the simple reason that the blade runs so smoothly that it partly falls into the handle under it’s own weight and then transforms into a fingerguillotine of sorts.

To Carry

The knives comes with two clips. One for the right side and one for the left. That together with the lock and the reverseble thumbstud makes for a truly ambidextrous knife.

The placement of the clip doesn’t hide the knife entirely but it rides farily low. The function is really good and the knife is firmly held in place without being impossible do draw. Much do to the material that is much less coarse than say “American Lawman” or “Hold Out” and other G10 handled knives from CS which are notorious in that regard. Unfortunately this is a very shiny clip but it matches the satin in the blade rather nicely.

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The CS clip works better than usual because of the slicker handle surface​

You can not deny that this is a fairly substantial knife. It measures 5″ closed and is 0.62″ thick and weighs in at 4.9 ounces. But despite that it is rather descreet in pocket. The well rounded and soft sides helps. A humble giant with other words.

Size disqualifies the Ultimate Hunter for being the ultimate pocket knife in my book. But that is a matter of taste. But as the names suggest it is aiming for other uses. But despite the name it is much more than just a hunting knife.

Final Thoughts

Ultimate Hunter marks another step in the right direction for Cold Steel according to me. The 3-D contouring of the knifehandle raises it above the crowd and I think the finish of the G10 is a vast improvement and last but not least they have choosen a premium grade steel that is not blackened.

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Ultimate – perhaps​

Altogether I feel that CS has taken what is good in several other models such as good ergonomics, excellent build quality and Demkos designideas and paired it with matching materials. The downside is of course that the price takes a leap. MSRP on this knife is 189$ and street prise around 120$ or so.

Who are the competitors to this knife? Some of them you will actually find in CS own catalogue. One is the FinnWolf even though it is a less advanced knife with simpler materials both in handle and blade. But still a most practical and capable knife. Closer both in price and materials is the new American Lawman with the upgraded steel. But it still suffers from a black blade even if the coating now is DLC. The same goes for “Recon 1”. But the two latter doesn’t have the refined handle of the Ultimate Hunter and is definitely aiming at an other audience.

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In comparison with a another 2015 offering from CS, “FinnWolf”​

Both bladeshape and design reminds me about Spydercos Gayle Bradley which without a doubt is another serious contender. Also Fallknivens PXL WH can be an option since it basically have identical dimensions. But these two knives has less worked handles than the Hunter. They are also more expensive.

The first impression out of box were that it felt big and powerful yet light. That was properties that I hoped for but that is hard to determine from pictures and specifications alone. A contributing factor to the nimble feeling in hand is that the knife is very well balanced.

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Not to shabby looking despite the whacky blade to handle ratio​

If it is “the Ultimate Hunter” is not for me to say. I don’t hunt myself but I know several who does and I know what kind of blades they generally prefer and this knife can definitely be one of them. Then I do not know if I would choose a folder in general for hunting bearing in mind cleaning and such. But that is much a matter of preferences and I have a friend that is a hunter and he often uses a Puma 4-star folder for hare and other smaller game.

But I do know quite a deal when it comes to other types of knives and the Ultimate Hunter is in my eyes a extremely competent edged tool. It is a very well rounded knife. A comfortable handle and a refined bladeshape with good geometry made of quality steel goes a long way.

I therefore recommend Ultimate Hunter for anyone who search for a solid folder that works for most tasks that requires an edge. But don’t buy it if you want a small descreet pocketknife or precisiontool for cleaning your fingernails.

PS.
By the way disregard everything even slightly connected to marketing from this company. It will just cause high blood pressure. Or at least a raised eyebrow.

Specification:

Overall Length: 8.5″
Handle Length: 15″
Weight: 4,9 oz
Blade Length: 3,5″
Blade Thickness: 0.13″
Bladesteel: CTS XHP. satin
Handle: G10, black
Lock: Tri-Ad

Produced by: Cold Steel, made in Taiwan

/ J

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