Cheaper Than Dirt Rough Use Knife Rating Poll

[Noss]

I'll let you rate tis one. Based on your observations how do you rate this knife. ?

This way I can get some feed back from you and create a better rating system. At the end of the poll. 7 days. I'll update the rating.

[Sharp]

I think it should be at a 5.5 but not a 6.

I've started to see that if the knife passes the normal D-Testing, it gets a rating of 6. This knife almost passed every singled test besides the tang whacks. It also performed fairly well in edge holding after batoning and chopping.

It does deserve a higher rating than what it already has.

[vvk]

I think it should be at a 5.5 but not a 6.

I've started to see that if the knife passes the normal D-Testing, it gets a rating of 6. This knife almost passed every singled test besides the tang whacks. It also performed fairly well in edge holding after batoning and chopping.

It does deserve a higher rating than what it already has.

Let’s not get too excited. Softer steel will survive more beating but will not cut as well as the harder steel. That is why they make the throwing knife out of softer steel. BTW that reminds me that I would really enjoy some throwing tests added to the Noss’s repertoire ;) Also the sheath of the cheaper than dirt knife is crap. Finally the handle does not have exposed tang, thus if you start pounding on it will be damaged as the test showed.

[FOBOS]

My God for ten bucks it is more than worth it! I was going to buy the Cold Steel GI Tanto, but now I must get a couple of these babies, can't beat the price . Definitely a 4-5 rating, possible higher.

[Sharp]

Let’s not get too excited. Softer steel will survive more beating but will not cut as well as the harder steel. That is why they make the throwing knife out of softer steel. BTW that reminds me that I would really enjoy some throwing tests added to the Noss’s repertoire ;) Also the sheath of the cheaper than dirt knife is crap. Finally the handle does not have exposed tang, thus if you start pounding on it will be damaged as the test showed.

Read this,

http://www.cutleryscience.com/articles/stainless_steel_classification.html

[kurodrago]

Nice Noss.. for 9 bucks isn't bad at all. I miss the metal pipe test. Do you have it any more around? Any kind of knife will do if you do.
The Cameraman get it alright. Fucking Chinese:D

[Tac45]

What a cool beater! Wish we had Cheaper than dirt here in OZ. Then again some goose would want 200 bucks for it here. Would you believe LE Gear in Australia want $499 yes that is right four hundred and ninetly nine dollars for the CS SRK!

[miro44one]

Hmm..well it' s definatly tough.But it' s not a very good cutter, nor a good chopper.I would rate it in between 4 and 5 stars.Definatly worth the 9 bucks!I will probably have to buy one myself, to see how it performs for me.

[Newazzkikr]

I can't watch the last 2 videos (7&8), it says> no longer available, so i dont know how it broke, but it took a lot more than ranger, especialy the tip test. I don't know if you did the test with steel tube, but other than that, it took serious test. I never seen 440A perform so good, first i thought the tip would broke easily, but i was wrong. Great knife for 10$, if we consider the price and performance, this knife climbs even to 6 swords, but its definitely much better than ranger RD7. This chinese probably learned better heat treatment than ranger knifes with 5160 :D.
I also like the shape of this knife, very nice looking bowie.

Thanks for great test !

[Noss]

The videos are there. I just checked. It's You Tube acting up I guess. :mad:

The knife broke doing the side impact test. I didn't get to the tubing. The tubing is a bonus. Most never make it this far.

[eatingmuchface]

that happened to me and I just refreshed the page and it worked fine.
:D
I'd say 4-5.
it wasn't a great cutter (but this could easily be mproved)
and I would argue that the steel is really soft.
it held it's edge okay, and didn't have any extreme dents from the concrete.
actually, I'd say 5.
:D

[Izan]

I would say 5.25 or 5.5 but not higher. With the comments on the cutting, well your tests are designed to weed-out the wimpy knives from the bad ass ones and that CTD Chinese 440 stainless is pretty bad ass. It did look a bit clumsy and seemed to be awkward trying to cut with that big guard in the way. It is funny though how well that blade held up to that abuse.

[Noss]

So far there is a tie. We need some more votes.

[vvk]

Read this,

http://www.cutleryscience.com/articles/stainless_steel_classification.html

I rwad it. All it says is that 440A could be hardened to 63 to 64 Rc range "which should provide high wear resistance"

However, the CTD is clearly not that hard. Also read the following from the same article "Note clearly the condition of small edge angles. Steels such as AEB-L, 12C27 and AUS-6A are only superior choices in knives sharpened at very acute angles, 8-12 degrees per side, with the desired performance is to take a hold a very high sharpness, the ability to shave well, not simply be able to scrape a few hairs from the arm. If the knife is sharpened at a much larger angle and used until it is very dull then the high carbide steels are more optimal choices." As Noss noted CTD was very dull when he received it.

[sdt11670]

I rwad it. All it says is that 440A could be hardened to 63 to 64 Rc range "which should provide high wear resistance"

However, the CTD is clearly not that hard. Also read the following from the same article "Note clearly the condition of small edge angles. Steels such as AEB-L, 12C27 and AUS-6A are only superior choices in knives sharpened at very acute angles, 8-12 degrees per side, with the desired performance is to take a hold a very high sharpness, the ability to shave well, not simply be able to scrape a few hairs from the arm. If the knife is sharpened at a much larger angle and used until it is very dull then the high carbide steels are more optimal choices." As Noss noted CTD was very dull when he received it.

Don't you guys keep up with the knife world? That knife really isn't 440c they can call it that only because they feel it is similiar in performance. it is a chinese steel usually in a big knife used for "rough" use it is 3cr13. Any way here is a copy paste of a post i made over at bladeforums. that might explain the difference between a knife and a piece of metal to some of you guys that just don't know any better. The ctd failed miserably.


Don't you guy's know the difference between a piece of steel that is not properly tempered and a piece of steel that has been tempered into a cutting tool usually known as knives? That $10 piece of crap was just typical of the crap being made in china and imported here to put some kid with a piece of cheap steel in his hand and a buck in some greedy persons pocket! That $10 piece of crap failed miserably at it's purpose of being a knife! A piece of cheap steel that has not been tempered or one that is improperly tempered on the soft side will bend without breaking but will take a set like this ten buck garbage did and in order to break it you would generally have to bend it back and forth creating friction and seperating the grain. So it is extremely tough but is useless at it's intended purpose of being a knife as it absolutely will not hold a cutting edge and cannot be used to pry with since it will bend rather than seperate whatever you are prying .and some times they are very difficult to even get sharp enough to shave because they are too soft... In other words it is just nothing more than metal shaped like a knife with a knife handle installed. Some of you guys especially the younger ones perhaps should seek advice from an metallurgist on the subject before jumping to conclusions and making the mistake that a piece of metal is a knife... As far as noss goes... I like the guy and have talked to him several times in the past on here and i intend to go to his sight and request a photo of a tang on a knife i have because he destructed one like it... but, as long as he refuses to acknowledge these things about the properties of steel and differences between toughness and hardness etc. he wont ever be taken seriously by adult knife enthusiast and surely no one in the industry.

[Noss]

Welcome to the forum

Maybe You need a lesson in steels. The ranger failed because it did not have the flexibility per inch need to survive the body weight test. The Cheaper Than dirt knife did just fine because of this and it did not even bend out of shape during the Body Weight test. It came back straight after it supported a bouncing 225 load You need to watch it if you have not.

The idea that it is just a 10 dollar knife is what has you bugged. This is the kind of stuff I see on the forums all this time. It is a cheap 10 dollar china knife so it has to suck this is not true at all. I bought a Kershaw vapor and it is made in china I paid 20 for it. It does not suck. It cuts so does the CTD knife. They may not be able to cut 2000 pieces of rope before sharpening. But this is why they make sharpening tones.

Many knives I have tested are hard and extremely tough and strong namely Busse knives.

The Ranger is heat treated harder but only 56 rc but it does not posses the needed qualities needed to survive like a Busse will that is about 58-60 RC.

The trick to a great heat treat is bringing out every quality you can in the steel and not just one. Most makers can do one or the other. Busse manages to do both when it comes to hardness an toughness and flexibility.

An the Ranger does not cut well anyways it cuts no better the The CTD knife.

Also geometry's cut not steels.

The CTD did not fail hear at all. Like all knives it has it limits as does the Ranger.

[sdt11670]

Rangers are hardened to 58rc but 5160 is usually hardened to a full 60rc. Now the rangers are left soft for toughness. Now the 10 dollar knife will not cut and cannot be made to cut for any length of time... Test these blades by cutting fibrous materials and cardboard. Now as far as the rangers go i have five and only two of them came hair shaving sharp... one in particular the rd4 came extremely sharp and slices extremely well but the others had to be sharpened a bit but i am one of the minority knife users that can obtain an extremely sharp edge on even large bowie knives with only a two inch pocket stone within minutes so sharpening is not a problem for me but being able to sharpen a knife to the point of being able to shave facial hair with regardless of geometry also lets me know really quick which blades are capable of being called a knife. I have tested these cheap knives cutting rope and cardboard and yes they are junk at least the ones i have tested the one you destroyed is imported by several importers also but i am sure you knew that. Also i have some good knives made in china (i hate to say that) such as the g i tanto and trail master bowie. I also have several cheap cold steel machetes (south african) And i have more taiwan knives than i can count! Now some of these are very inexpensive yet very good while others are quite expensive for an asian import but still very good. Aaaannnddd others like the ctd are neither expensive or good. I know i know but, test one for it's intended purpose of cutting and then conclude.

[Noss]

Don't knock the CTD knife until you have tried it first hand. It seems to hold it's edge okay after chopping an batoning. Like I said every blade has it's limits. The CTD is
a knife and not calling it one is not accurate.

[Noss]

I'll do some cutting stuff tonight and put it on video. I have been playing with the other CTD knife I cut the guard off. I have shaved some sticks an I cut some cardboard and it still has an edge.

[Not too bad, man]

I am a new guy here, but I have watched damn near all of Noss's tests. I went with between 4 and 5 for the CTD. Thanks for all your efforts (and expenses) Noss. :)

[eatingmuchface]

I'll do some cutting stuff tonight and put it on video. I have been playing with the other CTD knife I cut the guard off. I have shaved some sticks an I cut some cardboard and it still has an edge.


always providing noss.
:D maybe on especially controversial knives (ones that people are going to say, "it's just a soft hunk of metal thats why it did so good") you can just do a little field test or cutting test or something like that... or just cut alot of the webbing during the destruction test maybe... like between each part of the test maybe.
that would help with knives where you know people are going to question ege holding/cutting ability.

:D

[sdt11670]

Don't knock the CTD knife until you have tried it first hand. It seems to hold it's edge okay after chopping an batoning. Like I said every blade has it's limits. The CTD is
a knife and not calling it one is not accurate.

Shaving wood batoning wood and chopping wood does not tell us how well a knife holds it's edge since there isn't much abrasion.... you know how soft axes are compared to knives? I refer to these type instruments as knife like objects (the ctd) to get an idea of edge holding ability abrasive materials need to be cut. Sure wood will dull a knife but even with soft metals (they used to use copper for shaving wood) a lot of wood work can be done before the edge wears away. By the way if you prove me wrong i have no problem admitting that i was wrong but i still would not buy nor would i ever recommend anyone else buy a product of slave labor. Any how i have heated with wood for years and have tested all types of steel with the baton and chopping and have concluded that if it was purchased solely for these purposes any type of knife would do even pakistan bowies as i tried them also but if the knife were to be used for cutting they just wont do.

[Noss]

Here is a test I just did. I cut manila rope 50 feet into fist size lengths. it still has an
edge.

I'll do it again on video and cut some more stuff also.

I cut the guard down on it. I bought a lansky and sharpened it.

[Noss]

Batoning and chopping wood does cause you to loose an edge. I lost the edge on the CRK
Green Beret and the Project after batoning.


I have to touch up my edge on my Busse FBM after coming back from camping over night and I chop wood to keep the fire going all night.

This why I always carry a sharpening stone when I go out.

[Noss]

Not too bad, man: welcomt to the forum. I love that avatar. NO BODY FUCK WITH THE JESUS. funny movie.

[Tac45]

SDT, UMMM I'm not sure I understand these quotes?
"Also i have some good knives made in china (i hate to say that) such as the g i tanto and trail master bowie. I also have several cheap cold steel machetes (south african) And i have more taiwan knives than i can count!"

"i still would not buy nor would i ever recommend anyone else buy a product of slave labor. "

Would it be correct than assume these knives were gifts?

"i am one of the minority knife users that can obtain an extremely sharp edge on even large bowie knives with only a two inch pocket stone within minutes so sharpening is not a problem for me"

Me too. My wife does a great job as well. (Although she isn't that clever. She uses knife on knife to get that hair popping thing happening) Come to think of it so does her sister and her husband. My mum and dad and my grandparents. My mates can also. I didn't know the minority of knife users lived in Australia!!!!

[Gman1128]

I voted 5 swords. The ones that survived all the tests got at least 6 or better. It did really well only failing 1 test, so I think a 5 would be fair.

SDT: I agree that that the reason the knife took such a pounding was because it was soft, but that does not make it a terrible knife. You can always resharpen a knife when it is dull, but it is difficult to use a knife that broke because it was hardened to the point of being brittle.
To quote Noss, "a dull knife is always better then a broken knife"

[Not too bad, man]

Noss: Thanks for the welcome.:D That one with the guard cut back looks cool!


Everyone: Does the wimpy sheath factor into your rating or is it strictly on the knife itself? Just curious.

[sdt11670]

SDT, UMMM I'm not sure I understand these quotes?


Me too. My wife does a great job as well. (Although she isn't that clever. She uses knife on knife to get that hair popping thing happening) Come to think of it so does her sister and her husband. My mum and dad and my grandparents. My mates can also. I didn't know the minority of knife users lived in Australia!!!!

Well tac as far as the slave labor thing goes most cheap and i mean extremely cheap as in a $10 knife coming from china is generally a product of slave labor. My bashing of chinese products is not a bashing of the chinese people as i am well aware of the fact that the chinese are capable and do make products equal to any other race of human but really cheap crap is not on par with a product from a reputable company since it is generally a product of slave labor and for that reason alone i will not support it. I only buy a chinese product from a reputable company and never shop at a dollar store as everything in these dumps are products of child enslavement.

As far as the knife sharpening goes well just hang around the forums and you will find out that the majority of the knife buying public is unable to sharpen a knife correctly. In the past 25 years i have hunted with people that could sharpen a knife good enough to get the job done but could never achieve a consistent edge. Just take a look at all the butchered edges on used knives for sale. Some people can sharpen one blade/ edge profile/configuration thickness/length but have trouble with the next. Some people can sharpen a soft thin kitchen knife but hand them a thick hunting knife made of perhaps 154cm and they give up before learning the difference. Same with a very large bowie some find them very difficult to control even though they may be able to put a keen edge on their hunting knife. I even gave a straight razor to a fellow that brought it back to me because he couldn't sharpen it.

[sdt11670]

Batoning and chopping wood does cause you to loose an edge. I lost the edge on the CRK
Green Beret and the Project after batoning.


I have to touch up my edge on my Busse FBM after coming back from camping over night and I chop wood to keep the fire going all night.

This why I always carry a sharpening stone when I go out.

Now wait, i usually touch up all my knives after baton work so i didn't mean that the edge was unaffected by it. I meant that it does not harm the edge beyond usefulness.

Are you saying that the crk's lost their edge completely while using a baton with them? If so that is very hard to believe and i would think they had a ht problem even if they themselves said they didn't. I would take them to a steel shop and have them rockwell tested myself... You know thats not a bad idea.

[Noss]

sdt11670: You haven't even used the knife or held the knife or tested the knife in any way. You are making claims based on it's china and made by slave labor, an it costs 10 bucks.

I never said the knife was as hard as the Ranger. I said in the video it was on the soft side. Go and watch it again.

The S&W knife was a cheap China knife by your definition and it did not survive as long as the CTD. So your any knife can survive is because it is a cheap china knife is false.


You said the knife can not cut an this false.

Regardless of the RC of the knife it is functional as a KNIFE. It cuts it is tough and strong. It works as a knife and a pry bar if needed the Ranger will work as a knife also
I never said it would not.

The CTD knife is what it is. An it's a great bargain in my book.

No one is saying you have to buy anything you don't want to buy for whatever reason you choose. Buy what you want.

The CRK knives did not loose their edge beyond usefulness they lost their initial edge
after batoning. They were still able to cut just not as well.

[Noss]

Noss: Thanks for the welcome.:D That one with the guard cut back looks cool!


Everyone: Does the wimpy sheath factor into your rating or is it strictly on the knife itself? Just curious.


It is a factor for many people. Many complain that you don't get a sheath with a Busse. an you don't. Many people are just use to getting a sheath with their knife so it is a factor when many decide on what to buy. I have seen people say well that knife is just a rip off because look at the crummy sheath you get.

This is in regards to what I have seen around the net. I was not answering for everyone who voted in this poll. Vote an comment as you see fit. Even if it does come with a crappy sheath. :p

[G. Scott H.]

Cool! Can;t wait to see some rope cutting vid on the spearpoint CTD.

Btw, I went for In between 4 and 5 swords.

[vvk]

It is a factor for many people. Many complain that you don't get a sheath with a Busse. an you don't. Many people are just use to getting a sheath with their knife so it is a factor when many decide on what to buy. I have seen people say well that knife is just a rip off because look at the crummy sheath you get.

This is in regards to what I have seen around the net. I was not answering for everyone who voted in this poll. Vote an comment as you see fit. Even if it does come with a crappy sheath. :p

I personally have returned quality knives like Falkniven A1 because of the crappy sheath.
(The web site claimed that the sheath was Kydex but it was Zytel).

Lets not even start about Busse's lack of sheath. It is the second most irritating thing I find about this otherwise quality knives (the insidious Busse marketing being # one).

[sdt11670]

Tac, while looking over these posts again i noticed you mentioned sharpening using knife on knife... Well that is not possible! Rubbing the edges of two knives together only straightens the edges it doesn't sharpen them. When using soft steel knives mainly thin kitchen knives the edges tend to roll against bones, cutting boards, tables and just about anything else they come in contact with such as sinks and when you rub the edges together you are dragging the rolled edges against each other and it straightens them out. A butchers steels main purpose is to straighten the edges and not to sharpen either unless it is a diamond coated steel which was invented for sharpening which requires removal of metal. In other words the knives are already sharp and the sharp edges are simply being returned to true. If you think two knives can be sharpened by rubbing them together then i challenge you to remove the edges with a stone completely and then put them back by rubbing the blades together... You wont be able to do it in a lifetime.

[sdt11670]

Noss the thing about the ranger breaking has given a false impression to some people. it has led some to think that 5160 is not a tough steel when in fact it is about as tough as it gets when it comes to steel. Perhaps you should explain to people about steels in regards to these tests and explain perhaps that just because the steel is tempered on the hard side does not mean it is not tough. The coil springs and leaf springs under your car are made of 5160 and they enjoy more flexing than anything i can think of. Now you could remove a leaf spring of 5160 cold form it as best as possible without transferring too much heat to it and once formed into a knife you wouldn't be able to break it or it would be extremely difficult but it would not enjoy the same degree of edge retention as a ranger knife. You could also have a 5160 blade made with an edge hardening process and it would be near impossible to break yet would hold an edge and if you had an existing blade and felt for some reason it needed to be overly strong you could have a back draw done on it. As far as the china blade goes well quality control is terrible from one to the next and just because one is soft doesn't mean the next one isn't too hard.

[Tac45]

Gee you can't rub knives together and end up with sharp knives? Wow I better tell my wife and buy her a sharpener since she doesn't and never has used one. My mother and her mother never did. I've never tried but my grandfather used to do it. Maybe it's some secret that Europeans and old butchers have? So how long have diamond steels been around?

As far as removing the edges completly...well by your definition of a knife it would then be a knife like object. And yes I'm certain if you took two lumps of steel and rubbed them together they would still turn out to be a knife like object sunless one was considerably harder steel than the other.

Having said that. The Ranger knife broke just like the others. Doesn't make it worse than some of the others or better. But it broke quicker than the CTD. The fact that it did will not change a thing in my life other than give me a few moments of amusement. Would I buy a Ranger? Yes. A CTD? probably not. Would I care if the CTD was ten times stronger? No. Do I like the Ka-Bar USMC better than both? Yes.

[sdt11670]

Gee you can't rub knives together and end up with sharp knives? Wow I better tell my wife and buy her a sharpener since she doesn't and never has used one. My mother and her mother never did. I've never tried but my grandfather used to do it. Maybe it's some secret that Europeans and old butchers have? So how long have diamond steels been around?

As far as removing the edges completly...well by your definition of a knife it would then be a knife like object. And yes I'm certain if you took two lumps of steel and rubbed them together they would still turn out to be a knife like object sunless one was considerably harder steel than the other.

Having said that. The Ranger knife broke just like the others. Doesn't make it worse than some of the others or better. But it broke quicker than the CTD. The fact that it did will not change a thing in my life other than give me a few moments of amusement. Would I buy a Ranger? Yes. A CTD? probably not. Would I care if the CTD was ten times stronger? No. Do I like the Ka-Bar USMC better than both? Yes.

Nope it would still be a knife since it would have proper tempering. And back to the ctd proper tempering is what it's all about. Ask a butcher if a knife can be sharpened by rubbing them together since they use this technique alot but when they actually get dull they have to hit the stone with them or outsource.

[sdt11670]

By the way noss i am willing to bet that if you took that knife hunting and attempted to field dress (i know it's too big for that) And skin and butcher a single animal with it that you would say words you didn't even know you knew and you would throw it as far as you possibly could in hopes of never seeing it again... If you try it be sure to get plenty of rest for the frequent sharpening sessions.

[Tac45]

Ok I get it. Now its not a knife if it isn't properly tempered. Guess you are right about the knife on knife. The two large knives my wife uses which her late mother used are about 30 years old. Though my wife has only been using them for the last 20 years. Good information. When they get dull I will put them to a stone to sharpen them if I am able to by then.

Since it isn't possible to rub two knives together how come "Ask a butcher if a knife can be sharpened by rubbing them together since they use this technique alot but when they actually get dull they have to hit the stone with them or outsource."

Which is it? Impossible or "since they use this technique alot"

Skinning animals with a CTD. Why not. Seems there was a time before metal tools people magaged it. Still do in some places. Bet they would wish they could have a CTD rather than a sharp rock.

I must admit the contradictory remarks have me confused. So many of them. First you don't buy Chinese made or recommend it because of slave labour. But you do have quite a few made in China. I even read somewhere you had a carbon V Recon Scout or Trailmaster knife and sold it and bought an sk5 version of the same. Isn't that going from US made to Chinese made?

So much confusion. But what I do know that is not confusing the CTD knife lasted longer than the Ranger.

I'll be out following the butcher to see where sneaks off to get his knife sharpened. After all only a special few can actually sharpen a knife.

[sdt11670]

Ok I get it. Now its not a knife if it isn't properly tempered. Guess you are right about the knife on knife. The two large knives my wife uses which her late mother used are about 30 years old. Though my wife has only been using them for the last 20 years. Good information. When they get dull I will put them to a stone to sharpen them if I am able to by then.

Since it isn't possible to rub two knives together how come "Ask a butcher if a knife can be sharpened by rubbing them together since they use this technique alot but when they actually get dull they have to hit the stone with them or outsource."

Which is it? Impossible or "since they use this technique alot"

Skinning animals with a CTD. Why not. Seems there was a time before metal tools people magaged it. Still do in some places. Bet they would wish they could have a CTD rather than a sharp rock.

I must admit the contradictory remarks have me confused. So many of them. First you don't buy Chinese made or recommend it because of slave labour. But you do have quite a few made in China. I even read somewhere you had a carbon V Recon Scout or Trailmaster knife and sold it and bought an sk5 version of the same. Isn't that going from US made to Chinese made?

So much confusion. But what I do know that is not confusing the CTD knife lasted longer than the Ranger.

I'll be out following the butcher to see where sneaks off to get his knife sharpened. After all only a special few can actually sharpen a knife.

They use the tchnique to keep their edges straight during use.(didn't think that needed explaining again)

A stone is much harder than steel and thats why they will sharpen a knife still was preferred to stone because of it's durability not it's ability to cut better.(read the history books)

Again i paid $105 for my china made trail master and then even contacted cold steel about my concerns. If a knife is so cheap that labor can't be figured into the final sale price i will not buy it.

What do you think the butcher outsources?

So now where are the contradictions? You are misreading and have all my posts available to reread.

[sdt11670]

Wouldn't you know it TAC... I googled this up just for you. Question #6 is for your interests.

http://www.chefschoice.com/tips_myth_all.html

[eatingmuchface]

By the way noss i am willing to bet that if you took that knife hunting and attempted to field dress (i know it's too big for that) And skin and butcher a single animal with it that you would say words you didn't even know you knew and you would throw it as far as you possibly could in hopes of never seeing it again... If you try it be sure to get plenty of rest for the frequent sharpening sessions.

wouldn't it be hard to do with any knife that size?
I'm sure it'd do great at hacking through bones and stuff...
but who skins animals with anything that big anyway?
why not just use a small folder even?
a little bucklite would do the job just fine probably.

I'm not even sure what this whole discussion is about...
you think it's not considered a knife since it's soft and it won't cut or hold an edge?
(some steels do cut better than others even with the same geometry right? because of carbide size and stuff like that?)

just wondering...

[Tac45]

"They use the tchnique to keep their edges straight during use.(didn't think that needed explaining again)" Does that mean when they use this technique and the knife slices through stuff afterwords effectively it isn't sharp?

"A stone is much harder than steel and thats why they will sharpen a knife still was preferred to stone because of it's durability not it's ability to cut better.(read the history books)" And exactly where was there any argument about that?

Read that website myth number six. Lets see a steel maintains the edge. Since whn did anybody say anything contrary there? I liked myth number one the best though. I'm sure a lot of folks have never given knives as gifts for fear of ill fortune falling upon the receiver. Great they cleared that up.

Lets be real. You just want to argue because you hate the fact that the CTD lasted longer than a knife held in such reverence by so many.

EMF is right. Exactly what does this discussion add to the benefit of the thread which is a poll?

[eatingmuchface]

... I was just wondering.
lol

[eatingmuchface]

steeling doesn't actually "sharpen" the knife (as in remove metal) but it will amke the knife sharper won't it?
(as tac said)
because you are aligning the edge, that amkes the knife alot sharper. (and than you can touch it up with a stone)
to really remove metal and "sharpen" it.
:D

[Tac45]

I'm sure there will be a lecture on how something that cuts, slices, peels without effort isn't really sharp unless it isn't a knife like object that has been touched by stone. (looks like the diamond steel mentioned got forgotten about)

My poll pick? More than four and less than five. If you add value for money. Five.

[sdt11670]

steeling doesn't actually "sharpen" the knife (as in remove metal) but it will amke the knife sharper won't it?
(as tac said)
because you are aligning the edge, that amkes the knife alot sharper. (and than you can touch it up with a stone)
to really remove metal and "sharpen" it.
:D

Thats what i said. The knife is already sharp and you are just straightening the edges that are already there. When it actually gets dull you will have to use something abrasive and harder than the steel such as a stone or diamond coated steel.

[sdt11670]

"A stone is much harder than steel and thats why they will sharpen a knife still was preferred to stone because of it's durability not it's ability to cut better.(read the history books)" And exactly where was there any argument about that?



You mentioned something about people used to use stone knives and you bet they would have loved a ctd knife or something like that... I was simply pointing out that native Americans traded with the white man for steel knives because they were more durable and able to withstand impacts when fighting or lashing them to shafts and using them as spears but they did not cut as well as flint stone knives and the flint could be made much sharper and held it's edge much longer and therefore was still the cutting (note... CUTTING) implement of choice.

[sdt11670]

wouldn't it be hard to do with any knife that size?


I was simply talking about it's edge holding abilities not it's size or configuration.

[Noss]

Sorry, I'm not going to slaughter a cow on camera. :eek:

[Tac45]

But if you do.....I'll bring the beer and a salad!

[G. Scott H.]

1st Annual Knife Tests BBQ? I'm in!

[Izan]

I just had a massive BBQ this afternoon. Beer brats and pork chops. And beer. I showed some friends my LMF chopping through a 4" log. They were impressed, as was I.

[Noss]

Sound's like fun guys. We can eat, drink an break knives. :eek::D I bring the beer
but who is bringing the knives ? :confused:



The poll is closed. We have a new rating of 4.5 swords. I'll update it on the site. Thanks to everyone who voted an commented. :)

[out5yder]

I don't really understand why you people vote for less than 5 stars only because it is not a good cutter! It's a destruction test after all, isn't it?! If we think more about it, the A1 was chipped all along the edge after the first few strikes into the concrete, so it wasn't a good cutter anymore either. The A1 also loosed its tip fast, failed the body weight test and the side tang impacts and it got 5 stars. So, why would this cheaper than dirt not get more than 5 stars?? A dull knife is always better than a broken one, isn't it?
The only reason I would lower its rating is that it doesn't have an exposed tang and the handle broke under impacts. But everything else seemed enough to me to give it more than 5 stars in a D-test (after all this is not a performance test).

This is my opinion.

Cheers!

[culpeper]

The poll ended last June. I guess it's still relevant.

[dingyu1980]

i read all the posts here , i have nothing to say about my country, but i strongly recommanded the man named sdt11670 to visit china.
and i have nothing to say about cheaper than dirt knife , but i strongly recommanded you to use it for a while.

man, i hope you that not just talking what just you have imagined, do it !!! do some tests to let you words meaningful.

[dingyu1980]

I don't really understand why you people vote for less than 5 stars only because it is not a good cutter! It's a destruction test after all, isn't it?! If we think more about it, the A1 was chipped all along the edge after the first few strikes into the concrete, so it wasn't a good cutter anymore either. The A1 also loosed its tip fast, failed the body weight test and the side tang impacts and it got 5 stars. So, why would this cheaper than dirt not get more than 5 stars?? A dull knife is always better than a broken one, isn't it?
The only reason I would lower its rating is that it doesn't have an exposed tang and the handle broke under impacts. But everything else seemed enough to me to give it more than 5 stars in a D-test (after all this is not a performance test).

This is my opinion.

Cheers!


hi, man , you are right , i am with you .:D in my eyes , ctd desere 5.

[draven13]

Buy 2, sharpen 2, use 1 for cutting and the other 1 for whatever you want. The point is the CTD Knife is $10 bucks and it out performs knives that are much more expensive. If some people don't like it, don't buy it. If they have the money to spend on something that is much more expensive, then go for it. (My rating 4.5)

[Noss]

draven13: Welcome to the forum.

[nattybumpo]

Hi, I actually joined just to see noss 4 cut down version of the CTd knife called a "clip point" although it resembles a spear point to my way of looking at things.

What he did is exactly what I did in my own style to the first one I bought. After abusing it in my own style, I have come to the conclusion that this is a good knife.

I like it enough that I have ordered the bowie and another spear (clip) one just for to have.

used with a laynard I have cleaned 7 deer this year. (one from w.va. and 6 killed in alabama.)

I had sharpened the knife prior to heading to the woods, and did have an old timer in my pocket incase i needed it, but, without resharpening I field dressed the deer and then caped and cut it up.

Edge would no longer shave, but it more than did what I asked of it.

A few strokes on a ceramic rod in my pocket and it was able to cut fuzz sticks again.

Not a bad knife for a poor man.

I suspect that the chinese have figured out that selling a very inexpensive (as opposed to cheap) knife is a way to get buyers for their products.

Also I have a brother that has visited china several times for various reasons ranging from olympics to school to just for the heck of it.

He may have just been VIP tripped, but he saw no signs of slave labor. What he saw was a country that seems to be truning capitalist to survive.

OTOH, I truly hate communists, so I do deplore their government style, but I also deplore the direction I see our american government heading which seems to be a progressive mix of facisism (taking over GM for example) and socialism.

I am with jefferson etc who said that that govt is best which governs least.

Still as a poor man, I buy and use what I can afford.

The CTD knife is something I find useful and enjoy using.

[Noss]

Many people do look down on these knives. But many have reported using them successfully for outdoor tasks with no problems. I know they work and for only 10 bucks.

[cziv]

These knives kick ass for $9.97. I just bought a clip point bowie and the same size with the spear point. I can't wait to beat the piss out them!! :rockon:

[dingyu1980]

$9.97 a knife , is not soooooo cheap in china.
some days ago , my father bought a kicken knife ,stainless and with 12''blade , just costed him $3.

not bad uh? but mama said it is ``` paid lots for a knife like that.
funny .
dingy

[cziv]

I got my order Fedex Saturday and put a 40* edge on the clip point and the spear point CTDirt hard use knives. Stropped the shit out of them and they slice paper now.

The Clip Point Bowie style feels a bit heavier in hand but the Spear Point design would be my choice for skewering zombies! :rockon:

[Noss]

Nice. :rockon: I found them easy to sharpen and they took a pretty decent edge also. They are softer so it's not advisable to take it down to some crazy 10 degree angle and expect the edge to hold up well to hard use. :eek::D but 40 should do well.

[wildjim]

I got them as China Made Night Defender wholesale for less than $5 each. I bought nine, three of each style bowie, spear, bolo.

I used the Bolo style to chop and baton through a couple old weathered (hard as a rock) logs for fire wood and it also did the job making walking sticks out of the same tough hard as a rock branches for my daughter and I.

The bowie style seems a .5 mm thicker and has the best feel to me.

Since I've moved on to the Cold Steel 12 inch Sax or Barong machete as the longer blade is more useful for me.

[cziv]

I chose the 40 degree setting because you mentioned and showed in you destruction test that they were a bit soft Noss.

Oddly enough when you said that you'd rather have a blade bend on you than break, I thought about the African spearman I'd read about in lots of biographies written by early professional hunters.

The hunters made their spear points with just enough temper to hold them straight. If they missed striking their target and killing it or even hit heavy bone, the broad. flat blades would bend.

If they bent too much they'd just straighten them right back out and go on their way.

Anyway, I dig 'em for 9.97 each but you really got a deal wildjim! :rockon:

[wildjim]

I chose the 40 degree setting because you mentioned and showed in you destruction test that they were a bit soft Noss.

Oddly enough when you said that you'd rather have a blade bend on you than break, I tought about the African spearman I'd read about in lots of biographies written by early professional hunters.

The hunters made their spear points with just enough temper to hold them straight. If they missed striking their target and killing it or even hit heavy bone, the broad. flat blades would bend.

If they bent too much they'd just straighten them right back out and go on their way.

Anyway, I dig 'em for 9.97 each but you really got a deal wildjim! :rockon:

I got a really unexpected good deal on a Rough Rider Skinner and Drop point hunter set for $9

The set has a 7" cleaver and 3.5" drop point, its 440 stainless steel 5 mm thick!

Rough Rider makes really nice knives for a fair price; especially their pocket knives and the fixed blades are outstanding for the price.

I am going to order a few more soon.

[cziv]

How about PM'ing me where you're shopping wildjim if it's open to others ad not a club or something? I need a cleaver man! :thumb:

[wildjim]

How about PM'ing me where you're shopping wildjim if it's open to others ad not a club or something? I need a cleaver man! :thumb:

I buy from a wholesale distributor.

If you were local I could get you some deals.

I recently got cold steel camillus carbon v srk blanks for $3 each and the same steel cs carbon v kukri ltc blank for $4. I just need the time and will to grind and handle them.

[cziv]

wildjim - sounds cool, enjoy!

[wildjim]

I got a really unexpected good deal on a Rough Rider Skinner and Drop point hunter set for $9

The set has a 7" cleaver and 3.5" drop point, its 440 stainless steel 5 mm thick!

Rough Rider makes really nice knives for a fair price; especially their pocket knives and the fixed blades are outstanding for the price.

I am going to order a few more soon.

see photo. . .

[cziv]

Cool wildjim!

I'm looking for a min-cleaver - something along the lines of some of Mike Snody's work but w/o the heavy price tag. I'd like to EDC a mini-cleaver on my belt! :rockon:

[wildjim]

Cool wildjim!

I'm looking for a min-cleaver - something along the lines of some of Mike Snody's work but w/o the heavy price tag. I'd like to EDC a mini-cleaver on my belt! :rockon:

The Rough Rider set isn't mini but it also come with a dual belt sheath.