The Cold Steel Hunter Slock Master, with red GFN scales and an 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade is not an expensive knife by any means.
In fact, you might even call it a cheap knife. It sort of is.
But it offers absolutely, mind-blowingly incredible value that you won’t see elsewhere in a knife (from this or another brand) for under $100.
It could easily be called the best Cold Steel knife out there.
Let’s break it down to the basics so you can see why it’s such a great knife.
The Lock (Double-Safe, Should We Say)
The lock alone is a reason to get this knife. At first look, you might think it’s just a lockback, and it certainly is, except it’s not just a lockback.
First off, even though lockbacks aren’t fun or fidgety, they are among the strongest folding lock types out there. So take that for what it is.
Also, if you’ve ever been straining with a greasy or bloody knife and the framelock or linerlock has disengaged on you – well, that won’t happen with a lockback.
Plus, a lockback requires two hands and enables you to keep your hands away from the blade while closing, unlike the other two types mentioned here.
But what we really love about this knife is the Double Safe feature – a little bar on the port side of the knife that serves as a second, backup lock.
With the Double Safe lock engaged, the lockback cannot be disengaged, preventing it from accidentally closing on you.
Also, the same feature can be used to lock the knife closed, too, adding to security.
High Visibility, Excellent Grip
The red GFN scales are a little light, but the truth is, they also offer excellent visibility in the field.
Put this knife down in the leaf litter for a moment while you’re hunting or camping and at least you’ll be able to find it again – that’s for sure.
The other thing is that, despite the fact that GFN isn’t very exciting, it’s really tough and offers a sure grip.
The pattern on it is sure to hold up even in the face of water or grease – that you can rely on.
Blade Profile and Steel Are Top Notch
Next, let’s talk about the blade steel and profile.
This knife boasts a quite-adequate 3.5” drop point blade with a gracefully arched belly; it’s almost leaf-shaped.
The steel is 8Cr13MoV, which is not a super steel, but it can take and hold a crazy sharp edge, and it’s soft enough that resharpening is not a nightmare.
But here’s the thing about this alloy – while there are other, better, more corrosion-resistant alloys out there, this one is quite good.
Which you’ll need on a knife you intend to bring hunting. You can get it dirty, greasy, oily, wet – you name it.
Honestly, you could probably plunge it into the wet ground and come back in a day and it probably wouldn’t have a single rust spot.
Truth is, as far as budget alloys go, it’s one of the most corrosion-resistant ones out there. Just keep it safe from saltwater and you should never have a problem.
It Might Be the Best Cold Steel Knife: Now Where Can You Get It?
Now, if there’s one more thing that makes an argument for this as the best Cold Steel knife, it has to be the price.
Right now, at White Mountain Knives, you can get it for less than $35. For a knife of this caliber, that is an absolute steal.
And, if you prefer some other Cold Steel model, they carry tons of them. Check out their website for more information and reap the deals while they’re hot – they don’t charge for shipping in the US.
