Cold Steel Pendleton Lite Hunter 3-5/8"

I've noticed something I'd have to call a "knife fashion cycle" over the years. Because knives have so many uses, they take countless forms. Because many people buy knives not to use them, but to simply have them (the way certain wonderful women collect shoes), their designs wander in many far-from-practical directions. Often because what looks interesting isn't necessarily the same as what is actually useful. When I first handled this knife, I admit I was coming from the position of skepticism relative to the overwhelmingly favorable opinions people have of it.Some background would make my review make more sense.I bought this knife because I wanted something to fill something like the fashion niche of the Bear Grylls-style "survival" knife. I wanted something with a one-sided finger guard that could be pushed into wood-craft service in a pinch (when I'm serious about this function, I use a KA-BAR Heavy Bowie, which has a single bevel and is almost 1/4" thick and wears like magic). I wanted a short-blade hunting knife that would do all the things the woods might want without requiring a second thought before leaving the house.It also happened that I wanted a light knife for roughing wood carving projects- something I've been using the KA-BAR to do before switching to power-tools (like the Merlin.) I needed something for finer work that had a comfortable handle- something I could manipulate close to the point.Finally, I wanted something, unlike the beautiful S30V blade on my Leatherman, that I could ask horrible things of without feeling guilty. A real utility knife. A mechanic's knife. An "I shouldn't be using a knife for this" knife.I realize now that I bought this knife with the thought that it would serve all three. First, because it's the right shape. Second, because it's the right steel. Third, because it's the right price.What I've decided, after just beginning to put this knife to use in exactly such ways, that it transcends "knife fashion." I feel like I'm only beginning to appreciate the potential in this thing.For instance, because it's practically weightless, this is the knife I'll take with me on minimalist cross-terrain trips (mixed hiking and solo rock-climbing). Its kitchen-like sensibilities will guarantee that it sees service on backpacking trips. I even think I might attach a small float to it's lanyard hole, giving it just-over-neutral buoyancy, and call it a diving knife (I'm really tired of losing diving knives by having them fall out of their quick-release sheaths). I feel like it's that light.And if I do lose this knife, or even give it away, I won't feel that bad. I think I'll probably just buy a new one.*UPDATE: I did give it a way to a girl who was hitchhiking back to CA after being denied access to her summer internship at the Quebec border for having a 2-inch pocket knife.**UPDATE: And I did buy another one :)It's true. I don't think any knife could live up to the hype this thing has surrounding it (which I feel like I'm adding to with my review- which you're reading because thinking about this knife is just kinda fun). About the steel, when I got this knife, it was hair-shaving sharp. As promised. After a day of rough and dirty use, it isn't. It's more like a dull razor. Still "razor" sharp. Still shaves. But not nearly as well.As a kid, it seemed perfectly reasonable to build a submarine-helicopter-jet-spaceship-tank out of legos. As an adult, I do genuinely appreciate that some functions cannot be served by compromise with others. And I don't believe a "perfect knife" exists, or ever will. This one, however, is superior to its type, and, as farmer Hoggett once say, "That'll do."

I purchased this knife along with the Cold Steel Pendleton Belt Knife and the Roach Belly. I bought these knives because I've become a fan of the quality, value and durability of Cold Steel blades. I needed to find a knife I could put in the tackle box (that fulfills other basic utility roles in a pinch) and my wife wanted to see if any of these blades could live a double life with her in the kitchen. First, I will tell you that form, fit and function quality of these knives are excellent. I still can't find my socks because they blew off....these knives for ~$10 a pop just offer incredible value. I like the High Impact Polypropylene handles as they'll be impervious to moisture issues and will last. These sheaths seem odd at first but are durable. I'm happy to carry any of these three knives, put them in the tackle box, hunting bag or the glove box. In the kitchen....they did OK. I think the blade thickness was just too much for fine slicing but they made great choppers. The belt knife excelled at chopping and actually made it the furthest in slicing an apple prior to the blade thickness splitting the fruit (best of the 3 there). The offset handle of the belt knife really provides the additional clearance needed to excel in the chopping arena. Overall....the Pendleton Lite excelled as the most versatile knife. I like this knife along with the Peace Makers as a glove box knife. This has replaced my Mora. This knife would also be the best of the 3 for the hunting bag/belt and a definite cheaper suitable sub you won't have to worry about versus the more expensive CS Pendleton or Master Hunter. Finally, the handle/finger guard on this blade provides more control/purchase versus my old Mora if needed in a defensive role.

Excellent slicer especially for not being a scandi grind. Razor sharp, super light and stainless so you can harvest game and prep food without worrying about corrosion. Not the coolest looking knife but practical for a bug out bag. It's a bit hard to unsheath at first. This knife is worth every dollar though

This knife could easily be sold for twice this price and still be a great knife. As it is, you won't get better bang for your buck with anything.A friend of mine tossed this in with my order, and per Cold Steel's usual quality, right out of the box the thing made perfectly clean cuts through 8.5x11s, index cards, and the Amazon box, and the thing is actually so sharp my friend shaved with it. IT IS LITERALLY HAIR-SHAVING SHARP OUT OF THE BOX.Personally, I would either rough the grip with low-grit sandpaper or wrap it in electrical or Tommy tape, but it there is a bit of texturing. It's a good size and comfortable shape in any case.The nylon sheath is very nice and I expect it to last. Some MOLLE webbing or eyelets or something would be nice, but it wouldn't be too hard to tie on if need be. The belt loop is in a nice spot and the knife is actually comfortable on your belt.On top of the quality, the presentation is beautiful. It looks sharp (no pun intended) and clean.With a blade this size, it isn't the best trail/survival knife, but as far as an affordable general utility knife this is unbeatable. I may end up getting one myself!

This knife is really well made for a utility knife - one to be used when a need arises, instead of being another object mostly to be admired.Knife is inexpensive, but certainly not cheap. Knife edge seem to hold up well with my limited usage so far. So what if it is not made from some super knife steel. It will just get touched up before it gets dull.The only negative is that of excessive retention in the sheath (difficult to extract knife). That was easily fixed with some light sanding on the finger guard hump on the molded handle.