Reviews and Ratings for Cold Steel 36JSK Master Hunter 4-1/2" VG-1 San Mai III Blade, Kray-Ex Handle

Gabor Dr. L
Szekesfehervar, Hungary

Feb 10, 2013

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Excellent blade

I bought it 6-7 years ago. Despite its blade's pretty thickness it is easy to get sharp because of its "V" cross section. Grip, weight and balance are excellent too.

Roman299
Simi Valley, CA

May 22, 2017

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality

Cons: None

durable knife

price and quality are good. durable knife

Slayer
gulf coast

Sep 08, 2010

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

great all around knife

this knife has a laminated blade that comes razor sharp, and is easy to resharpen. the handle is a tacky, nonslip rubber, that feels great in the hand, making the knife feel like an extention of the hand. the sheath works well, but ive ordered a custom sheath from jre leather works. if your in the market for a plain jane knife, that you can carry every day this is the knife for you

Mbentley6
Indiana

Jul 06, 2010

Pros: Blade Material, Handle Material, Weight, Overall Quality, Materials, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness, Finish

Cons: None

sexy blade

I wanted to buy a knife that was under 6 inches, just so I could have a knife that wasn't too illegal. I decided on this knife mostly for the steel and handle. I have the Carbon V Cold Steel Recon Tanto and I love the handle. This knife has that handle.

Woodmaster Aka Crackshot
Meriden connecticut

Jul 25, 2023

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Master Hunter carbon v , superb knife

I have heavily used my MH carbon v knife seems like forever. How long is that don’t recall but cost me 40 bucks if that’s any indication. Easy to hair shave sharpen. Own one you will never want for any other. Fish, hunt, camp. A little small for complete survival knife. But she’ll fill the bill when pushed to any task. This knife is a monster. Can’t recall how many have me will I sell it. Rain, blood, your hand is glued to the handle. I did have a custom leather sheath for it. Original was funky.

Lucky Lee
Colorado Springs, CO

Jul 07, 2010

Pros: Handle Material, Weight, Finish, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Cold steel Master Hunter

I bought this knife to use while hunting deer and elk. I really like the weight and feel of the knife. I was also impressed with the fact that the knife was sharp enough to shave with right out of the box.

Chris The Train Guy
Falls Church, Va

Aug 14, 2014

Pros: Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Sweet Knife!

This Master Hunter from Cold Steel,is one sweet knife! I am duly impressed with the overall quality and utility of this blade,at such an affordable price. It arrived in razor sharp condition,and has kept it's edge over many months of hard use! The included Kydex sheath is also well made,and well thought out. I especially like the lanyard hole at the rear of the knife handle,which is perfect for adding a length of bungee cord,paracord,or latigo lace.Buy it!

Antonio
Spain

Sep 21, 2009

Pros: None

Cons: None

Very good

a very good knife

Argief
Bariloche , Argentine Patagonia

May 27, 2022

Pros: None

Cons: None

LOVE this knife! Lynn masterpiece!!

Excelent knife , I have one MH since 1995 in Carbon V Steel (no longer made) and a couple years ago bought one in SanMai III , I love both , perfect shape, incredible Edge retention, and the Ruber handle fits perfectly my hand and doesnt move even wet. I am from Patagonia and fish and hunt there, and trust totally in my couple of Máster Hunters. Recomend!!

Japanese
Tokyo japan

Oct 22, 2010

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Practicable high performance

The saucer doesn't have the discoursed necessity in the much more about high performance of this knife now. For the person who buys it again.This is new specs of an old aus8 model, and thickness is more a little than old carbonⅴ models of the large.

Gary H.
Kansas City MO USA

Jul 27, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Perfect Little Brother to the SRK

I like hiking and camping. I need a solid knife that can take care of work in the outdoors. The Master Hunter is a slightly smaller version of the SRK. Same handle, same sharp thick blade, and same Cold Steel Quality! I love the smaller blade length from the SRK (which I have and love as well)

Poppgunn
Ohio

Sep 13, 2024

Pros: None

Cons: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Finish, Handle Material, Materials, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Weight

N8ce knife

My san mai master hunter has taken the place of my retired classic US made carbon v master hunter. This Japanese made knife arrived shaving sharp out of the box. The flat grind was symmetrical and perfect. Fits snuggly in it's sheath with an audible snap.

Paul C
Maryland

Jul 01, 2009

Pros: Handle Material, Blade Sharpness, Weight, Finish, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Materials, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: None

I bought this knife for heavy utility farm work

I bought this knife for heavy utility farm work. I have had good luck with abusing/rough use with Cold Steel knives and this will allow me to try the San Mai 3 in a shorter blade. The spine is extremely thick and have noticed that it does not cut through plant material as well as a thinner blade but has done well puncturing and slicing back and forth. It came with a very sharp edge and I decided on it over Fallkiven F1 due to price and my past history and good luck with CS knives.

Travis U
jacksonville, fl

Jun 07, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

master hunter

great knife

Robinson Bucci
Brazil

Jun 24, 2009

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Finish, Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

The best survival knife

Has the proper size, great portability. Robust and very sharp. It is the knife I have chosen to spend my vacation in the Amazon forest. Thanks Knifecenter thanks Cold Steel!

Bushdoctor
Raleigh ,NC

Mar 12, 2013

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

fifteen year old Master Hunter

I own over thirty knives. Most are "Display Queens" but this is the one knife I use all of the time. It has travelled with me from Alaska to Peru. I did a two week survival training in Utah with this knife. Of all of the CS fixed blades and I own several, it is by far the most practical outdoors knife. Mine has the Carbon V steel which is easy to sharpen to a razor's edge. I can easily dry shave with it. Many who test my edge can not believe that a this knife like this can get so scalpel sharp. I do not know why they did not continue this steel, because it is the very best. Probably because it will rust and stain and many who buy knives just want them to look shiny and not do any work. My leather sheath has just about had it and I would like to try to find out how I can buy a Kydex sheath for it. I have ESEE's, Bokers, Busses, Moras and this is the best if you really want to hunt and camp.

Internben
little rock ar

Jul 26, 2010

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

fanfriggintastic

i absolutely love this knife. i bought it for survival situations, just to have a badass knife that i knew could do almost anything. i am not dissapointed. as far as the knife is concerned, i of course took it out and tried to shave my arm hair with it. worked like a charm. the handle fits in my hand perfectly, not too thick not too slim. sheath is fantastic, i wish all knives came with this kind. great great buy.

Aleksei
Russian Federation

Sep 10, 2015

Pros: None

Cons: None

Excellent knife

Excellent knife for hunting. Every time take it with me to the forest.Never let me down. Respect

Tony
Vancouver B.C.

Feb 11, 2010

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Exceeds my expectations

Ordered this knife for its exact purpose, skinning large or small game. Cuts through tendons, muscles and ligaments like a hot knife through a tender butter. But what made me really surprised is its edge holding even after some industrial heavy use... Recommend it to anyone who needs a handy tool always ready at your hip...

J. Patrick
Chesterfield, MO

Mar 24, 2022

Pros: Blade Sharpness, Weight, Overall Quality, Materials, Handle Material

Cons: None

Cold Steel Quality

Superb fit and finish. Razor sharp. Cuts like a hot knife through butter. Excellent sheath. Handle design and the feel are a benefit during long sessions. A custom-quality production knife.

Enthusiast
Queensland, Australia

Oct 02, 2010

Pros: None

Cons: None

Big Knife In A Small Package

Good strong little knife, it does all camp chores quite well. A very good close-quarter-combat-knife too! One of the all time great from coldsteel.

Jinliang Lin
Danshui Town, Taiwan

Dec 29, 2009

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

It's good for using.

Good quality at a fair price

Donald Palmer
DE

Dec 09, 2008

Pros: Overall Quality, Materials, Handle Material, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Weight, Finish, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: None

Cold Steel Master Hunter

I've had my Master Hunter for three hunting seasons. When I first got it I thought the 3/16 thick blade and 4.5 in. length was going to be a hindrance. I don't split the pelvis in the field, I cut around the anus and cut the tissue loose by following the pelvis bone on the inside. The knife works fine by choking up on the blade and not using the full length. The thickness and length work very well when cutting through the breast bone. The Kraton handle is large enough to get a good grip and use both hands to pull up through the bone, tissue, and hide without slipping. I've field dressed six deer with this knife. I usually automatically touch up the edge after each use, but this year I noticed it was still hair shaving sharp after using it the first time, so I didn't touch it. It did the second deer just fine and is still sharp. Cold Steel knives are very sharp when you get them. I own several. Also, I love the Kydex sheath. It locks the knife in plus has a retaining strap. It can be taken on and off the belt without taking the belt off. Easy to clean the fat and blood off when you're done as is the Kraton handle. Notice I didn't check any "cons".

Michael Vertorano
hillsborough nj

Jun 07, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

sharp knife

i own many high end knives, this one comes extremely sharp! perfect size for general use like hiking ,camping etc! comfortable handle! i love kydex sheaths !this sheath is designed very nice! knife is secure and safe! anyone looking for a midsize fixed blade thats sharp but not too thin ,this will serve you well!

Rakim
NL

Jun 29, 2009

Pros: Handle Material, Finish, Weight, Blade Material, Materials, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Overall Quality

Good investment

This is a knife you really like to have with you all the time ! Only bad thing was that the tip off the blade was a little bit damaged when it came out off the box. Nothing I cant fix but you know the feeling !!!!

Doc Hammer
Princeton, WV

Apr 01, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

i have not used this knife as yet so can make no comment. It is a good looking knife with a solid grip and balance. The blade was in need of sharpening and after a short time on a pair of arkansas stones became like a razor. I have confidence this knive will serve me well as I plan to use it in my garden and in the fishing world as well. You have to give this blade a 9 out of ten rating. Good job guys.

Mike O
Orrtanna Pa.

Nov 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish

Cons: Blade Sharpness

master hunter plus

bought the knife new from knife center.pulled it out of the sheath.I was impressed.Until I tested it for sharpness.It was not sharp at all.It was actually DULL.Very dissapointed for my one hundred dollar knife.No more cold steel for me.All I am saying is the knife I got is a joke.

Alex
Texas

May 17, 2023

Pros: None

Cons: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

I was surprised how bad this steel is...

I bought this knife for my fishing needs (I just needed something stainless, that will hold some edge and will not be crazy expensive)...but... after my first fishing trip where I deal with not-that-big fish... the tip of the knife was broken... ok, I re-sharped it. not a big deal (but it should be because it is a kinda big knife) but then I was disappointed even more... after my 2nd trip, I got some rust on the knife for no reason at all. In the evening I was cleaning the fish, I cleaned the knife and in the morning I had the rust on it... I do not know if this is only my knife that bad.. but I feel like I got a cheap Chinese-made knife... I wish I can return it and buy something with better steel (I`ll do it anyway because this thing is not good at all).