Yes, I'm going to compare a $55 knife to a $12 knife. This review / comparison was requested by a fellow Forumite who wanted to know if the price difference was worth the performance difference. So, here we go...
The Competitors: The two knives being compared ate the Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife, model 20CBL, and the Grohmann $1 hunting knife.
The Canadian Belt Knife...
and the Grohmann #1...
Country of Origin: This can be a big deal for some; the Canadian Belt Knife is made in Taiwan, while the Grohmann is made in Canada.
EDIT: Photos of my custom Grohmann added. See post #18 in this thread.
Price: Around $12 for the Cold Steel, and about $55 for the Grohmann.
Handle Materials and Impressions: Well, the Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife's handle is made of black polypropylene (plastic). It's hard and not flexible. It measures 4-1/2" long and is 9/16" thick. You get a lanyard hole about 1" from the butt of the handle, and it's just a tad under 1/4" in diameter (wide enough to slip gutted 550 cord through). The Grohmann's handle is made of wood (maple) and is also 4-1/2" long and 9/16" thick. A 1/4" lanyard hole is provided, and the handle scales are riveted on with brass pins. The lanyard hole is a hollowed-out rivet.
Overall, the handles are about equal in terms of comfort and control. The polypropylene on the Cold Steel makes it feel cheap and blade-heavy due to the fact that it's not a full tang knife; the Grohmann has its full tang visible throughout the handle, right down to the butt. The Grohmann looks nicer since it has real wood and not black plastic; however I've found the handle on the Cold Steel nice to work with in terms of adding texture. I mean after all, it's a $12 knife and I'm not too worried about messing it up. So I used a razor blade and added checkering to the handle for grip. Both handles are comfortable in use and let the knife rest naturally in the hand. The Grohmann's butt has a bit more swell to it, which I like.
Blade Details: The Cold Steel's blade is made of 4116 Krupp stainless and is 4" long with a 3-14/16" cutting edge. It's hollow ground. The Grohmann's blade is 4-1/4" long with a 3-3/4" cutting edge, which is flat ground. The Grohmann is made of what appears to be 420HC stainless steel. The Grohmann is exactly 1/8" thick; the Cold Steel is just a hair under that. Both blades have jimping on the first 1" of their spines, and it helps a lot in both cases. Both have the classic "Canadian belt knife" elliptical shape.
I could write all day about what steel is better, but I'll just go on what I've experienced with these two knives: the Grohmann will hold and edge longer; the Cold Steel will take an edge quicker. Both arrived paper-cutting sharp right out of the box, and both were shaving hair quickly after. I've had zero problems with either knife rusting or tarnishing. I batoned with them, lightly I might add, just to see what would happen. The Cold Steel lost its edge first (as expected) but nothing else happened. Neither blade chipped or bent, neither handle came loose, and nothing broke.
The Sheaths: Here's where I see a real difference. The Cold Steel comes with a black Cordura sheath with a nylon belt loop sewn in. It has stitching and rivets in the front, and is stiff. It goes on your belt up to 1-1/2" wide. That's about all I can say about it. The Grohmann comes with a nice brown leather sheath. It's stitched in the front and has a unique belt loop on the back that can be adjusted and allows you to carry your knife on a belt up to... that's right, 1-1/2" wide. Both sheaths are pouch-style; no snaps or fasteners to hold the knife in. The Cold Steel's handle sticks out 2-1/4" when fully inserted; the Grohmann's sticks out 1-1/4". You get a much nicer sheath with the Grohmann, but again, we're comparing a $12 knife to a $55 knife. Interestingly, the Grohmann will not fit inside the Cold Steel's sheath; the handle is at a slightly different angle and it won't allow for proper insertion. The Cold Steel will fit into the Grohmann's leather sheath, though.
So, what's the verdict? To me, as much as I hate to say it, the Cold Steel is the better knife for the money. Yes, I favored a Cold Steel product instead of something else. But I've got to be honest about it; for a $43 price difference, the sheath and a little more frequent sharpening just don't justify the cost difference. I love my Grohmann and I'll never get rid of it, but the Cold Steel is definitely more bang for the buck. Performance is almost euqal to that of the Grohmann, despite the price difference. For what it's worth, I can buy four Canadian Belt Knives for the price of one #1, and still have $8 left over.
EDIT: Photos of the custom Grohmann added; see post #18 in this thread.
The Competitors: The two knives being compared ate the Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife, model 20CBL, and the Grohmann $1 hunting knife.
The Canadian Belt Knife...
Country of Origin: This can be a big deal for some; the Canadian Belt Knife is made in Taiwan, while the Grohmann is made in Canada.
EDIT: Photos of my custom Grohmann added. See post #18 in this thread.
Price: Around $12 for the Cold Steel, and about $55 for the Grohmann.
Handle Materials and Impressions: Well, the Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife's handle is made of black polypropylene (plastic). It's hard and not flexible. It measures 4-1/2" long and is 9/16" thick. You get a lanyard hole about 1" from the butt of the handle, and it's just a tad under 1/4" in diameter (wide enough to slip gutted 550 cord through). The Grohmann's handle is made of wood (maple) and is also 4-1/2" long and 9/16" thick. A 1/4" lanyard hole is provided, and the handle scales are riveted on with brass pins. The lanyard hole is a hollowed-out rivet.
Overall, the handles are about equal in terms of comfort and control. The polypropylene on the Cold Steel makes it feel cheap and blade-heavy due to the fact that it's not a full tang knife; the Grohmann has its full tang visible throughout the handle, right down to the butt. The Grohmann looks nicer since it has real wood and not black plastic; however I've found the handle on the Cold Steel nice to work with in terms of adding texture. I mean after all, it's a $12 knife and I'm not too worried about messing it up. So I used a razor blade and added checkering to the handle for grip. Both handles are comfortable in use and let the knife rest naturally in the hand. The Grohmann's butt has a bit more swell to it, which I like.
Blade Details: The Cold Steel's blade is made of 4116 Krupp stainless and is 4" long with a 3-14/16" cutting edge. It's hollow ground. The Grohmann's blade is 4-1/4" long with a 3-3/4" cutting edge, which is flat ground. The Grohmann is made of what appears to be 420HC stainless steel. The Grohmann is exactly 1/8" thick; the Cold Steel is just a hair under that. Both blades have jimping on the first 1" of their spines, and it helps a lot in both cases. Both have the classic "Canadian belt knife" elliptical shape.
I could write all day about what steel is better, but I'll just go on what I've experienced with these two knives: the Grohmann will hold and edge longer; the Cold Steel will take an edge quicker. Both arrived paper-cutting sharp right out of the box, and both were shaving hair quickly after. I've had zero problems with either knife rusting or tarnishing. I batoned with them, lightly I might add, just to see what would happen. The Cold Steel lost its edge first (as expected) but nothing else happened. Neither blade chipped or bent, neither handle came loose, and nothing broke.
The Sheaths: Here's where I see a real difference. The Cold Steel comes with a black Cordura sheath with a nylon belt loop sewn in. It has stitching and rivets in the front, and is stiff. It goes on your belt up to 1-1/2" wide. That's about all I can say about it. The Grohmann comes with a nice brown leather sheath. It's stitched in the front and has a unique belt loop on the back that can be adjusted and allows you to carry your knife on a belt up to... that's right, 1-1/2" wide. Both sheaths are pouch-style; no snaps or fasteners to hold the knife in. The Cold Steel's handle sticks out 2-1/4" when fully inserted; the Grohmann's sticks out 1-1/4". You get a much nicer sheath with the Grohmann, but again, we're comparing a $12 knife to a $55 knife. Interestingly, the Grohmann will not fit inside the Cold Steel's sheath; the handle is at a slightly different angle and it won't allow for proper insertion. The Cold Steel will fit into the Grohmann's leather sheath, though.
So, what's the verdict? To me, as much as I hate to say it, the Cold Steel is the better knife for the money. Yes, I favored a Cold Steel product instead of something else. But I've got to be honest about it; for a $43 price difference, the sheath and a little more frequent sharpening just don't justify the cost difference. I love my Grohmann and I'll never get rid of it, but the Cold Steel is definitely more bang for the buck. Performance is almost euqal to that of the Grohmann, despite the price difference. For what it's worth, I can buy four Canadian Belt Knives for the price of one #1, and still have $8 left over.
EDIT: Photos of the custom Grohmann added; see post #18 in this thread.
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