SR1 Lite questions

S

sean2021

Joined
Jan 18, 2021
Messages
314
The recent threads discussing this model have me taking another look at it again. So was watching some review videos and one of the reviewers mentioned that his SR1 Lite has 8Cr14Mov instead of 8Cr13Mov steel. I checked the specs on several dealer sites (including CS)….and no mention of 8Cr14Mov. Does anyone know if the steel has been changed…or is it possible that the reviewer has a counterfeit knife? He mentioned that the 14 is a 1% increase in the Chromium level (an upgrade) in his video.
Also, has the issue of the blade hitting the stop pin when closed been resolved. After seeing a few older vids I remembered that the stop pin issue was the reason I never purchased this model a few yrs back. Considering the overall cost, I think it is one of the best deals out there for a huge beater edc folder.

 
My GSM branded Lite has the 14 steel. the blade grind was uneven so after sharpening Ive yet to see any blade damage from closing the knife. Pratically all reviewers sing the praises of the Lite, I don't know if Im unlucky, super picky or reviewers ignore defects, but I had to do about a hour of work (not including disassembly etc) to get the knife not only smooth but to even operate as designed. The big problem for my knife was the lock bar wasn't able to fully seat itself upon soft closures, leaving some free play in the blade. I layed some 1500 grit paper on a flat surface and softly drug the front edge of the lockbar to remove the grind marks followed by a little polish. That solved the free play issue. The cool thing about the SR and the Lite is they both have massive g10 backspacers eliminating the need for a reinforcing pin. Something the 4 max scout doesn't even have, and the pivot pin is captured by the liner not the scales, making it probably the easiest CS to rehandle should you ever feel like it. The other affordable tri ads have the backspacer molded into one side of the scale and no steel liners, not my cup of tea. So even if you have to disassemble and polish a little the Lite is still a value. If you don't mind the drawbacks of cutting with a 5mm thick CR 14 blade its as good as any CS folder.
 
I would have thought reviewer just made a mistake, but can see it on the knife.....so guess so maybe? with gsm at the wheel...who knows.......
 
Thank you for the replies…so it looks like the steel has been changed. I’m not someone who tinkers with things. So personally, I hate it when I receive a product with defects (no biggie if the defect is very minor). It sounds like the QC on the SR1 Lite is hit or miss…but if you get a good one, it’s golden. The Tanto version was on sale for $28 briefly over the weekend…I was drooling but resisted the temptation…for now at least, LOL!
 
if gsm changed to the 8cr14mov that might explain the lower cost push out of older stock lately ive been seeing........

I'm guessing with zero facts here though.......
 
jbmonkey said:
if gsm changed to the 8cr14mov that might explain the lower cost push out of older stock lately ive been seeing........

I'm guessing with zero facts here though.......
Click to expand...
I thought the exact same thing. It’s crazy how prices can fluctuate so much. I paid just over $80 for my Drop Forged Hunter (got it when the acquisition of CS was just announced). Wish I had waited….they’ve been purchased for as low as $40.
 
I have the tanto version. If I remember I will check the steel. Mine has been stupidly good for the price. The steel seems fine and surprisingly tough considering the things I have done to it. To be totally honest, I like it better than my regular SR1s. The action is just as smooth, the blade on the Lite actually came sharper from the factory, and you can abuse it without guilt. Great tool.
 
I just want to have at least one ridiculously large folder that’s well made and not a piece of junk. Cold Steel is famous for filling this niche. I also have a gut feeling that knives like the SR1 may one day be unavailable due to the crazy “Karen’s” out there. I hate that term because one of the nicest persons I know is named Karen…but I’m sure everyone understands what I’m trying to say.
 
sean2021 said:
I just want to have at least one ridiculously large folder that’s well made and not a piece of junk. Cold Steel is famous for filling this niche. I also have a gut feeling that knives like the SR1 may one day be unavailable due to the crazy “Karen’s” out there. I hate that term because one of the nicest persons I know is named Karen…but I’m sure everyone understands what I’m trying to say.
Click to expand...

The SR1 Lite would certainly fill that role. You might also consider any of the XL Voyagers. My personal favorite is the 5.5" Tanto, and it always has a place in my EDC case.
 
Chris_Texas said:
The SR1 Lite would certainly fill that role. You might also consider any of the XL Voyagers. My personal favorite is the 5.5" Tanto, and it always has a place in my EDC case.
Click to expand...
I purchased 3 Voyagers (standard size/all 3 blade types) several months ago…awesome knives! But Thanks for the suggestion!
 
Im having to run my lite on a ceramic rod at least once a week if not twice just for light useage. I like the handle shape over their banana shaped handles for work, its easier to manipulate. I'm just uncertain about the steel for my use. I may end up with the regular. I think the SR is a great design especially for work. I can't say enough about it. But its no larger than your voyagers
 
Last edited:
paul brown said:
Im having to run my lite on a ceramic rod at least once a week if not twice just for light useage. I like the handle shape over their banana shaped handles for work, its easier to manipulate. I'm just uncertain about the steel for my use. I may end up with the regular. I think the SR is a great design especially for work. I can't say enough about it. But its no larger than your voyagers
Click to expand...
There is no doubt that these lower end steels require more upkeep, and this applies to all of them. The good news is that touching up the edge is an easy enough thing. You might also consider a sharpening steel or strop as part of your daily maintenance.

I bought a REALLY old Henkel folder the other day. Someone carried that knife for a lifetime, and it shows. Since I intend to carry and use it, it needed a sharpening. So I set to work. It took all of a few minutes to get it back to shaving sharpening. Not because I am a sharpening God, but because hundred year old (?) Steel wasn't all that great compared to even lower end modern stuff. And that's okay-- grandpa just sharpened his knife when it needed it.

The SR1 is an end of the world folder, the one you might grab when it simply cannot fail or bad things happen. The SR1Lite is the beater version. 99% as tough, but require twice the maintenence. I would trust and carry either.
 
I have this one...



...and have not noticed the blade getting dinged by the stop pin. Maybe they fixed that. Maybe I got lucky. Maybe I have poor eyesight. The steel identifier printed on the blade is 8Cr14MoV. From what I've read, the 14-type steel is produced with greater tolerance than the 13-type (and yes to the +1% chromium content). Of course, since I've read this on the Internet, I have no idea if that's true or not, nor even what that's supposed to mean (aforementioned compositional percentages and heat treatment, I suppose).

I like the knife and have pretty much carried it daily for the past six months, though the steel falls into the category of "sharpen after use," at least if you want it hair-shaving sharp, which I do, and which is easy to achieve.

At the prices these things go for, why not have one? Or two? I like the idea of having a virtually indestructible folding knife in my pocket that does knife-like things well enough for my tastes, yet can still be used as a pry-bar, or hammer, or scraper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top