Cold Steel Bushman

Reviewed 04/28/2014 by Paul Rumsey

-Price Paid: $20.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

I bought my first one when they were first introduced by cold steel. Was pleased then and still am with that one and the others that I have bought for my survival kits. Tough rugged and reliable to describe this blade. I was impressed with this knife when I cleaned a snapping turtle without resharpening. The handle is slick but easily remedied and serves triple purpose for small lit storage or can have a pole inserted either for a spear or for chopping. Highly recommend one of these great blades.

Reviewed 08/26/2013 by Bram

-Price Paid: $30.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

The Bushman is my first foray in knives, and in Coldsteel products. I bought mine back in 2010, and I was rather did not enjoy it as much as I can't sharpen any knife yet. This knife dulls pretty quick!

But as a concept, I do appreciate how's the Bushman is made, Cold steel's mission behind this product. I think of it as a great value knife, suited to brought as back up knives, as a outdoor ("survival") knife (hollow handles, versatility to be used as spear or to store survival items), dulls rather easy but is tough and sharpens easily too, and takes a sharp edge. The sheath is rather cheap, but functions very well. The handle is slippery, but a simple mod can improve this.

The only thing that would make me like this knife better is, I wish Cold steel made this knife using more proper carbon steel that could hold the edge longer.

Reviewed 01/03/2011 by dan

-Price Paid: $22.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for 1 year

Comments:

I got mine, did some pretty heavy outdoor work and it broke on the third day when I tried to Throw it. I sent mine back and got a new one in only 2 months (sarcasm). I did get it eventually and it has done work and not chipped or broken.

The Steel doesn't hold an edge well but came sharp in the box and sharpens easily. It is also very light so it takes time if you want to do any serious chopping. I have tried to throw it into hay bales and it hasn't stuck once but for only 20 bucks it is a good knife.

Reviewed 08/24/2010 by Del

-Price Paid: $25.00
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

For the money, this is an excellent knife. It's made from one single piece of steel. It's strong and takes a good edge. It needs re-sharpening often, but nothing you wouldn't expect from high carbon steel of this thickness. I have found it useful for all types of tasks in the field. The main flaw I see is the smoothness of the handle, but a little skateboard tape improves that quite a bit. Overall, this is a very good knife, and for the money there's no reason not to put one of these away in your emergency kit or glove compartment so it's there when you need it.

Reviewed 04/03/2010 by xxo

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

The one piece spring tempered SK5 construction of the Bushman make it a very rugged and versatile field/survival knife that can be used as a spear head and as a throwing knife, if you are so inclined. The Bushman not delicate, pretty or expensive - there's no reason not to use it and use it hard. A great fun knife for camping trips and also a very good survival knife.

The Bushamn does have some down sides; one is the round steel handle which does not give a very comfortable or secure grip, but can be vastly improved by wrapping with some grip tape, paracord or some duct tape as I did with mine. Another problem is that the Bushman does not have a guard and it is real easy for your hand to slip onto the sharp edge (and they do come sharp from the factory) especially if you did not wrap the slick steel handle. I use a para cord lanyard that goes around my fingers and is tight enough to prevent my hand from slipping on to the blade.

The steel does not hold a razor edge very long (but is easy to re sharpen) and will rust if you don't keep the edge oiled.

The Bushamn I have is an older Taiwan made one with a cordura pouch sheath with a thin plastic liner, current ones are made in China and have a different sheath with a pouch on the front.

The old cordura sheath I would rate as adequte at best, don't know if the new ones are any better or not.

Reviewed 12/22/2009 by ian mcgregor

-Price Paid: N/A
-Used for Outdoor/Survival
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

get one soon, -sharp, durable, efficient and can be simply attached to hardwood shaft to make spear. Made from steel considerably more flexible but just as hard as industrial hacksaws ! Edge won't rust if treated with a little oil or wd 40. Readily resharpened. Buy two as these are so good they'll probably stop making them !