I remember when Cold Steel first started gaining recognition back in the 1980s. Countless car doors were victimized by their Tanto knives. I was more drawn to their push knives and a couple of other models. But over time, the ever more strident and aggressive ads turned me away from the company’s offerings. To me, it got to the point where it seemed as though they were parodying themselves. However, the Cold Steel Republic might have righted the ship.
Anyway, the point is that Cold Steel fell off my radar for quite a while. Last year, I was perusing the New category at DLT Trading’s website and came across the Republic. Natural canvas micarta handle, nice leather sheath, S35VN steel, all sorts of good stuff. Not gonna lie, I was shocked when I saw it was from Cold Steel. This sort of field knife was light years away from what I normally expected to see from them.
Of course, I snapped one up and waited patiently by the mailbox for it to arrive.
Republic Specs
The Republic stretches an impressive ten inches from end to end, with a 5-inch blade. The S35VN has a Rockwell hardness of 58-60 and the blade has an Ionbond finish that helps prevent corrosion. Jimping runs about 2.25 inches of the spine. The edge was razor sharp out of the box, which is always nice.
The natural canvas micarta handle scales have been shaped and contoured for maximum grip as well as comfort. They’ve been slightly scalloped toward the blade to provide a nice pinch grip. The scales are removable, in case you want to replace them with something else. Natty canvas is one of my favorite handle materials, so that’s not going to be an issue for me.
The lanyard hole at the end of the handle has some ridges to either side, calling to mind what we used to call a “skull-crusher” pommel.
My postal scale reads 8.4 ounces without the sheath, which matches the company’s stated specs. This is a heavy-duty knife, and the weight bears that out. It’s not a brick, but it’s definitely no lightweight.
The Republic’s sheath is a good quality leather pouch that’s been wet-formed a bit. The knife fits securely, no problems. However, wet-formed sheaths can loosen over time, so that’s something I’ll be watching for down the road. The belt loop will accommodate up to about 2.25 inches of belt.
Republic Performance
I like this knife quite a bit. It’s an excellent option for a primary field knife. It has plenty of blade for anything you’ll need to do without being so big it’s awkward or clumsy. It’s very well-balanced.
The handle has a lot of meat to it, so it doesn’t feel like I’m losing my grip when I’m chopping or something along those lines. It’s also plenty comfortable when feather sticking or doing other more delicate chores.
I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to rely on the Republic as my primary survival tool, that’s for sure. It can handle anything you want to toss its way.
I have to admit, Cold Steel has won me back as a customer with this knife. It’s comfortable. It’s durable. And I didn’t have to watch anyone hollering at me about how many car doors it can destroy. Find it here at Cold Steel and here at DLT Trading.
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