What's happening is exactly what all of us were afraid of. GSM is letting quality slip and trying to live off the Cold Steel name and reputation.

Personally I really like the Taiwan 3v. Everyone was complaining the Italian 3v was to thin at the tip. So I guess coldsteel made the knife more capable. Imagine trying to please everyone, I really wonder how Lynn did it so long. I believe the master hunter is about as close to my perfect knife as you can get. That’s the Taiwan 3v version.

Dude. That's amazing. Makes me think of so many manufacturing questions about process and quality and tolerances, but this ultimately comes down to culture; Japanese culture is what is behind the quality of their version. I bought a Miki camp knife from Miki, Japan on Amazon for $25 and it was a deal due to being discontinued and is only made of 440C but you can tell it was made with pride. The build quality is great. It even has a ball bearing pivot. Very cleverly designed handle, g10 scales, etc. The Al Mar SERE was also made in Japan and was really amazing.

It was my guess that the Japanese produced models would be a safer bet, because those manufacturing relationships were established during the Lynn Thompson days. I still want an srk, but now I'd trust the San mai version most out of the current lineup. I don't have the same faith in gsm, where Lynn's passion was obvious

Hello....I 'have the Master sans mai III since 8years ans It's my favorite with my Tops brother fieldcraft in 1095......during this years I made buschcraft with woods very hard in France on all seasons......and Never the coldsteel was Bad....Always cuting , a Real pleasure....I don't regreat my choice.....very good knife.......sorry for my english......ciao...of France.

Having had CS knives since the 80's, I can say the "Made in Japan" bladed are far superior. The QC and finish are immaculate. That "newer" one from Italy would've been a Factory Second back in the day.

Thank you for your detailed explanation of the differences between the tow KNIVES✨‼️

Knives from Maniago as I recall were Carbon V or that could be a senior moment. Those Italian made knives are a fine value, (I’ve seen complaints about 60Rc on LionSteel M390, there’s a hardness joke I’ll skip) I think it is pretty reasonably priced. I just picked up Fox Russ Kommer Alaska 4.5 for 75 bucks, I had to look up Becut Steel…I’m sure it’ll be fine. If the San Mai is still available from Seki I should get one before GSM does what corporations do. The CS MH looks a bit thick to be a great cape knife, but it looks like a formidable camp knife. Good evaluation, thanks. Look forward to the edge show down.

The italian master hunter in 3v much better than the asain version.

Japan are the masters of the very best blades on the planet ! Even a new knife maker in Nihon will be naturally better than most other countries

That's really strange. I just got a recon scout in 3v about 4 days ago before a camping trip. The grind lines are nicely squared up, the tip is completely fine, the edge is as good as factory edges get in my experience and it fits perfectly into it's sheath. As far as i can tell, the fit and finish is pretty excellent, a few sharp edges on the guard, but nothing rattles, there are no gaps in the fit up... i guess this one had to be made on a monday.

I had the same problem with the edge&tip on my SRK3V. I sent it back twice&decided to just reprofile it after it came back the 3rd time.

I'm looking at a Cold Steel warcraft tanto 3V from before GSM - this one is the old lettering '1990s "Cold Steel" and made in Taiwan - no issues with grind, tip, and excellent fit n finish. Also a San Mai made in Taiwan recon tanto pre-GSM is nearly perfect. Too bad about the more recent GSM knife having obvious QC deficiencies - hopefully, not common... aren't they made in the same taiwan cold steel shop?

Thanks for the comparison. My Taiwanese version came in today with similar issues though the tip is good. I’m just a bit weary of the heat treat. But for $14 shipped, yes that’s right, from Aliexpress, I’m a happy camper to have this as a beater.

Japanese are detailed oriented and efficient

Cool review. I don’t have either of those steels but I have an SRK. The brass pin looks cheap to me. I’d be bummed if I spent the money on the new 3V version. The Japanese version is much better.

Got both Master hunter and also noticed those differences in quality workmanship. Most annoying is the uneven high angle grind. The VG1 looks to be around 20°, while the 3V is over 25°. Mine does have a very sharp point especially after I reprofiled the grind. But there was a tip originally that was fairly sharp. One design that is on the VG1 from factory was the beautifully sharp spine that can scrape fatwood effortlessly. I had to take a file to the spine of the 3V and now it has an awesome spine, almost as good as that of my O1 Trail Master. Except, now the spine of my 3V looks like schit. But I could care less, all of my knives are tools that I modified (if needed) to be exactly as I need it. Now I like the 3V MH just as much as the VG1, if not more, because who wouldn't like a knife that has 65% greater edge retention in a perfectly designed knife!

I disagree. It's not minor when you're paying a premium for CP3V.

Interestingly I bought a HuangFu cpm3v from Temu for $30au which is exactly the same as the Coldsteel 3v and I didn’t even know it. It’s either a good replica, even though it is not badged coldsteel or it is a Cold Steel rebadged. The Cold steel in Australia is $279.

maybe u got a "lemon" ie a one off defective 3v?? Most reviews like the thicker , stouter tip on the 3 v... But u can always count on Japanese quality ....

It looks like your striking out with the new Cold Steel fixed blades. Between the Trailmaster and the hunter you got it's not looking good for CS fixed blades. Thanks 🔪👍🗡️

Hello. I just watched your video and I came here to subscribe to your channel, wishing you good health and peace❤

Disappointing discovery for us Cold Steel fans... 😞 (I noticed the sheath issue with a new SRK I bought to replace one I gave to a buddy. Unsatisfactory 'soft' retention.)

What a damn shame idk what it is with gsm and and fucking up plunge/grind lines and not the knife not having a proper tip is just not right im assuming the italian versions of the 3v are of higher quality though they do have a much thinner tip. The sheath is some bs too even though that wouldnt be an issue for me because I can kydex it but still. Damn I miss the old cold steel logo :/ Ps pbkg whats your thoughts on Fällkniven A2? It looks like smth youd be into

My 2 cents… 3V is an amazing steel. Most blades don’t need that level of toughness. Especially smaller blades.

I've owned a Recon Scout and Trailmaster both in San Mai III for over a decade. Are they Benchmade quality....hell no, but for what they are they are great knives.

If you hadn't of mentioned that you got this new 3V Master Hunter from a repeatable dealer, I'd would've assumed you got it from AliExpress...lol 🤣Once you do your testing, you'll know for sure whether or not its a fake; you already know how cpm 3v should perform, so if it does poorly that'll be a dead give-away along with all the other clues you showed here in this video. 🤔Hopefully that's not the case and it's just a simple matter of poor quality control, rather than it being a counterfeit knife. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing your testing video for the verdict. 👍Take care and Cheers!

Toughness/durability, edge retention, ease of sharpening, rust resistance?

They should use a better stainless on the stainless versions- A powdered steel would be a big improvement.

Reach out to them and tell em what's up. See if they respond. Because if their sales keep declining they'll go out of business. Just a question of time.

The tip is way thicker on the new 3v vs the old Italian version.

that knife should be made.of CPM-S35VN

Nice pairing as that are individuals and should not be the same so stop judging so hard....LOL...The etching on the 3V seems faded indeed....Grind lines again as seems to be a common quality control concern....I know you after you fix the problems you will fall in love like a 16 year old boy on his date with the love of his life....LOL....I do look forward to the comparison vid with cutting and such....Good stuff...

CPM-3V steel quality is just a myth

Had to stop the vid man… i own both and the 3v destroy the Old san Mai in all therms. I dunno why yours was so bad quality but I assure you that mine is in perfect shape and it’s fantastic for outdoor, fishing and hunting. Mine has the finest tip I could have asked for. Gl with the knives

Any chance you got a knock off? Oh wait you said no... G0t to that part.… shrinkflation… I would imagine the Cold Steel brand is made by multiple contractors since they sell millions and not just one guy makes them. Even in select countries I wonder if they have variations in quality contractor to contractor who are making them

not gonna be made in taiwan for long once china shows up

Mora is always safe.

The CPM3V version costs twice as much(where i live)...