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The Colt Skinner (CT405)

The Colt Skinner (CT405) is a nice looking inexpensive knife which consists of stainless steel blade and a stag handle for approximately $20. . The same basic knife is also offered with a Damascus blade for about $15 more.

Considering the low price, I assume the blade is made of 420 SS. Obviously not the best steel in the world for a knife blade. (I always assume the worst when a knife is marketed as Surgical Steel. For all I know the blade could be 420HC or some series of 440 but until I hear differently, I'll assume the worst.) If it is better steel , someone should let me know and Colt and/or Smoky Mountain Knife Works should also state that fact for marketing purposes.

(The knife has a better finish straight from the box. This is after some moderate use hacking stuff up and playing in a swamp.)

The fit and finish is decent enough. There is a nice bit a file work on the guard which is a nice touch. I really liked the blade shape. I also like serpentine flow of the knife as you move from tip to pommel. This is really what tempted me into buying it. (I've heard the blade described as a wide belly skinner as well as a Spanish or Mexican Style blade.)

The handle is genuine stag over a rat-tail tang. The stag is nice enough for the price but I wouldn’t call it “prime.” A brass pommel is attached with the hex nut that keeps the stag in place. All the parts are smoothly ground and polished so the fit is quite good. That said, If you have a large hand, you’ll probably lose the handle in you palm. It is long enough but does not have a large diameter.

(The white flecks on the guard are stray bits of plaster. I hacked up some dry wall with the knife and I guess I didn't clean the knife as well as I thought I did! The guard consists of two brass plates and the file worked stainless center piece. Note the heavy Colt tang stamp.)

This Colt is made in Pakistan. (I've bought two Colt fixed blades so far, and both were made in Pakistan. ) The word “Pakistan” is pad stamped in very small letters on the swedge of the blade. I over looked it for almost a week when I first got the knife! I took approximately 45 seconds to remove it from the knife with a light weight emery cloth and a drop of oil. (This also seems to be the case for the other Colt Knife. (Be forewarned, I'm sure some eBay dealers might do a little "USA" etching, to jack up the price for unsuspecting dupes. It would be very easy to do!)

The knife is worth the $20 list price. I think it would be nicer had it been made in the US with Carbon Steel. I’d pay $50 for such a knife without hesitation if the fit and finish were as good as it on this knife.

It will hold up to light to moderate use. Of course, being a softer stainless steel, it is going to require more sharpening than a carbon blade. I like to go and play in the local swamp, and when a knife is this inexpensive, it is going to spend time in the swamp eventually, even if I did buy it based on looks. I’ve recently took it out to see how well it faired. I used it break apart some rotting wood, to examine some critters and such. I also used it to pry some rocks out the sticky muddy bank. It was also able to cut through some small sapling branches (1/4 to 1/2 in thick) with no problem. Apart for some minor scuffs she held up just fine. Blade remains quite sharp but I assume more repeated use will see the blade dulling soon.

Despite the skinny handle, the knife feels good in the hand, the hunter style cross guard allows you to place a thumb or forefinger along the blade spine. I think it would be decent enough for skinning small to medium game. (After all it is a Skinner!)

I’m not fond of the sheath. It looks good enough, I guess but I have a few issues. When I first got the knife, the sheath seemed to have excess oil on the inside. I wiped it out several times before the knife was finally able to be drawn without having oil on the blade. The knife comes out smooth enough but when you put the knife in the sheath, the guard gets hung up on the throat; which means you have to hold the sheath and wiggle the knife to get it all the way in.

It also covers up some of the best features of the knife. The cross guard is completely hidden by the sheath, as is half the handle! It would seem if you've gone through all the effort of making a fancy cross guard, you'd want to show it off!

In all; I’m pretty happy with this nice little inexpensive knife but I have to admit, I’ve bought better knives for the same price. (For instance: my Rough Rider 844 Hunter...more on that later)

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Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on October 25, 2011 at 12:03

If you find one made in the USA with good carbon steel and real stag it's gonna cost alot more than 50 bucks. This profile and design were first made by Green River and Marbles many years ago. The blade profile is still popular with outdoorsman. Good luck with it, lets here how the steel holds up.

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2011 at 12:14

Thanks for the info Robert, and yeh, you're right... it would cost a lot more than $50. This knife as it is currently made would probably be more than $50 if made in the US. What was I thinking?

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on October 25, 2011 at 12:27

Some of Colts pocket knives are made with 440A stainless. If this one has the same you are probably better of than having that 42o stainless.

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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on October 25, 2011 at 12:50

For all its faults, COO, steel, sheath, etc, It IS a nice looking knife.

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Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on October 25, 2011 at 13:39

i do believe that i heard them say on knives live that those knives are made with 440A. steel.

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on October 25, 2011 at 16:37

Nice looking knife, and great review! If I wasn't sticking to RR at the moment I'd consider getting it. I like the old timey look of it.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 25, 2011 at 18:38

I also like the look. This knife would be a great first knife for a young hunter just starting out. It is reasonable, would also be able to teach sharpening techniques without too much cost involved. Great Review Thanks Tobias

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Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 25, 2011 at 21:01

Just got the word from Jay Parker on KLTV. He thinks this one is 420J2 (as I suspected) Some are 440, depending an the factory. He said the Dmascus knives were a combo of nickel and 1095. Someone who is more familiar with Damascus can clue us in on that one. I'm not really big on Damascus. Maybe some day but not now.

stephen tungate said:

i do believe that i heard them say on knives live that those knives are made with 440A. steel.

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on October 27, 2011 at 17:01

Same here. I'd like to have a Damascus knife sometime, but I prefer regular steel blades.

Tobias Gibson said:

I'm not really big on Damascus. Maybe some day but not now.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on October 29, 2011 at 18:24

Damascus is a gorgous steel but I dont usually use one. When we but one it is for the collection

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on October 29, 2011 at 18:45

My first Damascus knife will be the Rough Rider Damascus lockback - RR1021......if they EVER get them back in.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on October 29, 2011 at 19:23

Great review, you know looking at the pictures that is not a bad looking knife. I've seen other pictures of it and to be honest didn't think it looked that good. Always interesting when you look at the detail.