Cold Steel Kobun: "Lightspeed Soldier Blade" by Nutnfancy
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- Опубликовано: 8 янв 2025
- A lightspeed combat LBE choice for high speed CQB operations. The Kobun weighs in, sheath and all, at an outstandingly light 6.8 oz. That's an amazing weight for a knife that has an effective defensive blade of five inches. That svelte weight along with its compact form factor makes the Kobun an excellent choice for troops engaged in vehicle operations; it's a forgettable carry package that won't get in the way. Ideal for vertical carry when attached with 550 cord or ranger rubber bands, the plastic sheath is well executed. However on my versions I have found it necessary to tighten up the retention which I address in the video. This one comes in AUS8 steel which is an excellent choice (the 420 and 4116 Krupp versions will be fine in POU as well). And its tanto blade is highly functional for BOTH utility and defensive tasks. The thin and short handle with its minimal Kraton crossguard is a downside but a necessary compromise at this weight. Train with this knife, hold it tight, and practice your draw before you deploy and you with have an excellent backup weapon for your ops. For the meager cost and weight, this is A LOT of blade.//////////////////////////////////Nutnfancy Likeability Scale: 9 out of 10
To everybody dissing this knife as a pos, you do know it's intended as a boot knife right? not as a primary knife, I carried one of these on my second deployment and I have no complaints from it besides the clip on the sheath breaks easily. it can hold a sharp edges pretty decently, besides it only set me back $20 so I call it worth it. if you want something better then stop trying to be cheap and buy a SOG or benchmade or a Spartan blade. sorry to rant but people who complain about the quality of a cheap piece of equipment just irritate me a little bit. if you want quality be prepared to spend some extra money. I also wonder if people know you can modify stuff after buying it.
+Christopher Brown Then you might be interested in the new version which has a clip made out of metal.
Hey Nutn! So I was browsing in my local bookstore when I came across the biography of Mark Donaldson (SAS trooper, Victoria Cross winner and all-round mega stud) when I notice that in the cover photo, he has a Kobun strapped to his plate carrier. Now that's what I call endorsment :D
this is my favorite blade. i'm a smaller guy, so even though it's a think boot knife, it just feels perfect and natural in my grip
the Kobun is an excellent blade... i purchased 3, and gave 2 as gifts.
This is not a heavy duty knife, it's not designed to be. This is a edc knife hence the super thin profile. if you want heavy duty go with the Recon tanto or the SRK. btw I own all three for a decade they have never failed me .. ever
6.30 until you get to the knife
I think this is a great companion for the Recon Tanto
I think a civilian is more likely to get into a knife fight than a professional soldier in Iraq. I love my kobun.
I went to Fallujah! In Nov. of 04, not April. I didn't make it all the way to the end though! Keep on Keepin on Nutn'!
Thanks for the advice on stitching the sheath together. I have a Boker AF Desert which has a sheath that is quite notorious among its owners for being a crappy one, with, specifically, the retention getting loose with time. Forget vertical, upside down carry!
love this blade, great steel for the price, and what i love most of all is the attention to detail. at first i didnt like the handle that much but after testing is i find its perfect, that thinness allows u to get a more natural grip for better control during directional cuts and slashes anytime a handle is bulky and too wide u can't really get a stable grip to keep the knife straight during diagonal cuts for exmp. and an amazing value at around $30, got mine for 29 w/ shipping.
I use it as a edc fixed blade works great for that
Great review! I am a big fan of this blade. Exceptionally lightweight for the size of the blade. Plus you can not beat the price point on this one. BTW my sheath was actually very secure and I did not experience any of the issues that you addressed, but I understand that you can only review the knife in your possession. This knife gets a lot of negative hits on the blade forums, but I really dig it! Take care!
I wish NF had compared this knife with the CS Tanto Lite. True, the Kobun has a better sheath; however, the Tanto Lite provides an extra inch of blade, and both blades can be made to be ultra-sharp. Though the rubber "guards" on the Kobun are good for preventing the hand from overshooting the grip and slipping onto the blade, they do nothing to prevent your opponent from cutting through them. So they were designed, I think, simply for thrusting. With the Tanto Lite, these are hardly needed as the grip is so much better, being longer and more grippable. (Besides, the Tanto Lite can give you at least _another inch_ of reach, bringing the practical reach _two inches_ more than the Kobun.) If you're going to use the knife for a great deal of cutting, the AUS8 blade of the Kobun will be an advantage, but for close quarters confrontations, I might actually prefer the Tanto Lite. It comes hair-popping sharp out of the box and can easily sustain that sharpness throughout any confrontation.
I have both knives and the only deal breaker to the Tanto Lite is its sheath. If it can be made to be worn securely, then it would be my first choice. 🔱
This knife is awesome, weighs nothing, excellent design for "tactical" use. In the winter I would conceal this as EDC over a tactical folder. For $30 it's incredible value
BEST review of this knife on the internet ! Good job Colonel !
this is a good knife. i used it several times in my daily patrols. can do lots of thing on and off roads. good review.
Great review and insight man. I want to add something, not to offend you, but for clarity: The traditional hold for any tanto blade is a upward 45 degree hand grip. This means that your index knuckle will rest within space of the guard and handle, and your thumb will hold firm support in the middle of the handle-rear. This hold ensures that the blade is controlled utmost, utilizing speed for flicking slices from the elbow and wrist.
i was gifted this knife from a friend, it was discontinued before my time i guess, Its a hell of a knife, i keep it on me as my EDC. Its light, its small, but not too small. overall its a hell of a knife and its a shame they discontinued it.
Yes, I probably should have mentioned that too. Bladeforums is a fantastic resource. I'm partial to video reviews myself, but text reviews and the discussion that follows them just add to a more complete picture.
For those of you complaining about how long it takes him to unsheathe the knife, just go look it up on google images. The information he gives about the knife while it's in its sheath is equally important to his target audience as what he says about the blade itself.
Hey great video, was wondering if you could do a review on the new for 2013 Cold Steel Chaos Tanto, great knife, but not many reviews on it. Thanks
Great Review! I ordered mine last night from Amazon, should be here Tuesday. Can't wait.
I dont have this specific knife but I do carry a Spyderco Fred Perrin inside the waist band on my 5'oclock position. I enjoy it a lot but I also have a small pocket knife as well. A plus with the kobun is that there is the clip on the sheath so it is perfect for INWB on the right side
How does it compare to the Leatherneck tanto or the Recon tanto? if you want it for CQB etc that is needed from a knife in use by troops..
I would love to see a review of the cold steel UWK which i have tried to destroy and the Oyabun which is the big brother to this knife. My CS UWK I have had for about 6 years and I have cut small trees, used it fishing and wadeding rivers when it was submerged for hours , I have also used it for a hammer ,and batoned with it .This is the best knife I have ever owned. it's a great knife. Anyway I love nutnfancy you have the best reviews i have every seen and keep up the good work my friend
I wish you'd compared and contrasted this knife with the CS Tanto Lite. It's 6 inches compared to the Kobun's 5 inches. Also, Nut, you should reconsider your view of the tanto. Lynn Thompson has demonstrated repeatedly that the secondary edge on those suckers can inflict some nasty wounds. True, you have to practice the cut, but it seems to be a formidable blade configuration, especially with that wicked tip! Oh, and I still would like to know more about 4116 Krupp as a steel.
why did you chose the kobun and not the recon tanto
I havent seen them together either, but from Ive gathered, the blade is thinner on the tanto lite and the steel doesnt hold an edge nearly as well as the aus 8..if you want a knife JUST for self defense, tanto lite..if you want a sd/camping/better overall knife for various cutting tasks, kobun seems to fit the bill better
And the new versions is in AUS8A as well.
@nutnfancy i have both and love the kobun, light and compact . just butchered a deer and it was great covered with tallow after easy to clean and the steel beads when water hits it. love this knife and for the price its a no brainer.
When thinking about where to carry it. Don't forget weapon retention. If your reg. stance your left side is forward.
maaan that's a beautiful knife... i just love the simple minimalistic design... i just have to get one...
Funny Pou,
My Kobun has become my wifes go to knive for carving Turkey and roasts. Thought you'd appreciate.
you have come along way since these OG table tops!
OSS=Better reach
@nutnfancy although i disagree with how he reacted, i'm afraid i feel the same way. Sometimes Nutn just gets so absorbed with talking about his experiences with the knife, he forgets to show us the knife until late in the video! And yes, it is very frustrating. xD At least the wait is usually worth it. If you are impatient, just fast forward 2/3rds the video, guys! Problem solved.
Great review. I fixed the shealth just like you did. Thank you for that detail.
awesome review! just saw this knife on amazon for 31 dollars and freaked out! had to see it my favorite dude on youtube had done a review on it and sure enough he has! i am getting this knife soon!
you can also heat and squeeze hold untill it cools and custom fit the sheeth
I like some plastic knife sheaths like in this video BUT I will never have a plastic holster for any handgun. I know a lot of people like them but I don't for a variety of reasons.
@AntebellumOg i ain't nutn but i'd say kobun because the kobun is legal for carry in some states depending on knife laws. i carry mine all the time
Wow dude its costs in the USA 30$ in germany I must bought it for 64€ that's 80$ that's really unfair. 64€ is in germany for a knife not much but at you, you can get for that price bought a ka bar usmc we must bought it for 120€ that's 150$ or more you can get for 150$ a cold steel with san mai steel we must pay for this 369€ !!!
German knife prices are borderline insane. Never ever buy from german retailers if you can help it, always try importing if possible. Due to shipping and customs charges this will obviously still be more expensive than the knife would be if bought directly in the USA, but at least not quite as ridiculously overpriced as when buying from a german retailer(for example, you can get a Kobun imported for 40€, which is still a lot more than 30$, but also a lot less than the 64€ you paid).
you say vertical upside down. where by the shoulder? That's what I was going to do... but there is a problem for the 'light' infantry. your ruck will get in the way. the straps will be on top of the blade. I haven't tested it yet, but pretty sure that's what will happen. need to find a better place for it.
If I had to get in a knife fight I would want a Ka-Bar Combat Kukri. I'm not in the service and I have no idea of what i'm talking about though.
Excellent knife, I love the design, I actually first noticed it on Ncis, this was the first blade Ziva carried. I love cold steel, but I've noticed amazon sells their products for cheaper than their website.
I think the best thing to do is put some paracord around the handle. there's a really easy to do it that looks half way decent, just do a google search for it.
They just brought it back man! Go get one while they last.
I noticed you have done quite a few reviews on cold steel tanto style knives and I was wondering if you could do a review of the Cold Steel GI tanto.
you should make a review on the master tanto from coldsteel i think a lot of people would appreciate that, its a great knife in my opinion
Great knife
I really like your review of this knife. I am deciding wether to get this knife or a kabar tanto. I would use the kabar for camping/survival uses and the kobun for a tactical edc. I am 13 and i was wondering if the kobun handle would fit me or the kabar would be too big. Thanks
I know this is a old video. i would just like to know if it actually fits in a boot. the sheath looks really wide, and would like to know if its comfortable to wear. thx
what is the best steel to make a knife
it is tek-lok compatible :)
I worry about the Kraton handle and guard on mine. Wouldn't it wear out quickly or be sliced through by enemy's blade?
I dont know i love tando knives but somehow the cold steel tanto fix blades remind me of a kitchen cucamber cuting knife.
Made a video response to this with my Kobun. Primarily the 550 cord handle I put on it. You should check it out Nutn and let me know what you think.
R.I.P to the 6 Italian soldiers died in Afghanistan.. always with us, you Folgore boys
I have plenty of experience in a variety of situations in combat. I carried a minimum of 3 knifes. I would agree fixed blades are the way to go. I carried a M9 bayonet, double bladed boot knife, and the tanto knife.
for combat i should recomend oss because it is double edged
Where does one find "carbon thread"? Someone please answer, I have an application for it.
Don't care for the small handle although it's grippy enough.
I do like the reinforced tip.
Jeez, 6 min and 26 seconds into the 10 min vid and you havent drawn the blade yet.
Go look on his channel and he has several videos in which he talks about his time in the military and other adventures he has done.
For the thin handle, could i use some type of grip tape to thicken it up a bit?
Can somebody give me a short review on 4116 Krupp Stainless ? I really do no know a lot about this tip of steal....and i noticed that C.S. uses this " metal " on their new knifes.
Thanks !
@nutnfancyJust want to give ya a like on your sheath fix. I.m going to use it on my Master hunter sheath. It has the same problem, and that sucker jumped out and bit me the other day! Should have watched this vid sooner :o) Also, I want to ask you how you reprofile your knife edges. I need to on the Master Hunter
NICE VIDEO DO YOU KNOW IF THE KNIFE IS FULL TANG?
how do you think this blade stacks up against the sog tsunami? looks like the tsunami has more aggressive geometry.
Man, if that thing had 2 inches of serration, I would carry one on my gear! I don't need the defensive characteristics of the knife (I'm a paramedic) but if it came with serration, it would be the perfect utility knife!
when coming out of the shealt, does the blade dull?
I like the thin handle and the size of the guard. The length of the handle is just right for me.
My only complaint would be that out of the box, it was barely sharp enough to cut butter. It literally would not cut paper.
Why is the clip on the wrong side of the sheath?
will the handle last longer than the Tanto lite?...and is this kobun a full tang blade?
i just bought my kobun knife for 28 bucks o yea i cant wait..this will be my duty knife but first i need to practice with it..
Ziva from NCIS has this knife!!!
Any idea if this is legal (no permit needed) in Florida?
Love this knife! I got it for about 9 bucks after a coupon on ebay!
You know what is better than this knife in a knife fight?
A claymore
Just ordered one and a Ti-Lite.
A guy has one for 20 bucks, brand new in box...should I buy it?
$40!? Wow.. I got mine for $27 off Amazon.
I guess they have come down a lot over the years. But all that aside it is an amazing knife, i also touched mine up. It will shave now lol. Also, i guess this varies from knife to knife. But, mine was VERY tight in the sheath, almost didn't get the damn thing out when i first got it lol.
can some onee link me to some tek-loks that fit this knife's sheath? pretty please thank you.
Would you recomend this over the Recon 1 Tanto?
Just ordered one of these yesterday, you gave a great review of it. Now comes the wait for the fed-ex man!
They just brought the Kobun back so I'll have a chance to get it. :)
would this be good as a survival knife
Are you in the Army or Marine Corps because you sound like you know what your talking bout when it comes to operations and crap good to go good review also i Have carried my Kobun when i got deployed good blade Semper Fi
good boot knife?
Im a regular civilian................. I love mine for every day use.
I carry it vertical as well
where can you get the Tech Lock fasteners, Anyone?
@sonjenruiu41 it's fire power versus mobility
Anybody who knows what they're talking about have any thoughts on using this for EDC as a civilian. 5,1/2 inches is legal where I live.
great review
where is this knife made?
can you trow it ?
Oh, and you guys can check out Lynn Thompson's video on RUclips. Just do a search. I like his tabletop presentations more than all the hacking and slashing.
wow the kobun has belly