Cold Steel knives are among my favorites. To some people, they may not be the most aesthetically pleasing and I am all for a beautifully crafted knife. But functionality and durability trumps appearances.
And Cold Steel Knives are tough as nails!
For this article, I wanted to try out a knife that was not your typical outdoor survival knife, but a survival knife, nonetheless.
Recently I tested the Cold Steel Drop Forged Boot Knife. Doesn’t the name just sound cool?
Anyway, a boot knife is just like it sounds. A knife carried in a boot that is used more for self-defense purposes rather than whittling sticks in the woods.
So, without further ado is here are my thoughts on this very interesting and affordable knife.
- Perfectly balanced with a sturdy yet needle sharp point and wasp waisted so it cuts coming and going
- Extremely strong and tough because there is nothing to break, become loose or wear out; Its...
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SKIP AHEAD
Cold Steel Drop Forged Knife Specifications
Dimensions
The boot knife measure in with a 5” blade, a 4” handle, and an overall length of 9.”
The blade is 4.5mm thick and weighs in at only 6.4oz.
Material
The entire knife is drop forged from 52100 high carbon steel. This means that the blade and the handle are created from one piece of continuous steel.
Sheath
A Secure-Ex sheath and a Ulti-Clip made from 1075 spring steel are included and help to keep the knife readily available whether it is carried in a boot or on a belt.
Ulti-Clip
First Impressions of Cold Steel Boot Knife
Right out of the box this knife is crazy sharp!
While I do not recommend doing this, I was able to dry shave hairs from my arm. If I keep using this testing method, I will soon have no more arm hair!
Anyway.
The overall package is lightweight and compact. It is slim enough to slide inside a boot or a pocket and functional enough to hang from a belt or pack.
The knife itself is well balanced with it being heavier in the handle.
The drop-forged knife does not come with scales, but aftermarket ones are available.
I do not think I will be adding scales to the knife as I like the rather rough look and slim feel to it. Both the blade and the handle come in a grey matte finish. And there is a lanyard hole at the end of the handle to add a bit of cordage should you desire to do so.
Balanced Knife 
Lanyard Hole
Field Test for Cold Steel Boot Knife
This knife is not going to be my go-to blade for starting fires or processing pieces of wood in the forest unless of course, it is all that is available.
But it can still be used for survival purposes, primarily protection. I kept that in mind while testing the boot knife.
The Blade
The cutting edge and tip are quite thin, allowing for a very sharp blade. As I noted earlier, the double-sided knife came razor sharp. Since it was capable of dry shaving some hairs from my arm there really was no need for the paper cutting test, but I did it anyhow and it passed with flying colors.
After the paper test, I moved on to testing the knife against some more durable material.
Cutting Edge Cardboard Test
I started with a single piece of cardboard. Holding the knife with only two fingers the blade slid through the cardboard with minimal effort. I then added a second and third layer of cardboard. While I had to give the knife a bit of a push, it again easily slid through the material.
Penetration Test #2
I wanted to get a better idea of how well this knife would penetrate by setting up even more layers of material for the knife to cut through.
I rolled up a cotton t-shirt into several layers. The knife easily made its way through the two inches of compacted cotton. It would have gone even further through the material if I hadn’t used a wood backstop.
T-Shirt Penetration Test 
Rolled-Up Rug Penetration Test
Finally, I took an old rolled-up rug and was able to get through nine layers. After pushing the knife through I brought it swiftly downward and was able to make a single clean cut that was roughly fourteen inches long.
The Sheath
The Secure-Ex sheaths means that the blade snaps into place when it is inserted rather than sitting loosely inside. It appears to be made from Kydex and is capable of a few different carrying options.
On the side are a series of holes and cutouts that allow the sheath to be tied down on pack or any other surface. This is easier to do when the Ulti-Clip is removed. See the last section of the article for step by step instructions on how to remove the clip.
The back of the sheath houses an Ulti-Clip that operates with a simple flip tab. When the tab is up the clip pulls away from the sheath and can be removed from a belt or boot. When the tab is pressed down, the clip is engaged and has an insanely strong grip.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
While the knife was attached to my beltline it had a death grip on my leather belt and I was not worried about it going anywhere.
In Hand 
Reverse Grip 
Forward Grip 
Flip Tab
But when it was time to remove the sheath, I had a little trouble. The clip is so tight that the only way I could get it off was by loosening my belt and pulling it away from my jeans to get better access to the clip. And if you do not like the Ulti-Clip…
Removing the Ulti-Clip
You may like the knife but prefer not using the Ulti-Clip. Not to worry as removing the clip is quite easy.
To do this, the knife first needs to be removed from the sheath. This releases the pressure that is in part holding the clip in place. The metal tab will also need to be in the up position.
Next, find the small plastic grip towards the bottom of the metal clip. Depress this grip and the small circular plastic tab will also move downward.
While keeping the plastic tab depressed, pull the top of the Ulti-Clip outward and up and it will easily slide out.
To replace the Ulti-Clip simply reverse the above steps.
Boot Knife Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable
- Razor sharp out of the box
- Well balanced
- Slim and lightweight
- Lanyard hole
- Ulti-Clip can be removed
Cons
- The handle has no grip and can be incredibly slick
- Fours sides to the blade require more time for sharpening.
- Perfectly balanced with a sturdy yet needle sharp point and wasp waisted so it cuts coming and going
- Extremely strong and tough because there is nothing to break, become loose or wear out; Its...
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Open Questions About Boot Knife
Q: What exactly is a drop forged knife?
A: Basically, a mold or die of the knife is created. A hot piece of steel is then placed over the mold and the knife is stamped out using extreme pressure.
Q: Is there a benefit from drop forging?
A: By using the drop forge method, the blade and the handle of the knife is made from one continuous piece of metal.This means that there are no parts to the knife that can move such as the scales or other hardware that is typically found on knives.
Q: Where is the boot knife made?
A: On the blade of the knife is a stamp that reads “Taiwan.” I am unsure where the sheath is made but the steel used in the Ulti-Clip is American made.
Verdict
While I am unsure how often I will be carrying this in my boot, I think that it is a very affordable, tough knife that I look forward to continuing to test.
The Drop Forged Boot Knife by Cold Steel may not be the best-looking knife out there but when it is needed, I feel confident it will get the job done. Thanks for reading and stay sharp!
Do you have any experience with the Drop Forged Boot Knife by Cold Steel? If so, sound off in the comment section below and let us know!
- Perfectly balanced with a sturdy yet needle sharp point and wasp waisted so it cuts coming and going
- Extremely strong and tough because there is nothing to break, become loose or wear out; Its...
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 18:42 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
