Sidearms & Scatterguns C3 Knives

[carolinablue50]

I just wanted to get word out to the knife users about C3 Knives. I've owned quite a few other knife brands (Bark River, Swamp Rat, Esee, OKC, among numerous others). Chris Cody owns C3 knives. I stumbled on his products while browsing knifeforums and I liked what I saw. I was in the market for a full-bellied skinner with a micarta handle so I had him make me up one of his Gryphons with a matte micarta handle. His blades are heat-treated by Peters with cryo. He uses CPM 3V which is an absolutely outstanding steel, although I believe he is going to be extending his line to use other steels as well, but for me personally I'm very happy with the 3V steel. The ergonomics of the handles are incredibly comfortable and definitely designed to be users. Handles are bolted and expoxied on. He makes them to order and compared to many of the other large volume manufacturers that are producing 3V steel, his prices are very decent. I have two of his knives, with another one on the way, all with a full height convex grind, although he also does a scandi/convex grind, and a high saber grind. Anybody who's looking for a good user in 3V that will last a lifetime, take a look at his stuff. It's very excellent, and he's a nice guy to talk to and he actually gets out there and tests his knives up in the Rockies. I'm usually not one to really put reviews of products out unless somebody exceeds my expectations, but his products are. The website is:

www.c3knives.com

I believe he's also coming out with a full line of kitchen knives here shortly.

 

[X-fan]

Re: C3 Knives

They look like a great knife for the money.

3V is a perfect outdoors steel, but its surface seems to trap moisture and will pit easily. I have a Jerry Hossom in 3V that did just that (I live in one of the worlds wettest locations). Despite the potential rust issue I have not found a better hard use steel than3V.

 

[carolinablue50]

Re: C3 Knives

Yeah that's one of the downsides to 3V. It's definitely very tough stuff. On all of my 3V blades I've used Eezox as a dry film rust preventative as I've heard the same thing, that it tends to pit before any kind of surface rust. I've found it to be mediocre for cleaning and don't even mess with it as a lube even though the market it as a cleaner, lubricator, and rust preventative but as a rust preventative it has worked well for me and everybody I know that's tried it said it's excellent in that regard so I figured I'd try it out on the blades. That 3V though just holds an edge longer than any orhter steel I've used by far, and a quick touch-up occasionally on the strop and it's back to being razor sharp.