The Cold Steel SRK Compact has a 5-inch black Tuff-Ex coated SK5 carbon steel clip point blade at 9.5 inches overall, a Dark Earth Kray-Ex handle, a lanyard hole and a black Secure-Ex belt sheath.
SRK stands for Search and Rescue Knife, and the Compact takes an inch off the standard 6-inch blade. That shortening makes it easier to carry on a belt all day and easier to control for camp work, at the cost of reach. SK5 is a Japanese high-carbon steel comparable to 1080, tough under impact and simple to resharpen in the field.
Tuff-Ex is a hard baked coating rather than paint, protecting a carbon steel that would otherwise rust while cutting glare. Kray-Ex is a soft thermoplastic that stays tacky when wet, and Dark Earth is a flat tan borrowed from military kit. Explore more Tactical Fixed Blade Knives.
- 5-inch blade, an inch shorter than the standard SRK
- Easier to carry and control, at the cost of reach
- Tuff-Ex coating protects the SK5 carbon steel
- Kray-Ex handle stays tacky when wet
