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The Relentless M4X
Knife Report:
by:
Major Ian Humphrey
Relentless Knives most extreme design yet: the M4X.. My
first impression of this knife is that it is more like a tactical meat
cleaver than traditional knife. The blade is 8 inches long, and
looks and feels a lot larger. This knife is designed for extreme
use and I intended to test this as much as possible. Besides
normal cutting and chopping duties, the M4X can also serve rather well
as a weapon against two and four legged creatures.
First Impressions
This is not a dainty knife! The entire blade is ¼”
thick and made from clay tempered 5160 tool steel. Dan does all
his own heat treating and uses the same techniques discovered by the
samurai sword makers of Japan to create a differently tempered edge:
hard at the edge to remain sharp longer, and softer along the spine to
allow for extreme lateral forces without harming the steel (cheaper
knives will break if you stand on them, not a Relentless knife).
Besides the eight inch blade, the M4X features a short section of saw
teeth, a large flat area for baton use, a unique lip along the top of
the edge for gripping pot handles or pulling objects, and a
hawk’s bill on the exposed butt of the knife to aid in
maintaining blade control during snap cuts and heavy chopping.
The M4X also features canvas micarta handles that offer a solid
grip area and are impervious to the elements. The knife comes
with a hand stitched leather sheath with large accessory pocket and
split belt loops (to prevent the sheath from moving around your belt).
In the field
Since this knife is designed for extreme use, I wanted to take it out
on several outings to test its features. While this is a large
knife, it rode comfortably on my belt during several hikes through the
mountains. The large pocket on the sheath was a handy storage
area for a sharpening rod, multi tool, or folding knife. While in
the woods, I tested the knives on several different mediums.
While this knife is a chopper at heart, it performed surprisingly well
in regular cutting tasks. I first tested the edge on a sheet of
paper and found the blade geometry to slice the paper like a
razor. This same edge was no match for 550 cord, nylon braided
and twisted rope, and ½ inch marine grade rope. The M4X
also cut green and dry wood with little to no effort. The large
handle area and top finger cutout allows the user to choke up on the
blade and maintain a good level of control over the large blade.
The M4X really shined in the chopping tasks. The included lanyard
and handle design allows the knife to be a very effective snap cutter
and it had no problem trimming branches and chopping down various sizes
of saplings. When I used a baton, I was able to easily cut down
small trees with no negative effect to the edge of the knife. The
tanto like blade edge is also handy in digging tasks which could be
helpful in survival and camp situations. The knife was also used
to construct a basic shelter by chopping out notches along logs to
secure them together. The knife is capable of being used as a
draw knife with plenty of blade to leverage in order to strip bark off
of logs in order to build a shelter. The design and heft of the
M4X will also serve the hunter very well. This knife will do very
well with quartering game by easily chopping through pelvis joints,
ligaments, etc.
Since the M4X can
also be considered a last ditch weapon, I tried the knife on some more
unique materials. I chopped a pineapple, melon, and finally a
coconut to see how the M4X would handle something that more represented
a living object. I have to admit; it was a little frightening how
easily the M4X destroyed everything I threw at the knife. I would
have no reserve using this knife in a defensive manner.
Dislikes
There are very few changes that I would suggest for this design.
While the Shark tooth serrations on my test knife made good
notches in wood, their primary design is as their name suggests. The
knife can be had with saw teeth, double sided teeth or plain without
serrations. Since my use of the knife was primarily for camp chores,
the plain variation would have increased the top striking area for a
baton. The top notch area is handy for lifting a cooking pot
handle in the field, but I also found it destroyed my wooden baton
after repeated pounding. Since this knife thrives in the
chopping realm, I would suggest keeping the design as basic as possible
for camp use. If your using it to fend off pirates....the inverse may be true as the Shark teeth and top hook
could
be handy for inflicting non lethal distraction in a personal protection
situation. Also for wood, saw teeth would be the better choice, and for
all of the above, double sided serrations would work the best. They are
less ominous looking, and cut thick rope the best of all.
Conclusion
The M4X lived up to its extreme namesake. It outperformed all
similarly sized knives that I have tested and easily cut, split, and
chopped everything I threw at it. If you are going out into the
wilds and need a top notch field knife, with last ditch weapon
capability, then look no further than the new Relentless M4X.
|
 
Watch for a SPECIAL Edition M4X Punisher
|
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What
about Rust and Stain in High Carbon steel knives
CPM s30V High Performance Stainless Steel is one
answer........but
there are other
alternatives
Sir,
I purchased two of your high carbon steel custom knives about a year ago, and LOVE
THEM!!! I just cannot keep the rust off of them, no matter how hard I
try. Is there any way I can have you parkerize them for me? I just want
to protect them with a more permanent solution.
Thanks,
Houston, Tx.
Hi: Yes I can parkerize your knives, it would cost $50.00 per knife with 4 week wait time.
Have you tried P.B. Blaster on them.
P.B. BLASTER STOPS RUST
It is sold in Auto parts stores, and works better than anything I have ever tried. It costs about $3.00 per can.
All High Carbon steel rusts, and Blaster penetrates the steel and reduces it quite a bit.
Parkerizing works better but costs more.
CPM s30V High Performance Stainless steel cuts longer is just as strong and doesn't rust
nearly as quickly as H.C steel.
Steel appears to be a solid material, but it actually has a surface full of microscopic pits and craters.
Water , combines with carbon dioxide in the air to form a weak
carbonic acid that can easily penetrate the pores of the metal. This
acid quickly acts to separate the iron from the other elements
contained in the metal and change it to iron oxide(rust). Salt and
other acids make the process happen more quickly.
Fingerprints contain acids , salt. and moisture which cause rust.
Blood, meat, vegetable matter , leather all accelerate the
formation of rust on uncoated or bare metal.
This process microscopically happens almost instantly, and grows.
It can be easily stopped. with the application of oil or other coatings that block out moisture and air.
Interestingly enough, a light surface rust , often known as stain,
forms a natural barrier to air and a slight barrier against water, and
will give the metal a bit more protection against rust than bare
metal. Bluing commonly found on firearms, is actually a controlled
coating of what would quickly become rust in it's later stages.
So how do you stop rust.........................
Well, there are several different ways, all with trade off's
#1 P.B. Blaster.......commonly available in Auto Parts stores, this is
a penetrating chemical, that enters the pours of the steel, and through
a chemical reaction dissolves rust.
Careful maintenance with P.B. Blaster....that is keeping a Blaster
soaked cloth handy at all times....and wiping the knife after use or
handling works very well. Knives wiped with Blaster will survive
being submerged in water etc, so long as they are dried and Blastered
afterward. In the field Blaster on steel wool will ignite with sparks
from a metal match and makes great tinder for campfires too.
#2 Parkerizing.
Unlike other coatings...and much like Blaster, but far more permanent ....Parkerizing is a process
which penetrates the pours of the steel, and deposits a rustproof metal coating
which bonds to the steel.
Parkerizing is a very effective rust inhibitor. You can apply it at home with careful attention to directions
I will apply it for you for approx $50.00
Parkerizing still requires the metal to be coated with oil.
Parkerizing will wear with hard and heavy use.
Parkerizing will not protect the naked edge of the knife.,
but is a truly effective rust inhibitor, and rust will not creep up under
the coated part of the blade.
#3
Dura Coat / Powder Coat and other coatings.
These coating vary in durability....but all are coatings.
On a knife made from high carbon steel, there is a risk, due the the need
of the edge to be exposed for rust to work it's way under the coating,
resulting in an intact coating, and rusted and weakened steel underneath.
for this reason, I offer Dura coat on Stainless steel knives only.
Dura Coated High Carbon
steel knife
Below is an excerpt from an article by Major Humphrey on Rust.
The tests were very
practical in nature, and will give you an idea of what you might
expect from High Carbon steel exposed to salt water etc.
Rust Test
I wanted to expand the rust tests to include
the affects of salt water on the different steels. This was a
three part test that first included a simple area of the blade covered
with plain water. The second part of the test was a solution of
Epsom salt and water on the blades, while the third part of the test
consisted of a strong Kosher salt water solution on the knives.
The L6 model came in first during the basic
water test with an easy to remove stain and no remaining marks.
The 5160 model finished second with an easily removed stain, but a
small rust/dis colorization spot remaining. For the Epsom Salt
test, the 5160 model finished first with only a badly stained
blade. The L6 model not only had a badly stained blade, there
appeared to be a thin layer of rust forming on the steel. For the
Kosher salt test, the L6 model came in first with easily removed
surface rust and only a thick black stain remaining. The 5160
blade also had easily removed surface rust, but with more staining than
the L6 model.
In comparison to the above steels, I tried the
same three tests on the new s30v steel. After all three tests,
the s30v steel had no stains and no signs of rust on the steel.
Even after the Epsom salt and kosher salt left a sludge on the blade,
they were easily removed and no damage appeared on the blade.
Next, a report from the Major on knives that were Bead blasted
For rust, the knives you sent all seemed to develop spots from time to time...but no
real rust yet...but I am very careful when it comes to post use
cleaning and PB blasting. I have never had any issues with the
S30V...that stuff survived my sweat soaked water knife tests with no
issues. Some of my original Relentless neck knives with satin steel finish will spot, darken
real easily...especially that one L6 model.  I know the spotting,
staining is the pre-curser to rust...but with a little TLC and Blaster
it seemed to do the trick. As for leather sheaths...I never leave the
knives in leather for an extended time...again for fear of staining the
knives, so i have had no problems with them either.
So.....The best thing to do if you are to busy to maintain your knife.....is buy a stainless steel knife.
But.....keep in mind that all stainless steel is not alike, and the addition of chromium
to steel in the amounts that effectively fight rust, and at
a hardness needed for good edge holding can increase the brittleness of
the steel.
For this reason .....I highly recommend CPMs30V with the proper heat treatment and tempering.,
for a Super strong knife with excellent edge holding abilitys.....
NOTE: without the
proper heat treatment and tempering , these great propertys are not
brought into play and varied reports on s30V steel abound.
Also note
All stainless steel alloys can rust, they are only rust resistant, not
rust proof. As with plain high carbon steels, proper blade maintenance
is needed, though not as much."
Finally, hard and heavy use also
prevents rust, as the regular removal and replacement of the knife from
the sheath, as well as the abrasion
caused by the the cutting task gives rust little or no chance to form.
Relentless Knives are made to preform,
take them out of the drawer....put them on your belt, then make them earn their keep
They won't have time to waste away, but will be by your side, like a
faithful companion....ready to help you and make your day easier.
|
 |
| Relentless
knives believes in the
Protection and Defense of the Constitution of the United States of
America |
By
Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason
University School of Law.
September 25, 2001 9:20 a.m. National Review
To Kill an American
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was
actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper
an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So I just thought I would write to let them know what an American is,
so they would know when they found one.
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German,
Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian,
Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian,
Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho,
Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as Native
Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or
Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan
. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as
each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will
answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming
to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the
world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of
Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to
the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every
other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing
in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago,
Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back
their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given
more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.
Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best
books, the best music, the best food, the best services.
But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your
tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the
homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built
America .
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September
11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that
the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different
countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided
and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did
General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty
tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing
yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a
particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of
freedom
T iananmen Square,
Taiwan independence , Falun Gong |
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