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The blade profile and construction support a range of tasks including shelter building, cutting, and general camp work. A Kray-Ex™ handle provides a secure grip in adverse conditions, while the Secure-Ex® sheath offers consistent retention and carry in the field.

Carbon steel blades should be cleaned, dried, and lightly oiled after use to prevent oxidation.

"A prudent person foresees danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. - Proverbs 27:12"

— CHARLES, SRO FOUNDER & FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SK-5 High Carbon Steel

Designed for toughness and edge retention under heavy use

Tuff-Ex™ Blade Coating

Helps protect against corrosion and wear in harsh environments

Full Tang Construction

Provides strength and reliability for demanding tasks

Kray-Ex™ Handle

Maintains grip in wet, muddy, or gloved conditions

Secure-Ex® Sheath System

Offers durable retention and dependable carry

Field-Capable Blade Profile

Supports cutting, shelter building, and general survival tasks

The numbers, flat and honest.

Blade Length 6.0 in
Overall Length 10.75 in
Blade Thickness 5 mm
Weight 8.2 oz
Steel SK-5 High Carbon
Finish Black Tuff-Ex™ coating
Handle Kray-Ex™
Sheath Secure-Ex®
Use Survival, rescue, field tasks
Blade Steel SK-5 High Carbon
Blade Finish Black Tuff-Ex™
Handle Length 4.75 in
Handle Material Kray-Ex™
Warranty Limited Lifetime (Cold Steel)
⸻ The SRO Standard

WHY YOU’RE BUYING FROM STAY READY.

We aren’t the Amazon of survival. We’re a small, opinionated shop that carries gear we’d stake our own lives on — and we back every piece with real support.

01

Curated

Every brand we carry has been vetted in the field by our team. If it doesn’t pass our 30-day use test, we don’t stock it.

02

Authenticated

Factory-direct from authorized dealers. No grey-market, no refurb, no knockoffs. Your warranty is real.

03

Supported

Real humans on phone, text, and email — seven days a week. We carry this gear ourselves and we stand behind it.

04

American

HQ in California. Orders ship from our US warehouse. US-based customer care.

BLADES & COMBAT CUTLERY

Founded in 1980 to build the strongest, sharpest knives on the market. Popularized the American Tanto.

Cold Steel was founded in 1980 in Ventura, California by Lynn C. Thompson — a martial artist trained in judo, kendo, and kickboxing from his teens, who was frustrated with what was available in the knife market and wanted blades that were stronger and sharper. Cold Steel went on to popularize the American Tanto blade and built a reputation for proof-testing knives on camera to absurd standards. The company was acquired by GSM Outdoors in 2020 and is now headquartered in Irving, Texas.

  • Founded in 1980 by Lynn C. Thompson in Ventura, California
  • Popularized the American Tanto blade design
  • Known for combat knives, swords, and survival cutlery
  • Acquired by GSM Outdoors in 2020
  • Now headquartered in Irving, Texas

Answers, straight up.

Product-specific questions on the left. Shopping with SRO on the right. Both open-ended — hit us if we missed one.

Shopping with SRO
How long does shipping take?

Most orders process within 1–3 business days from our warehouse. From there: 5–7 business days economy, 2–3 business days expedited, or overnight if you need it fast. Free economy shipping on orders over $150 (contiguous US). Alaska, Hawaii, and Pro Eagle / freight items are quoted at checkout. You’ll get a tracking number and link the moment your order ships.

What’s your return policy?

30 days from the day your order arrives. Gear has to come back unused, with all original tags, stickers, and packaging intact. For standard items we’ll send a prepaid return label and deduct return shipping from your refund. Oversized or freight returns are on you, unless the item showed up damaged, defective, or wrong — in which case we cover it.

Refunds hit your original payment method within 10 business days of approval.

What can’t I return?

Final-sale items, gift cards, food and drink products, personal-care items, anything customized or engraved, briefs (hygiene), and hazardous materials. If you’re not sure whether something qualifies, email us before you order — we’ll tell you straight.

Do you ship outside the contiguous US?

Yes. Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories ship on freight-quoted rates calculated after checkout. International orders are available worldwide at variable rates; duties and import fees are the customer’s responsibility. EU customers get a 14-day cancellation window per EU consumer law, on top of our standard return policy.

My package arrived damaged — what now?

Email info@stayreadyoutdoors.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and clear photos of the damage (product + packaging). We’ll replace, refund, or ship a return label on us — no back-and-forth. Damaged, defective, or wrong-item claims never cost you shipping.

Can I talk to a human before buying?

Yes. Email info@stayreadyoutdoors.com — we answer every message ourselves, usually within a few hours during business days. We carry this gear, we use this gear, and we’d rather talk you out of a kit that doesn’t fit your mission than sell you the wrong one.

Do you offer a military/first-responder discount?

Yes. Active-duty and veteran military, police, fire, EMS, and medical first responders get 15% off every order. Verify through GovX at checkout — one-time, secure, and reusable across thousands of brands. Discount applies automatically once you’re verified.

IMPORTANT USE NOTES

The Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) is a full-size fixed blade designed for field use where durability and reliability are critical. Built from SK-5 high carbon steel with a protective Tuff-Ex™ coating, it delivers toughness and cutting performance suited for demanding environments.

⚠️ Proposition 65 Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals including nickel and chromium, known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information, visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov .

⚠️ Knife Ownership & Legal Compliance Disclaimer It is the responsibility of the purchaser and end user to know and comply with all applicable laws regarding knife ownership, carry, and use.