SURVIVE! Knives GSO-4.5 Standard - Your Thoughts?

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I've been eyeing the SURVIVE! Knives for awhile, but could never figure out their ordering process.

Be that as it may, they appear to have a Pre-Order open at the moment for a GSO-4.5 Standard with MagnaCut steel (I don't know much about MagnaCut) and I was thinking about ordering one.

I was wondering what peoples' thoughts/opinions were on this brand and, of course, if anyone owns this particular style. I spend a good deal of time along streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Thus, I was looking for something a bit more 'corrosion resistant' for such circumstances than the ordinary carbon steel such as 1095 or A2 or 01 which I habitually carry. I had been considering S35VN in a fixed blade (which is more readily available), but this had come up and got me to considering since, as I said, I've been looking at SURVIVE! Knives for several years.

The impression I've had, however, is that they are a small business, chronically 'behind,' they've had some issues with materials, but are considered by many to be a good quality product... if you can get your hands on one.

I've no interest in the bow drill divot. I do like the approximate 5/32 thickness. A 4" - 5" blade is a good working length for most tasks where I'd generally employ a fixed blade. In a sense, it looks to be a potentially decent, general purpose blade which is a bit more 'expensive' than most of the knives I generally carry.

Ergonomics of the handle? Edge retention? Corrosion resistance? Robustness of the blade? You know. All the usual insights would be appreciated.

[ryno066]

I took my brother 4-5 years to receive his GSO-10. The 2 GOS 5.1 we bought took a year and a half to receive at least. Its a nice knife but takes forever.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I took my brother 4-5 years to receive his GSO-10. The 2 GOS 5.1 we bought took a year and a half to receive at least. Its a nice knife but takes forever.

Well... Hopefully it no longer takes that long since I went ahead and placed a pre-order. According to their website...

The GSO-4.5 and GSO-5.1 will be on-going SURVIVE! models that we aim to have in constant production with the goal of having them be more readily available. These will be our main offerings for the GSO Series with other models being made in between these runs.

They recently had a problem with a batch of different blades decarburizing. They also claim...

These models were part of the decarburated Magnacut batch. The blades could not be finished with our satin stonewash so replacement blades are working their way through production to fulfill preorders. These will be given priority in order to get them caught back up. We are currently planning to ship these in 2 to 4 months.

I figured I'd take a chance; but, I will not be happy if this takes "years" or even if it goes too late into the year to be of use until next season. We'll just have to see.

[ezb57]

I like a cross guard on a heavy duty knife.

[Elgatodeacero]

Before you order from Survive! do yourself a favor and learn about their history.

Their problems and their excuses span a decade.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/survive-deserves-a-permanent-post-in-the-hall-of-shame.1613748/page-196

[drunktank]

It?s a fantastic blade. Fit and finish is basically perfect. I currently have a 3.5 but waiting on a TSK, 2.7, and 5.1 in magnacut.

According to people online who?ve placed preorders, including myself, I?d expect roughly a 6-9 month wait on yours regardless of what their production schedule says?I placed a presale order for my 5.1 back in December and am still waiting. I read about the decarburization issue around January but others have waited over a year for the same presale knife. Ymmv

I would recommend joining one of their Facebook fan pages and buying second hand for any future purchases. Many are unused and sell for cheaper than cost.


I opted for a Reiff Knives F4 over the 4.5 Standard due to availability and can say the fit and finish isn?t as good as Survive!?s. But it?s better than all the other brands in my drawer. Might order the 4.5 anyway just to own one and pass it down. I think they?re that good.

I chipped my 3.5?s blade and Guy was quick to respond and made things right immediately so I placed more orders because of that. Ymmv

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Before you order from Survive! do yourself a favor and learn about their history...

You must have missed Post #3 above...

Well... Hopefully it no longer takes that long since I went ahead and placed a pre-order...

As I said in the OP...

I've been eyeing the SURVIVE! Knives for awhile, but could never figure out their ordering process...

...I've been looking at SURVIVE! Knives for several years.

The impression I've had, however, is that they are a small business, chronically 'behind,' they've had some issues with materials, but are considered by many to be a good quality product... if you can get your hands on one...

If I remember correctly, this was one of the first videos I saw on their knives, posted in November of 2012 and he did another in December of 2015...



Several of the 'big names' on YouTube have done reviews of their blades...









You can view complaints regarding 'delays' at the Better Business Bureau. In September 2021, they put out a video 'explaining' past delays...



About the same time, this piece popped up... Survive Knives Talks About Troubled Past and Looks Toward a Bright Future

I suspect that it's a combination of over-expectation (both with the customers and the producer), small business meets big demand for a quality product, reasonable intent but undelivered realities, bad luck, need for cash flow, etc. That's why this is the type of feedback I was looking for...

It?s a fantastic blade. Fit and finish is basically perfect...

According to people online who?ve placed preorders, including myself, I?d expect roughly a 6-9 month wait on yours regardless of what their production schedule says?I placed a presale order for my 5.1 back in December and am still waiting. I read about the decarburization issue around January but others have waited over a year for the same presale knife. Ymmv...

I might be a bit overly optimistic in that I was hoping for a 3 - 5 month delivery given what they claim regarding the GSO 4.5 and 5.1 as I indicated in Post #3. There's also the fact that the first, gonna be here the rest of the winter, snowfalls always happen by around mid-November, making it difficult to get out and 'play' with new gear.

It's not like I have a dearth of blades and what I do have are perfectly 'usable.' Yet, there's always that lingering 'concern' that something 'better' might simply be out there waiting for me to discover. However, it is sometimes a bit... 'unreliable'... to focus on pieces from professional 'reviewers' as opposed to 'real people.' But, that's why I posted the thread looking for some insight.

Does it bother me that 2 days after placing the pre-order the outfit dinged me for the full amount with no indication as to when the knives are expected? Yep. Normally, I'm used to pre-orders taking a nominal fee, just to establish the validity of the customer/payment method, then hitting you for the full amount a week or two prior to shipping.

Would it be nice, given the apparent demand for his blades, if he increased staff, allowing for increased output and a curtailment of prioritization of 'current' orders over back orders? Yep. Then again, who knows what would happen to the quality. Not to mention as the Dutch Bushcraft Knives video observes, the price is being 'kept down,' in part, due to the 'small scale' of the business. Thus, it's a potential two-edged sword.

I'm hopeful that the changes he's made to the business allow for better order fulfillment. If so, I can see a GSO-5.1 in my future. It's just that I felt the GSO-4.5 would have more immediate and wider application possibilities... for me.

Keep the input coming.

[drunktank]

You make valid points. I?ve watched pretty much all their YouTube videos, videos/statements on social media, and had several good conversations with Guy on n the phone. I do believe they?ve really streamlined a lot of things and don?t think they have any malicious intent as some people online claim. To be fair, I ordered a GSO 3.5 ?preorder? in September and received it in December. This was their final batch of 3.5?s and it arrived earlier than expected. I hope you get your 4.5 sooner than later. Please leave a review on this forum once you get it! I might say screw it and just place an order for one anyway instead of looking at the secondary market.

[Flying Sig]

I had a knife on order for 2.5 years before I cancelled the order. They promptly refunded my money. I probably wouldn’t order a knife they don’t have in stock

[drunktank]

I had a knife on order for 2.5 years before I cancelled the order. They promptly refunded my money. I probably wouldn?t order a knife they don?t have in stock

Which model was it, if you don?t mind me asking? Thanks! Just curious.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I had a knife on order for 2.5 years before I cancelled the order. They promptly refunded my money. I probably wouldn?t order a knife they don?t have in stock

Which model was it, if you don?t mind me asking? Thanks! Just curious.

I'm still trying to be patient. But, based on their history, purchasing one not actually in stock based on where they were projecting themselves was the 'risk' I took. I still have another 30 days, give or take a day or two, until we hit the "90 days" they were targeting when they posted on their site...

The GSO-4.5 and GSO-5.1 will be on-going SURVIVE! models that we aim to have in constant production with the goal of having them be more readily available. These will be our main offerings for the GSO Series with other models being made in between these runs.

I went with the 4.5 in Magnacut, but the 5.1 seems to feature more prominently in their video updates, to the point that the 4.5 never seems to be mentioned. What does worry me is the constant - "It's not our fault, we're a small business, but we're working hard. Don't blame us. Blame the big guys." - rather than tangible output in a timely manner.

In a sense, I think he's being sincere, up to a point. I can appreciate being a small fish being forced to depend on bigger fish. However, they do seem to be overly enamored with new/experimental material, design tweaks, etc. I get the idea that he has bills to pay; but, once again, when you take a customer's money upfront and then leave the customer hanging as to when their product will be sent with 'I have bills to pay so I have to keep income flowing,' it does leave the customer somewhat... unsettled. Such is particularly the case when the company has been in business since 2010 and, as of 2021, they posted...

...Production is finally where we always wanted it to be. We are exceeding our production goals and creating the highest quality knives we have ever made. We would say it is exciting but we're honestly pretty done with excitement after these last few years. From now on we'll be happy just making the highest quality knives we possibly can, finally without the long wait.

Yet, from what customers are saying and their 'updates' seem to be indicating, a "long wait" still seems to be the order of the day. Heck. The last update to their Production Schedule page was 6 April 2023. Even a quarterly update is past due. Yeah. I get it. They're busy working rather than updating. But, when your videos seem to indicate that your focus is on 'new' and you'll 'catch up' when you catch up on existing orders, again, customers are a left a bit askance.

Like I said, I'm still trying to be patient. I would really like to get the GSO 4.5 in hand and hope it's everything it's reputed to be. As I said previously, it would be useful to have it before winter clamps down as, right now, it's difficult enough for me to 'get out there' and once winter sets in, it'll be next May before I can think about getting out there again.

Here's (still) hoping.

[Elgatodeacero]

Nothing appears to have improved regarding Survive! Knives……

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/survive-deserves-a-permanent-post-in-the-hall-of-shame.1613748/page-208

[Flying Sig]

Which model was it, if you don?t mind me asking? Thanks! Just curious.

It was the GSO 5.5 or 5.1. I don’t really remember

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Finally saw some GSO 4.5 Standard's (very briefly) mentioned in one of their 'update' videos.



It's going to be interesting. We're coming up on the 90 day mark.

[Flying Sig]

Did you get your knife yet?