T6 is the newest addition to the lionSTEEL
fixed blade family, it sits in between the M7 and the T5 in terms of size. Join me in this detailed review of the lionSTEEL T6, the biggest of the T-series. Featuring a strong CPM 3V steel blade and a lionSTEEL SOLID handle; milled out of a single Canvas micarta block, ensuring a firm and safe grip.
A design by Molletta, the T6 has an aggressive profile and is ideal when you need a robust and easy to handle heavy duty knife. From making a fire to food preparation, the LionSteel T6 has got you covered.
Supplied with its Kydex sheath that has a reversible Cordura structure with MOLLE system for secure and easy mounting.
What’s in the box?:
Nice and simple, just the T6 and a leaflet.
A good look round the T6 sheath – Things to look out for here are:
There is a lot to see here, with an excellent combination of a hollow rivet construction Kydex sheath, with a highly functional MOLLE hanger and leg-tie cord. Though the Kydex retention is all you need to secure the knife, there is a removable retention strap which adds extra stability when needed. A good size drainage hole in the base of the Kydex, will help look after the blade, especially with this being a non-stainless steel. The multi-functional mounting platform is attached to the Kydex sheath with four Chicago screw-bolts and means you can remove it completely, swap it round for left handed carry, or tweak the position. Straps for PALS / MOLLE mounting can also be configured as a belt loop. A super flexible sheath and mount.
A good look round the T6 – Things to look out for here are:
It has been love at first sight for me. The T6 has a really powerful, purposeful look, and does not disappoint. Just take in those lines.
With lionSTEEL’s ‘SOLID’ handle, the T6 has a single piece of micarta milled to perfectly sit over the blade’s full tang. Both the blade and handle have an incorporated finger guard, with the blade’s just slightly protruding to better protect the micarta, which protects you. The tang also slightly protrudes at the butt to form a striker, or striking surface. Simple flowing lines in the micarta create an ergonomic and comfortable handle, a perfect for connecting you to that wide strong blade.
The Blade and Handle – Detailed Measurements:
For full details of the tests and measurements carried out and an explanation of the results, see the page – Knife Technical Testing – How It’s Done.
The blade is made from CPM 3V steel.
The Factory edge up close:
Followers of Tactical Reviews will know my views on factory edges, but to recap:
Anyone using a knife will need to sharpen it. That first factory edge is just like the first tank of fuel that a new car comes with (or first charge of the battery).
A good factory edge is a ‘nice to have’ but not a ‘make or break’ for a good knife, as you will be putting your own edge onto it soon enough.
The factory edge does however indicate the care a knife maker has put into the final finish.
It is for this reason Tactical Reviews measures factory edge sharpness and specifications, and includes this information in the detailed technical testing.
As a further look at the factory edge, this section has been added to include some high magnification photos of the factory edges.
The factory edge is a great cutter, even better than the good (but not great) BESS sharpness figures. These magnified images of the edge explain this as you can see the micro-serrations in the 3V steel.
What is it like to use?
It is one thing to see and just hold the T6, and another to really put it to use. In use, the T6 really surprised me as it feels like a much smaller and more nimble knife than it should for its size. It is a large heavy, wide-bladed, knife, it is. I have to remind myself and if you just pick it up to look at it and not use it, it still feels exactly that.
Then you start to work with it, and it just seems to work with you.
A quick check of the edge before getting on with the tasks at hand. Popping the sheath on my belt, and fitting the leg-tie cord (which I leave a little slack as this cord has no give in it). I’ll probably add in some elastic to the leg cord so it has some give and won’t restrict movement. The sheath sits very flat to your body and re-sheathing needs a quick glance when you have clothing partly in the way.
I keep thinking it looks like the muscle car of the knife world, and wants to be admired as much as to cut.
The blade geometry, and weight, get behind each cut. Combine this with an amazingly comfortable handle, and the cuts become so much easier than you expect. Making a type of feather-cut on a board and before I knew it I’d gone through the entire board.
Batoning for splitting, and if anything it had a tendency not to follow the grain and instead to bite in and cut in the direction you strike it. Either way, the wide blade’s depth means the wood usually splits before the spine reaches the top of the wood being split, so you can just strike straight down onto the split and don’t have to fight against each strike trying to twist the knife.
Onto pallet cutting, and the first image showing an initial single strike. The depth of cut is good, and after this, nice sized chunks of timber fly out as the T6 cuts and ejects – you can see the ‘steps’ formed in the wood during this board chop.
Last in this gallery is the T6 being batoned into a pallet board, the depth achieved here with medium effort, is about double a single chop, but the wedge effect then prevents further progress due to the thickness of the blade stock. In this case the overall effort is lower if just chop into the board compared to batoning.
So far, lionSTEEL’s stance on the T6 is to go with ultra-tough super-carbon steels, with the first run being K490 and this next production run in CPM 3V. 3V is not a stainless steel and will form a patina and rust if not maintained, but its virtual indestructibility means you will forgive it this minor weakness. For me, however, with the choice of great stainless steels, I do not like having to maintain a knife against rust, so I have been asking lionSTEEL to make the T6 in a stainless…I will continue to nag. Unlike myself, many will see the 3V as a massive positive, and as a working steel it will do you proud.
The love for the T6 is still as strong as from my first sighting of the prototype, looks and performance, plus that ability to feel lighter and more nimble than it should, mean the T6 makes you want to keep picking it up.
Review Summary
The views expressed in this summary table are from the point of view of the reviewer’s personal use. I am not a member of the armed forces and cannot comment on its use beyond a cutting tool or field/hunting knife.
Something that might be a ‘pro’ for one user can be a ‘con’ for another, so the comments are categorised based on my requirements. You should consider all points and if they could be beneficial to you.
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What doesn’t work so well for me
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Not stainless steel. – Yeah, I think that is all I’m less keen on.
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Things I like
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Incredibly comfortable and stable in the hand.
SOLID micarta handle has no ‘hotspots’.
Feels light and nimble (for its size).
Super tough CPM 3V.
Purposeful looks.
Wide blade adds control.
Highly functional sheath.
MOLLE / PALS compatible.
Firm (but not too firm) Kydex retention.
Review Videos
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