Here are a few photos of the Cold Steel Spartan... It has been used a bunch since sharpening. I cut at least 50 suckers off of my Silver Maple tree. Some as big as my little finger (diameter). Have cut cardboard and half inch nylon rope. In other words, it is not a show piece right off of the sharpener with a mirror edge. The knife is a beast !! Just AUS8A, but they must have done a good job with the tempering. It is still pretty darn sharp...at least arm hair shaving sharp. A bit short of push cutting copy paper, but easily slices the same.

Phil