General consensus of Cold Steel?
- Thread starter The Unknown User
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I have 3 Cold Steel knives that I bought 12-15 years ago. I am satisfied with all three, and believe I got a fair value for my money. But MY GOD, I haven't looked at a catalog in years. $425 for a Black Bear Classic? $300 for an R1 Military Classic? $115 for a Recon Tanto? I didn't spend $300 total for all three, and that included having a custom kydex sheath made for the Tanto.
A Randall Model 1 -- A REAL RANDALL Mod. 1 retails for $320 from the Randall shop. Why in heaven's name would anyone pay $300 for a knock off? I think mine was about $100 at a time when a Randall was about $250. That made some sense to me. These prices are just nuts.
A Randall Model 1 -- A REAL RANDALL Mod. 1 retails for $320 from the Randall shop. Why in heaven's name would anyone pay $300 for a knock off? I think mine was about $100 at a time when a Randall was about $250. That made some sense to me. These prices are just nuts.
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MarshallDodge
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I have never owned a Cold Steel knife but their blades seem really nice. The thing I don't like about them is their cheap looking plastic handles and the riveted construction.
For a little more money I bought a Benchmade Griptillian that has nice metal liners and screws. Two and a half years later, it has held up very well and I really like the axis lock.
For a little more money I bought a Benchmade Griptillian that has nice metal liners and screws. Two and a half years later, it has held up very well and I really like the axis lock.
WOODROW
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I own the Recon 1 and it has been a good knife for the money. It got me thru my last tour in the MARINES and did well. I have since retired it and now carry a SOG Pentagon Elite I. (Great knife), blows C.S. out of the water for edge retention and durability. With the axis lock it is strong and dependable. I don't much care where a knife is made or who makes it as long as I can depend on it when I need it and the SOG has adapted, improvised and overcame every time. SEMPER FI
3 gun
Member
With Cold Steel I feel you get a bit more than you pay for. They don't live up to the hype..but what could?? I have 3 and they all hold a good to great edge. The carbonV steel takes and holds a wicked edge. The folders still open smoothly and lock up tight. The fixed blade is still solid in the handle and the sheath looks good. This after years of use. IMHO Cold Steel is right at the point of diminishing returns. You can spend more for a better knife but it isn't easy to do.
Sniper X
Member
I have had three cold steel knives, one Magnum tanto, one Tanto, and the Folding Tanto, all San Mai III process, or folded steel blades, I guess really laminated steel. All were great till the lock tang broke off on the folder. I sold the Tanto, and Magnum Tanto for 5 times what I apid for them so they are GONE! I lost the folder durring a move, and have graduated to other folders like Benchmades, CRKT's, SOG's, and some others. I like the CS knives, but have not bought any since the folder. I know a bunch of guys who love them. I now mostly carry the SOG Pentagon Elite. I love it.
cold steel is a good knife, but watch out for their serrated knives...the serrations on the Voyager, (had a 6" clip point serrated at one point) seemed to break off. I lost quite a few teeth before I sold it off.
They make some really great knives for the price. But, IMHO, there's nothing like a Buck or Gerber for cheaper yet in the folding knife market. I've seen their DVD about cutting a 3" piece of rope with one swipe of a voyager...that thing was special I guess, because even the sharpest benchmade's i've tried slicing even 1.5" rope with require a good amount of 'sawing'.
They make some really great knives for the price. But, IMHO, there's nothing like a Buck or Gerber for cheaper yet in the folding knife market. I've seen their DVD about cutting a 3" piece of rope with one swipe of a voyager...that thing was special I guess, because even the sharpest benchmade's i've tried slicing even 1.5" rope with require a good amount of 'sawing'.
coelacanth
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I'd put most Benchmade products a notch above
Cold Steel in quality and a notch below them in hype. The axis lock is a good solid lock but not any better than a well executed liner lock. Most locking systems are pretty foolproof but none of them are damn fool proof if you get my meaning. I have never been particularly impressed with the Cold Steel folders but their fixed blades are pretty good buys for the money. Do yourself a favor - be nosy, do some research - go to a knife show or two and look around. You'll get a pretty good education and probably save yourself some money and a good bit of frustration down the road. Good luck.
Cold Steel in quality and a notch below them in hype. The axis lock is a good solid lock but not any better than a well executed liner lock. Most locking systems are pretty foolproof but none of them are damn fool proof if you get my meaning. I have never been particularly impressed with the Cold Steel folders but their fixed blades are pretty good buys for the money. Do yourself a favor - be nosy, do some research - go to a knife show or two and look around. You'll get a pretty good education and probably save yourself some money and a good bit of frustration down the road. Good luck.
I recently purchased a Benchmade Ambush.
Finest knife I have ever owned, very happy with it, opens easily and smoothly with one hand, closes just as easily one handed. Thoroughly pleased with the purchase, and can be found for ~$70-$80
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10200
When I was looking and toying with prospective purchases all of the cold steel offerings felt terrible to me, not necessarily the steel but the grip was horriffic IMO, the material used didnt provide me a comfortable grip on any knife available to me at the shop with around 15 or so cold steel offerings to choose from.
Finest knife I have ever owned, very happy with it, opens easily and smoothly with one hand, closes just as easily one handed. Thoroughly pleased with the purchase, and can be found for ~$70-$80
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10200
When I was looking and toying with prospective purchases all of the cold steel offerings felt terrible to me, not necessarily the steel but the grip was horriffic IMO, the material used didnt provide me a comfortable grip on any knife available to me at the shop with around 15 or so cold steel offerings to choose from.
The Unknown User
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I sent Cold Steel an e-mail, and they were going to recall it at their cost to look at the damage, but they took so long to respond I got impatient and sharpened the blade. No more visible damage, so they won't take it back.
Oh well.
So I'm looking at Benchmades now...I like the 551 Griptilian and the 10200 Ambush. Which one?
...or...both? /poor wallet
Oh well.
So I'm looking at Benchmades now...I like the 551 Griptilian and the 10200 Ambush. Which one?
...or...both? /poor wallet
MarshallDodge
Member
I like the nylon scales on the Griptillian. The aluminum scales get cold in the winter on the Ambush but I think they now have a version with plastic scales.
SaMx
Member
I was considering buying a CS Canadian belt knife, because it looked cool and was pretty cheap. Then I saw on bladeforums that it was an exact copy of a knife made by Grohman, a Canadian company. I don't want to buy a stolen design. Apparently the steel it's made of is pretty crappy too.
I have many Cold Steel knives, and they have never broken or failed to cut stuff within reason. That's the secret; I think. If you need to poke through car doors and such, use a Fireman's axe. For apples, string, cardboard boxes, small furry animals, and masking tape, you'll do fine.
May I suggest a 4" Voyager as a good, all-around folder? Roughly the same as a Spyderco Endura, for most practical intents and purposes.
Many of my military buddies like their SRK or Recon Tantos in fixed blades.
Take care
May I suggest a 4" Voyager as a good, all-around folder? Roughly the same as a Spyderco Endura, for most practical intents and purposes.
Many of my military buddies like their SRK or Recon Tantos in fixed blades.
Take care
The Unknown User
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LOL that sucks.
steeltiger
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I have nigh on to thirty cs knives, kerambits,nearly each of the voyager line and a few other fixxed blades and I have had two problems, both fairly insignifigant.
Yes the adverts are over the top but these knives can do it, the voyagers have very thin edges and cut extremely well, but are more damagable, the fixxed blades are bomb proof but in turn dont cut well. they offer considerable value if you like the design.
the ghroman, or rather ''canadian belt'' is a direct, unmistakable copy, but at 1/5th the price of the real thing. and is in turn 1/5th the quality, but, it is a good design offered for much cheaper than the origanal, same for the strider. you get what you pay for on these two knives. and I swear I will buy a dozen GI tanto's before I pay $400 for the origanal, however good it is.
BM is much better quality, not any stronger, but if your'e going to stab your car to death I don't suspect you will use your pocket knife to do so. CS makes good knives, there are better knives on the market, at higher prices.
As for lyn Tompson, he seems to be as much of a mental case as I am, but I cannot judge someone I've never met, nor can I base any reliable assumption on my knowledge of him.
this is my opinion, and I do not expect it to be as cherished by you as it is by me, but that it may provide some more thoughts for you to help in your decisions, just stay away from 4116krup, its a poor steel, but stil usable.
Yes the adverts are over the top but these knives can do it, the voyagers have very thin edges and cut extremely well, but are more damagable, the fixxed blades are bomb proof but in turn dont cut well. they offer considerable value if you like the design.
the ghroman, or rather ''canadian belt'' is a direct, unmistakable copy, but at 1/5th the price of the real thing. and is in turn 1/5th the quality, but, it is a good design offered for much cheaper than the origanal, same for the strider. you get what you pay for on these two knives. and I swear I will buy a dozen GI tanto's before I pay $400 for the origanal, however good it is.
BM is much better quality, not any stronger, but if your'e going to stab your car to death I don't suspect you will use your pocket knife to do so. CS makes good knives, there are better knives on the market, at higher prices.
As for lyn Tompson, he seems to be as much of a mental case as I am, but I cannot judge someone I've never met, nor can I base any reliable assumption on my knowledge of him.
this is my opinion, and I do not expect it to be as cherished by you as it is by me, but that it may provide some more thoughts for you to help in your decisions, just stay away from 4116krup, its a poor steel, but stil usable.
mrmeval
Member
Cold steel has a good product. They've gone very commercial and their prices have come down.
Benchmade is smooth, just unbelievably smooth. They feel very good and work very good.
Benchmade is smooth, just unbelievably smooth. They feel very good and work very good.
JTW Jr.
Member
ripping off someone else's designs tells me alot about a company's integrity , I vote with my wallet , I buy anything else BUT CS products.Steeltiger said:
Steeltiger, why do you say that CS fixed blades don't cut well? The reason I ask is because I own one of the original ODA's in carbon V and I can Not, for the life of me, get it to take a decent edge. Also, what do you know about Krupp Stainless? I have one of the Finn Bear's, half because I want Nordic/Scandinavian knives and half because its so darn cheap. I have not done ANY work with it yet, but it has a very nice edge on it. My Kurkri machete takes a better edge than my ODA....I am somewhat disappointed in the ODA.
poor_richard
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I've owned two CS knives (both Nogalas folders), and they are decent knives. However, for the price range that most CS knives are, one could buy a MB Griptillian or a Spyderco Endura/Delica. Both the Benchmades, and the Spyderco's are better knives that the CS, so I don't consider the CS knives all that great a deal for the money invested. If you get a CS knife, you'll have a good knife, but you could get more for your money with another brand.
The edge retention of Spyderco's VG-10 exceeds that of the CS steel (mostly AUS-8), and they have screw construction with nested steel liners. They are also better in the ergonomics that the CS (however that depends upon the individual. Go to a show and handle as many as you can). Cold Steel's knives are comparable in quality, fit and finish to Spyderco's byrd line.
I've never owned a BM but have handled enough to note that their fit and finish is very nice. A lot of people like the Axis lock because they like to "fast action flick" their knives open. If you want a fast opening knife, get an Emerson Wave, or a Spyderco with the Emerson Wave. Nothing is faster than the Wave.
The edge retention of Spyderco's VG-10 exceeds that of the CS steel (mostly AUS-8), and they have screw construction with nested steel liners. They are also better in the ergonomics that the CS (however that depends upon the individual. Go to a show and handle as many as you can). Cold Steel's knives are comparable in quality, fit and finish to Spyderco's byrd line.
I've never owned a BM but have handled enough to note that their fit and finish is very nice. A lot of people like the Axis lock because they like to "fast action flick" their knives open. If you want a fast opening knife, get an Emerson Wave, or a Spyderco with the Emerson Wave. Nothing is faster than the Wave.
steeltiger
Member
If CS made a grohman of the same cost, and in the same ''realm'' as a real grohman, I would consider it a real offence but this gives us a cheaper alternative, albeit a much poorer one.
I do own a 4116 krupp CS knife, slice a peice of paper and its dull, puts it right up there with CRKT, as some of the worse steel I've delt with (I have five columbia rivers to back up my opinion if need be)
I also own a recon tanto, it is absolutly bulletproof, but the edge is much to thick and I can barely get it to shave, also as others have pointed out, the sheaths can but not neccesacerily do dull the fine edges should you manage to get one. As a counterpoint I'll note that my steeltiger kerambit has neither problem, and the cheap 4116 knives (like that in wich you and I own) have a nicley thin edge, mine came real sharp from the factory too!
I don't have an ODA but I have a OSS in the mail, and I'm worried about bending the tip, its 4116 and if its anything like my ''canadian belt knife'' it'll be ''delicate'', or at least more so than I would like
I do own a 4116 krupp CS knife, slice a peice of paper and its dull, puts it right up there with CRKT, as some of the worse steel I've delt with (I have five columbia rivers to back up my opinion if need be)
I also own a recon tanto, it is absolutly bulletproof, but the edge is much to thick and I can barely get it to shave, also as others have pointed out, the sheaths can but not neccesacerily do dull the fine edges should you manage to get one. As a counterpoint I'll note that my steeltiger kerambit has neither problem, and the cheap 4116 knives (like that in wich you and I own) have a nicley thin edge, mine came real sharp from the factory too!
I don't have an ODA but I have a OSS in the mail, and I'm worried about bending the tip, its 4116 and if its anything like my ''canadian belt knife'' it'll be ''delicate'', or at least more so than I would like
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