Anybody have the Cold Steel Luzon?

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TTv2

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With the company being sold soon, I decided I needed to look at getting whatever folding knives from Cold Steel now and the only one that has caught my attention the past couple years is the Luzon as it has the assisted open flip switch.

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Anybody got one? For the money ($28 or $35 depending on blade length) what do you think? Worth buying?
 
I’ve always have been a fan of cold steel knives. I would get it before it changes hands as quality may suffer with the new company.
 
I have one as I really like the big Cold Steel folders like this. The Frenzy is also out there but more $$. Luzon is more of a price point knife, however, that also let's may carry and use it without hesitation. The pocket clip is different and a bit bulky. I'm sure there are better steels out there but I can sharpen a knife so it doesn't bother me.

For $40 or so I don't see how you can go wrong. I think there is a large and medium so check to see which one you want.
 
The Amazon listing I looked at had a video of a guy tapping the back of the blade against something and showing the lock failing. Did not appear he was tapping very hard either.
 
I’ve always have been a fan of cold steel knives. I would get it before it changes hands as quality may suffer with the new company.
It's not just quality that has me concerned, it's what's going to get discontinued. Cold Steel is one of a few companies that regularly makes a large size 6 inch folding knife and I wonder if the new owners will still want to keep making them. They also make a few other oddball things like the shields, baseball bats, impact weapons, etc.

My guess is a lot of the machetes are going to be gone.
 
Even under Thompson's management, they changed their lineup from time to time. Sometimes dropping models, sometimes changing design or blade steel. If you see something you want, buy it.
 
The Amazon listing I looked at had a video of a guy tapping the back of the blade against something and showing the lock failing. Did not appear he was tapping very hard either.
Was that without engaging the manual "safety switch" that blocks the locking mechanism from unlocking?
 
I was very concerned about the sale, However GSM posted their last video about trying to bring back some discontinued models if there is enough customer support, I have read that they have no plans to drop to cheaper Steels on their more premium items, Lynn sold the company to them with the sole expression that they would have the ability to keep knives in stock that he couldn't do alone. As this thread related to the Luzon, I like the knife and it looks like itd be a good work out or holdout blade, I love my large Espada though, I think if you spent even 15 bucks more just get the voyager xl that offers a 5 inch blade in a better steel and the triad lock. 20201214_221350.jpg
 
The Amazon listing I looked at had a video of a guy tapping the back of the blade against something and showing the lock failing. Did not appear he was tapping very hard either.

Yes, a "spine whack test". Some guys think it is valid, I'm not one of them as it is sometimes a vibration created which causes the lock to shift. I haven't ever had the need to whack a knife on the back of it's blade.
 
...Lynn sold the company to them with the sole expression that they would have the ability to keep knives in stock that he couldn't do alone.
Maybe I'm too cynical, but unless he got it in writing with some kind of penalty clause, what they told him means absolutely nothing. It's not his company any more--they can do whatever they want with it. Maybe what they want will be the same thing he wants, maybe not. When the two wants don't line up, guess what they will do.
 
Maybe I'm too cynical, but unless he got it in writing with some kind of penalty clause, what they told him means absolutely nothing. It's not his company any more--they can do whatever they want with it. Maybe what they want will be the same thing he wants, maybe not. When the two wants don't line up, guess what they will do.
I am still watching this with caution, the fact that Demko and Thompson are still involved in the company gives some measure of what GSM says is true, of course you're right about how things could go south, but for now I'm not going to be pessimistic or even cautiously optimistic, I will watch and wait before rendering a full judgement
 
They also make a few other oddball things like the shields, baseball bats, impact weapons, etc.

My guess is a lot of the machetes are going to be gone.

A few oddball things? They make more than a few. But that is part of the charm of the company.

If I had to guess anything that sells well enough to turn a profit is in no danger. Cold steel has a long history of interesting machetes. I can't imagine any company buying them and then just shutting off a profitable line.
 
With the company being sold soon, I decided I needed to look at getting whatever folding knives from Cold Steel now and the only one that has caught my attention the past couple years is the Luzon as it has the assisted open flip switch.

View attachment 967279

Anybody got one? For the money ($28 or $35 depending on blade length) what do you think? Worth buying?
I have a large. For $36, I am extremely impressed.
 
I was very concerned about the sale, However GSM posted their last video about trying to bring back some discontinued models if there is enough customer support, I have read that they have no plans to drop to cheaper Steels on their more premium items, Lynn sold the company to them with the sole expression that they would have the ability to keep knives in stock that he couldn't do alone. As this thread related to the Luzon, I like the knife and it looks like itd be a good work out or holdout blade, I love my large Espada though, I think if you spent even 15 bucks more just get the voyager xl that offers a 5 inch blade in a better steel and the triad lock.View attachment 967342
Already have the Voyager, it is rock solid, but deploying that is not as easy for me as an assisted open is. The large Luzon is probably the largest linerlock I've ever seen too.
 
I am still watching this with caution, the fact that Demko and Thompson are still involved in the company gives some measure of what GSM says is true, of course you're right about how things could go south, but for now I'm not going to be pessimistic or even cautiously optimistic, I will watch and wait before rendering a full judgement
If sometime in the next year or two we have undercover pictures and video of GSM's Cold Steel assisting local police with destroying firearms we'll know which way it's headed, lol.
 
A few oddball things? They make more than a few. But that is part of the charm of the company.

If I had to guess anything that sells well enough to turn a profit is in no danger. Cold steel has a long history of interesting machetes. I can't imagine any company buying them and then just shutting off a profitable line.
That's why I like them, who else is making plastic knives for $6 or $20 machetes? My concern is when a hunting conglomerate takes over, they tend to do away with wanting anything to do with things that can be viewed as weapons and want to be a "hunting tool" producer/retailer.

Before Cabela's sold to Bass Pro they had Herter's brand ammunition. IDK who Cabela's was buying the ammo from, but I recall they had some unique shotgun defense ammo and Bass decided that selling defense ammunition wasn't what they wanted and they dropped it. IDK how well the 2-1/4" reduced recoil load was selling or the buck and ball 12 gauge was selling, but I do know if they were still making it last year, they'd have not been able to keep that ammo on the shelves.

Point is, I'm willing to bet that Cabela's was making a profit on that ammunition as if it wasn't it would have been dropped long before Bass Pro bought them. So, Bass Pro either doesn't like money or they have corporate FUDD types who see "defense" or "tactical" and have a heart attack thinking Bass Pro is going to be viewed as the Neo-Nazi mass shooter supply shop.
 
I still bought benchmades after that as well.

Haven't and won't. Partly for what they did but a lot of my concern/scorn goes to them for the way they handled things afterwards. Says a LOT about a man or a company in how they act in a tough situation. benchmade was a rolling dumpster fire of bad moves for a long time. I'm done with them, and I used to be a huge fan of their work.
 
the Luzon as it has the assisted open flip switch.
Just a heads up, the Luzon is a manual flipper.

I'm not sure about the Luzon's grip with all those little grooves, because that style of grip is usually uncomfortable in prolonged use. If I wanted a CS liner lock with a 4" blade I'd probably go for the Ti-Lite for a $ more. Made in Taiwan vs. mainland China, AUS-8 vs. 8Cr13MoV, metal pocket clip vs. plastic pocket clip, and a neutral handle on the Ti-Lite. I do think that the Luzon looks much better than the Ti-Lite.
 
The large wharnecliffe caught my eye. The Luzon might be a more affordable option.
 
I bought the 4 inch and got it today. After getting the feel it's easy and fast to open and I feel a lot more confident with a rapid deploy than I did the lockback Cold Steels I have. I don't care about the plastic pocket clip, I'm probably going to take it off and carry the knife in a dedicated pocket. I may get the 6 inch too and soon. Not many linerlocks out there with a 6 inch long blade.
 
With the company being sold soon, I decided I needed to look at getting whatever folding knives from Cold Steel now and the only one that has caught my attention the past couple years is the Luzon as it has the assisted open flip switch.

View attachment 967279

Anybody got one? For the money ($28 or $35 depending on blade length) what do you think? Worth buying?
I have the large one. It was $36.39 via Amazon. Extreme value for a knife. It's a home run.

It functions superbly and it holds an edge. What more do you want? Most of the online whining I have come across seems to boil down to nothing more than ignorance of the product, and a real desire/need to denigrate Cold Steel and Lynn Thompson.
 
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