I own many Cold Steel knives and I believe they are the best knife for the money when not buying a custom piece. The Trail Master and Recon Tanto are fantastic field knives, and can take a TON of abuse. Cold Steel's Voyager lockblades are also a lot of knife for the money. What other knives out their do all of you prefer?
Cold Steel: Is anyone better?
- Thread starter Sandmann
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A lot of people like Cold Steel knives. Some folks who have been experienced a lot of different companies don't like them as much.
Other great knife values are Himalayan Imports, Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry, Camillus Becker, and Swamp Rat Knife Works. For folding knife value, Spyderco is tough-to-beat match of customer friendliness, quality materials, and reasonable pricing.
I started out buying Cold Steel knives, and there are certainly some good ones out there, but there are lots of other knife companies too, some of whom tend to have even greater customer satisfaction. One good place to check some of them out is www.BladeForums.com.
John
Other great knife values are Himalayan Imports, Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry, Camillus Becker, and Swamp Rat Knife Works. For folding knife value, Spyderco is tough-to-beat match of customer friendliness, quality materials, and reasonable pricing.
I started out buying Cold Steel knives, and there are certainly some good ones out there, but there are lots of other knife companies too, some of whom tend to have even greater customer satisfaction. One good place to check some of them out is www.BladeForums.com.
John
Christoefor
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Well I like spyderco but still seem to have a Cold Steel Ltc chopper a SRK and a key chain model urbun pal. Also gave a few to friends, you can't beat coldsteel for price and value.
bubbygator
Member
I like Becker. Here's my car knife.
http://www.fernknives.com/becker/combat-utility-7/440/index.html
http://www.fernknives.com/becker/combat-utility-7/440/index.html
How do all of these companies and knives perform in the field. I own a Mountain Dollar Foundary knuckle smatchet, but have never really put it through the paces like my Cold Steel Trailmaster. Probably because it was a custom order.
Are you satisfied with your Becker? It looks rugged enough!!!
Are you satisfied with your Becker? It looks rugged enough!!!
Gary G23
Member
I like Benchmade on the high end and CRKT on the low end.
DT Guy
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Cold Steel's 'Carbon V' seems to perform about like O-1, from what I understand. Nothing wrong with O-1, I make knives from it myself at times. It's just not what you'd consider the state-of-the-art in many respects.
AFA their folding knives, I prefer less Zytel. For what they're getting for some of their plastic handled knives, I think you could do better, but that's just me.
Larry
AFA their folding knives, I prefer less Zytel. For what they're getting for some of their plastic handled knives, I think you could do better, but that's just me.
Larry
scbair
Member
I particularly like Cold Steel's Carbon V blades for good quality working blades at a very competitive price point. I bought a large "Twistmaster" (similar to the Opinel folders, with a plastic handle). It takes and holds a really wicked edge.
Of course, it requires two hands to open, and uses the twist-ring lock, that also requires manual activation. Since this is strictly a deer-dressing knife, no problem!
In fact, I like it so much that, after learning it had been discontinued :banghead: I found and purchased a spare, should my "user" ever break or wear out (like I'm ever gonna bag THAT much venison . . .).
For EDC / defensive carry, I must admit I prefer any of several models of Spyderco or Benchmade.
Of course, it requires two hands to open, and uses the twist-ring lock, that also requires manual activation. Since this is strictly a deer-dressing knife, no problem!
In fact, I like it so much that, after learning it had been discontinued :banghead: I found and purchased a spare, should my "user" ever break or wear out (like I'm ever gonna bag THAT much venison . . .).
For EDC / defensive carry, I must admit I prefer any of several models of Spyderco or Benchmade.
I have purchased (that I remember):
CS Large Voyager
LTC Kukuri
Twistmasters
Shovel
Assegai
Bushmasters
Recon Tanto
Mini Pals
Ready Edges
assorted small items (Delta Darts, key knives, etc)
and one of the large hunting knives, though I don't remember the model right now...
For folders, Spyderco is now my favorite maker. Depending on type of blade, HI or SRKW might be my favorite noncustom FB makers.
John
CS Large Voyager
LTC Kukuri
Twistmasters
Shovel
Assegai
Bushmasters
Recon Tanto
Mini Pals
Ready Edges
assorted small items (Delta Darts, key knives, etc)
and one of the large hunting knives, though I don't remember the model right now...
For folders, Spyderco is now my favorite maker. Depending on type of blade, HI or SRKW might be my favorite noncustom FB makers.
John
To Date I have purchased:
Cold Steel:
Carbon V Trailmaster
Carbon V Gurkha Kukri
Carbon V Recon Tanto
Carbon V Peace Keeper
4" Recon Folder
4" Gunsite Tanto Folder (Gave it to my Father in law when his knife broke)
5" Clip Point Voyager Folder- Very impressive performance, cuts like a fixed blade!!!
6" Vaquero Folder
All of these knives performed outstandingly. Lot's of abuse, no complaints.
Cold steel also has a great selection of swords, although I'm not sure how they would hold up against a forged blade, say from Bugei, or a custom maker.
My MDF Smatchet is a custom piece and is too prized by myself to be taken to the field and abused like I have my Cold Steel pieces.
Cold Steel:
Carbon V Trailmaster
Carbon V Gurkha Kukri
Carbon V Recon Tanto
Carbon V Peace Keeper
4" Recon Folder
4" Gunsite Tanto Folder (Gave it to my Father in law when his knife broke)
5" Clip Point Voyager Folder- Very impressive performance, cuts like a fixed blade!!!
6" Vaquero Folder
All of these knives performed outstandingly. Lot's of abuse, no complaints.
Cold steel also has a great selection of swords, although I'm not sure how they would hold up against a forged blade, say from Bugei, or a custom maker.
My MDF Smatchet is a custom piece and is too prized by myself to be taken to the field and abused like I have my Cold Steel pieces.
The point I'm making is that I have used CS knives. After having explored the market a bit, though, I find lots of other knives with at least as much value, sold by nicer people- or even, some of them, by people who just don't feel the need to make an ass of themselves or even really present themselves in public in any way.
I don't buy Mad Dog knives, either, though of course, their price points are higher.
Dale Sandberg is a great guy, and I'm sorry I missed the chance to go see him while I was living in WA. To call Eight Dollar Mountain Knives "custom" pieces may not be very accurate, though, and EDMF knives are cheaper for what you get than Cold Steel knives, by far (I've bought 3 EDMF knives).
J
I don't buy Mad Dog knives, either, though of course, their price points are higher.
Dale Sandberg is a great guy, and I'm sorry I missed the chance to go see him while I was living in WA. To call Eight Dollar Mountain Knives "custom" pieces may not be very accurate, though, and EDMF knives are cheaper for what you get than Cold Steel knives, by far (I've bought 3 EDMF knives).
J
Andrew Wyatt
Member
CS knives are only a really good deal if you get the factory seconds. also, the video they come with is entertaining.
there are better knives out there. benchmade.
there are better knives out there. benchmade.
Sandman,
They're just another mass market manufacturer. They are much better quality than some and not as good as others. They are a much better value than some and not as good as others.
OTOH, if you stay away from the trendy crap and the value lines and stick to the higher priced product they produce some truely outstanding knives. The Japanese production Black Bear was one of the best production knives ever made by anyone. The swords are all uniformly overpriced. Their kuks are not as good a value as the HI kuks. The less expensive knives are not as good as CRKT's or Outdoor Edge less expensive models.
They're just another mass market manufacturer. They are much better quality than some and not as good as others. They are a much better value than some and not as good as others.
OTOH, if you stay away from the trendy crap and the value lines and stick to the higher priced product they produce some truely outstanding knives. The Japanese production Black Bear was one of the best production knives ever made by anyone. The swords are all uniformly overpriced. Their kuks are not as good a value as the HI kuks. The less expensive knives are not as good as CRKT's or Outdoor Edge less expensive models.
Estela216
Member
I'm surprised no one here has mentioned Busse as the be all end all of tough knives. My straight handled Battle Mistress, Satin Jack and Mean Street are the toughest knives I own. My Mean Street and Satin Jack have been made full convex and are also some of the sharpest I own. My SHBM will take all that I throw at it and more.
I think knives should be used as knives and not prybars, chisels or sledgehammers. However, I wouldn't hesitate to use my knife as one of these in a true emergency and bet my life on it. By the way, I say true emergency because I don't like to be an armchair commando that does "field tests" that only test how much damage can be done to a knife.
Cold Steel isn't bad and I've owned a few. Handle a Busse or Swamp Rat and you will soon say you've owned them before also.
Kev
I think knives should be used as knives and not prybars, chisels or sledgehammers. However, I wouldn't hesitate to use my knife as one of these in a true emergency and bet my life on it. By the way, I say true emergency because I don't like to be an armchair commando that does "field tests" that only test how much damage can be done to a knife.
Cold Steel isn't bad and I've owned a few. Handle a Busse or Swamp Rat and you will soon say you've owned them before also.
Kev
Guns_and_Labs
Member
+1, though I'd throw a Ka-Bar D2 in there somewhere, too.
bubbygator
Member
Yes, I like my Becker. It has the sharpest edge I've seen outside of a custom knife. The only change I made to it was to coat the handle with a rubberized dip-coating used for tool handles to increase the "grippability" of the hard plastic handle slabs. Although it has a thumb-control ridge, this isn't a knife for very fine work - it's a hardy soldier to stab, hack, & slice anything you want.
Estela,
I believe Sandmann was making the point that Cold Steel knives are extremely cost-effective...
Which is why I mentioned Swamp Rat, but not Busse (who does indeed make great knives, and Jerry is an awesome guy).
J
I believe Sandmann was making the point that Cold Steel knives are extremely cost-effective...
Which is why I mentioned Swamp Rat, but not Busse (who does indeed make great knives, and Jerry is an awesome guy).
J
Sam Cade
Member
IIRC, cold steel dosent make anything
The Most (maybe all) of the folders are made in japan.
The fixed blade carbon steel knives are made by Camillus.
The Most (maybe all) of the folders are made in japan.
The fixed blade carbon steel knives are made by Camillus.
CDignition
Member
SOG makes nice knives, Microtech is the leader of production automatics in my opine, but there are many out there just as nice but lesser known...
I just picked up a Sw Homeland security knife..tanto blade, 440SS blade with Urban camo on it...about 8 1/2 inches of blade, 13 1/2 in long, thick tang...45 bux...it was dull as hell, but not now, hee hee
I just picked up a Sw Homeland security knife..tanto blade, 440SS blade with Urban camo on it...about 8 1/2 inches of blade, 13 1/2 in long, thick tang...45 bux...it was dull as hell, but not now, hee hee
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