Cold Steel, Yay or Nay?

[winstonsmith]

I got their catalog, with the two DVD set. And I must say, that the knives look real good. The graphic tests include putting hundreds of pounds on the locks, doing pull ups with the knives stuck into a wall, bending the blades, cutting tatami mats, all this fun stuff.

But I've heard some bad things about the knives. And an awful lot of them seemed to be made out of 420 steel (Which, as I understand it, is not a good thing).

So tell me what you think

 

[Drjones]

I had a Cold Steel Recon Tanto, until it was stolen.

It was a fine knife, very sturdy and very sharp. (I'm almost positive it still had the factory edge on it when I bought it; I got it secondhand.)

I didn't get to use it much, as with most of my knives, but I was happy with it and would definitely buy it or another Cold Steel blade again.

Check out www.bladeforums.com Even over there, Cold Steel doesn't generate a lot of buzz, but the consensus is that they are fine knives. Just underrated.

Go for it!

 

[Joe Demko]

Their Special Projects stuff is a far better bang for the buck than their other stuff. I own several of their products, and all of them are of at least acceptable quality. For the higher end stuff, though, I believe that mostly one is paying for Lynn "Tanto" Thompson's overheated advertising hype.

 

[Drjones]

Also: Look for their factory seconds. Pretty much every single person I've heard of who got one could not tell the difference between the seconds and the "firsts", save for the "2" stamped on the butt.

I agree that their higher end stuff seems pretty hyped up, but still good stuff, if a bit overpriced.

 

[Combat-wombat]

Nay. I do not have much experience with Cold Steel, but 420 is crap, avoid it at all costs. If you find something they have with a good steel (AUS8 at least), then get it. However, not many of their products appeal to me. If you want a knife, just wait and save up a little longer so you can get a good knife, like a Benchmade or something.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've been using a Cold Steel tanto (1st edition) for almost 20 years as a hunting knife. I've quratered elk, made shelters, skinned deer, cleared brush and even tried to shave with it to show off.

It's never been chipped, never rusted and keeps a razor sharp edge for a long time.

I'd say Cold Steel (Yes).

 

[Skofnung]

I cleaned a 135 lb wild hog with a Cold Steel Oyabun Tanto a few years back. I know, it was not the best tool for the job, but I just got the thing the day before and I wanted to see what it would do. It zipped right through the task with no problem, with the factory edge on it no less. When I was done, the blade was still as sharp as the moment I bought it. I was inpressed. Generaly speaking, I hate stainless knives, but Cold Steel is an exception in my book.

That said, the Oyabun is the only Cold Steel Product that I own. Given my experience with it, I would not hesitate to buy another, should I ever need another knife.

Need, Want, Need, Want...

 

[Drjones]

Combat:

Its not so much the steel as it is how it is heat-treated and otherwise produced.

 

[Don Gwinn]

"420" is not a bad thing anymore than "stainless" is a bad thing. There are several steels that are called 420. 420C or 420HC are not bad steels. There is a cheap steel used in a lot of knock-offs called "420J," and it's terrible stuff, but that's not what Cold Steel is using to the best of my knowledge.

If Cold Steel offers something you think looks like a good buy, I wouldn't hesitate to get it. Don't buy into any of the marketing hype about how they're a quantum leap ahead of the rest of the industry, of course. They're not, but they make good knives for the price. The factory seconds really are impressive. Generally except for factory seconds you can get anything they make at a better price from a retailer, as opposed to ordering direct.

To my mind, the real value Cold Steel offers a guy like me is that they make all the weird, wacky, politically incorrect stuff at an affordable price. Who else do you know who makes a modern version of a flange mace, a double-edged battle axe, or African spears?

The hype does get a little stupid. There's an ad in a current gun magazine wherein they hype their new "Laredo" bowie (which looks to me like their version of the "Gambler" and "Hell's Belle" bowies that made Ontario and a certain smith famous.) That's all well and good; it's not a direct knock-off, you can see the differences. But then they have the nerve to imply that "some others" have ripped off their "original" design! Never mind that people have been making coffin-handled fighting bowies for about 150 years now and those two designs in particular for several years before Cold Steel decided to jump in.

 

[hso]

Cold Steel knives are fine. I prefer the fixed blades to the folders, but that's a style issue more than anything for me.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Yay...

As a knife collector too (yeah, yeah), I've talked to a lot of people who are "in the know" regarding Cold Steel Knives. 420 "generally" isn't the best stainless. However Cold Steel uses a sub-zero "quench" process that makes a BIG difference. I've never had to sharpen my Cold Steel "push dagger".

KR

 

[Byron Quick]

I don't own one. Several of my friends do. I've never heard them moaning about what a mistake they made.

 

[coldshot03/04]

I carry the Cold Steel Trail Guide everywhere I go. Very Good Knives.

 

[oldpaladin]

I've got many types of Cold Steel products, from Grosse Messer and Imperial grade Double Edged Katana, to Laredo Bowie and Gurkha Kukri. I've had many different blades, designs, sizes, and manufacturers over the years, but Cold Steel is my favorite. I go for quality, combat utility, and ease of usage and maintenance. For me, the Carbon V, High Carbon 1050, San Mai III, and 420 Sub-zero quenched steels meet the needs that I have for edged weapons. Whether it's a sword, boot knife, heavy bladed combat knife, survival knife, war hammer, battle axe, tomahawk, JO short fighting staff, combat folders, or sword cane, I know that I can depend on Cold Steel products. "Best bang for the buck," would be an adequate description of their product line. Personally, I have three "go kits." All of them have Cold Steel weapons and/or tools. To put it best, I place my Cold Steel weapons and tools equal to my Springfield XD-40 Tacticals, my Benelli M1014's, my Armalite AR15T(C), and my HoytUSA 2003 Magnatec. Balance is something the warrior and sportsman must strive for, and learn to master. It is not enough to be capable with only one discipline, but to be so with many. Edged weapons, firearms, archery- these are but the extension of the disciplined mind and body. Add to these, the martial arts of physical combat, types too many to enumerate, and you have the warrior/hunters/sportsmen of old... Cooper, Capstick, Applegate, Keith, Silver, Fairburn and Sykes... Today, it's men like McCann, Janich, and Sanford, to name but a few. These were, and are, renaissance men without equal. As this is an uncertain world, we are, indeed, fortunate to have them around, teaching those that need their knowledge, wisdom, and experience. Sorry, my friends, I digress and wander... My passion for that which has, and will, endure, is boundless. Rest assured, if you choose to purchase Cold Steel, I do not believe you will be disappointed.

Regards and Respects,
Carter F. Leffen, oldpaladin, out...

 

[Jim March]

It's generally possible to get a better knife, but seldom as easy to get a better value.

"Like buying a Chevy", but I mean that in a good way. Not always - it IS possible for them to screw up. Like, say, the Tri-action or whateverthehell they call that aborted Bali-song wanna-be. Somebody was smokin' something funny when they came up with that one .

In my list of "Best California Street Folders":

http://www.equalccw.com/knifelaw.html (bottom of page)

...only Cold Steel is listed twice, plus I made it clear that the Vaquero Grande represented the entire line of 4"/5"/6" zytel-grip lockbacks.

That said, if possible I'd stick with their AUS8 stainless pieces, or the non-stainless "Carbon V". Those perform well; I'm not sure I'd trust AUS6/420 as well.

Other stuff...their serration pattern is funky. Once well worn, you won't be able to sharpen it to where it looks new, but you will be able to make it functional - polish the "off-grind side" at an extremely flat angle.

Those serrations do work though. Years ago, when Kevin McClung did his first "cutlery party" in AZ, only one folder present was able to cut a free-swinging length of 1" mountaineer's rope - my Cold Steel Vaquero Grande. Which is now owned and carried by our own Gunsmith here on THR . That piece was one of the first CSVGs made, it says "Vaquero" instead of "Vaquero Grande", because the 5" version came out a bit later and the 6" was actually renamed "Grande". The lockwork is as tight as the day it was made, and I don't use street-carry pieces for utility so the edge is original and sharp.