Well, I did it: Cold Steel Purchase

[maskedman504]

I have always been a fan of bladed weapon and when I was younger I spent money foolishly on two ornamental sword (the kind from the catalogs you get in the mail). When my mother was in Spain, she got my a cool gift- a replica of a sword used by El Cid, made by a traditional Spanish swordsmith. However, it is unsharpened. (but it is beautiful)

This website always shows me ways to part with my money; I found out about Cold Steel and since Saturday I have been stunned by the videos on the website. They appear to be high quality and functional. So after hemming and hawing for a few days (man, some of that stuff is expensive!) I bought a "Naval Dirk" from an online retailer. Cold Steel lists them at $184.xx and I paid $119.xx shipped. Should arrive in 2-3 days; when it does, I will offer opinions on it.

 

[ezypikns]

Is that thing LEGAL anywhere?

Or did you just buy it for decoration?

 

[maskedman504]

I did post it in the wrong forum, derka derka. (I have reported it to mods and asked this thread to be moved)

I bought it as a decor piece, not as a carry weapon.

However, in FL, our CWL would allow concealed carry of this piece. However it is 17 inches long.

 

[Sam1911]

This should probably be moved to "Non Firearm Weapons" as, as far as I can tell, it doesn't appear to be a handgun...

Very cool blade, though! Let us know how you like it.

Is that thing LEGAL anywhere?

The fact that you'd ask that is just soooooooo sad. :banghead:'
This is still the "free" part of the world, right? Good grief.

-Sam

 

[hso]

Sam1911,

That dirk is not legal to carry in most parts of the US and isn't even legal to own in some states (as amazing as that may seem). TX is one of the places that doesn't approve of anyone carrying off their premises any dagger. They even won't let you carry any knife with a greater than 5.5" blade length.

 

[Sam1911]

and isn't even legal to own in some states (as amazing as that may seem).

Wow. I guess I assumed that ownership of such a thing couldn't possibly be prohibited anywhere outside of maybe the "Iron Curtain" spots like DC, MA, NJ, and the like. Scary.

TX is one of the places that doesn't approve of anyone carrying off their premises any dagger. They even won't let you carry any knife with a greater than 5.5" blade length.

Jim Bowie must be so proud.

-Sam

 

[maskedman504]

This is not a carry piece. I was hoping to keep the scope of the thread limited to Cold Steel quality, fit-n-finish etc. This piece will likely never travel outside of my home.

 

[tomh1426]

Ive always been very happy with anything Ive ever gotten from Cold Steel, I think you get alot for your $.
I tried alot of their stuff, from a # of their folders to fixed blades to tomahawks even their big boar blowgun and Ive been impressed with everything!

 

[cpirtle]

If you are looking for opinions on Cold Steel Quality I'm happy to share..

First, I consider myself a Cold Steel fan and I give them a lot of credit for always pushing the envelope of knife design and not caring about the "PC" crowd.

Right now I probably own 5 or 6 Cold Steel knives.

lately they have come out with some very cool value priced knives that offer more safety than some knives costing 10x's as much. The Black Rock Hunter is very cool as is the Pocket Bushman. For $30-$40 there is not a single company on the market making a folder with a better locking mechanism (okay, so the BRH doesn't really have a lock..).

With that said, lately they have gone to very low end steel and those video's are at the least, a little over the top.

Most of the steel they are using is close to the bottom of the barrel in all but their most expensive non-San Mai blades. In their defense that is how they keep the price low. When the rubber hits the road the true test of a knife is in edge holding and the cheap steels just don't "cut it".

I have been pretty disappointed to see them drop their Voyager's (their bread & butter line) steel quality just about every year. 5 years ago the Voyager in AUS-8 was a good deal in a $40-50 knife, now not so much because the price is slightly more and the steel seems to change with each delivery from China.

Their San Mai was very respectable in the past but now they have dropped the quality of it as well and kept the price high.

Given the price point for your Dirk I think you will be very satisfied with it as a wall hanger and "show to friends" blade. Fit and finish should be well above average.

Keep in mind it is carbon steel so a light coat of oil occasionally and not storing it in the sheath will protect the finish the best. 1055 is a decent carbon steel as a using knife and would hold up well under normal usage and should keep a decent edge for a long time, but I would not want to get into a sword fight with it.

My guess is like all Cold Steel knives it will come to you razor sharp and you will be extremely happpy with it.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice Dirk!

 

[maskedman504]

Given the price point for your Dirk I think you will be very satisfied with it as a wall hanger and "show to friends" blade. Fit and finish should be well above average.

Keep in mind it is carbon steel so a light coat of oil occasionally and not storing it in the sheath will protect the finish the best. 1055 is a decent carbon steel as a using knife and would hold up well under normal usage and should keep a decent edge for a long time, but I would not want to get into a sword fight with it.

This is my first forray into sword purchasing. I have been reading up on different steel types. Surprise (not really), most of what I am reading points to the proper (or improper) heat treatment of the smith/manufacturer leading to the quality of the final product.

Thanks for your unbiased opinions of Cold Steel products; I think, like you stated, this piece should serve for the intended purpose of wall hanging and cutting random things.

And yeah, the video are stunning i.e. over-the-top; like when they are using the war hammer on a cow head. haha

 

[gripper]

I like their neck hangers...got a K4(straight edge) and a Scimitar Spike...that Double Agentlooks useful as well.
Their machetes are a hell of a buy(especially the Kopis7Bowie types).I would not mind one of their folding Kukris,or the Espada;either.

 

[cpirtle]

Thanks for your unbiased opinions of Cold Steel products

No problem.

I try to take every decent brand or custom maker based on the merits of their work and not Internet Hype or marketing.

I am not into swords but I have been around the high end knife business long enough to learn a few things about them.

If you ever want to get more serious you should check out Rob Criswell. His swords are the real thing and reputed to be the best entry level working sword you can get. They are modern interpretations and made of very high end A2 and start around $425.

Criswell Swords

You may also want to look around Himalayan Imports. They are an American company primarily selling Khukri's but they also do swords. What they sell is all the real deal and will take an amazing amount of abuse. They run a top notch business and have excellent customer service.

In the mean time, you did great for your first pick. Let us know what you think when it comes and be careful, knives can be more addicting and expensive than guns!

Their machetes are a hell of a buy

+1 - I have a CS Machete I have been beating on for 6 years and it's indestructable!

 

[maskedman504]

In the mean time, you did great for your first pick. Let us know what you think when it comes and be careful, knives can be more addicting and expensive than guns!

I would never have believed this statement except I am a member at the Custom Knives and Guns forums and have viewed the 'for sale' section.

And I think I have my next purchase already picked out (LOL); thanks for the headsup with Himalayan Imports. Any other recommendations? I am not so much into oriental swords (read: katanas), aren't I a deviant...

 

[cpirtle]

Ha! - the HI got your attention huh?

Anyone interested in knives should check out the HI forum over at Bladeforums. HI puts specials up there and you can see the knives being made as well as talk to people who know more about these fine knives than almost anyone.

Bladeforums is a great place to spend time in general.

HI Forum @ Bladeforums.com

 

[maskedman504]

I just registed there, but I also meant these boards; from John T Wylie's signature. I never new art could be so fully incorporated into knife making. I must be wearing my youth on my sleeve.

http://www.customknivesandguns.com/ckgforums/index.php?

 

[cpirtle]

I'll check it out, thanks.

Do you know if that's John's site? I have not talked to him in years..

 

[maskedman504]

I do not know if it is his personal site; I do know that you have to register via e-mail, wait for the e-mail, activate the account via the e-mail and then wait for an administrator to finalize your account. I thought the process was somewhat consuming, and, after completing it, the item in the for sale section blew me away.

It made me think, "wow, I figured Boker and Benchmade were tops."

Basically, I was introduced to the world of one-off knifemakers. Kinda like holding a truly custom 1911 (or atleast witnessing one) for the first time when all you had seen before were Colts or STIs.

 

[LancerMW]

nice dirk! the only non-cold steel knives i buy are real kukri's, i swear by cold steel!

 

[hso]

maskedman504,

You'll find that the skill and artistry of knife makers is even above the maker of the "truly custom 1911" since a knife maker literally holds the work in their hands instead of setting it up on a jig and running a machine. While a knife maker may use power tools the precision of their work is the result of their free handing everything.

 

[maskedman504]

HSO-

I agree completely. Mechanical perfection is a beautiful thing, but, after viewing some of the knives that are being offered by custom knifemakers....only wow...I mean, ok, Les Baer, $3000, sure... Some of the knives I have seen going for the same amount. I feel "absolutely". Had I heard that "so-and-so's" knives sell for $3000, I may have laughed, But, if you are able to witness the perfection, you will be convinced. Definitely more artistry involved in custom knife making than custom gun fitting.

 

[The Highlander]

@cpirtle- The locking mechanism on the pocket bushman is crap and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Cold Steel does make some good blades besides that one though. As for cheapo folders I usually end up falling back on my Spyderco Tenacious.

 

[cpirtle]

@cpirtle- The locking mechanism on the pocket bushman is crap and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Proof?

Mine is rock solid as is every other one that I have looked at.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Do you know if that's John's site? I have not talked to him in years..

nope not mine , though I do call it home .

Site belongs to the 4 owners: Kit Carson , Neil Blackwood , Jim Burke and Trace Rinaldi , those are the 4 founding owners , though Allen Elishewitz is a key part of the forum as well , and has done a great deal of work to promote the forum thru the yearlt knifemaker buildoff's. I helped admin and moderate when it got started , until home life got too hectic.

Drop by , become addicted again Nice to see so many of the same folks visiting all the different gun & knife forums and sharing their knowledge.

I have begun to lay the ground work for my own website to show my work , just havent had time to get jiggy wit it

 

[Nairbedaw]

I must admit that I am a Cold Steel snob. Not a fan of Lynn Thompson's on camera abillities, but a HUGE fan of the knives that his company makes. I have probably been buying only Cold Steel knives for about 5 or 6 years now. My EDCK is a Roach Belly, but I sub it out every now and then for the Finn Bear, Canadian Belt Knife, or a Ti- Lite. Huge fan of these knives. Some of the more expensive ones are more show than function, but I usually go with a fixed blade anyway. Ive been eyeing to get that Naval Dirk for years, along with many other things in that catalog.