Cold Steel "Essentials"?

[HoosierQ]

I know Cold Steel is a company of let's call it "colorful" reputation. They do seem to have some good offerings at a good price and there seem to be two or three, all folders, that seem well thought of. American Lawman seems to be the number one most mentioned "decent" Cold Steel. How about the Recon 1...the full sized, non-tanto, plain edge version.

I was also interested in the Pocket Bushman but that thing looks way too thin to be comfortable for its use. I saw a Nutnfancy review where he beat the living daylights out of the thing by batoning it cross grain into what looked like a hardwood and broke it. Not so worried about that but it looked so thin.

Anyway, I am thinking about picking up the Lawman and the Recon. Any feedback? I know all about all the other brands and have a lot and this is an effort to expand to maker who's products I don't own.

[bdmicarta]

There are a good number of Cold Steel haters but I've yet to read any reasonable criticism of their products that would justify such hate.

There are a lot of their products that appeal to me, and I don't think anybody can fault their actual performance. I do see a lot of recommendations for the Lawman and Recon products. I have a number of older Cold Steel products in my collection and I like them.

[res1cue]

Recon 1 (and AL/AK) are all very very high value well made folders. I cannot recommend them highly enough. It kicked the Al Mar Sere 2000 out of my pocket and stayed there for 2 years until the Adamas came out. Now the two share pocket time.

Other knives I recommend from them:
-Recon Scout/Trail Master
-New FFG voyagers
-SRK/Recon Tanto/Master hunter in VG1 San Mai III

[LedZep13k7]

I own the set. Ak47, recon 1 and American lawman. I'd say the lawman is my favorite just because it's more carriable. The Recon 1 is pretty freaking big and the AK is a boat anchor lol. They still get carried though. IMO if I were you I'd get the Lawman. Its cheaper that the other two and like I said much easier to carry.

Two criticisms on their folders in general:
1.The coating sucks, I've taken the coating all mine but they actually have a cool stonewashed finish on the blade underneath. I literally scraped it off carefully with a SAK.
2. If you like a lot of grip, look no further. The g10 is extremely rough and sometime it grabs your pocket when taking it out. Good way to pull up your pants though haha.

They are solid as a rock and the quality is up there with the best of them. I carry them all one day a week as part of my rotation. Cold steel is actually some of my favorite blades. And I forgot to add the TriAd lock is the strongest locking design of all time after the balisong.

[HoosierQ]

Well the lawman is probably the one I'll be getting LedZep. That one get's great press.

[Dorito Monk]

I have to say that, although I have hated on Cold Steel in the past and am still not exactly enthralled with them, the American Lawman I had was a really well made knife. It didn't really fit my hands, so I ended up selling it, but that's about the worst thing I could say about it.

[Smokinape]

Raja 1,2&3

[upnorth]

Raja 1,2&3

Nothing says Cold Steel like a massive folder.

[Moses2792796]

There are a good number of Cold Steel haters but I've yet to read any reasonable criticism of their products that would justify such hate.

I think the hate is based primarily on the fact that their knives do not live up to their claims. It should be obvious, since if they did their knives would be the greatest knives in the world, but I guess some people really believed them and were disappointed. They make decent knives, some of them a little overpriced, overall I don't think they do themselves any favors with their outlandish marketing. Then again, they are probably only so well known because of their marketing so maybe it's working.

As far as good Cold Steel knives go, I've heard good things about the Master Hunter and Pendleton Hunters in VG-1, though I haven't used them myself.

[DedRok]

I wish they used different steels and painted them in in matt black or DLC. I hate AUS-8.

I love my AK-47, but i'd pay double to get it in S30V with a DLC painted blade.

[upnorth]

[THE PUNISHER]

There are a good number of Cold Steel haters but I've yet to read any reasonable criticism of their products that would justify such hate.

There are a lot of their products that appeal to me, and I don't think anybody can fault their actual performance. I do see a lot of recommendations for the Lawman and Recon products. I have a number of older Cold Steel products in my collection and I like them.

+++++++++ they are hard use knives backed with a great warranty.

[17pes]

I bought a small clip point Voyager at a super cheap price just to see why there was such disdain for Cold Steel. Still not a fan of some of the materials, but for a knife that I didn't really plan on carrying or using, it's seen a lot of hard work. Rapidly joined by a large tanto Voyager(didn't get the tanto for tacticallity, the tanto tip makes a great scraper).

They have to be sharpened after each brutalization, but I enjoy sharpening.

[Confederate]

I haven't found the need to resharpen mine that often, but I think the company's decision to go with VG-1 was the right way to go. Unfortunately, they dropped back to AUS8 and made VG-1 its premium stainless steel. As I understand it, they're keen on offering other knife lines in San Mai III stainless. I don't understand why they think they need to protect a VG-1 core with 420 slabs, but they charge a lot for it. On the plus side, it offers great rust prevention and tremendous beauty when polished. And the blades come viciously sharp.

The Recon 1 knives are beautiful and are ground very sharp. The teflon finish wears pretty well, but not as well as other coatings offered by competitors. Still, some like that worn "blue" look. At first it wears along the edges and on the thumb studs. I'm not very impressed by the grippy G-10 scales but they're good for scraping dead skin off your feet at the end of the day! I prefer the Voyagers, especially the larger tanto version. It's heavier than the others by a few ounces, but I think they're sharper than the flat grind blades. The balance makes it a great outdoor knife and one you can baton with if you need a batoning knife. It's also good for self defense and chopping when you're on the trail or camping; and the Rajah II is an astounding outdoor and bugout bag folder. Despite the G-10, I still think one of the company's best knives is their Hold-Out 1. It's a big honker, and at 6 inches the blade is beautiful.



The old X2 Voyager (top) and the Hold-Out 1. Both are incredible folding
knives and only Cold Steel offers these size folders!

As for the advertising, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Their knives cut like a buzz saw, and there's no denying it. When you have a Rajah II in your hand, you're a power!

There's no denying it!

.

[bladeboss]

I have used a Mini AK-47 for months now.
I've used it hard, but not abused.
It has held up great, and the tip hasn't even rounded out despite being stuck into wood numerous times.
I'm not a fan of Hollow ground in general, but thats my opinion.
That being said, I can't think of something bad to say about it. Even the tight pocket clip I like. I'm not going to lose it that way.

[sherlockbonez]

Love my roach belly more than most other knifes I own. It's light, cheap and sharp. I have cleaned at least 500 ducks and geese with it and a few deer and turkeys and it is one of the most comfortable knife I have owned for such task. There are not many knife in that pattern for the price and I think it's well worth the 15 bucks you pay for it.

My recon scout has also done everything I asked of it, but for the price they are asking now, I don't think they are worth it.

The bushman makes a great car knife, and fun to make a spear out of. For the price, it's no great lost if it rust or you damage the edge doing something stupid.

[dogstar]

I recommend one of their hawks. Are they perfect? No. In fact, they have a number of flaws, but they still work. What to do with it? Throw, chop, cut, customize, admire. They are lots of fun.

[Dorito Monk]

+++++++++ they are hard use knives backed with a great warranty.

Lol, are you serious? They have one of the very worst warranties in the business.

What is it, 5 years for their fixed blades, and 1 year for their folders? Which doesn't cover damage caused by the user recreating any of the stuff you see them using the knives for in their marketing videos (chopping, prying, hammering, whatever). That's not a warranty, that's a joke. Especially when you consider the dozens of companies that offer a way better policy...

There are a lot of good things you can say about Cold Steel, but 'Great Warranty' isn't one of them by a long shot.

[GrinderMcgee]

Check out the homepage Dorito. I would be surprised if you could name a dozen companies with a warranty way better let alone dozen(s).

"Warranty: We stand behind our knives and swords 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that our folding knives, fixed blade sheath knives, and swords are free from defects in workmanship and materials.

This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, re-sharpening of the blade, damage caused by misuse, lack of normal maintenance, or disassembly.

Remember any knife or sword can break or fail if subjected to sufficient abuse, so please do not use our knives and swords inappropriately and remember no knife or sword should be used as an axe, hatchet, screwdriver, or pry bar.

Total satisfaction or your money back! If you are dissatisfied with merchandise obtains from OUR site, simply return within 30 days for a refund. (Items should be returned in the condition received). This money back guarantee applies only to items purchased directly from Cold Steel, Inc. Items purchased from other sources will be repaired or replaced if defective."

Never had a problem returning a defective item and have had a couple just like with any other company. I remember the old warranty but I also remember that they didn't hold strictly to those time limits either so unless you had some personal negative experience to share your comment seems over exaggerated.

To OP: I prefer the Recon 1 or Voyager to the Lawman just because I am not a huge fan of the choil on Lawman anymore. Tuff Lite is another little gem to take a look at and I like that choil. Personal preference.

[Freak Show Scott]

Check out the homepage Dorito. I would be surprised if you could name a dozen companies with a warranty way better let alone dozen(s).

And I would be surprised if you could find a dozen companies with a warranty that is demonstrably worse. Except for a notable (Striker and ESEE as examples) few all the warranties on knives are about the same. In the end it is not so much what is "in ink on paper" but how the Customer Service Department actually handles the problems. You may not have had a problem getting defective knives replaced but surly you have heard, both on this forum and other forums, where people have had issues (granted the complaints and issues on some other forums tend to get members banned and posts redacted).

Cold Steel's biggest Warranty Problem is that they don't live up to the "Implied Conditions of Use" put forth in the "Proof" DVDs. What the hell kind of Proof is it when they tell you that any of the hours of "Proof Tests" will void the warranty? Funny how they seldom show the condition of the knife after many of the bend tests and don't ever mention how many knives failed before they had one that passed to Lynn Thompson's and the camera's satisfaction after editing. IMHO Cold Steel makes some fine knives but their 'Proof' Boasts are Bigger than the quality of their blades and uncounted times bigger than their service. They have some good knives, some bad knives, an average Warranty and in my experience, some really crappy people in Ventura. But I will allow that you and others have had better experiences with them than I have.

As far as the Recon and Lawman Folders are concerned? I don't have either but suspect that either will serve you very well.