Review 1980s Cold Steel carbon V "All Terrain Chopper" kukri

[Barry K. Baldwin]

I just scrolled across my original review of this kukri that I posted in1980 & it reminded me that, even though I own more Cold Steel products than I should, this vintage kukri may be the most revered chopper in my inventory. It was my first Cold Steel kukri & is still my favorite. I own some of the newer generations of their kukris as well, but, as I stated in my post, I bought it used for $80 & have carried it more than any of the other kukris in my collection. Because of the original shape with more bulbous weight forward front end, it has always been a devastating chopper for me. I enjoy all of the knives in my collection, but the "ATC" kukri holds a special place in my heart!

 

[Alberta Ed]

Hard to beat Carbon V steel and Cold Steel's heat treat.

 

[boring]

i thought that would be camillus heat treat?

 

[Bobthebrewer]

Got one myself, purchased new. Don’t know who did the heat treatment but I have treated that knife like a red headed stepchild and it still lives. For what it’s worth after almost 40 years I feel like it is money spent well, no buyer’s remorse.

 

[boring]

camillus made the carbon 5 for cold steel

 

[knarfeng]

i thought that would be camillus heat treat?

camillus made the carbon 5 for cold steel

Not always. See history below

1) Cold Steel Carbon V was first produced in the Alcas Factory (Cutco and KA-BAR) Mid 1980s,
2) Cold Steel moved to Ontario early 1990s.
3) Cold Steel moved to Camillus approx. 1995.

From a post by Paul Tsujimoto, who worked at all three places as an engineer, and later became Technical Director of Ontario.

 

[rycen]

Anybody have specs of the ATC?

Overall length
blade thickness
weight

 

[jlauffer]

Anybody have specs of the ATC?

Overall length
blade thickness
weight

17" overall (12" blade)
5/16" thickness (same as Trailmaster)
23oz

 

[rycen]

Is there anything in between the LTC and the ATC?

 

[Boru13]

Is there anything in between the LTC and the ATC?

Interesting read.

1

Thread 'History of Cold Steel Kukri style knives - probably incomplete, possibly rubbish'

May 12, 2025

Similar to the above posts concerning the history of Cold Steel’s Tanto, Trailmaster, and such, this will discuss the history of the Kukri and similar knives by Cold Steel.

This post will reference the CS catalogs from the 90’s and early 2000’s. I don’t have any of the Special Projects catalogs, so if someone has information from that, please add that in.

LTC Kukri
#35LTC
Carbon V
Cordura sheath
1995-2006


The first Cold Steel Kukri style knife was sold via their Special Projects line. I bought one circa 1993, and it has no markings or name on it. It has the same...

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• Replies: 9
• Forum: Cold Steel Knives

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[jlauffer]

Is there anything in between the LTC and the ATC?

I don't think so, at least not in that blade shape. Everything was either 1/8" or 5/16" thick, and 12" blade. There was an HTC that was 1/8" thick and 15" blade.

 

[rycen]

OK, here’s what I have.

12 inch blade
17 inch overall

Looks and ground like the LTC, but with 5 mm stock and weighting 21.3 oz
Epoxy coated and marked like the LTC.

 

[jlauffer]

OK, here’s what I have.

12 inch blade
17 inch overall

Looks and ground like the LTC, but with 5 mm stock and weighting 21.3 oz
Epoxy coated and marked like the LTC.

Hmmm, not sure. The GI Kukri was 1/4" thick, but was more of a traditional kukri design.

 

[jdk1]

The LTC and ATC were identical in profile, IIRC, only spine thickness was different. Don't forget, there were two LTCs made, 1/8" spine and 3/16" FFG version. I've had an 1/8" LTC since the mid-90s and its an incredible all around big knife. I always wanted to try a 3/16" version, but the secondary market prices them outrageously. I always figured the ATC to be a greater chopper, as is its little brother, but too heavy for the lighter vegetation with which the thinner version does well. It is a highly effective blade shape.

 

[rycen]

 

[jlauffer]

The LTC and ATC were identical in profile, IIRC, only spine thickness was different. Don't forget, there were two LTCs made, 1/8" spine and 3/16" FFG version. I've had an 1/8" LTC since the mid-90s and its an incredible all around big knife. I always wanted to try a 3/16" version, but the secondary market prices them outrageously. I always figured the ATC to be a greater chopper, as is its little brother, but too heavy for the lighter vegetation with which the thinner version does well. It is a highly effective blade shape.

Did not know about the 3/16” version. When did it come out? There’s a gap in the early catalogs.

 

[The Whip]

Did not know about the 3/16” version. When did it come out? There’s a gap in the early catalogs.

I didn't remember it either, but jdk1 is right. It was 2004-2006. These are from the 2005 catalog.

OK, here’s what I have.

12 inch blade
17 inch overall

Looks and ground like the LTC, but with 5 mm stock and weighting 21.3 oz
Epoxy coated and marked like the LTC.

Nothing I've seen in the catalogs matches the specifications of your knife. The saber grind looks higher on yours than the usual LTC grind, too. Is it a second, with a "2" stamped into the handle butt?

If it's not a second, the only explanation I have is that it was a variation of the LTC made during the 2003 to 2004 period when they transitioned from the saber-ground LTC with 1/8-inch blade to the full-flat-ground LTC with the 3/16-inch blade. Maybe it was a sample of the concept sold at one of the parking lot sales. Do you remember how/when you acquired it?


-Steve

 

[Bobthebrewer]

I did not know this item was actually coated quite often. Mine was rode hard and put away wet but it has not failed to chop what I swung it at.

 

[rycen]

My example is a factory second. The mystery continues

 

[The Whip]

I did not know this item was actually coated quite often. Mine was rode hard and put away wet but it has not failed to chop what I swung it at. View attachment 3186364View attachment 3186365

Yours is from among the earliest batches of ATCs, which were uncoated. The blades were available in Carbon V (yours) or stainless steel.

My example is a factory second. The mystery continues

Actually, that clarifies it a bit. You never knew what you might get when you bought a factory second from Cold Steel, especially in the days before they started the Parking Lot Sales. Sometimes blades were entirely unmarked, sent with alternate sheaths, or otherwise quite materially different from standard models.

They sold LTC seconds for many years through Special Projects. Yours might be a one-of-a-kind variant, or it could be a one-of-many item from a test batch that they decided not to produce. Either way, it's a cool version of the LTC!


-Steve