2022 CS Product Line - Is this the end of the road for original fanboys?

Dogstar... I have quite a few Bowie knives, but, no sir, no Natchez.
The O1 version would have been pretty cool, or maybe the pricier San Mai version.
The latest offerings are in the now too highly priced 3v or their lesser stainless version, (which I wouldn't want, especially for it's bloated price tag).
I have always preferred the Laredo over the Natchez, but would not rule out acquiring one in that O1 or San Mai steel at some point 👍😊👍
 
Last edited:
The "Mayhem" looks like at least an attempt at a CS style BAF , with their new lock (that's noway stolen from AD ).

I'll look at that further , but not excited .
 
This is incredibly disappointing. There’s very little on that list that looks like anything more than cheap crap marketed towards people that aren’t really into knives. I hope not too many of the old models will be discontinued over the next few years. As long as they still sell the old models that’s something at least.
 
I don’t know, fellas. I think it’s a little dramatic. Lynn would want us to keep supporting Cold Steel… and the knives don’t look all that bad.
 
I don't think they lack of new good products really matters much as long as they still sell old good products.

There is only one knife available now that had a version of it available when I first got interested in Cold Steel. Back then they had the Urban Skinner, Urban Pal, Urban Hunter, and Urban Shive, as well as the Tanto and maybe Mini Tanto.

As I said in another thread, they'd be idiots to get rid of the inexpensive but good Recon Tanto and SRK. If they discontinue them or only make them in expensive versions, or worse, make them expensive but with cheap steel, then this could be the end of quality for the company.

Hopefully they won't mess with the Master/Magnum Tanto line by either using inferior steel, raising the prices, or both.

If they want a really stupid idea, they can take the Tanto Lite and raise the price to Master Tanto levels and change the name to "Master Tanto.":rolleyes:

I've always considered the sword line separate from the main knife line, and most of the good new products are swords. For the kris to be competitive, it would have to compete with the models from Traditional Filipino Weapons, either with quality or price. I don't think they'd compete in quality so it would have to be price.

The company will still have knives worth buying in their small knife line or they machete line unless they screw them up like they did with their Bowie line, using cheaper steel and raising the prices. I don't think many would want to pay $60.00 (discount price) for a Mini Tac or a Spike with worse steel than the current models.

I'm not optimistic about the machete line considering they ripped off the weird machete from Gerber/Fiskars. The rising prices and in some cases lack of availability I've seen on their current designs could indicate shortages or even some of them being discontinued. Maybe they can make their own CS Bear Grylls line and rip off all the Gerber BG products.:rolleyes:

I think they've already stopped being a top source for knives in all major categories and might only be good for some categories like most other companies.
 
I have a hollow ground AD10, 2 AD15 Lites, 2 4 Max Scouts, 3 SRKs, and an SR1 Lite. I'd like to check out an AD10 Lite, but I bet it will be overpriced. I only bought my AD15 Lites because I got them for way under what they normally go for, and they are awesome knives.

Knew this was going to happen...so I will be happy with what I have I suppose. I guess I could pick up an SRK-C at some point to round out my SRK collection.
 
I don't think that they'll do away with their "all bells and whistles" XL Espada, or at least I hope they don't.
There simply is little competition for that category of knife. They ain't cheap, but they fill a certain niche like no other, and... They truly are representative of what the Lynn Thompson company was, and so it would be smart to keep it on board as a symbol that Cold Steel is not gone 👍
 
Paratrooper06 said:
don’t look all that bad.
Click to expand...
But NOT great ! :(

New CS stuff should be = WOW ! Lust inciting , gotta have it ! :p

It's pretty clear from all the generic sharpening and other crap GSM is now marketing under the CS label , that they really don't care, in the least , about the past CS brand standards .

And that "new" machete is just embarrassing . o_O GSM is absolutely shameless .:mad:
 
DocJD said:
But NOT great ! :(

New CS stuff should be = WOW ! Lust inciting , gotta have it ! :p

It's pretty clear from all the generic sharpening and other crap GSM is now marketing under the CS label , that they really don't care, in the least , about the past CS brand standards .

And that "new" machete is just embarrassing . o_O GSM is absolutely shameless .:mad:
Click to expand...
When companies get bought, it’s to increase profitability or eliminate competition. They didn’t get bought to keep the top 5% of knife aficionados aroused… they got bought to make the more profitable parts of the business more profitable. I don’t know enough about GSM to judge their intent at this point, but I do like several of the new items. I’ll give them another year or so before I pass judgement. I’m not someone that just defaults to being “butthurt” every time a company gets bought.
 
Those new folders are ugly; theres not 1 new thing i see interesting ; and even if this new lock is even stronger than the tri ad lock, at what point do you need a lock that strong ? Its getting to be overkill ....
 
goldie said:
Those new folders are ugly; theres not 1 new thing i see interesting ; and even if this new lock is even stronger than the tri ad lock, at what point do you need a lock that strong ? Its getting to be overkill ....
Click to expand...
I agree with you on the looks of the new folders.
The "strongest lock" title is worth a lot of hype and sales, though.
 
mwhich50 said:
I am super disappointed, having watched the video.
The buyout is even worse than what I thought it would be, including BF member comments concerning quality control issues.
I'm not waiting around, hoping for something to change. I've already moved on.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I have been at this long enough to learn how to read tea leaves. This is drain-circling.

I also don't feel that I should give a crap what LT would "want me to do", because, quite frankly, I gave him my money over 20+ years of collecting. Our transaction is complete. He then sold his company, and I 100% do not fault him and wish him well. Here's a legend and has earned it.

However, I am not hanging on GSM's word nor spending my time holding my breath to see if they release anything that remotely resembles Old Steel. Don't you guys remember that "Hey! What old models would you like for us to bring back?!" video? Does any of that look remotely like they give a damn and are moving toward offering what the diehard fans actually want? Check out their website. 3/4 of their product is "Sold Out". My guess is that they are place holders until this round of mediocrity can show up.

I'll happily eat crow and hope that I am totally wrong about this faceless buying group. I would gladly suffer a big fat I Told You So wound to my pride if it meant we'd still have the CS folks have loved and supported for a generation.
 
I think GSM has announced loud and clear what it intends for Cold Steel. Selling 4034 Flea Market steel knives for $200 in place of the high quality originals. Gas Station folders. I'm giving GSM 2-3 years max to destroy Cold Steel or turn it into MTech.

I think anyone who has anything on their pre-GSM Cold Steel list should buy now even if they have to sell off some of their other collection, because in the near future, anything pre-GSM that was at all popular will quickly become unaffordable on the second hand market. Very sad, but I guess all good things come to an end eventually.

As for Lynn's legacy, this GSM takeover will only increase his legend. It will make everyone who hadn't realized yet what a visionary he was, know it for sure. Plus that his knives were some of the greatest creations of the 20th and 21st Centuries.

As the old saying goes, "Don't know what you got until it's gone." ...........
 
Last edited:
Musicmanstngry said:
Hey friends,

I know there has been a huge stirrup over the past few days, especially in the Facebook Group: Cold Steel Nation.
I found a reaction video from YouTuber Mat Culbertson showing a message from Andrew Demko on the new locking mechanism and pointing out changes I didn't even notice.

What do you guys think?

Click to expand...
Can someone post a direct link to the site with the new 2022 products? I can't seem to navigate to it on either the GSM or the Cold Steel sites...
 
While I never owned many Cold Steel at once, they had a legendary reputation when I first got into knives. As I grew into nicer tools, I never turned down my nose at Cold Steel- no matter what I thought about an individual design I knew that the company would back its products and that the design would be well thought out and finished well. Every knife I’ve owned from them has lived up to this reputation and expectation.

I used to browse knife websites for days looking at the Goliath of variations and models. I knew it didn’t matter which I ended up with, the quality would be there.

The worst thing that GSM has done is take away that assurance, through both action and inaction. The lack of apparent representation gives me the idea that there’s really no one at the company who is passionate about Cold Steel. The reduction of customer service and transparency have made it another big conglomerate company that doesn’t stand out from the rest of the industry. I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone now.

Naysayers will spew things about Lynn Thompson but I have yet to see another person with the same vision to actually take it to reality. On one hand, I understand his retirement- on the other hand, I can’t fathom how you would build a successful company in such a niche market with such a devout community and simply walk away. Logically, sure, it’s money. But you’d think it would sting to see your life’s work go down the drain, especially if he’s still planning on building a separate company with Never Unarmed.
 
dpsk said:
Can someone post a direct link to the site with the new 2022 products? I can't seem to navigate to it on either the GSM or the Cold Steel sites...
Click to expand...
They took it down. It was only up for a couple of days, but now it shows 2021 products. Don't we all wish we could go back in time with Cold Steel.

No doubt they heard all the negative responses, and are working feverishly on a version 2.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top