The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Good pics, you seem to be a fan, but I’m not sure if you like it.The 5 Max is one of my favorite XL-folders in the Cold Steel factory line-up. It reaches the pinnacle of the Thompson/Demko evolutionary design philosophy. A serious piece-of-kit, under any criteria, where a folding-warblade is concerned. At a price-tag of $300 dollar plus, its everything you would expect-it to be. Tough, ergonomic, and ultra-reliable under the most-challenging circumstances. Cold Steel's motto: "Anytime . . . . . Anywhere!", applies rings-true; in spades. I routinely EDC the big-ones from Cold Steel, and pack the 5 Max with no problem. Its also, an item that would fall under the: 'Break Glass In Case of Emergency' scenario. Teamed up, with an adequate handgun, or an SBR inside a bugout bag, it would cover most of your defensive, and survival concerns. When I unboxxed my knife, I didn't find-it overly-weighty. In fact, it was quite nimble to manipulate. Also, honed razor-sharp. It gave me a little 'love-knick'. The steel swings-out with authority, and locks-up tight with the triad. Its beautifully, understated: must be seen; and held to-be-believed! Literally, a folding/fixed-blade! A martial weapon, under any definition. The green G10, is as smooth-as-silk with no hot-spots. Superlative, in every since of-the-word. If your into monster-folders; like SOG's Fat Cat from a few years back, then you'll be right-in-your-element. I didn't think, big-knife genre could be topped after seeing, and buying an Italian 4 Max Elite. But, I was wonderfully, wrong. Here are a few pics of mine:
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Merry Christmas and thanks for the very thorough report on this amazing one of a kind knife!Well Merry Christmas to y'all, and I can confirm my suspicions were warranted. My last thing to open was this beast of a knife
Some initial thoughts:
It's a CHUNK. It's quite heavy, but it seems to carry jist fine in a dedicated pocket.
Everything about this knife seems overbuilt and hell for stout. Even longer, "larger" CS folders seem to give up something in terms of size be it tip strength or edge durability in order to maintain a reasonable to carry "pocket sword" status. The 5 Max just says to hell with it. It's chunky and it knows it. Thick stock, steel liners, robust tip, durable edge. It basically just went kitchen-sink in terms of toughness.
The G10 is comfortable in texture. I appreciate the smoothness of it as it comes with one of the white-knuckled pocket clips that clamps down like an angry rottweiler. It needs a bit of break in/bend.
I feel like the junction at the "main grip" could have been more contoured and scalloped like the Voyager. It's a bit blocky for my average/size large hands. However, I honestly don't see myself gripping it there often. The balance point is such that I find myself either wanting to hold back on it if I were wanting to strike/chop or choke way up on it for detailed with. The handle really balances the blade for that.
The blade cutting edge is actually equal to the 5.5" Voyager clip point edge due to the 5 Max bringing the cutting edge almost to the handle.
You aren't going to put a Snaggletooth on this knife. The super aggressive jimping on the spine sits right in the way. However, the blade is so damn heavy it actually flicks open better than my Hold Out, Counter Point, or Voyager of similar size.
The Triad on my particular sample is one of the best out of the box I have handled in terms of having to rock the lock bar to get it to disengage. Opens and shuts just fine.
Final thoughts:
This might be a bit overpriced for what you get. I mean it's HUGE, but it's a bit huge for huge sake in some areas. It's probably on par with most manufacturers, and there is really nothing like it on the market in the sub $400 range. However, scaling up the 4 Max to the 5 is stretching the knife to the ridiculous proportions. I see this as either a very specific or very general knife in terms of role and function. Either this is your go too knife for an adventure where you want to pack on knife that can do it all yet still fits in a pocket or pack if you aren't wanting to carry a fixed blade, OR if you were stuck in a situation with ONLY one blade, I don't think you would be under prepared.
I don't see how anyone could possibly break this thing without going out of their way to try.
Thanks for the comparison pictures. I have absolutely no need for the 5 MAX, but I will be all over it if they make a Scout version.Here's a few more pics of 'The Hulk':
![]()
![]()
![]()