Are these Recon 1 legitimate?

[tess_lawrie_fan]

Recently I've learned that even in places like Amazon you can buy a counterfeit folder. I bought these two directly from Amazon, not from a vendor at Amazon, but... they still could be fake! Considering the bonus you pay while buying from Amazon outside the USA, that's worrying.

Both are amazing and seem to be 100% legit to me, but of course I prefer to ask for your help in order to be sure. No need to say these are my first Recons...

I can post more pics of any detail if needed. Thanks in advance!

 

[DocJD]

Here's a genuine older version with XHP steel :

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

My G10 is smoother, which is expected, but the thumb stud does not seem to be well finished as yours. It's not particularly worrying, but it's not reassuring either.

EDIT: It doesn't seem to be a "finishing issue" (in the thumb stud), but rather a different model.

EDIT 2: Pic from the spear point

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

This pic is from the Tanto model.

The thumb stud looks different from the other one. It looks like the one posted by DocJD.

 

[sean2021]

The real question is who supplies the “Rainforest” with their CS products. If they are ordering their stock straight from the source then there is no cause for concern. I have no idea how the supply chain works. I was thinking about this exact same topic recently because supposedly some fakes are very hard to discern from the real thing. Whenever I do order from the “Rainforest” I make sure it’s coming straight from them, not another party. I would think that should greatly reduce your chance of being scammed. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jux t]

T tess_lawrie_fan Both of them look legit to me. The thumb studs do get lighter with use. Perhaps your spear point has been handled before, maybe the lighting in the picture is making it appear even lighter as well.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

The real question is who supplies the “Rainforest” with their CS products. If they are ordering their stock straight from the source then there is no cause for concern. I have no idea how the supply chain works. I was thinking about this exact same topic recently because supposedly some fakes are very hard to discern from the real thing. Whenever I do order from the “Rainforest” I make sure it’s coming straight from them, not another party. I would think that should greatly reduce your chance of being scammed. Just my 2 cents.

I paid almost the MRSP price (shipped) exactly because of that. I'm "buying the seller". I don't want to have a fake in my hands, and I really don't want to support the bad guys. So that's why I bought these beauties directly from the 'Rainforest". No third parts involved.

Even so, however, they could be fake. For instance, the Rainforest used to mix its own stock with other vendors' stock. So you could buy from them but receive an item from a vendor.

I don't know if "Rainforest" still does that mix, but at this point I cannot be 100% sure about the legitimacy of the products. It's highly probable, but it's not certain.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

T tess_lawrie_fan Both of them look legit to me. The thumb studs do get lighter with use. Perhaps your spear point has been handled before, maybe the lighting in the picture is making it appear even lighter as well.

My bad, sorry. The thumb stud seems lighter because of a bad picture. The "issue" is the thin circle (or circles) on the top of the stud. The folder was factory sealed.

 

[sean2021]

I paid almost the MRSP price (shipped) exactly because of that. I'm "buying the seller". I don't want to have a fake in my hands, and I really don't want to support the bad guys. So that's why I bought these beauties directly from the 'Rainforest". No third parts involved.

Even so, however, they could be fake. For instance, the Rainforest used to mix its own stock with other vendors' stock. So you could buy from them but receive an item from a vendor.

I don't know if "Rainforest" still does that mix, but at this point I cannot be 100% sure about the legitimacy of the products. It's highly probable, but it's not certain.

If stock from different sources is mixed, that would be worrying. Hope that isn’t a current practice on their part. I purchase from them because they tend to have good prices and the easy returns are great should you get a faulty product. Another thing to examine is the actual packaging (box) the knife arrived in, that can give you clues (misspelled words, etc) are signs of counterfeit crap.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

If stock from different sources is mixed, that would be worrying. Hope that isn’t a current practice on their part. I purchase from them because they tend to have good prices and the easy returns are great should you get a faulty product. Another thing to examine is the actual packaging (box) the knife arrived in, that can give you clues (misspelled words, etc) are signs of counterfeit crap.

It seems that this thing has even a name: "stock commingling". I hope they're not doing this anymore.

I'm almost 100% sure about the Tanto. I'm about to post a pic of the two boxes. They seem legit for me, but who knows...

EDIT: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26152104

 

[insta9ves]

They are legit. Hardware, G10, Grind, Labeling and Coating all look legit. Some are easy to fake, but all of these are hard to fake together. Genuine DLC is hard and expensive to do, you’ll never find it in clones. Your knives’ DLC are spot on.

 

[DocJD]

They are legit. Hardware, G10, Grind, Labeling and Coating all look legit. Some are easy to fake, but all of these are hard to fake together. Genuine DLC is hard and expensive to do, you’ll never find it in clones. Your knives’ DLC are spot on.

I was hesitant, but wanting to suggest taking the black coating for a "test drive" for just this reason .

Not maybe something you'd want to do if these are meant to be collector knives , but should be OK for users .

Amazon is very good , normally, to take back returns within the 30d limit . Even if somewhat used , if you have a good reason .

I wouldn't be afraid to go ahead and use the knives for some medium hard cutting . Just to test them out . But don't wait !

If genuine , the coatings should be hard to damage and the steel should hold an edge fairly well .

These actually look genuine to my eye , but counterfeits are getting more accurate all the time .

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

Here is a detail from the two boxes.

In the Tanto box (above), there is a small stick with the "California Warning".

In the Spearpoint box (below), the "California Warning" is printed.

Negligible differences though. The Tanto is a bit older, that's all.

They are legit. Hardware, G10, Grind, Labeling and Coating all look legit. Some are easy to fake, but all of these are hard to fake together. Genuine DLC is hard and expensive to do, you’ll never find it in clones. Your knives’ DLC are spot on.

It really makes sense and that's great news. Thanks!

I noticed that fingers' greasy spots can be easily removed from the Tanto with a clean piece of fabric. To get the Spearpoint shining again, I must gently wash the blade.

So the DLC seems to behave differently in both blades and that's quite curious. Just a cosmetic and unimportant point, but there it is.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

I was hesitant, but wanting to suggest taking the black coating for a "test drive" for just this reason .

Not maybe something you'd want to do if these are meant to be collector knives , but should be OK for users .

Amazon is very good , normally, to take back returns within the 30d limit . Even if somewhat used , if you have a good reason .

I wouldn't be afraid to go ahead and use the knives for some medium hard cutting . Just to test them out . But don't wait !

If genuine , the coatings should be hard to damage and the steel should hold an edge fairly well .

These actually look genuine to my eye , but counterfeits are getting more accurate all the time .

That's a great idea.

I'm buying a second Spearpoint that will be, together with the Tanto, a collection/backup folder. But this Spearpoint is here to be used and beaten. I'm already stabbing cardboard boxes and cutting foam boards at my wife's request.

In the next days I'll find some wood to play with.

 

[AlongTheRazorsEdge]

Another thing to examine is the actual packaging (box) the knife arrived in, that can give you clues (misspelled words, etc) are signs of counterfeit crap.

Definitely, great suggestion. It would be cool to have a pic database of known legit packaging (bought from Cold Steel direct and/or legit dealers) for all models, going back as far as possible. On the newer models, the first thing I usually look for is the presence of and placement of the model designation (number). I also look to see if the picture of the item (on the front of the box) is gloss while the black background is flat. I also look for the specs on the front and compare that (info, font type, size, placement etc.) to known legit packaging. Presence of and placement of triad lock logo if applicable. Presence of and placement of "california warning" if applicable. I like to see the circular tape seal at each end of the box, but that isn't very reliable because they can be removed without damaging the packaging or leaving a tell tale residue. I'll compare all of this to pics or video of known legit packaging from legitimate sources and buyers.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

The difference in the "California Warning" presentation is kind of interesting. The box of the Tanto was clearly made before the "California Warning" law was approved, so CS had to glue a stick on the box.

The packaging of these two seem to be legitimate, so I didn't bother to post them.

 

[tess_lawrie_fan]

I was hesitant, but wanting to suggest taking the black coating for a "test drive" for just this reason .

I wouldn't be afraid to go ahead and use the knives for some medium hard cutting . Just to test them out . But don't wait !

(...)​

If genuine , the coatings should be hard to damage and the steel should hold an edge fairly well .


These actually look genuine to my eye , but counterfeits are getting more accurate all the time .

I followed your advice and did a test with some dry wood. After a couple of minutes of chopping, battoning and slicing (slicing was so easy), the service was done and the folder was still cutting paper easily (with curves and everything). There isn't a single spot of wear.

It wasn't a hard test in any possible sense, but I'm satisfied. My wife said "If this beast is a fake, please go buy the legit ASAP."

Thanks.

They are legit. Hardware, G10, Grind, Labeling and Coating all look legit. Some are easy to fake, but all of these are hard to fake together. Genuine DLC is hard and expensive to do, you’ll never find it in clones. Your knives’ DLC are spot on.

I'm back to your post just to point out how good is this way of reasoning. For instance, that's why a meta-analysis of many small (and less than perfect) studies which converge to the same conclusion, is better than one big study (that may be flawed).

Thanks.

And thanks to everyone who participated in this thread. These are my first quality folders (I love and enjoy my Rat 1, which is great, but isn't in the same league) and I really appreciate your help.

I'm about to stamp these two beauties as "legitimate". I'm happy as a teenager lol.

 

[DocJD]

I followed your advice and did a test with some dry wood. After a couple of minutes of chopping, battoning and slicing (slicing was so easy), the service was done and the folder was still cutting paper easily (with curves and everything). There isn't a single spot of wear.

It wasn't a hard test in any possible sense, but I'm satisfied. My wife said "If this beast is a fake, please go buy the legit ASAP."

Thanks.

I'm back to your post just to point out how good is this way of reasoning. For instance, that's why a meta-analysis of many small (and less than perfect) studies which converge to the same conclusion, is better than one big study (that may be flawed).

Thanks.

And thanks to everyone who participated in this thread. These are my first quality folders (I love and enjoy my Rat 1, which is great, but isn't in the same league) and I really appreciate your help.

I'm about to stamp these two beauties as "legitimate". I'm happy as a teenager lol.

Groovy !

The real test of any knife is actual use . And a practical utility use, appropriate for the knife is best .

I'm gratified that it worked out for you . Congratulations !