Becoming a Cold Steel fan

M

MAD777

Joined
Aug 3, 2011
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267
I recently added two Cold Steel folders. A Recon 1 (clip point) and a Hold Out III. Both of these are AUS8 steel and were a steal of a deal due to C.S. switching to Carpenter's XHP.

I'm not a big folder fan in general, mostly due to the lack of handle ergonomics compared to most fixed blades. But I must say that both these handles surprised me. And there won't be any slippage thanks to the high friction finish of the scales. All in all, I am a pleased customer and felt I got a lot of bang for my buck.
7e1c5878a9b1b10903317f2061e7a00c.jpg
 
Cold Steel puts a lot of hype into their marketing and are the kings of mall ninja blades, but when you really get past all that and look at the toughness and bang for your buck of most of their knives I think they are fantastic. I have a few and have never had any issues. That being said, their move to higher end steel has kicked their prices up into average Spyderco range. If given a choice with prices being equal I would choose Spyderco most of the time for folders, and CS for fixed. CS folders may be tougher and overbuilt (that's a good thing, mind you), but Spyderco folders are just more sophisticated. Time will tell what the CS street prices end up settling at.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
Cold Steel puts a lot of hype into their marketing and are the kings of mall ninja blades, but when you really get past all that and look at the toughness and bang for your buck of most of their knives I think they are fantastic. I have a few and have never had any issues. That being said, their move to higher end steel has kicked their prices up into average Spyderco range. If given a choice with prices being equal I would choose Spyderco most of the time for folders, and CS for fixed. CS folders may be tougher and overbuilt (that's a good thing, mind you), but Spyderco folders are just more sophisticated. Time will tell what the CS street prices end up settling at.
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More sophisticated?

Spyderco makes about 100 variations of the same knife, and if you want to look at a knife that CS did better then Spyderco, look at the Civilian. No jimping, same bird's eye opening we see on every spyderco, No improvements to metal, right hand only clip and approaching $200

Let's look at the Black Talon II - Generous thumb jimping, thumb plate opening, same weight and measurements, better steel, left hand clip provision, better ergonomics for nearly half the price. And the Tri-Ad lock.

Spyderco knives are boring. Sophisticated? how so? It's all the same knife pretty much with a few different changes.
With CS, you can buy a variety of very different knives and even with the new steel, the prices are more than competitive as pointed out with the BT II

If you want "Mall Ninja" blades, try the BUDK catalog.
 
Sky Pilot said:
More sophisticated?

Spyderco makes about 100 variations of the same knife, and if you want to look at a knife that CS did better then Spyderco, look at the Civilian. No jimping, same bird's eye opening we see on every spyderco, No improvements to metal, right hand only clip and approaching $200

Let's look at the Black Talon II - Generous thumb jimping, thumb plate opening, same weight and measurements, better steel, left hand clip provision, better ergonomics for nearly half the price. And the Tri-Ad lock.

Spyderco knives are boring. Sophisticated? how so? It's all the same knife pretty much with a few different changes.
With CS, you can buy a variety of very different knives and even with the new steel, the prices are more than competitive as pointed out with the BT II

If you want "Mall Ninja" blades, try the BUDK catalog.
Click to expand...
Every time cold steel gets brought up you run into this. The Cold Steel Uber fan. Did you read my post all the way through? I have many Cold Steel knives and love them, but what I shared was an opinion. Look up the word. I was NOT disparaging the brand, only talking about what I like and don't like. In the future spend your time answering the OP's question instead of needlessly attacking those who don't share your beliefs.
 
Sky Pilot said:
More sophisticated?

Spyderco makes about 100 variations of the same knife, and if you want to look at a knife that CS did better then Spyderco, look at the Civilian. No jimping, same bird's eye opening we see on every spyderco, No improvements to metal, right hand only clip and approaching $200

Let's look at the Black Talon II - Generous thumb jimping, thumb plate opening, same weight and measurements, better steel, left hand clip provision, better ergonomics for nearly half the price. And the Tri-Ad lock.

Spyderco knives are boring. Sophisticated? how so? It's all the same knife pretty much with a few different changes.
With CS, you can buy a variety of very different knives and even with the new steel, the prices are more than competitive as pointed out with the BT II

If you want "Mall Ninja" blades, try the BUDK catalog.
Click to expand...

OH no you didnt! :p

In all serious though, the few cs knives i have had have been great knives. I just never seemed to need that tough of a knife so they never really got carried.
 
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wesmanthetiger said:
Cold Steel puts a lot of hype into their marketing and are the kings of mall ninja blades, but when you really get past all that and look at the toughness and bang for your buck of most of their knives I think they are fantastic. I have a few and have never had any issues. That being said, their move to higher end steel has kicked their prices up into average Spyderco range. If given a choice with prices being equal I would choose Spyderco most of the time for folders, and CS for fixed. CS folders may be tougher and overbuilt (that's a good thing, mind you), but Spyderco folders are just more sophisticated. Time will tell what the CS street prices end up settling at.
Click to expand...

I agree for the most part, in general I prefer to buy Spyderco, but they seem to be pushing into more expensive design territory as well with offerings like the Nirvana and Rubicon taking a greater portion of their catalog. For simple working knives with good cutting geometry I think it really comes down to Golden made Spydies and Cold Steel as the two companies to beat.
 
I have picked up a few of the previous Aus-8A versions because of the great blow-out pricing.

I have to disagree with the switch to new steels though.

I think that they have done a good job keeping their prices reasonable.

Progress is progress and they had to upgrade to keep up with what other companies are doing.

I think they will see an sales increase in their knives that were switched to Carpenter CTS-XHP for sure.

I know that I will be buying a few of the special editions in olive green and coyote brown G10.

However, I won't be replacing most of the previous Aus-8A versions in my collection.

They are good, solid, hard-working knife designs.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
Every time cold steel gets brought up you run into this. The Cold Steel Uber fan. Did you read my post all the way through? I have many Cold Steel knives and love them, but what I shared was an opinion. Look up the word. I was NOT disparaging the brand, only talking about what I like and don't like. In the future spend your time answering the OP's question instead of needlessly attacking those who don't share your beliefs.
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I addressed your vague claim of "More sophisticated" You said it, now own it.
 
Own it? What are you 14? Its PERSONAL OPINION. Get over yourself. Its perspective based. Some people like Honey Boo-Boo, some people like opera. It takes all sorts in the knife community and instead of running with that you want to challenge me to validate my personal opinion based on my own experience over 30 years of knife use? No. You are the kind of person that gives Cold Steel a bad name on these forums. Let it go.
 
These days it's not hard to become a Cold Steel fan. They now have folders that are every bit as ergonomic and effectieve as any Spyderco or Benchmade, aside from all the hard use folders they still make. Hell, even their more 'fragile' models are more hard use than most other brands, as well as good cutters.
Their steel upgrades make them second to none now. I still love all my other folders, but CS is now officially my #1 brand in folders.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
Own it? What are you 14? Its PERSONAL OPINION. Get over yourself. Its perspective based. Some people like Honey Boo-Boo, some people like opera. It takes all sorts in the knife community and instead of running with that you want to challenge me to validate my personal opinion based on my own experience over 30 years of knife use? No. You are the kind of person that gives Cold Steel a bad name on these forums. Let it go.
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I asked you to define "sophisticated" when using it with "Spyderco" if you can't or are unable to, don't jump all over me. You posted it. I asked for clarification.
If you can't, then stick to words you can better understand.
And keep perhaps "Mall Ninja" applies to yourself, not those of us that are serious collectors of fine cutlery.
 
Sky Pilot said:
I asked you to define "sophisticated" when using it with "Spyderco" if you can't or are unable to, don't jump all over me. You posted it. I asked for clarification.
If you can't, then stick to words you can better understand.
And keep perhaps "Mall Ninja" applies to yourself, not those of us that are serious collectors of fine cutlery.
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Wow. You truly are amazing. Have a nice day.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
Wow. You truly are amazing. Have a nice day.
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Why? Because I asked you to define a word you probably have no idea how it applies to knives and now you re trying to back pedal and blame me for your incorrect usage of the word?
Perhaps you are projecting by asking if I'm 14
 
Sky Pilot said:
Why? Because I asked you to define a word you probably have no idea how it applies to knives and now you re trying to back pedal and blame me for your incorrect usage of the word?
Perhaps you are projecting by asking if I'm 14
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Please continue to look like an angry fool in front of everyone. I have spent a day listening to your verbal attacks. You are either an employee or fanboy of CS and you are not looking for discussion. Your continued personal attacks and mockery show that an actual discussion would produce nothing but continued abuse from you. I've given you all the attention you are going to get from me. Thanks. To the OP, my apologies for your thread getting hijacked. In the future I won't waste my time with individuals like this.
 
In an effort to bring the thread on track:

Great pics OP, this pair should fit all your outdoor hard use/edc needs. I carry recon 1 in my backpack for all types of uses, and Lawman or other medium/small size folder for EDC.
 
Everything about a Spyderco folder from ergonomics, to blade profile, to edge geometry, to product naming is more sophisticated than a CS folder.

Take a Caly 3.5 and use it all day for real cutting tasks next to a AK-47, and if you still don't understand what design sophistication means, you might be special ed.

That said, CS offers great build quality, the toughest lock on the market, and now a great blade steel. They have their niche, whether you understand sophistication, or not.
 
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