- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 828
Looks like my recommendation got buried in the shouting match... upgraded Schimitar = Talwar.
Laminate steel, strong rocker lock, Titanium frame/bolsters, G10 handle scales, wave opening, and a stainless steel pommel.
I own a couple of Talwars, so I can clear up any confusion you may have about it.
First off: the Talwar's blade is VG-1 steel, layered using Cold Steel's proprietary San Mai III method (hard heat-tempered metal on the outside, softer metal on the inside) so it's structured like a bone. Tough and flexible. VG-1 itself isn't the best blade steel, but the knife's engineering makes it surprisingly tough considering its components.
The rocker lock buries deep. You really need to dig your thumb into it in order to get the sucker to close, so it's not likely to disengage on you when you put it to work. It's not a Tri-Ad lock though.
The scales are made of polished Micarta, not G-10. The Micarta is tough, but it scuffs easily with regular use. A little sand paper will blend it out, but it will also remove the gloss on it. The titanium bolsters are also nice, but they're polished and not stonewashed, so they scratch too if you are rough with it.
The "wave" opener on it is a great feature. It uses the design I would probably use if trying to put a wave on an Emerson Persian without spoiling its design lines. The thumb plate is broad and easily catches onto a pocket seam. The pommel makes a nice gripping point too if you draw it in a reverse grip.
My biggest gripe about the Talwar is its weight. It's heavy for a pocket knife of its size, and if you're traveling light the knife's weight is pretty noticeable. I'm a big fella with big hands, so it doesn't bother me, but it can really throw you off if you're used to working with smaller knives.
Cold Steel occupies a very interesting space in the knife world. They use mid-range materials in their construction, but this is usually made up for by their excellent engineering and construction. I generally use Cold Steel knives for all of my really brutal work and save my Emersons as my self-defense weapons.