I posted this in the Cold Steel forum but wanted to make sure anyone looking into a Cold Steel purchase would see this. I called GSM (the new owners) yesterday to request replacement screws and clip for my 4" Ti Lite (I waited to post here to give them a chance to respond to my posts; they did not) and was told by the rep and supervisor that GSM does not carry parts for Cold Steel knives. So, beware; if you buy Cold Steel and something breaks or gets lost (pivot screw, clip, screws, anything) you are out of luck because they have 0 parts available. For the record, I have been a Cold Steel fan from their beginning, having around 25 of their knives and around 45 of their spears, hawks, swords, etc. I will miss them.
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Beware of Cold Steel
- Thread starter katanas
- Start date
I've dealt with cold steel gsm on warranty...wrote about it in the cs forum awhile back. without a proof of purchase youre gonna get nowhere......even if you have one its still a major headache and bad chances of it getting solved.......
so if ya buy a used cold steel from someone get a copy of their receipt with it, just in case.........
so if ya buy a used cold steel from someone get a copy of their receipt with it, just in case.........
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To make up for their failure in parts and service , GSM now charges more and offers cheaper quality materials ! 
GSM is bound to lose a lot of business from buyers of their more expensive stuff, by this short sighted policy .
However , I've never actually needed any parts or service for any of many Cold Steel products . And I've bought a ton and started soon after they opened for business .
I still buy Cold Steel , when I see a great deal .
Recently noticed the AD10 selling for ~$100 ( non-sponsor , so don't ask ! ) . I already have one or I'd jump on that deal .
That's a steal , even with no parts/service etc . And pretty hard to break anything on that one .
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
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- 9,796
I'm keeping all my Cold Steel knives, including the original Tanto with brass fittings that Lynn Thomson sold me back in 1990, after I wrote to him questioning his ad strategy and mentioned the tanto was out of reach for my budget. He wrote back politely and offered to sell me one for $75, which I thought was more than fair. It had a slight blemish on one side so was probably a second, but no matter. I used it to process big game (moose) and found it made an excellent butcher knife; the tanto tip is great for cutting through cartilage like knee joints. I never had any problem with any of the other two dozen or so CS knives I've bought since then so never had a warranty issue. I've given away at least a dozen and still have a few kicking around, but doubt I'll ever need another. Sounds as if the new owner GSM is more concerned with volume than service and quality, which is too bad.
Well aside from that, you can buy 4034 knife for the same price they charge for 3V.
And be ready to get another sheath or go through adventure of making your own because SecurEx will make your blade really secure - by dulling it to the point where it won't cut a thing...
And be ready to get another sheath or go through adventure of making your own because SecurEx will make your blade really secure - by dulling it to the point where it won't cut a thing...
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- Dec 7, 2019
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- 3,514
It’s a sad thing when the hardcore fans themselves warn others of a once awesome company. Got relatively late to the party, but I was a heckuva Cold Steel fan too. I don’t like the direction they’re going or their lack of customer service.
Watching their funky videos is what got me into knives...
As a teen I dreamed about owning anything from them someday, and my biggest wjsh was to have Warcraft tanto.
I have AK47 field knife in CPM-3V and it's my favourite knife ever since I got it. I got it custom sheath too.
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- Feb 28, 2011
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- 27,434
That sucks. I've been carrying my Bush Ranger and appreciating what a nice knife it is. Sad that their days of making blades like that seem to be over.
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- Nov 22, 2021
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- 1,298
Just bought one of those from that vendor. Never have seen an AD-10 priced so low.Recently noticed the AD10 selling for ~$100 ( non-sponsor , so don't ask ! ) . I already have one or I'd jump on that deal .
That's a steal , even with no parts/service etc . And pretty hard to break anything on that one .
I agree with you: it would take some doing to break anything on that brute.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2020
- Messages
- 538
I find it interesting that s35vn knives like the AD10 and SR1 have come down in price, while at the same time they are asking supersteel prices for pop-metal 4034 junk. It really makes me question what my new SR1 is actually made of. I suspect the answer is that it is some Chinese sourced S35 "equivalent" that their Taiwan manufacturers secured for a fraction of the old price. It's not like GSM would know or care enough to ask any questions.
I am basically done with them as well I think.