Civilian by ColdSteel

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There was this topic some time ago both here and at the Spyderco Forum. The conclusion: just a cheap imitation! :rolleyes:
 
The conclusion I got from the Bladeforums thread was "wait and see." No one actually had bought and used one. The issue as to whether or not it's an imitation that violates Spyderco's patents was also not brought to closure. One things for sure, it's not cheap, and if its Coldsteel, its quality should be good enough to compete with Spyderco.
 
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Its 2003 NEW model "Black Simona" from Hot Steel Inc., what you think about it ?
I think, its more HOT than COLD ...:p
 
Just one last minute mention: when I said "cheap imitation" I didn't reffer to the price or even quality, but to the lack of originality. CS has several models which are clearly "inspired".
Just my .2c. oppinion.
 
Chains, please go up to the American Tomahawk Company's forum and find their thread(s) on Cold Steel's Viet Nam Hawk and read them. Then tell me if you still want to buy a Cold Steel product.
 
There's more behind the tomahawk controversy than is presented in that one-sided thread. I believe Coldsteel's product line was established before the current ATC was a company.

Per Cold steel's integrety, they have a fairly large dose of it. For example, they paid Spyderco for the use of the integral clip on their most popular knife, the Voyager. Lynn has sold the Sharpmaker on his website and in his catalog for over 5 years. He gives credit to the origin of knives and swords that are copies of classic designs.

As has been said many times on this forum, knives have been around for 1000 years, many parts of knife shape, design and technology are part of the public domain. For example, many people think the balisong is a phillipino design or a Benchmade product, however the oldest balisong pictured on this forum was about 150 years old and french.
 
Brownshoe, if you had read the thread through, you would have seen that the question of the name goes back to 1966 and to Peter LaGana's invention of the VietNam Tomahawk and his creation of the American Tomahawk Company LLC long before Cold Steel ever existed. While I am not a lawyer, and I have asked Andy Prisco for an update on the situation, it appears that he and the late Mr. LaGana had a good case.
 
Irrespective of the dispute with ATC, of which, we have only one side, I believe I provided sufficient evidence of Cold Steel's past behavior showing a level of integrity that does not include illegal use of other's property.
 
Brownshoe, I forget the date, but I also remember getting requests for an affidavit or similar statement from A.G. Russell, one of the more respected names in the knife business, about 15 years ago to help him in a suit with Cold Steel, and this does not even mention their advertising campaigns. My opinion differs from yours.
 
Great shot Simona. Had us all smiling.

Lynn Thompson has always demonstrated honor and integrity with Spyderco in the past. My guess is that he'll continue.

sal
 
I hate to see a man's name sullied, but not have the story completed. Per FullerH request for a update at the ATC forum on the Coldsteel controversy, Prisco replied with the following:
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Cold Steel and American Tomahawk have a tentative agreement under mutual review at this very moment.

There are still some details to iron out, but we have made progress over the past few months on this issue, and we hope to see it resolved.
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For some reason Coldsteel is a favorite whipping boy around here. Thompson appears to be a showman and a shrewd businessman who enjoys life. If you have a sense of humor, he, his products and his catalog can be fun.
 
i just am not nutz about the cold steel stuff, some of the fixed blades are ok, but have never been crazy about there folders, the ti lite is one of the top knives they make, and compared to BM/spydie/MT/EKI, no real challenge imho

greg
 
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