Cold Steel – American Lawman. New or Old?

[Ookpik]

Hi Guys:

After reading the reviews of the American Lawman, I have decided to buy one. The knife store where I live only has the old ones in stock. Those are the ones with the metal liners. Should I buy an old one or wait until the new stock comes in? I'm not in a rush to buy, so I can wait. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the old and new? Thanks for your help and advice.

 

[MichaelScarn]

I'm pretty sure the most obvious advantage/disadvantage question is between weight and strength,

Steel liners make the knife stronger, but also heaver.

 

[Ankerson]

The new ones are a lot nicer.

 

[greater]

I like the older ones better but lighter is a definite advantage for comfort and carry.

 

[zhangmaster12]

Get the new one. Demko proved that the blade will break before the G10. Ive heard the new ones also fitted your hand much better because the G-10 was more rounded.

 

[3Guardsmen]

As far as I can tell (I've got the first generation American Lawman), Cold Steel lowered the stop pin and made the locking tab longer on the second and current generations of American Lawman. I've noticed that the Tri-Ad lock models with lower sitting stop pins tend to hold more weight in the test videos I've seen.

I think you'd probably be best served by getting the second generation American Lawman, as it appears to have the re-designed stop pin/lock tab, and still retains the steel liners. In my opinion, the second generation version would probably be the strongest of the bunch, but wait for Mr. Demko or STR for a far more reliable answer.

 

[robot37]

The handle profile on the new ones is a little more rectangular, which improves the grip immensely. Way more comfortable than the older version. Plus the back of the handle is radiused, which also improves grip comfort.

Ankerson is right. Overall the new ones are way nicer.

Get the new one.

-nate

 

[Chris Pierce]

I do not believe that the steel liners make the knife any stronger. I would wait for the newer liner-less knives.

 

[Tostig]

If one did decide to get the older version they could always smooth the G10 themselves for comfort.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

anyone have pics of the first or second generation?

google hasn't been able to find me any.

 

[Beyond You]

Where are these produced ?

 

[STR]

My favorite one is still the very first one. It stands out because of two areas. One you can see the tang lock notch on the blade when its closed because it rises above the scales which means the body and choil areas are not as wide for the fingers to have to wrap around when the blade is opened and two the lock bar/rocker arm is recessed below the liners also making it hard to accidentally depress in a white knuckle grip. A group of pictures I posted back in another thread show how the rocker arm sits almost nested deeper in the liners on the old first generation one. At first I thought it was a flaw, and they did correct it if so but I have found I rather like it being like that because it kind of does the same thing as the Boye detent in that it takes the lock bar just that much further away from skin in the palm coming into contact with it in your grip.
STR

 

[Knifein]

Anybody got pics of the first and second generation?

 

[STR]

Here ya go. Best I have. These are posted elsewhere also.

STR

 

[cheftothestars]

Here ya go. Best I have. These are posted elsewhere also.

STR

is the new one at the bottom?

 

[moshow9]

is the new one at the bottom?

it's the top two, i believe. from the top view of the spine you can see the bottom one has liners and jimping on the blade, as well as the tang sticking out some as STR mentioned .

 

[MORIMOTOM]

the top is the new one. the bottom two have liners and skeletonized clips.


thx str! which one can i have?

 

[cheftothestars]

Ok thanks, my knife recognition is stll developing.

 

[Ookpik]

Very interesting pictures. I didn't realize there were three versions. The one I'm looking at is like the one in the middle (top to bottom). Thanks for the pictures. They will make it easier for me to decide.

 

[Beyond You]

Are these American made ?