Cold steel and Lynn Thompson steel choice

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matt_b89

Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Messages
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I'm wondering why Lynn Thompson hasn't decided to make some of his folders in a better steel than aus8. Don't get me wrong...they probably do aus8 the best in the business...but I think it's a damn shame that the triad lock is offered in nothing better. I love the designs of the ak and recon...American lawman.....wish it was in at least cpm 154.....why doesn't he do this? anybody have any idea why? Has he mentioned on any forums that he would do this soon?
 
He might if he stops making boatloads of money selling what he's making now. If your business model ain't broke, don't fix it.

That simple.
 
Most of their knives are big hard use folders, collectors and fondlers. IMO even the relatively light lg voyager is too bulky to EDC. Cold steel caters to the value knife buyer and people who want a cool/fantasy knife that won't break when you use it. If the metal improves and the price goes up than I will probably move on to even better knives like Spyderco, ZT and Emerson.
 
marcinek said:
He might if he stops making boatloads of money selling what he's making now. If your business model ain't broke, don't fix it.

That simple.
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Exactly. He makes that that work for the masses (nothing against that - I have several CS knives). Why change a good thing, if the money is rolling in.

I have bought several knives in the discontinued CarbonV (Master Hunter, SRK, Recon Tanto).

Some people seem to like CarbonV, but if LT makes more money on other steels, I guess those steels gets a slot in the model range instead.
 
im sure makes good money...i'm just thinking that they'd get more sales from the hardcore knife community and possibly more love
 
Cold Steel has already started using more advanced steels, apparently. For 2013 they're bringing out the Warcraft Tanto in CPM3V, which is most definitely a step in the right direction.
 
I would like to see a higher end product line from CS, But they seem to be doing fine with what they are doing now.
 
matt_b89 said:
im sure makes good money...i'm just thinking that they'd get more sales from the hardcore knife community and possibly more love
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1) The hardcore knife community is, by definition, small. If you have a large customer base, you don't chase after a smaller customer base, even if the items cost more. That's a losing business proposition.
2) Psst. Don't tell anybody...people aren't in business to get love. They are in business to make profit. Besides, Lynn has a boatload of people who love his products, and a only small handful of "hardcore" cranky knife geeks who don't.
 
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I would buy more designs if they offered better steel.
At least VG-10, they already use it in production why not run a few folders with it?
 
This year O1 steel will be used for the larger Fixed blades and Combat Classics series. Check out the 2013 catalog.
 
AUS-8 is a good user steel, it's tough and holds a respectable edge.

For people outside of BF out in the real world it seems to be good enough and has been good enough for the better part of 30 years now.
 
I would like a cold steel knife in a better steel. That why I ordered a custom AD 10 (American Lawman) from Andrew Demko in Elmax. So there is always that option, although it isn't cheap. Definitely the most excited I've ever been for a knife though.
 
Aus8 is an asian steel. Cold Steel is made in Asia. It's probably not practical for them to send high end American/German steels to Asia for mass production. Spyderco does it but I'm pretty sure they are doing it in much smaller runs than CS would be.
 
There's nothing at all wrong with AUS-8. It's not the steel-of-the-day that we knife nerds look for, but it is tough, highly stain-resistant, takes an excellent, fine edge and holds it well, to judge by my Voyagers. All my Cold Steel knives cut well. What's not to like?
 
IMO even the relatively light lg voyager is too bulky to EDC
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Ehhhh, I disagree, I take mine everywhere.

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Anyways what Marcinek said. Higher steels would bump up costs and their main market probably doesn't want to pay those costs when AUS8 works fine for them.
 
marcinek said:
1) The hardcore knife community is, by definition, small. If you have a large customer base, you don't chase after a smaller customer base, even if the items cost more. That's a losing business proposition.
2) Psst. Don't tell anybody...people aren't in business to get love. They are in business to make profit. Besides, Lynn has a boatload of people who love his products, and a only small handful of "hardcore" cranky knife geeks who don't.
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Wow. You know, I was thinking just that, but I couldn't have said it better. Honestly, no one I know has even heard of BF, or AAPK.

And since LT has always been one to fly his own flag, I would bet he doesn't care a squirt about those that don't care for his knives.

Robert
 
How about just a little diversity then? Something to separate some of his folders? I understand he makes a lot of different cool swords and stuff that I'm not into so maybe the product line seems dull to me(even though my first good knife was a recon1 which I loved)...if he offered it in at least a vg10 I'd be buying that knife now instead of looking for something in S30v from spyderco
 
and as far as people saying it's not a good business model....i'm SURE he would succeed and bring in MORE knife nuts than just your average guy who thumps on a knife. I wish demko did reblades....I heard he doesn't anymore.
 
matt_b89 said:
How about just a little diversity then? Something to separate some of his folders?
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Again...why? People buy his folders. The guy makes money hand over fist. He's probably the most famous "knife person" on the planet. He'd be a moron to change a a thing. He's got a gold mine.

Don't take this personally, but he's not going to miss you when you buy a Spyderco.

"Oh no! I lost matt_b89! Next thing you know I'm going to lose those couple hundred hard core CS-disliking knife nerds like marcinek, over at BF. Better think up some giant stabby thing that I will sell a bajillion of. Done. Ahhh....that's better."
 
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