Cold Steel (biased?) I think I like them :P

B

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Jun 10, 2007
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Talk me out of it ;)

I went to my local gun shop and they just got in a LARGE shipment of Cold Steel blades.

I have to admit at first I was hesitant after reading all the "I hate Cold Steel" stuff on this site "I didn't want to be interested".............but in the end I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I handled most of them and I liked some a lot. Ti in blue W/the flip in the pants pocket........(anyone for X-Mass you know I'll send you my addy :p)

The back lock style is never been my thing but the Rescue and Gunsite II locked up well :confused:

They had a "Custom" folder W/ a hooked blade nice metal gift box and it was pricey (~$200) but had Ti parts and "the best steel they make" from the counter guy for the blade.

I did get a FREE Vid and catalog and can see the marketing is right out of the Mall Ninja digest...............but overall I liked most of the knife line.

So what gives? The owners of Cold Steel not a Vendor or is it just the marketing hype? Why so much hate?

So what's your favorite COLD STEEL KNIFE? Or are you too afraid it list on this site as you would be marked a COLD STEEL COMMUNIST or something I don't know about :confused:
 
Just do a search for one of the 9,000,000 previous threads this has been covered in. You have no idea the size of the can of worms you just opened.
 
Cold Steel blades are among my favorites. I've bought about a dozen over the years, Voyagers, Master Hunters, SRK, an original tanto, Twistmasters, and found them to be excellent value for the money. Every one does what it is designed to do: cut. Most of the criticism is aimed at CS's controversial marketing, but Lynn Thompson has been one of the most innovative knife designers and promoters in the last two decades and has done an enormous amount for the industry. He can sit at my campfire any day.
 
Keeping in mind all that's gone before here regarding Cold Steel and Lynn Thompson,

I just bought a couple of CS knives. And for the money, I'm pretty impressed.

Got a Scimitar PE. Saw one for under 60 bucks and decided to give it a look-see.
Knife has fantastic lockup and is very nicely made.
Made in Seki Japan. VG-1 steel. Razor sharp.

Also got a Vaquero. For under 40 bucks, again I like the knife.
Great lockup, Seki made, VG-1. Four inch blade.

However, not much else in the CS world appeals to me.
I don't buy knives made in China, don't like the Krupp stainless, the top of the line stuff
IMHO is ridiculously priced, have no interest in a Brooklyn Smasher, etc.

I do like that pistol grip City Stick, though... ;)
 
Cold Steel speaks to the child in all of us, and I think that many of us take ourselves too seriously. I find Cold Steel's marketing to be entertaining with its bravado, and martial slant. Their products in general I have found to be consistent at their price point with regards to design, quality of materials
 
I have 29 Cold Steel knives. Every last one of them are great values. I have never had reason one to be unsatisfied in any way with any Cold Steel products. I own them and have used them hard for many years so nobody needs tell me they are not good knives. I have proven it over and over to the only person who counts on this issue.:D. None of my Cold Steel knives are made in China and they have always been worth more than they cost me. I think maybe they are to good a value for some who would rather crow about paying more.
 
Cold Steel is a marketing company and does not make any of their knives. Their knives are produced in many places: most items are made in Japan, Taiwan, or China. This makes quality control very hard to track and very inconsistent. They are cheaply manufactured knives that have a hyped up marketing company behind them.

*** If you are after a inexpensive beater then they are fine.
 
Here are some Cold Steel models that have served me well in the past and present...

- Ti-Lite 4" Zytel version
- Large Voyager plain edge
- Medium Vaquero, this one is a beast of a cutter for its size, I also use to have the vaquero grande, but traded it, which I regret, that thing was a beast and a half, lol!
 
"Cold Steel is a marketing company and does not make any of their knives. Their knives are produced in many places: most items are made in Japan, Taiwan, or China. This makes quality control very hard to track and very inconsistent. They are cheaply manufactured knives that have a hyped up marketing company behind them.

*** If you are after a inexpensive beater then they are fine."



That's a bunch of BS.
 
Thanks for the positive replies. I just wanted to know if I was seeing things.

All the knives I felt today looked an locked solid. The ak-47 is a huge knife W/ a small blade but still a nice knife just not my taste.

I liked the lock up on the Gunsite II knife....I did not know a back lock could feel so solid.

I wanted to feel a Spectra (SP) but they didn't have any. The other knives were nice and I loved the blue or gray Ti model W/ the Emerson type wave thing. Looks like an older stiletto knife :thumbup:

Nice line of knives just don't understand this forum downing them so much. Makes you think you might have to actually get up from the computer go outside :grumpy: and see for yourself.
I think sometimes people judge by the marketing? Not the item?
 
Bkultra said:
Cold Steel is a marketing company and does not make any of their knives. Their knives are produced in many places: most items are made in Japan, Taiwan, or China. This makes quality control very hard to track and very inconsistent. They are cheaply manufactured knives that have a hyped up marketing company behind them.

*** If you are after a inexpensive beater then they are fine.
Click to expand...

averageguy said:
"Cold Steel is a marketing company and does not make any of their knives. Their knives are produced in many places: most items are made in Japan, Taiwan, or China. This makes quality control very hard to track and very inconsistent. They are cheaply manufactured knives that have a hyped up marketing company behind them.

*** If you are after a inexpensive beater then they are fine."



That's a bunch of BS.
Click to expand...

This is also true or as politely as "averageguy" put it....."That's a bunch of BS".

Sorry, but most things are not made in the US and if it states made in the US I ask "How much is made in the US?" sometimes it's just the BOX :confused:

This Forum can be a great tool / asset and see we can have a good flame resistant discussion :eek:
 
I have the Gunsite II. Its pretty new to me and i have not used it much yet but you are right, its solid and sharp.
 
I've had a few of their fixed knives over the years and I'm thinking of getting one of their swords. Their sword DVD is highly entertaining!
 
I've had a few CS knives and they've always been good value for the dollar. It seems that some of their stuff has been getting ridiculously overpriced lately. When they cross into the $400+ range for folders thats in semi-custom or full custom territory and I think thats out of their league to be honest. Their entry to mid range blades have held up decently for myself and anyone else I know though.
 
I don't like some of the business practices but I have been thinking about getting a VG1 knife ( ultimate hunter or Voyager to keep it even) and a SK-5 trailmaster to check their performance between the AUS 8 and Carbon V knives respectively. Joe
 
Cold Steel is a knife manufacturer that caught my attention right from the beginning (pre-Internet days). Reason being is the one decent knife shop we had in town stocked a good selection of them, and I would regularly drool over models like the tantos and the Trail Master.

I liked 'em cos they were big and bold and had lots of shiny steel. I just couldn't afford them then (prices here are inflated).

MANY years later and I now own a Magnum Tanto in San Mai and I have just closed a deal on a mint Trail Master, also in San Mai. Thank the good lord for the internet!

I feel I can now close the door on this company. I have moved on, but these knives are special to me because I was exposed to them at a time when I was still young and innocent. And all the knife politics in the world can't change that indelible impression they made on me.

BTW I plan to put the Trail Master to task and will report back on my impressions.

To answer your original question, I think their best models are the Tantos (the magnum tanto in San Mai is a beast), the Trail Master, the Tai Pan and the R1 Military Classic. I think these knives offer good value for money (if you buy them at the right price that is).
 
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