Cold Steel China. Fact or Fiction?

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ddbart53

Joined
Sep 12, 2009
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Being an avid production collector for a few years. My favorites include tactical locking folders of every design. Price and quality are always an issue. I recently treated myself to the Cold Steel, Extra Large Espada-Purely for SHOCK factor and discussion amungst my buds. The price tag was $259.99. For the fine collector this may be pennies, for me, this was a large purchase.
The knife was made in Taiwan and the fit and finish was good! However the price was a little steep. I recently saw the Talwar and Black Sable China made "Cold Steel" knives and understand they may be fakes? For the price difference? I'll bet the blades are definatley not San Mai III. My original thoughts are, for the HUGE difference in price? Maybe they would be ok?
Has anyone evaluated these China made versions and have any feedback? I understand this is a touchy subject with many collectors and makers. Thanks for listening. THE FISH
 
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The Talwar and Black Sable were made in Japan as all the SAn MAI III knives have been.
 
Cold steel is an advertising company. They do not make anything. Yes, they create a lot of hype. They have a whole lot of silly off the wall mall ninja models, but they have an equal number of good, well made well priced pieces. While their advertising and videos go way overboard, they really aren't into misleading customers. The knives are made in taiwan, china, japan and america, and they don't ever try to hide it.
 
kaosu04 said:
Cold steel is an advertising company. They do not make anything.
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I read this whenever CS comes up, and I think it's a bit unfair. They are CS designs, right? Nobody ever says ESEE is just an advertising company, even though they don't make their knives in their own factory. Many Spyderco branded knives are made in Taiwan, China, and Japan. Does that mean Spyderco is just advertising for the factories that produce the knives. The list goes on.
 
J.Davey said:
I read this whenever CS comes up, and I think it's a bit unfair. They are CS designs, right? Nobody ever says ESEE is just an advertising company, even though they don't make their knives in their own factory. Many Spyderco branded knives are made in Taiwan, China, and Japan. Does that mean Spyderco is just advertising for the factories that produce the knives. The list goes on.
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:thumbup:
 
OK gang, thanks for the info regarding the various companies and their motives! My original question remains. How's the China "Cold Steel" quality? Is it comparable to the Taiwain model I purchased?
 
ddbart53 said:
OK gang, thanks for the info regarding the various companies and their motives! My original question remains. How's the China "Cold Steel" quality? Is it comparable to the Taiwain model I purchased?
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what would make you think they would be comparable with such a big price difference?

not many people likely own the fakes...
 
I didnt think cold steel designs their own models either. Like I said, just a marketing company.
 
Cold Steel does design their own stuff or does collaberations with custom knife makers. Before Camillus went bankrupt a large part of Cold Steels knives came from there with others being made in Japan but Camillus also made ALOT of other brands under contract.
 
ddbart53 said:
OK gang, thanks for the info regarding the various companies and their motives! My original question remains. How's the China "Cold Steel" quality? Is it comparable to the Taiwain model I purchased?
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It's not Cold Steel, you bought a fake.
 
kaosu04 said:
Cold steel is an advertising company. They do not make anything. Yes, they create a lot of hype. They have a whole lot of silly off the wall mall ninja models, but they have an equal number of good, well made well priced pieces. While their advertising and videos go way overboard, they really aren't into misleading customers. The knives are made in taiwan, china, japan and america, and they don't ever try to hide it.
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This post is an odd mix of praise , combined with the classic smear which relegates Cold Steel to the status of a mere advertising or marketing company.
If you take even a cursory glance at a CS catalogue you'll see that they make an incredible variety of items that this cowboy ,at least, finds very cool. Much more than virtually any other company in fact.
What actual factory these items are made in strikes me as irrrelevant.[ Just like I don't know or care what factory Spyderco's are made in ] CS products are sold under the Cold Steel name and under no other. Without Cold Steel, these products would not exist. Therefore Cold Steel is a knife [and sword and hawk and spear etc ] making company and obviously not an advertising company.
 
kaosu04 said:
I didnt think cold steel designs their own models either. Like I said, just a marketing company.
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They do design their own knives....

If you don't know something don't post it because all it ends up being is misinformation that gets spread around.
 
it certainly is tiring to keep hearing about cold steel manufac., quality & point of orgin. with the exception of only a very few companies,great eastern, spyderco & bench made. all companies make some crap but also some outstanding products.i certainly admit that china, india, & packistan make a ton of counterfiet products. really the blame should be placed on the sources that allow this trash to be imported to other countries. as far as china goes if they are allowed a good profit margin & monitered for consistent quality, the chinese can make as fine a knife as anyone in the world. our big problem is consumers that pay 10$ for a knife & xpect it to be on par with a bench made 710 or spydie bradley. --dennis
 
Fantastic information! Thanks for the variety of info. All of your thoughts are appreciated. FISH out.
 
I'm as pro-US-made as they come, but that Cold Steel Rajah II sure looks like a well-made, fun bushwhacking folder (not many times folder and bushwhacking get used together).

And Ankerson, your videos of CS folders ain't helping my temptation one bit. :)

Professor.
 
Professor said:
I'm as pro-US-made as they come, but that Cold Steel Rajah II sure looks like a well-made, fun bushwhacking folder (not many times folder and bushwhacking get used together).

And Ankerson, your videos of CS folders ain't helping my temptation one bit. :)

Professor.
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Sorry about that. :D
 
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