Cold Steel downhill?

[zignal_zero]

is it just me or has CS gone downhill? i've never liked their customer service, or rather their complete lack thereof. however, they always had good products and the need for any customer service was remote.

but now - Recon Tanto is no longer Carbon V? granted that's most likely a supply issue on the steel, but they stop carrying the Peace Keeper series and instead offer the counter Tac which is only ground on one side ?!?! and the Arch Angel, why would they get rid of things that like that?

do they even make San Mai III tantos, anymore?

it just seems like Mongoose - used to be a decent bike, now it's another Chinese Walmart special.

anybodyelse feel like they're deteriorating or know the cause?

 

[Runsalone]

I have for a while. Ever since I ordered a recon 1 tanto to replace the one I gave my brother. It was the newer version (at the time) with the sticky lock and 440A and ridiculously oversized blade made in taiwan.

I have one of the older ones made in japan and it is almost on par with similar offerings from BM.

I think Cold Steel sold out.

 

[Kiah]

but now - Recon Tanto is no longer Carbon V? granted that's most likely a supply issue on the steel,

Camillus made these as they made knives for a lot of companies (Western, Schrade, etc.). Carbon V is the same steel the Camillus Beckers used and that Case is still using as CV. It's modified 1095. I imagine CS could use a similar steel with the same results, not sure why they haven't.

but they stop carrying the Peace Keeper series and instead offer the counter Tac which is only ground on one side ?!?! and the Arch Angel, why would they get rid of things that like that?

Don't know about the Peace Keeper, but the Arc Angel may have been due to import issues.

do they even make San Mai III tantos, anymore?

I think so.

My opinion is that CS is doing just fine. While they've got rid of a few things, they've introduced some other things that other companies don't offer, they now have possibly the strongest folder locks out there, they have some very cheap blades that are tough as nails, etc.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

Cold Steel makes promotional videos, not knives.

 

[A.L.]

With all the respect, cold steel is a (( unnecessary vulgarity )). Just take a look their website and you'll realize how ridiculous their (( unnecessary vulgarity )) has become.

 

[Trigcure]

The CS Scimitar. its 150$.. is it just me or was it MUCH less expensive last year? Also, after seeing Nutnfancy's vidio on youtube about the CS Bushmans lock failing... i asked them about it on the CS forums.. the next day my post was deleted.
PS: The Braveheart is listed for 72$ on there website.. i got mine NIB for 42$

 

[Kiah]

Cold Steel makes promotional videos, not knives.

Not that this has anything to do with the OP's question, but I'll reply anyway.

The whole "Cold Steel" doesn't make knives thing is a silly argument when you attribute it only to them. The knives are made in factories. A factory is a factory regardless of where it is. The company is paying for space, machinery, materials, and wages to make their knives. Their knives are made specifically for them to their specifications. It works the same way as with any other large modern knife production company, except that some of them also have factories in the US.

If the company name was changed, would it make a difference? "Fallkniven doesn't make knives."

 

[Runsalone]

Not that this has anything to do with the OP's question, but I'll reply anyway.

The whole "Cold Steel" doesn't make knives thing is a silly argument when you attribute it only to them. The knives are made in factories. A factory is a factory regardless of where it is. The company is paying for space, machinery, materials, and wages to make their knives. Their knives are made specifically for them to their specifications. It works the same way as with any other large modern knife production company, except that some of them also have factories in the US.

If the company name was changed, would it make a difference? "Fallkniven doesn't make knives."

Not to put words in anyones mouth but: I think what was meant was if they'ed put the effort into their product that they put into trying to sell their product, the recon 1 might still be this good

 

[Kiah]

Not to put words in anyones mouth but: I think what was meant was if they'ed put the effort into their product that they put into trying to sell their product, the recon 1 might still be this good

I had one of those a bit back. Very nice knife. I haven't handled a Taiwan version yet.

 

[James_Terrio]

Does this mean my satin CarbonV TrailMaster is worth even more than my REAL, ORIGINAL Becker Necker with a thing on the end of the handle that opens all sorts of Bottles?

 

[Kiah]

Does this mean my satin CarbonV TrailMaster is worth even more than my REAL, ORIGINAL Becker Necker with a thing on the end of the handle that opens all sorts of Bottles?

Of course not. The Necker has the thing on the end of the handle that opens all sorts of bottles, and that's priceless.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Same old meaningless -- no, wrong -- slams on Cold Steel.

As kiahs pointed out, they aren't the only design bureau that doesn't own the factories that make their knives.

They could make the best knives in the world, but won't be in business long if they can't sell them. They do very well at marketing. Why is being a good businessman a problem?

The Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price you see on their website is an overt encouragement to find a dealer who will charge you maybe 60% of that price, which makes many of the knives pretty reasonable. Same goes for other manufacturers, by the way.

Of course, we aren't Cold Steel's only market. They sell to mall ninjas! Gee ... Cold Steel is a gateway drug knife.

They also sell some very interesting items of decent quality that you don't find from many other production companies, like their ancient arms and mega-folders. I have my own reasons for not wanting to buy from them any more, but I did pick up a Rajah II recently.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

zignal zero, times change. Camillus, a good old American knife manufacturer, made knives for other companies, as well as under its own name. It went out of business a couple of years ago.

Camillus made all of Cold Steel's Carbon V knives -- out of presumably the same steel as they made Becker knives. Once they were gone, CS went back to Taiwan to get something on the market. It took longer for Becker, for example, to get a US company to make carbon steel knives to match their previous products.

 

[Runsalone]

There certainly isnt anything wrong with trying to make money. Im just afraid to buy from them because I feel I wont get the value for the price that they once offered.

Didnt mean to bash them, so much as state my dissapointment. I have several of thier product from a little while back and found them to be solid tools.

It just seems theyre going the way of the dollar bill at whatever cost, but I guess thats the way of it these days in lots of industries.

 

[James_Terrio]

Of course not. The Necker has the thing on the end of the handle that opens all sorts of bottles, and that's priceless.

*whew* now I don't have to feel bad about tearing the handle off it.

The only CS products I've bought in the last couple years are 3 of their tomahawks. The finish is ugly as sin and they badly needed to actually be sharpened, but they perform very well and were very inexpensive.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

They've become less and less of a good value. They're a fantastic buy on a couple of models here and there, but mostly on the lower end of the price spectrum. It almost seems as though CS's pricing is exponential. That being said I'm always one to stand up and say that I DO enjoy their products. They (like CRKT for example) are one of those companies that seems to make money buy producing designs that nobody else will.

I enjoy my polypropylene war club very much, thank you.

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

is it just me or has CS gone downhill?

interesting , I never knew they ever made it UP the hill

on their website they are great to point out:
* The Cold Steel Office is not open to the public.
* We DO NOT have a retail store in our building.
* We can only take orders on this website, by mail or by phone.

They could at least add:
* We don't even have a single direct employee who makes our knives , they are all contracted out to be made.

The whole "Cold Steel" doesn't make knives thing is a silly argument when you attribute it only to them.

Which others have such over the top marketing that don't make their own product directly , or even own any knifemaking facility at all ?

 

[CHAINS]

The Rajah,Ti-Lite (6 inch) and X2 Voyager are three of my favs,that I will never get rid of.Spydercos,Benchmades and such have been sold,traded and such.I like the different items that CS comes out with.Instead of a smaller,larger,different steel,different handle material of the same knife.Boring."Look at me I have seven models of the exact same knife".Cold Steel is more of weapons company than just a knife company.I like weapons.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Which others have such over the top marketing that don't make their own product directly , or even own any knifemaking facility at all ?

Over the top advertising? It sells knives. They don't even show half dressed women, like the car companies do. You need to understand at whom their marketing is aimed.

And as was pointed out, Fallkniven makes no knives, owns no factories, and Scandinavians today are far from being vikings. They don't even make viking era weapons. Maybe that's not over the top, but it is, umm, deceptive.

 

[zignal_zero]

zignal zero, times change. Camillus, a good old American knife manufacturer, made knives for other companies, as well as under its own name. It went out of business a couple of years ago.

Camillus made all of Cold Steel's Carbon V knives -- out of presumably the same steel as they made Becker knives. Once they were gone, CS went back to Taiwan to get something on the market. It took longer for Becker, for example, to get a US company to make carbon steel knives to match their previous products.

ahhhh, that clears up alot. thank you for explaining that to me.