Cold Steel "Essentials"?

I sent my Cold Steel knife back 2-3 months after I bought it.
2 weeks on the dot, I had a brand new one.
I even called them and they were friendly and quick.
I don't see anything about a time limit anymore either.
But yeah. The whole "proof" thing is a load :D
 
I don't care about any of the funny business...proofs, crazy claims, crazy videos, gonzo warranties. I am fine with Aus8 steel. Clearly even those who have professed to have "hated" on the brand acknowledge that the American Lawman is a good to very good knife. Sounds like the Recon is a little too big.

Lawman sounds like that "essential" Cold Steel product to round out a collection of others branded knives of various price points.
 
GrinderMcgee said:
Check out the homepage Dorito. I would be surprised if you could name a dozen companies with a warranty way better let alone dozen(s).

"Warranty: We stand behind our knives and swords 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that our folding knives, fixed blade sheath knives, and swords are free from defects in workmanship and materials.

This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, re-sharpening of the blade, damage caused by misuse, lack of normal maintenance, or disassembly.

Remember any knife or sword can break or fail if subjected to sufficient abuse, so please do not use our knives and swords inappropriately and remember no knife or sword should be used as an axe, hatchet, screwdriver, or pry bar.

Total satisfaction or your money back! If you are dissatisfied with merchandise obtains from OUR site, simply return within 30 days for a refund. (Items should be returned in the condition received). This money back guarantee applies only to items purchased directly from Cold Steel, Inc. Items purchased from other sources will be repaired or replaced if defective."

Never had a problem returning a defective item and have had a couple just like with any other company. I remember the old warranty but I also remember that they didn't hold strictly to those time limits either so unless you had some personal negative experience to share your comment seems over exaggerated.

To OP: I prefer the Recon 1 or Voyager to the Lawman just because I am not a huge fan of the choil on Lawman anymore. Tuff Lite is another little gem to take a look at and I like that choil. Personal preference.
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What they don't mention on the webpage, but mention on their boxes (conveniently after you've already bought the knife and it's too late), is that their warranty only lasts for 12 months for folders (instead of pretty much every other company, which offers a lifetime warranty) - So, when they say "WE STAND BY OUR KNIVES 100%" they really mean "WE STAND BY OUR KNIVES...but only for the next couple of months." :eek: "...aaand that doesn't include damage caused by the tasks we specifically demonstrate our knives to be capable of performing." :eek::eek: I found this out when I looked at the box for my American Lawman. The warranty for fixed blades is slightly better, extended to five years (as I understand it). I don't know if this has changed since last I bought a Cold Steel knife, but that's how it was just a little while ago.

Aside from being borderline dishonest (telling you one thing on their webpage but only revealing the limitations after you've bought their product), that policy is miles behind the rest of the industry. Compare that with ESEE's "If you manage to break our knives, no matter how old they are or who bought it or how the damage was caused, we'll give you a new one" policy, or how Kershaw will literally ship replacement parts to you on their dime if some part of your knife craps out on you.

Additionally, check their language carefully. As with all Cold Steel marketing, it pays to read exactly what they say: When they say "total satisfaction or your money back", they go on to say that it only applies to items purchased directly from them, and even then, only within 30 days. Even Wal Mart has a better return policy than that. :rolleyes:

So, let me name a dozen companies with warranties that blow Cold Steel's out of the water:

Kershaw
Ka-Bar
ESEE
Gerber
Hogue
Case
Benchmade
Spyderco
Ontario
Boker
Victorinox
...and even SANRENMU has a better warranty than Cold Steel. :rolleyes:

Granted, a lot of companies are not leaps and bounds ahead of Cold Steel in the warranty department, but you really can't do any worse.
 
I think the American Lawman and Mini Lawman are some great knives for the money, as are the Voyagers. The Recon series is okay, but honestly a little high in price considering I see American Lawmans (which IMHO cut better) go for less than $60 all day long. The Voyager knives are a steal with the large 4" going for around $40-45 which is quite a lot of knife for the price. I just have a hard time seeing where the Recon 1 fits in.

On the other hand, the fixed blades knives which I use to love are no longer such a great value. For the price of a Recon Scout you can get a knife like a CPM 3V fixed blade from Big Chris here on the forums, or any number of other makers for around the same price. That and even the ESEE knives aren't priced too differently. I have a CS Master Hunter in San Mai III, and it's okay but the steel isn't the toughest steel in the world. It chips pretty easily, but fortunately they are very small chips. I think I would prefer the knife in SK-5 over the San Mai III as I have been really underwhelmed by it's toughness.
 
Dorito Monk said:
Lol, are you serious? They have one of the very worst warranties in the business. :rolleyes:

What is it, 5 years for their fixed blades, and 1 year for their folders? Which doesn't cover damage caused by the user recreating any of the stuff you see them using the knives for in their marketing videos (chopping, prying, hammering, whatever). :eek: That's not a warranty, that's a joke. Especially when you consider the dozens of companies that offer a way better policy...

There are a lot of good things you can say about Cold Steel, but 'Great Warranty' isn't one of them by a long shot.
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Nope, they have even done away with any kind of time on their warranty. Now, all you get is :

Warranty: We stand behind our knives and swords 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that our folding knives, fixed blade sheath knives, and swords are free from defects in workmanship and materials.


If you read this carefully, it is basically only a warranty that the knife you buy will be free from defects.


And by free from defects, I have no idea what they mean. They sold me a defective knife, then replaced it with a defective knife, then when I contacted them, they said that is just the way that knife was made.

(it was the old Black Rhino. The lock spring was not anchored, and there was no hump on the lock bar where the spring would stop. So it would work forward and hit the blade, denting the edge again and again). The solution to this is to design the locking bar with a raised bit to keep the lock spring in place.

This is what they did on the Recon1. (which does not have any of these problems).


When they make a flawed design, they won't fix the problem. They will simply sell it at a discount (without telling you about the defect). I paid for the knife, then paid for the return shipping to them, only to have them send me a new knife with the same defect. It would be fixable with a simple replacement of the lock bar. But I was informed they don't replace parts. I was pretty ticked.


I have many CS products, and think the Axis lock is a great lock.

But my one experience with their "warranty" was not a good one.
 
Man so many cs haters!! Yea their advertising sucks, but they do make good solid knives. I have a recon 1 and a master hunter and they both are high quality. The recon 1 is a tough folder. I do wish they would coat their blades better. But other than that they are excellent knives IMO.
 
I love the new model Recon 1 and American Lawman. Since I stripped off the Teflon coating I like them even better. Good value knives that can take a beating!
 
I've had multiple cold steel products both fixed and folders and I do not recommend cold steel because their customer service let me down on a cheap Bushman fixed blade (made in china, if that matters to anyone). Even though my personal loss is less than $25, I will tell everyone who aks for an opinion about cold steel. I really like the tri-ad lock but but hate cs's Aus 8 steel. I have sold or traded off all my cs knives. The African machetes are very good and I still own a Magnum Kukri machete. The African machetes are the only product cs markets that I could recommend but buyer beware of warrany, YMMV.
 
Dorito Monk said:
What they don't mention on the webpage, but mention on their boxes (conveniently after you've already bought the knife and it's too late), is that their warranty only lasts for 12 months for folders (instead of pretty much every other company, which offers a lifetime warranty) - So, when they say "WE STAND BY OUR KNIVES 100%" they really mean "WE STAND BY OUR KNIVES...but only for the next couple of months." :eek: "...aaand that doesn't include damage caused by the tasks we specifically demonstrate our knives to be capable of performing." :eek::eek: I found this out when I looked at the box for my American Lawman. The warranty for fixed blades is slightly better, extended to five years (as I understand it). I don't know if this has changed since last I bought a Cold Steel knife, but that's how it was just a little while ago.

Aside from being borderline dishonest (telling you one thing on their webpage but only revealing the limitations after you've bought their product), that policy is miles behind the rest of the industry. Compare that with ESEE's "If you manage to break our knives, no matter how old they are or who bought it or how the damage was caused, we'll give you a new one" policy, or how Kershaw will literally ship replacement parts to you on their dime if some part of your knife craps out on you.

Additionally, check their language carefully. As with all Cold Steel marketing, it pays to read exactly what they say: When they say "total satisfaction or your money back", they go on to say that it only applies to items purchased directly from them, and even then, only within 30 days. Even Wal Mart has a better return policy than that. :rolleyes:

So, let me name a dozen companies with warranties that blow Cold Steel's out of the water:

Kershaw
Ka-Bar
ESEE
Gerber
Hogue
Case
Benchmade
Spyderco
Ontario
Boker
Victorinox
...and even SANRENMU has a better warranty than Cold Steel. :rolleyes:

Granted, a lot of companies are not leaps and bounds ahead of Cold Steel in the warranty department, but you really can't do any worse.
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What he said:P
 
I have a Recon 1 and it's been a good "beater" knife. The AUS8 tends to roll rather than chip, and it's easy to bring back to a good level of sharpness. If you get a AK-47, Recon 1 or American Lawman, you probably won't be disappointed.

By far, my favorite Cold Steel is my Recon Tanto in Carbon V. I've beaten that thing to hell and it holds an edge extremely well and gets sharp very quickly. It's been a fantastic fixed blade.
 
goephoto said:
Man so many cs haters!! Yea their advertising sucks, but they do make good solid knives
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Spill that tea, honey!

The main thing I like about them is the Tri-Ad lock because it has easily handled things that would have damaged other knives (mostly chopping various things), plus they are not that expensive

Take away the Tri-Ad lock though and I'd be in on the shade
 
I don't care about all the other crap. Like I said, even the haters concede that the Lawman, the Recon and the Axis lock is good. I am fine with AUS-8 steel on an inexpensive knife so no worries there. Unless the product is defective, I don't worry about a warranty...if I break a knife I buy a new one.

Thanks for the input. I haters concede the Lawman and the Recon (and the Axis lock) are good, that's a heck of an endorsement to me. And the fellow that REALLY hates Cold Steel endorses some of their machetes so that's something to look at too.
 
HoosierQ said:
I don't care about all the other crap. Like I said, even the haters concede that the Lawman, the Recon and the Axis lock is good.
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I think you mean the Tri Ad Lock. The Axis lock hasn't been used by Cold Steel for several years. While the Tri Ad lock has been said to be the strongest lock for the money the Axis lock (still used by Benchmade) has some advantages as well. The Axis Deploys easier and is easier to close for the most part. It doesn't have the reputation of locking in the open position and long break-in time that some of the Tri Ad locks have had. On the large Cold Steel Knives Tri Ads the deployment is easy enough with a practiced snap or pocket snag, but on the smaller "Mini" and "Micro" models some think that the Tri Ad is overkill. A knifes strength is measured by it's weakest component and the pivot and lock are usually that part that fails first. Andrew Demko's Tri Ad has gone a long way to change that. But in the practical and real use world of under 4" blades the Tri Ad is not the "end all be all" of what makes one knife better than another, IMHO. Put a Tri Ad Lock on a box cutter like the Tuff Lite (one of my favorite Cold Steel EDCs) and it is still just a Box Cutter.
 
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Yes, I did mean Tri-Ad lock...thank you. That's actually, despite my misquote, another reason for this probably acquisition is to try out another type of lock. My favorite, mechanically speaking (so far) is the compression lock. I like the tried and true back lock for simplicity of operation and ambidexterous use. I like the way the Spyderco Military does their liner lock. I, oddly, don't own a frame lock. I am not yet initiated into the high dollar mid-tech world of folders where that's the norm.
 
Shame on you Dorito for making me look up each companies warranty. I would have liked to copy/paste each for the "I told you so" but the wording was truly indistinguishable and nearly identical on each companies home page to the Cold Steel warranty I copy pasted a post earlier(with the exception of ESEE, which is outstanding and undeniable American treasure and I own several). And each company states it is their discretion whether the knife has been abused or not. I fail to see where Cold Steel is being "blown out of the water" in comparison.

Obviously you have some personal problem with the Cold Steel brand for whatever reason. The warranty has been updated from the printing on your boxes, and as stated before, the company never asked me how many years I owned any of the products returned in the past. The "Proof" video never claims to be a warranty but I promise any knife from Cold Steel will cut through as much raw meat as any of us could afford and I don't see you calling them liars on that test, which is the most frequently demonstrated.

Believe it or not I do not work for Cold Steel nor do I own or even favor many of their products over similar ones from competitors companies.

If I were to recommend my favorite folder company to the OP it would be Kershaw. And I will admit I have the most experiences with Kershaw warranty claims since the torsion bars snap on a regular basis. They have promptly sent me replacements and even T-tools to aid in home repair and I could not be more grateful. It is unfortunate to see that the newest lines of Chinese cutlery must be sent in for the spring replacement. A downgrade in service if you ask me when the Cold Steel has upgraded. Nevertheless, my favorite American made knives. Next would be the (IMO of course) overpriced but not underbuilt Spyderco brand of which I own and enjoy many.

And Wal-mart has NEVER even once questioned a return from me. Even gave me cash for a bicycle that was trashed after the chain snapped and golf clubs with dirt on them from use. Only better warranty is ESEE (which you get credit for mentioning) or BUSSE, which dares you abuse purposefully, and charges plenty for the privelage.
 
I have an older Recon 1 with their "ultra lock" (axis)&Tanto blade,and it has been beat upon mercilessly.Apart from slight up/down blade play it is a tank.I'd send it back to get the lock tightened but am afraid they would replace it with the new model which I do not care for.As stated by others, the coating is crap but thats trivial.
I believe I paid in the area of 50 or so dollars and now they are going for upwards of 150 if you find them on flea bay.
A solid folder for the money.
 
I had a Recon 1 with triad lock. Modded it (took off coating and sanded under the pocket clip) and was going to sell it but gave it to my son who was carrying a RAT-1 folder. He loves it. :thumbup:
 
GrinderMcgee said:
the company (Cold Steel) never asked me how many years I owned any of the products returned in the past.
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This may be true. But really Grinder, how many times have you sent a knife back that wasn't the very latest model or one year out of date? When was the last time you sent them a folder that was no longer in there line up to be serviced under warranty? Even getting replacement screws or an older pocket clip out of Cold Steel is like trying to pull teeth out of their first born and that is a sad fact. While Cold Steel imports thousands and thousands of blades from China, Taiwan, Africa and India they are not know to import or stock enough parts for the knives they sell. It is much easier for them to replace a warranty item with a new one out of stock and then dump the defective or broken item in the trash or at the parking lot sale on the back tables.

GrinderMcgee said:
but I promise any knife from Cold Steel will cut through as much raw meat as any of us could afford and I don't see you calling them liars on that test, which is the most frequently demonstrated.
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Can you name any other knife that could not cut as much raw meat as any of us could afford? These days I can hardly afford to cut the meat on the dinner table. While the meat cutting is the most frequently demonstrated Those are not the tests that stand out or get the newbe customer's attentions. There is little doubt that most any knife with the proper edge could be filmed cutting meat the same way Cold Steel does and I don't expect that many knives (Cold Steel or Otherwise) would fail during those tests. It is the Carhood, CinderBlock, Chinup Hangtest, Skateboard Chopping, 50 gal Drum punching, Cow Skull Splitting, Copper Pipe Cutting with a Mean Scowl and the statement by LTC that "This is why you spend your money on Cold Steel" that makes the Proof DVD what they are. But what they really are is a boast of Performance that their Warranty doesn't stand behind.
 
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