Cold Steel= flat out liars

K

Kistrael

Joined
Sep 28, 2005
Messages
3
What's the general feel about Cold Steel knives?

I'm looking at the Black Sable and Black Talon in particular.
 
others may echo this same sentiment, but especially with those "top end" folders, you can do a h*ll of a lot better than cold steel for the money . Check out spyderco for lockbacks, benchmade, chris reeve for framelocks etc etc.... :D
 
They've got some good stuff, some bad, some so-so. Their customer support, from what I've heard, is also so-so.

That said, the CS knives that I've bought have never given me any problems. Frankly, I love them.

CS Trailmaster, CS Black Bear, CS XL Voyager, CS City Stick, CS Sjambok and CS Vaquero Grande are all tops in my book.

I've seen their other knives, and I wasn't all too impressed. I think it's hit or miss with them.
 
I bought a Cold Steel folder with their Axis Lock ripoff on a lark after watching their little 'I think I'm a ninja' video add. It was a Recon folder with the Ultra lock

My first impression of the knife was that it was not all that well made. There was a lot of blade play when open and the locking mechanism just felt like a cheaper version of the axis lock (I've had similar negative impressinos from their other locking mechanisms in the other Cold Steel folders I've handled). The black coating on the blade was also dissapointing as it had some small chips along the sharpened edge of the blade. Cold Steel seems to kind of be the used car salesman of the knife world. They try to tell you that their knives are indestructable but it's just not the case. I have a couple of their fixed blade knives and I like them for what they are (throwers) but their folders are really not good.

For the same cost you could get a much better knife from another manufacturer.
 
The Black Sable looks like a nice knife. However, if you spend just $75 more you can get the real thing, the Brian Tighe "Tighe Stick."
 
smegs:

that's the exact knife I was unimpressed with. My friend swears by it, but I'm spoiled after owning benchmades, CRK's, and Spydercos. Even the more affordable CRKT's are a better deal in my book than the CS folders (except the larger folders that I mentioned).
 
4 Ranges said:
smegs:

that's the exact knife I was unimpressed with. My friend swears by it, but I'm spoiled after owning benchmades, CRK's, and Spydercos. Even the more affordable CRKT's are a better deal in my book than the CS folders (except the larger folders that I mentioned).
Click to expand...
Yep. When you can get a benchmade for the same cost it's a no-brainer for me. I agree that CRKT beats Cold Steel in pretty much every category too (as does CRK, but they're a whole other class).
 
The fixed blade models made from the "Carbon V" steel are usually good, dependable, well made knives. Many people (including me) also like the Voyager folder series. The higher end (read, more costly) models, however, often to disappoint users.

Customer service on the "sales" side is very good. I'm afraid (from personal experience) that I can't say the same for customer service on the warranty side.
 
I'm interested in some of their cheaper models, but no way would I spend the money the black sable requires. Don't get me wrong, that knife looks gorgeous, and I'd love to have it, but come on, that's starting to approach on custom territory.

Some of their warranty complaints here really concern me. I don't worry about those things with Benchmade and Spyderco, which are starting to look like real values compared to the higher end of Cold Steel's lineup. For instance, I bought a 41MC balisong from Benchmade, THE Bali company, with titanium handles, a D2 recurve blade, a spring latch and zen pins. Worse yet, it's a limited edition knife. And yet I still got it for about 20 dollars cheaper than Cold Steel's Arc Angel, which uses a t-latch (some people prefer this, however, it is very simply cheaper to make), the mystery "Carbon V" steel, and in my humble opinion, doesn't look nearly as good. And I get Benchmade's warranty. Benchmade has never let me down.
 
I like the CS knives in general. They make great users like the Voyager and the Vaquero series. The Black Sable got a real good review in the latest issue of Tac Knives, for what thats worth. They seemed very impressed (more than usual) with the fit and finish. I wouldn't mind getting one, but the price is a little out of my range right now.
 
**ronsec
I like the CS knives in general. They make great users like the Voyager and the Vaquero series. The Black Sable got a real good review in the latest issue of Tac Knives, for what thats worth. They seemed very impressed (more than usual) with the fit and finish. I wouldn't mind getting one, but the price is a little out of my range right now.**
Click to expand...

I agree, they make some great beaters for the money, and customer service is top shelf!! My bro-in-law broke his 4" tanto digging a broadhead out of a tree, snapped about 1" of the tip off. He sent it back and was given a new knife no ?'s asked :eek:
I sent in a very dull 3" clip point voyager back that had the very tip chipped off, got it back re-profiled & crazy sharp. Thats why I'm a big fan of Cold Steel :D
 
It's good to hear some positive things about CS. I had heard not so good things about their warranties. Enough and I might have to reconsider my opinion of some of their higher knives. One of my biggest problems with CS might have nothing to do with their knives whatsoever, actually--no store anywhere around carries CS knives, or in any significant porportion. Interestingly, lots of stores carry their arc angels here. I can try so very few of them, and I'm thus left to conclude about the company through the reports of others.
 
Ive had many cold steel knives & never had a problem. i had a recon 1 & didnt have any blade play or finish problems.the fixed blades are great,tanto's trailmasters,all carbon v's. not too crazy about zytel handled folders only 'cause of zytel & the styles, in general.the bad axe is great & well balanced for throwing, the special forces shovel is great to keep in the car,that cheap kukri for about 15.00 is made in south africa & works well, the ready edge buzzes through things fast. i read a review in the review & testing on the hatamoto, it didnt sound too well.i'd wait on the high end stuff untill you can find more info on them from people who have em....
 
I have two friends that swear by CS. They saw the More Spoof videos and they were hooked. I tried to convince them that Benchmade and Spyderco were better and they said we won't belive it unless they make DVDs that show what there knives can do. I told them that BM and Spyderco did not need DVDs and that there custermers do lots of the advertising for them. After about 10 mins of arguing I finally got them to agree that BM and Spydies are better. But the said well I will still get CS cuz they are such good knives for the money. I say all this to prove that CS DVDs really work and that the typical non knife knut sees it and says oh I got to get me one of those they are the toughest knives on the planet! And although some of there designs are good I can get much better from BM, Spyderco, CRKT... Also one of my friends got the Recon and the Zytel Ti-lite and those knives did not hold and edge at all! The ultra-lock is not smooth either. All this to say that you will not catch me buying CS any time soon.

TBG
 
Cold Steel is a truculent outfit. I remember calling those folks some years ago, when my large tanto point Voyager suddenly developed a bad case of bustedtipitis, after a short encounter with a tree stump. I was told that "abuse" is a customer's own problem (psychiatric, no doubt). Never mind that I acknowledged bad behavior and merely wanted to find out if the company could shorten and re-edge the blade. The guy on the line behaved as if I were attempting to somehow discredit CS's self-made reputation for reliability and toughness. I had the knife re-fashioned by a local bladesmith.

There is something obnoxious about Lynn Thompson's mentality, and I think it pervades the whole firm. That said, I once owned a San Mai III Tanto and it was exceedingly well made; I finally sold it for a profit to a guy who went nuts for the thing. Which brings me to the only Cold Steel knife that I presently own: my new Black Sable arrived yesterday--I love the shape, and its build quality is first-rate. I paid $289 to a reputable web dealer (price includes shipping). And while I agree that the list ticket is high--$400.00--it is not fair to intimate that this particular knife is not in custom territory. I think the black Sable is top drawer, every bit as impressive as a Sebenza, and goodness knows that Chris Reeve makes wonderful knives. I don't much like Cold Steel as a company, and I sure wouldn't pay full retail for their knives, but the San Mai III series of tantos is outstanding, and the new Black Sable is one badass blade.
 
Smegmalicious said:
I bought a Cold Steel folder with their Axis Lock ripoff on a lark after watching their little 'I think I'm a ninja' video add. It was a Recon folder with the Ultra lock

My first impression of the knife was that it was not all that well made. There was a lot of blade play when open and the locking mechanism just felt like a cheaper version of the axis lock (I've had similar negative impressinos from their other locking mechanisms in the other Cold Steel folders I've handled). The black coating on the blade was also dissapointing as it had some small chips along the sharpened edge of the blade. Cold Steel seems to kind of be the used car salesman of the knife world. They try to tell you that their knives are indestructable but it's just not the case. I have a couple of their fixed blade knives and I like them for what they are (throwers) but their folders are really not good.

For the same cost you could get a much better knife from another manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Actually, CS licenses the Ultra Lock from BM. That doesn't mean that it is as strong or well made, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top