Cold Steel homies, I need your input!

el gigantor

el gigantor

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
1,738
Alright I’m either buying the Black Talon 2 or the Tiger Claw. I work in a greenhouse and the knife will be used to break down boxes, slash open plastic bags, cut tape, zip ties, etc.

I really dig both knives, and I’ve decided either recurve or Karambit is what I’m after. I’d love to hear which one you think I should run with.

(Also, the BT2 costs roughly $25 more than the Tiger Claw, both are plain edge, and both use S35VN)

Cheers!
 
My answer would be neither.....The Recon 1 Tanto is one of the best cardboard cutters / plastic slashers I've seen. A recurve design will tend to gather the cardboard or plastic towards the center of the blade, resulting in pulling and tearing instead of cutting....especially if it isn't razor sharp, the cardboard is not dry etc......
 
Arathol said:
My answer would be neither.....The Recon 1 Tanto is one of the best cardboard cutters / plastic slashers I've seen. A recurve design will tend to gather the cardboard or plastic towards the center of the blade, resulting in pulling and tearing instead of cutting....especially if it isn't razor sharp, the cardboard is not dry etc......
Click to expand...
Fair enough! I have a Recon 1 Tanto and Spearpoint, as well as an Ultimate Hunter (my current carry). Love em but looking to try something new..
kobold said:
BT2. Looks like the handle is more ergonomical and I like a larger blade for work. More edge can do more work before it goes dull.
I would get the serrated one. https://www.coldsteel.com/black-talon-ii-serrated-edge-s35vn/
Click to expand...
I did a little searching on my retailer's website, and the SE variant is $10 less than the PE. Nice! Do you have experience with CS's serrations? They look like a nightmare to sharpen, especially on a recurved blade.
1911bphil said:
My default answer is get both. The Tiger Claw is (maybe) more practical. I think I will get the Black Talon later this summer if I can find it on sale. I'm probably not helping you decide. Let us know what you decide to get.
Click to expand...
I wish I had the $$$ for both. I'm planning on selling a few blades I don't use this week, so we'll see what happens.
 
Arathol said:
My answer would be neither.....The Recon 1 Tanto is one of the best cardboard cutters / plastic slashers I've seen. A recurve design will tend to gather the cardboard or plastic towards the center of the blade, resulting in pulling and tearing instead of cutting....especially if it isn't razor sharp, the cardboard is not dry etc......
Click to expand...
I feel the same way too. I own the Tiger Claw and think it's cool, but I wouldn't choose it as my warehouse/greenhouse knife. The same goes for the Black Talon 2 (it's one I don't own). If you're using them all the time you have to consider what a pain they are to sharpen. The Recon 1 Tanto is a great choice and if you want something a bit lighter the Code 4 Tanto would be the way to go.
 
How about an SR1 Lite tanto? It’s a beast. Good slicer for how thick it is. Cheap. Unbreakable. Great work knife
 
I'll throw in a wild card - Voyager. Clip, tanto. Plain or partial serrations. Great ergonomics. Built to last. Easy aus8 to sharpen. Deals can be found if patient. Easy edc in the large size - My edc for years now. Slices like a dream. Potential great self defense - put one in your hand and you will know what I mean.
 
Tuff Lite

It's a box cutter on steroids. I've cut miles and miles of cardboard, zip ties and heavy duty plastic straps with mine. Absolute beast of a knife.

Pto tip: When you cut cardboard, don't hold your knife perpendicular to the cardboard. Hold your knife at an 45° angle and you will zipp through any cardboard with ease.
 
I use a tiger claw serrated for pruning and general yard work. I don't care for the finger ring and had plans to remove it but the project is low on my to-do list and haven't made it there yet.

The serrations make it nice for grass and green wood but less good on cardboard. IMO, serrations shine on cutting platic so big win if you cut a lot of the plastic bags.

The black talon, IMO, will likely do better for cardboard because of the flat section of blade, but I've used a billhook for several years as an EDC back in my 20's, a byrd crossbill, and it did fine with cardboard and great for opening packages.
 
I don't have the Tiger Hawk (couldn't get over the handle being an awkward size for a ring knife) or the Recon 1, but I just got the plain edge Black Talon 2 and can say it's very good with cardboard. A few things of note:

I think the serrated version is popular mostly because it looks more like the Spyderco Civilian and appears aggressive. But I didn't think Cold Steel's serrations would work as well and I can't sharpen them. Even for defensive purposes, serrations have a tendency to bind up in clothing unless the blade is super thin like the Civilian, in which case you can't use the knife for everyday tasks.

Material does collect at the inside of the curve, but since this is an S shaped blade, that happens at a thinner part of the blade than it does with a recurve. This knife slices cardboard much more easily than the Rajah 2, for instance.

The blade stock is pretty thin and even the plain edge is chisel ground, so it's set up very well for slicing.

I like that they put a swell at the butt of the handle and have two finger choils, which should ensure that you don't lose grip even when it hooks into material.

I'm not looking forward to sharpening this, but I shouldn't have to too often since it's S35VN.

Don't put your hand or fingers on the butt of the handle when you're closing the blade. The blade actually peeks out the back a little before going into the handle and will cut you.
 
If you go with the BT2 be prepared to re-bend the clip. It's super tight.
 
el gigantor said:
Fair enough! I have a Recon 1 Tanto and Spearpoint, as well as an Ultimate Hunter (my current carry). Love em but looking to try something new..

I did a little searching on my retailer's website, and the SE variant is $10 less than the PE. Nice! Do you have experience with CS's serrations? They look like a nightmare to sharpen, especially on a recurved blade.

I wish I had the $$$ for both. I'm planning on selling a few blades I don't use this week, so we'll see what happens.
Click to expand...

I only have experience with Spyderco serrations, but it is very positive. Serrations simply give a longer edge and the scallops act as small recurved blades preventing the material from sliding off. I use serrated knives mostly for garden work, they are great for anything fibrous be it natural or man made fiber and harvesting. Also better at cutting a garden hose.

I sharpen a SE on the corner of a ceramic stone. Just pull the entire length of the edge along the length of the stone's corner like I would do with a plain edge on the flat side of the stone.
No need to use a chainsaw file to get into each scallop separately or anything involving like that. I also just strop on the corner of a leather strop.
 
el gigantor said:
the Tiger Claw
Click to expand...
in PE !

TC has stronger build , especially the tip .

I do use a PE BT2 for package opening and breaking down boxes etc , but I'm very careful with the tip .

Cold Steel SE are great for SD / survival and emergency use , but not so good for a real working knife . IMO .

Because of the sharpening , which is a tedious PITA !

If you need SE for working , Spyderco is far better for sharpening ease .
 
el gigantor said:
Fair enough! I have a Recon 1 Tanto and Spearpoint, as well as an Ultimate Hunter (my current carry). Love em but looking to try something new..

I did a little searching on my retailer's website, and the SE variant is $10 less than the PE. Nice! Do you have experience with CS's serrations? They look like a nightmare to sharpen, especially on a recurved blade.

I wish I had the $$$ for both. I'm planning on selling a few blades I don't use this week, so we'll see what happens.
Click to expand...
I also do outdoor landscaping. I generally carry the old hollow grind Recon 1 s , Lawmen, or the Ultimate Hunter. The UH seems to be the best edc/work knife for me. The hollow grind Code 4 with a strip of grip tape on each side is also a useful knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top