Cold Steel knives?

C

Cara

Joined
Jan 20, 2000
Messages
5
Hello,

I'm fairly new here. Just stopped lurking about and put my first post up yesterday
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I am wondering what the general opinion is on the quality of Cold Steel knives. I have seen their claims and bought one of their folders. Does anyone have an opinion on their performance and quality as compared to Spyderco or BM for example?

Have a wonderful day -Every day above ground, is a good day-


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Cara

True stillness,is stillness within motion
 
Cara--welcome into the light of the forum! You look pretty good cleaned up! Cold Steel produces some good production knives. To compare them to Spyderco or Benchmade is difficult as all three of them make a bit different type of knife for a different class of buyers. You might want to run the search engine for threads on the particular CS you bought to get specific feedback. Welcome!
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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!
 
Cara, welcome to the forum! CS makes some pretty good knives, but there's a little too much self-induced hype for my likeing. That being said they have quite good steel and their blades really do come shaving sharp everytime. I don't have any of their folders, but I have played with them in knife stores. My only complaint was in the choice of handle material and general fit and finish could go up a notch, closer to a Spyderco. I know that'sn ot much but I hope it helps.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
Welcome Cara,

Cold Steel does offer some good knives. I own a couple of their less expensive fixed blades. I am particularly happy with the Master Hunter. The folding knives I've handled did not compare favorably with either BM or Spyderco. Fit, finish and handle material aren't the same quality. Also, I don't think the CS serration pattern is as good as the BM and Spyderco patterns. If you are interested in a fixed blade, Cold Steel offers quite a few choices. If it's a folder, I believe your money is better spent with Spyderco or BM.


[This message has been edited by ptn (edited 01-21-2000).]
 
their fixed blades are very nice, but their folders have something to be desired. even among zytel knives, i'd get a spyderco over them. for a good using fixed blade, IMO they are hard to beat. i'd like to see them come out with a G-10 folder with steel other than AUS-8. they might really have something there.
 
Cara, I have just purchased 2 XLG Voyagers and have another on the way. These are used knives but you can't tell by the condition I recieved them in. I think they are EXCELLANT folders for the price I paid for them and the way they are made. I have owned BM, MicroTech, MOD, Buck, Case, Kershaw, and Spyderco to name a few. The CS knives were/are the sharpest out of the box hands down. They are way far ahead Spyderco in robustness of lockup too. The ergonomics could be slightly better but just nit picking on that one. These knives have unreal reach. There is no blade play in them at all and the strength of them for being lock backs is unreal. That being said I don't agress with some of the way CS advertises there knives. I own a couple of there fixed blades too, folders imho are better. The best fixed blade I have owned from them is the Master Hunter. If they put G10 or Micarta scales on this particular knife they couldn't keep them in stock. Keep'em sharp
 
Hi cara from one newbie to another welcome.
I owner the Voyager middel sized folder and have handled the Vaquero and the El Hombre.
The Voyager is damn sharp and the lock is strong I didn't like it as much as I have liked say my Emersons which are my favorite knives to date.(I own a Raven and CQC-7)
I also have a few benchmades and Master of Defense blades and one microtech. Now to get to the point I gave the voyager to a friend not liking the handle in terms of comfort or looks. It is a great folder for the price.
If you can't afford anything over 100$ buy Cold Steel. I have also bought the Cold Steel Recon Tanto and returned it the next day in favor of an SOG Tsunami. I had to shell out 60$ more and lost a inch or so of length but the SOG is better balanced more comfortable to hold and has a sharper edge. I have had no second thoughts since. The good thing about coldsteel is their love of Kydex a lot of their knives come with or have the option of a Kydex sheath or what they call concealex sheaths. It amounts to the same thing. I agree with whoever said it before they talk too much trash something I frown on in a company that builds my weapons or tools. They should speak for themselves. I like the Vaquero but it is too bulky when folded and liable to get you in trouble with the authorities as it is obviously a weapon. I also wish they would give their folders a bead-blasted or black finish.

"speak softly...."


[This message has been edited by justin (edited 01-21-2000).]
 
Cold steel is awesome. If you want a good knife for a good price, get a cold steel. If you want the best knife for the money get the "Bushman"

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In what was destined to be a short-lived spectacle, a chicken, suspended by a baloon, floated through the Samurai bar's doorway
 
The search is a good idea. It will give you more specifics on the knife your wondering about. I spend a lot of time on the forums and can't remember seeing any bad comments on CS knives. Its seems unanimous that the fit and finish aren't quite on the level of spyderco, but they are definitely users and use quality materials. Enjoy the forums, they're even better when your adding your own thoughts instead of lurking
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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
First off, fixed blades are Cold Steel's specialty, and as a proud owner of a Magnum Tanto IX I can say their fixed blades are of the highest quality. All of their knives are scary sharp out of the box. As for the folders, there are better folders out there but it's hard to find a better knife for the price that CS sells their folders. Like said before about their folders, there are a lot of knife for little price.
Sol
p.s have fun at the forums, its hard not to

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"If you come to a fork in the road, take it"
 
"I spend a lot of time on the forums and can't remember seeing any bad comments on CS knives."

Now I've seen everything....

I believe I've seen over two hundred such posts, very likely over five hundred.... That's not counting posts criticising the hype, only posts criticising the knives. The Kraton, the quality control, the warranty service, the designs, the steels, the heat treatment ... there's only one thread going on currently, the one on CS throwers breaking in the Reviews and Testing forum.

Most of us think some Cold Steel models are good value for the money, but there is plenty of criticism of CS knives on these forums.

Anybody who's considering a CS knife can search this forum, the Year One archive, the Reviews and Testing forum, and if it's a tactical knife, the Practical Tactical forum. You'll find plenty of reading ahead of you ... read it all and decide for yourself.



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-Cougar Allen :{)
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This post is not merely the author's opinions; it is the trrrrrruth. This post is intended to cause dissension and unrest and upset people, and ultimately drive them mad. Please do not misinterpret my intentions in posting this.
 
I had good and bad Cold Steel knives but in general, my good experiences are with the fixed blades. I bought two identical extra large voyager tantos and one was very tight lockup but was very hard to open one handed and the other had some play but was far easier to open one handed. Compared to a friend's Chris Reeve Sebenza (a far more expensive folding knife) it was unacceptable because you see that smooth one handed opening and bank vault lockup are not mutually exclusive.
 
I have had Cold Steel in the past. There fixed blades are ok (at least the ones I have owned). The upper end Tanto fixed blades are pretty nice. One thing to consider is that in the fixed blade line, you can get a custom for not much more. Lynn Griffith www.griffithknives.com makes very nice fixed blades that are not to much more expensive than Cold Steels upper end knives. Busse knives make (from what ive read) incredibly tough knives, in the same price range. Chris Reeve also has some fixed blades for not much more money, and are much nicer IMO.

As for folders, thats easy.... Get a Spyderco
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Richard
 
Hi, welcome, I'm pretty new here too! I have a couple of CS knives and am happy with them! They are production knives and certainly there are super custom knives that may be better, but can be much more expensive. I am trying to learn more... I do think that CS knives can be purchased at attractive prices.
CS does make big claims and their video appears to back them up to some extent. Their big claims open them up to alot of discussion on this forum.
Knives are like women and cars; individual tastes vary... I am interested in knives to use and abuse, so crude but effective works for me! Many members here are clearly collectors and are willing to pay for examples of brilliant workmanship. In cars, that's why they make Fords and Ferraris!
I have been watching comments on the forum about CS products, and they seem to be respected for their sharpness. Their designs and handles aren't always liked, but those are subjective judgements. The quality and workmanship at their price level is seldom challenged.
I have been impressed by a couple of Voyager folders that I paid 30-35 dollars for. They have a strong lock, good blades of AUS8 and are nice and thin! Can anyone tell be better knives for that kind of money? I've been looking for a more expensive folder, but I will not have a liner-lock of any kind and I like a clip-point blade!
Happy Reading!!
 
I have a CS SRK and a Trailmaster and I like both very much.Good price and shaving sharp.
Leave the fixed blades to the other manufacturers.

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have a"knife"day
 
I'm going against almost everyone here when I say I personally do not like Cold Steel very much. Everyone has their opinion, but I have owned a few Cold Steel knives and have never been to impressed with them. When you compare the fixed blades to the Busse Basics they really look bad. You may pay a little more for the Busse, but I think it is worth it. Just my .02.
 
When it comes to their fixed blades, for the money, im not so sure you can do much better. All the blades ive received came extremely sharp.
 
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