cold steel mini law man

Joined
Nov 13, 2009
Messages
1,632
this is a pretty good knife, we should be hearing way more about this one on the forums. i think people just dont really know how awesome it is yet. the handle is raelly what makes the knife. if you are an average sized guy with regular sized hands, this knife gives you a 2.5 inch blade with a full sized handle. then you have the triad lock on it too, which makes the knife very reliable and strong. it doesnt please me aesthetically but it feels better in my hand then most other knives i own.

not my pic
3649034016_7b28a12c64.jpg
 
Finger groove seem hit or miss with me... great if they fit my hand well but I sort of have a feeling that I'd prefer it without them.

How is the black coating on the blade of these Cold Steels? Does it come off easily? Looks kinda weird and shiny to me.
 
the black coating isnt too great. i have it next to a black coated emerson, and its nowhere near as nice as the coating on the emerson, but i also got my mini-lawman for only $40 shipped. it snaps open hard and has a bit of heft to it.
 
cheaply built, junky G10, and an over the top, under performing back lock. No thanks!

For the price they charge for those things I'd rather buy a KAI with quality products and much better performance.
 
The metallurgy is only a small part of what makes a good knife. Heat-treating is the soul of the steel, and Cold Steel is familiar with that particular make of metal.

Hence, as AUS8A goes, Cold Steel's 8A is at the top of the list. They've been doing vacuum heat-treating and sub-zero quenching since before it was practical, and I wouldn't be discouraged from buying a Cold Steel Knife simply because it was produced in AUS8A.

After all, most European cutlering companies have been using the 440 series of steel (gasp!) almost exclusively for the last half-century, and because of their impeccable heat-treats, they've done right by it to a surprising degree. The Puma, Boker, and Muela series of knives are a testament to that.
 
I can see nothing wrong with that knife... except that there isn't enough real estate to cut a wave.
 
For $40, I really like mine. The fit and finish is nicely done.
Sharp out of the box, but I gave it a slight touch up on my 1x42 belt system and it now easily pops hair with a light touch :)

It fits my hand well, flicks open easily and the TRIAD locks up rock solid :)
The combo of finger grooves and textured G-10 scales make it feel slip proof in my hand.

Japanese AUS 8A Stainless is a good steel.
Discussion here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=259612

You can buy direct from Cold Steel for $79.99 plus another $9 for shipping (does anyone actually do this?) or you can do a quick query online and find much better deals.

Did I mention I also got mine for $40 total cost (knife + shipping), delivered to my door. :)
 
cheaply built, junky G10, and an over the top, under performing back lock...

I've read that statement a few times and I don't get where it comes from.

Have you actually held one in your hands? What is "junky" about the G10 used? And why is the lock "under performing"?
 
Well, I just wrote a lengthy reply why I feel the American Lawman is one of the best bang-per-buck knives but I accidentally hit the Forward button and there went that. :(

In summation for the American Lawman (not the Mini Lawman)..... AUS8 is very good steel, holds an edge well and is easily sharpened, overall f&f is great, the lockup is solid, ergos are very good, and the knife can be found for <$70 shipped CONUS. This is my first CS folder and I'm glad I took the plunge after reading all the rave reviews. It's a great, solid knife. I will be buying more to give as Christmas presents this year. :thumbup:
 
cheaply built, junky G10, and an over the top, under performing back lock. No thanks!

For the price they charge for those things I'd rather buy a KAI with quality products and much better performance.

It's great that we can disagree because I feel just the opposite of what was mentioned above:). Great G-10 (very grippy). Zero problems with the AUS8 on my Lawman, hair popping sharp as well. Pretty sure this has been tested to be one of the toughest locks on the market, I could certainly be wrong. Fit and Finish was 2nd to none. This was actually my first Cold Steel knife and to say I'm satisfied is an under statement.

I know Cold Steel has been under the gun in the not to recent past (justified or not) but the Lawman is a great knife regardless of the cost.

I didn't care for the black coating so I let it sit in paint stripper over night and the next day it practically slid off the blade. It's now a great satin finish. Ergo's for me at least make my Lawman one of the best "in hand" knives I own. I work construction so the stout blade makes it a great tool for me on the job site:thumbup:

Paul
 
cheaply built, junky G10, and an over the top, under performing back lock. No thanks!

For the price they charge for those things I'd rather buy a KAI with quality products and much better performance.

This is total nonsense! First of all G10 is not junky and it is found on many Kai products! Products with G10 are considered quality in most cases. Secondly you obviously have not priced these knives and thirdly you never handled one of the Lawman or Mini Lawman folders and know nothing about the lock on this particular folder. You could probably stand on this knife once opened after hammering it in a mortal joint or tree trunk and it would probably work fine as a temporary leg up and ask for more. Try that with your Kai! Not to take anything away from Kai because I like them too but truth be told this lock is not to be under rated and will hold its own with the best out there. Watch the videos on youtube for the lock you just called an under performer or better yet buy one and test it yourself. Go ahead. Beat the snot out of it and tell us its junk!

STR
 
Well, I just wrote a lengthy reply why I feel the American Lawman is one of the best bang-per-buck knives but I accidentally hit the Forward button and there went that. :(

In summation for the American Lawman (not the Mini Lawman)..... AUS8 is very good steel, holds an edge well and is easily sharpened, overall f&f is great, the lockup is solid, ergos are very good, and the knife can be found for <$70 shipped CONUS. This is my first CS folder and I'm glad I took the plunge after reading all the rave reviews. It's a great, solid knife. I will be buying more to give as Christmas presents this year. :thumbup:

Splat I have trouble seeing how you could accidentally depress the rocker arm lever to release the lock. I have four of the Lawman and one Mini and all of them share one thing in common, extreme travel for the lock to disengage. You have to sink that rocker arm deep to make it free the blade on any of mine. Real deep. Define 'forward button' because you use a term I don't really follow there.

STR
 
Splat I have trouble seeing how you could accidentally depress the rocker arm lever to release the lock. I have four of the Lawman and one Mini and all of them share one thing in common, extreme travel for the lock to disengage. You have to sink that rocker arm deep to make it free the blade on any of mine. Real deep. Define 'forward button' because you use a term I don't really follow there.

STR

He meant like a "forward button" like on an email/computer thing, I think. He wasn't talking about the back lock arm.
 
It's great that we can disagree because I feel just the opposite of what was mentioned above:). Great G-10 (very grippy). Zero problems with the AUS8 on my Lawman, hair popping sharp as well. Pretty sure this has been tested to be one of the toughest locks on the market, I could certainly be wrong. Fit and Finish was 2nd to none. This was actually my first Cold Steel knife and to say I'm satisfied is an under statement.

I know Cold Steel has been under the gun in the not to recent past (justified or not) but the Lawman is a great knife regardless of the cost.

I didn't care for the black coating so I let it sit in paint stripper over night and the next day it practically slid off the blade. It's now a great satin finish. Ergo's for me at least make my Lawman one of the best "in hand" knives I own. I work construction so the stout blade makes it a great tool for me on the job site:thumbup:

Paul

Any chance you could post some pictures of the knife with the black finish on the blade removed?
 
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