cold steel moving in a weird direction

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
3,164
I have been a diehard cold steel lover for about 10 years. but lately in the recent catalogue Special Projects. I feel they are doing some weird designs that are really away from what made them great.

it started with the scimitar, tri-action folder, now the recon folder series and the cheaper fixed blades like uwk,oda,oss and now the stockman and trapper.

I feel like they missed the boat on improving their tactical designs and staying ahead of emerson and others.

imagine a carbon V mini recon tanto, with a great kydex. or a mini SRK.


I think Lynn is hunting in africa too much.


I still think that the master hunter, srk, trailmaster are un beatable designs especially for the money.
 
Yeah, but Emerson's are made stateside, and CS products come from the other side of the pond. I remember the price on the R1, Black Bear Classic, and Tantos fluctuating by 50% or more from one issue of Spec. Projects to the next. Also, I think CS is having an identity crisis because of what has happened to the knife environment in relation to their 'signature' offerings. The tanto is definitely not a unique blade design anymore, and Carbon V has been lost in the sea of blade materials-talonite, INFI, ceramic, titanium, ATS-this, CPM-that, etc. Cold Steel needs a new niche, it just may take some time to find it.
 
I agree totally. Especially now that they are selling knockoff chinese SAK's. They've lost their reputation for quality in my book.
 
As long as we're griping about cold steel here I gotta
throw my two cents in. don't get me wrong I love cold
steel. I probably own more of their knives than I do
of any other company. Here's my bitch. The knockoff SAK's
Come on Lynn what the hell were you thinking? *insert bitch slap here*
They look like tiwan crap And I don't care how cheap they
are I ain't buying a knife that appears to be a death
rattle for one of my favorite companines.
And one other thing I want to get off my chest, WTF is up with
those damn mini handles. The SRK is my hands down favorite
out doors fixed blade knife but I can't carry the friggin thing
cause the handle is too damn short. I swear Lynn is making these
things for three to five year olds. I need another inch or so
tacked on to the handle. Do you think they'd do that?
Ok I'm sorry that turned into a bit of a rant.
I really hope they do start to move in a different direction
than the present one. any suggestions out there for what
you'd like to see them start doing?
 
I am glad I made this post. I wasn't sure so many felt this way.

I have been going through my special project catalogue and shaking my head. I know running a company is tough but damn do you have to go down that path.

there are so many paths he can go.
 
We took a "modified" CS Recon Scout up to BAKCA and showed it to Joel (Feinberg?) who does quite a bit of business with CS...

The mods? Stock removal...2.5 oz. worth... The new design? Swedged with a sharpened upper edge...we left a 1" Ricasso...it's sweet, light, still a camp knife, and truly a fighter...

Now, for that Kydex sheath...
 
If Cold Steel spent more time and effort improving the knives that attracted me to them in the first place, like the Carbon V Trailmaster and the Big tantos, I might still give a damn about them. I gave up on them a while ago.
 
I think Cold Steel is just trying to keep up.
The other production companies are keeping knifenuts like us scrambling to spend our hard earned money on their product by continually updating and upgrading their knives.
CS has to do something or run the very serious corporate risk of being left in the dust.
It appears they are trying to expand their customer base by bringing the designs that have proven successful for them in the past out in more economical versions so more folks can afford to have those designs.
For example, there are probably a HUGE number of people out there that want that Big Bear Classic but cannot realistically afford that $200.00+ price tag for one. The OSS(the economical version of the Big Bear Classic with 420HC blade steel, Kraton handle, guard and sub-hilt) has given those on a tight budget an opportunity to own a really great knife design at under $100.00.
One can't really blame CS for trying to carve out a broader niche for itself. The production cutlery game looks like a real corporate jungle.

We should start to worry when they start canning some of those great Carbon V knives in their current line-up.
 
Not to sound like everyone else but I agree.

One thing I can say though...

I agreed to trade a CS Scimitar for a couple of sheaths for a guy. I figured I like CS and thought it'd be interesting to see the POS. I got it and I must say that I was really impressed.

My first intention was to play with it for a day and then dump it for a few bucks, because I knew I would never buy one. Now, I decided to keep it. It's not quite as stout as my Voyagers but it as nice as a lot of other stuff I've paid more for.

I'll still avoid the SAK knockoffs, lightweight multi purpose stuff and the Ti-lite but I can say if you see one of the Scimitars cheap then pick it up, you may really like it.

I throw it in my pocket when I want something a little different to carry.
 
I think Misque's post captures CS's moves from a business standpoint well. Look at the CS Trailmaster, for example. An awesome knife for sure. But when the Battle Mistress came along, there went CS's claim to be the best bowie out there. I think the profile of the CS blade is better for fighting, but for taking on the woods, the INFI Battle Mistress is the winner. So, CS could try and compete by upgrading steel, doing R&D to come up with a magic heat treat, or whatever. but they decided to go for the economical knife market to stay in business. Notice that some of the classics are still there. Recon Tantos, SRKs, Trailmasters, Voyageurs, Bush Rangers, Bushmans, Recon Scouts, and some others have been around for eons, because they are a great value at their price point. I bet CS figured they can't, at least right now, compete in the market unless they make some changes, and they thought they could best stay alive and make some profit by capturing the lower end of the market. Sounds fien to me. I bet few bladeforumites are buying the new CS 420 steel knives, but I bet a whole lot of non-forumites are picking them up.

Mel, I think i saw a pic of that SRK you ground. That would definitely make for a better SRK, in my opinion!
 
Crayola, your example of the Trailmaster is perfect because the Trailmaster was my main knife for outdoors and expeditions - until I bought a Busse.
But as much as I love my Busses, if the TM had been improved I would still have used it, and I think alot of other folks who find it hard to get their hands on a Busse or who prefer the TM design and speed or who might be attracted by a slightly lower price might prefer the CS even now.
I don't think Carbon V can beat Infi, but it's still a fine steel. But, geez, they could have coated the blade to help against rust, they could have done something about the kraton handles and the pathetic sheath. There was alot they could have done to compete.
They went down the wrong path. And I'm glad, because now I've discovered other better knives and those companies, and makers, have my loyalty.
 
Cold Steel makes knifes I am not afraid of using or losing. Don't get me wrong, I like those expensive knives but the thought of losing a $200+ knife that was attached to my web gear just doesn't appeal to me. Granted there are better knives for a lot more money but for a field use "beater" CS is not too shabby. I recently ordered one of their 420 knives so I'll see how that one works out. I don't know what the deal is with those SAK's though. :confused:
 
Cold Steel are a company that is tying to be all things to all people. We will see if this is the right direction for them to take.
 
I've noticed they have reduced prices on several items featured in their catalogue. I've always liked Cold Steel knives and despite the hype, they are good knives. The only thing that has puzzled me is their move to market cheap Swiss Army ripoffs.
 
CS could upgrade some of their stuff but I still think they are the best because they sell many different types of knives and stuff. How many other production knife companies make quality swords? They popularized the tanto blade and they still make great ones.
 
I haven't seen the latest Cold Steel Special Projects catalog. I am a big Cold Steel fan. I own 10 of their folders and 3 of their fixed blades. For the prices they are asking, I have found that they perform quite well for how I use my knives.
A lot of folks are concerned about the Recon 1 series being rip-offs of the Benchmade Axis Lock. There was a thread about this on the Benchmade forum which was answered directly by Benchmade President/CEO Les de Asis. And he said that they were supposed to meet with Cold Steel at the SHOT show and see about a licensing agreement.
I have one of the Recon 1 folders and have found it to be a great folder. I like the handle shape a lot better than the Benchmade 710. (I have both of these folders.)
Being a Swiss Army knife (Victorinox) fan also, I have to strongly question why they have introduced the cheap SAKs.
I think that Cold Steel has actully helped raise standards in the Knife indutry. While most of the other knife companies were jumping on the liner-lock bandwagon, They went back to the lockback design until they came up with a liner-lock design that worked well. The design I have described here is the Scimitar. I have one and I think that it is one of the best liner-lock designs that has ever been introduced.
Stay tuned to the Cold Steel website in December. They should have some new interesting designs coming out for next year.

GCG199
 
I too was a big Cold Steel Fan. I am as disappointed in them as everyone else. I work part-time in a knife store and had the chance to see many of their knives. I noticed a problem with quality control. Problems were not so much with the older stuff but with the new stuff. I understand the reason for developing less expensive versions of popular models but I feel like they could have done a better job. There is othing left to say about the knock-off SAKs.
On the positive side I like how CS has developed unusual items and I think that they should continue in that area. For example I like the idea of a higher quality sword cain and also the cane without the sword. Afterall, few people will stop you from carrying cane.
Only time will tell what direction CS will go in.

-Lev
 
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