Cold Steel "news"... is that only me?

PiterM

PiterM

Joined
Mar 27, 2000
Messages
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Well, just wondering... I've noticed some "news" from Cold Steel around. Here's the link:

http://www.coldsteel.com/new.html

Well... let's stick to just one design on this forum (although I've seen more of them before, like TigheStick). The knife called BLACK TALON looks quite familiar to me. It's partly Byrd, partly Dodo, partly Civilian... all that together look quite ugly IMHO but the design clearly says: "I belong to Spyderco family". Is that only me who things so?!?! I'm usually polite, so let me say that it's NOT a classy act at all IMO... but unfortunately in line with my thoughts about Cold Steel behavior. :barf:

csstoreonline183417665788zl.gif


* If that has been discussed before than please ignore my post... anyway, my browser has some problems with "search" feature on BF.
 
Perhaps somewhat, but at least it's not another Cold Steel fixed blade made from 420j2. It only kind of resembles any one of those brands, so I don't consider it offensive, only lame.

I definitely agree that it is ugly, but I like this one:
http://www.coldsteel.com/60ce.html
 
PiterM said:
I must have seen that design before... The Spike by Phil Boguszewski? Well, at least it looks very much like it...
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it, yes.

This knife is kind of justified by Cold Steel's mini dirk (culloden I think), this being a fancy folder instead. Or so I thought. The handle is not dirk-like. Still, the final product is not so original even though it is well executed.

They do also have a new folder in that line with a tanto blade. I don't know of any similar existing knives, but I don't care for the tanto blade on a large knife. Too bad they don't make folders with an actual Japanese sword-style tip. That would be unique.
 
About that other new CS.

That knife, while great looking is a waste to me. A couple of problems with it. First, who is going to pay $350 for a CS? Granted, it sound slike it will largely be hand done. Still, with CS's notoriously spotty QC, I'd take a pass on that issue alone. However, issue #2 is what gets me about a lot of otherwise great blades. The blade is 4.25" long. May not be an issue for some but lots of places have a legal limit of 4". Why go over for just a .25" of blade when you are eliminating potential customers? I feel the same way about the Civilian and several other blades. Why?

So overall,cool knife, but I will pass.
 
With respect to the Civi, sometimes people actually *need* (define need as you will) a knife that's a bit longer, and design or carry issues preclude extending it to a full half or whole inch. For example, the Dodo has a relatively long handle for the blade length. Benchmade AFCK Axis also has this issue - extending the handle to accomodate a 4.5 or 5 inch blade would make it unwieldy.

Also, a truly radical design, like the Civi, can have a halo effect for a brand, even for people who can't buy it (sometimes for legal reasons, more often for $ reasons). That's one reason Benchmade's Gold line is a good business bet. Personally, I prefer the spydie approach of putting high-end technology in an affordable package - the S30V Native for $50 when people were still saying "Crucible what?" and now the high end Calypso/Delica duo. While I'm on my soap box, I also like that Spyderco actually tests things to see what you actually need and what will actually hold up, as opposed to what "works" (or is convenient or pretty) on paper.

YMMV :cool:
 
Actually, I beg to differ that the 1/4" difference in blade length between a matriarch and Civilian makes zero practical difference. However, I do understand the halo principal. Deep down I think my fussiness over the size of the Civilian is not that it is a shade too long, but that it does not make sense to have it that way when the one that is going to be availible for whatever reason to more people is not availible with a plain edge while the very limited appeal model can be had either way.

Perhaps a sprint run Matriarch with a plain edge (hey a guy can ask. The worst Sal can say is no :) )?
 
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