Cold Steel Pocket Bushman

[XiaolongJackson]

I've been considering buying one but heard that some older models were unsafe, but apparently they have since replaced them with a safer version. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with these newer models?

 

[soccerant09]

I almost cut my arm off at a gunshow with that knife, i will never pick one up again. Try a small fixed blade like a RAT 3, that will work perfect for field usage.

 

[Chris Pierce]

I had one. I liked it a lot, but I didn't like how I had to use two hands to close it.
It's a great knife with a good cheap steel. If you don't mind the locking system.

I don't know what you mean by unsafe.

 

[orangish ducktape]

Buy one! I love mine, I beat on it! I baton with it all the time! It's tough, cheap and lightweight!
Can't go wrong

-orangish ducktape

 

[XiaolongJackson]

I almost cut my arm off at a gunshow with that knife, i will never pick one up again. Try a small fixed blade like a RAT 3, that will work perfect for field usage.

I actually just want it because I like the design and it appeals to my aesthetic sensibilities, but I'd like it to be safe to use, in case I do feel like using it.

I had one. I liked it a lot, but I didn't like how I had to use two hands to close it.
It's a great knife with a good cheap steel. If you don't mind the locking system.

I don't know what you mean by unsafe.

Heard some stories of people getting hurt by it and the blade is supposedly very weak, so it tends to break off and fly into people.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I have one. It fits a couple of niches for me. It works well in the kitchen: lightweight for its size, sharp. Outdoors it is a beast. But I can't get past the lock. Too stiff, hasn't loosened appreciably, two hand close and still feels like I'm going to slip up on the blade.

Got too much other good stuff without the drama.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I've been considering buying one but heard that some older models were unsafe, but apparently they have since replaced them with a safer version. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with these newer models?

I carry a first generation one every day. Never had an issue. The issue you're talking about is the way that the cutout for the ram-safe spring was blanked. The first gen had a small notch in it because it was easier to blank them that way. Under extremely unusual circumstances the spring could kink in the space there, eventually leading to spring failure. This wasn't a safety concern, though, as the lock continues to work even if the spring breaks. It just becomes "extra manual."

Most folks who almost (or do) cut themselves with it are operating it incorrectly. Here's a video I made a couple years ago that shows the safest (and easiest) method. It's naturally slowed down for demonstration purposes but it's just as fast as closing many other knives.

[video=youtube;b86x4IUe5Xk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b86x4IUe5Xk[/video]

 

[Esav Benyamin]

You wish! When I do that, it sits there and laughs at me!

 

[Chris Pierce]

Heard some stories of people getting hurt by it and the blade is supposedly very weak, so it tends to break off and fly into people.

How's that supposed to happen?
What would you be doing with a knife that makes it fly apart and fly into people?
What would make this knife more prone to this (whatever it is) than other knives?

 

[razorsdescent]

Get one. They are great knives at a very cheap price point. Just dont swing them as hard as you can by the lanyard to see if you can inertia open it

 

[Joshua J.]

Someone of the forum cut their hand pretty badly when they tried to close it by holding the handle like you normally would during use, and then pulling on the lanyard. Their hand slipped up onto the blade. I was really looking forward to getting one until I read about that, it makes sense to me that you would want to close it after use by just yanking on the lanyard, and if that's a good way to cut your hand open then I'll pass on the design entirely.

 

[RDog]

I had written this knife off as I had read many poor reviews. In the back of my head I figured a good portion of these must be based on the human factor...lets face it there are many stupid people, or folks who use things in poor or unsafe ways.

I think when we see a vid or written review we assume the person doing it is "normal" but many times I'm willing to bet if we could see the person in real life we would never take their advice, and may give them a wide berth.

I am pleased to hear some good things about this knife, as I still wonder about it sometimes. I may just pick one up at some point to see for myself. at least now some of you are giving it the thumbs up.

 

[pbcg]

I had one and gave it away. It's a good knife for the price but the locking mechanism is a pain. You need two hands to open and then close it. If you use your knife more then one a day then you might want a different knife. You can wear yourself out opening and closing that thing. As far as safe? The one I had was. As long as you use the same caution you would use with any knife.

 

[XiaolongJackson]

How's that supposed to happen?
What would you be doing with a knife that makes it fly apart and fly into people?
What would make this knife more prone to this (whatever it is) than other knives?

I'm not sure either. In any case, I don't intend to use it much, so this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I have one, and have used it for years without cutting my self. Strong knife. Great geometry on the blade. If they made one with a higher end steel, or titanium frame, with a bit more texture and it would be even cooler, and I would have to buy another one.

I love it. The design is only as safe or dangerous as you make. If you are not competent to handle a knife with a sharp edge, and a strong spring, look elsewhere.

The original was not "unsafe" it had a defect in the locking ram channel, where it would break.

They fixed this problem.


You can close this knife with one hand. There are several methods. If your thumb is strong enough, you can simply push against the ram where it protrudes at the back of the handle. Easy Peasy.

You can also hook the ram protrusion on your belt.

You can also, if necessary, bite the lanyard. I have done this a few times without thinking about it.




You can cut your self very seriously with this one, if you are not competent to use it.

My most severe cut came from a fixed blade, that does not fold or snap closed at all, so you can cut your self with any sharp object if careless. Does not mean I am giving up on all sharp objects.

I almost cut my arm off at a gunshow with that knife, i will never pick one up again. Try a small fixed blade like a RAT 3, that will work perfect for field usage.

If you almost cut your arm off with one, I am calling your mother, and recommending she take away all your scissors.

I had one and gave it away. It's a good knife for the price but the locking mechanism is a pain. You need two hands to open and then close it. If you use your knife more then one a day then you might want a different knife. You can wear yourself out opening and closing that thing. As far as safe? The one I had was. As long as you use the same caution you would use with any knife.

If you need two hands to open this knife, you need some one to point out the thumb stud, and how to use one. (unless of course, you lack the strength of hand to accomplish this, which some do. Hand size, and strength can play a role. I know people that cannot open any slip joint unless they are a pinch-able design).

Heard some stories of people getting hurt by it and the blade is supposedly very weak, so it tends to break off and fly into people.

Any one who can get this blade to "snap off, and fly into people" is either a magician, or doing something very wrong with the knife (I am thinking of Nuttingfancy's moronic video here).

Have no concerns about that. Can you break the blade? Yes, but it would require a hammer, or batonning a log much too big for the knife then applying enough sideways stress to break the blade, or getting a huge ripple in the blade then continuing to batton it into that same over-sized log with side ways torsion. Once you see a thin ground blade take a wave like in Nuttinfancy's video, you cannot continue to baton it and not get a huge tear out.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I had written this knife off as I had read many poor reviews. In the back of my head I figured a good portion of these must be based on the human factor...lets face it there are many stupid people, or folks who use things in poor or unsafe ways.

I think when we see a vid or written review we assume the person doing it is "normal" but many times I'm willing to bet if we could see the person in real life we would never take their advice, and may give them a wide berth.

I am pleased to hear some good things about this knife, as I still wonder about it sometimes. I may just pick one up at some point to see for myself. at least now some of you are giving it the thumbs up.

It's a wonderful knife. You just have to use it differently. It's not for everyone--it goes against the current trend in the industry towards rapid one hand opening and closing, opting instead for simplicity and durability. But if you just give it some time to break in and for you to get used to its operation, you may find it's your new best friend.

I had one and gave it away. It's a good knife for the price but the locking mechanism is a pain. You need two hands to open and then close it. If you use your knife more then one a day then you might want a different knife. You can wear yourself out opening and closing that thing. As far as safe? The one I had was. As long as you use the same caution you would use with any knife.

I know a couple of ways to close it one-handed if you really have to, and you can easily open it one-handed once the knife breaks in. I use mine frequently throughout the day.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Y'know, I have a few Swede 92 knives (mfg: EKA, Eskilstuna, Sweden), and I've given some away as gifts.

One of them I gave away as a gift and when I asked some time later how the user liked it, the reply was, "I never use it; I'm afraid I'll cut myself closing it."

It didn't matter that I demonstrated the correct (and safe) way to close it, several times, in slow motion. It just didn't matter. The spring is quite strong, and it snaps shut with real authority, and that was simply too much, considering that at least one finger has to lie across the blade recess slot to disengage the (tail mounted) lock at the beginning of the closing process.

I wound up replacing it with a more acceptable knife (same size) that didn't have the same "snappage" on closing, and gave that Swede 92 to someone else.

I have a number of knives that can bite if carelessly closed or if some kind of cute shortcut is attempted.

I have no exposure to the CS Pocket Bushman, but it seems to me that once the mechanism is learned and its quirks appreciated, it should be as safe as any of my "biters" are.

I would be more worried about edge retention myself.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Edge retention is about the same as a Swiss Army knife. Just as corrosion resistant and just as easy to touch up.

 

[fatcat55]

I have one and haven't used it in over a year. It has a unique locking system but beyond that I don't find it extraordinary. The handle can get uncomfortable after awhile and the blade and edge are nothing special. I think of it as a gimmick. and You have to pay attention when closing it but I don't think of it as dangerous.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I don't have to think twice about it at this point. It's not a gimmick at all--it's a very secure lock that functions even if you break the knife. And you adjust to the handle. There's a reason I carry it instead of my many other more expensive folders. It just works. Like I said, it's not for everyone though.