Cold Steel Recon 1 or Benchmade Ambush

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Firewalker 42

Joined
Aug 13, 2005
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Greetings All,

1st time post though I've been enjoying the various forums for a whle. I'm considering purchasing either the Cold Steel Recon 1 or the Benchmade Ambush. Both are around the same price and I'm partial to 4" blades. Any opinions in terms of which is the better knife in terms of durability, locking mechanism, blade quality, etc. or are they both pretty similiar? My purpose is for EDC and general utility. (I want to get eventually the Benchmade 710 which has the better Axis lock but it's not in my price range for now.) I'd appreciate any feedback!
 
I think you can interpret the lack of responses to people thinking there is no contest here. I won't answer your question myself because I only have experience with the Recon 1, but I bet most would be with Way-O in saying the benchmade is better.
 
I've had great luck with BM in general. I've held and used an Ambush, but I didn't buy it as I have equivalent knives already...

I DO have Recon 1, with AUS8. I don't recommend it over almost anything unless you get a great price. The newer Recon 1's with 440 steel... are in my opninion, a waste of money.

Get the Ambush, a CRKT M21, or any of a dozen other $50 knives with 4" AUS 8 blades.
 
Buy the Benchmade. I'm not familiar with the Benchmade Ambush, but I do have a CS Recon 1...

I've got a number of other Benchmades, though. I'm currently carrying a 710HS and a mini-Grip and love both of them.

I have issues with Cold Steel, the company and Cold Steel, the knife :rolleyes:
 
Save your money a little while and buy the BM Skirmish. It is an awesome knife. A large blade that will shave like a razor. I have a lot of knives, including three more Benchmades but it is my very favorite and my carry knife nearly every day.
 
If you like aluminum handles and want a BIG blade for a 4" folder, go with the BM Ambush. If you don't mind synthetic molded handles and can scrape up the extra $15 or so, the BM Grip has an even better lock and better ergos, albeit with a slightly smaller blade (but you get your choice of stud or hole, clip-ish drop point or wharncliff-ey.)

In my limited sample, the Ambush actually comes with a significantly thinner primary grind at the edge, if that matters to you one way or the other.

And depending on your local police, an Ambush may get you in less trouble - an unmodified Benchmade Rolling Lock pretty much cannot be flipped open (ie, called a 'gravity knife', etc, by a zealous confiscator).

And if that's not an issue it takes about two minutes with a dremel or maybe four with a file to significantly speed that action (you thin the width of the detent bar to around 50% of factory spec.) Of course your warranty is now toast. :)
 
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