Cold steel recon 1 vs cold steel ak 47

J

Joshua Wong

Joined
Feb 26, 2018
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33
which one is better ? I want something for edc. Should I get a cold steel recon 1 or cold steel ak 47? It’s such a tough decision.
 
They're similar in some ways, but pretty different overall. Assuming the extra half-inch of blade on the R1 is legal, for general EDC I'd take the R1 over the AK.

Both will be fine choices, though. Tough, capable, not too heavy. The AK is much more aggressive-looking, IMO.
 
Something not commonly considered is that the AK-47 is hollow ground and might cut noticeably better than the spear or clip point Recon 1. That being said, the tanto Recon 1 is a hollow-ground masterpiece and I think the best of the bunch.
 
I have both and I like the Recon 1 just a lil’ bit more. You get more cutting edge, the ergonomics work well for me, and the thumb stud might be preferred by most folks over the thumb plate. Nonetheless, the 47 is a fine knife as well. I like the belly of the blade shape.
 
recon1 tanto is a great blade for puncturing and stabbing, its not so useful for utility (EDC) cutting
so if you want something for EDC i would suggest Recon1 spear point, or AK47
 
:) AK-47 comes with a wave opener thumb stud . Also has a smashing pommel . Nice belly to the blade .

Not everyone likes the handle , depends on the individual .

IMO , very ergonomic and can function equally well for work/ utility or SD .

But I don't prefer it over the Recon 1 .

They don't compare very well directly . Quite different .



 
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marrenmiller said:
Something not commonly considered is that the AK-47 is hollow ground and might cut noticeably better than the spear or clip point Recon 1. That being said, the tanto Recon 1 is a hollow-ground masterpiece and I think the best of the bunch.
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Is the AK-47 still hollow ground? I thought CS changed over most of their knives to flat. I have a newer American Lawman and Recon 1 that are both flat ground. I know for sure that the American Lawman used to be hollow ground (not so sure about the Recon 1).

Anyway, for the OP, they are quite different knives IMO. The Recon 1 is bigger maybe even lighter? I can't imagine carrying the Recon 1 as an EDC. By that I mean, I can't imagine whipping out a 4" blade at the grocery store to cut a string off my pants or something like that. I don't have the AK-47(yet), but I have other 3.5" knives and the half inch makes a difference in that respect. I'd say it really depends on what you plan to use it for. The AK-47 probably has more general utility usefulness, while both have their own distinct advantages for combat/SD. IMO, range is a critical factor in combat/SD and would personally grab the Recon 1 before the AK-47 for that reason.

On a side note, I really do plan on getting an AK-47 in the future. I was waiting for CS to update the G10 scales like they have with the Recon 1, Lawman, etc. I actually emailed CS and asked but haven't received a reply yet. BUT, if I find out that the newest AK-47s are still hollow ground, then I might be inclined to get one sooner than later...
 
JokersFaceLifter said:
recon1 tanto is a great blade for puncturing and stabbing, its not so useful for utility (EDC) cutting
so if you want something for EDC i would suggest Recon1 spear point, or AK47
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This sounds right on the surface, but in reality it is not.

The Recon 1 tanto has a thinner grind for the primary edge that is better for cutting things than the spear or clip points, but the tip profile is less ideal for stabbing than a spear or clip point as it thickens and broadens up more quickly the further you get from the tip. The tanto tip on the Recon 1 is good for resisting damage and abuse, but not for puncturing. Considering how the layperson and tons of people on this forum use their EDC knives, having a stronger tip very well might be a plus.

Meanwhile, the rest of the blade on a spearpoint Recon 1 is worse at slicing through things due to the flat grind and thicker edge. Assuming you can sharpen two straight edges on your sharpener of choice, the recon 1 tanto is probably more practical for EDC. It's also giving you a longer blade and a shorter handle for the same weight than the AK-47.
 
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BJ987 said:
Is the AK-47 still hollow ground? I thought CS changed over most of their knives to flat. I have a newer American Lawman and Recon 1 that are both flat ground. I know for sure that the American Lawman used to be hollow ground (not so sure about the Recon 1).

Anyway, for the OP, they are quite different knives IMO. The Recon 1 is bigger maybe even lighter? I can't imagine carrying the Recon 1 as an EDC. By that I mean, I can't imagine whipping out a 4" blade at the grocery store to cut a string off my pants or something like that. I don't have the AK-47(yet), but I have other 3.5" knives and the half inch makes a difference in that respect. I'd say it really depends on what you plan to use it for. The AK-47 probably has more general utility usefulness, while both have their own distinct advantages for combat/SD. IMO, range is a critical factor in combat/SD and would personally grab the Recon 1 before the AK-47 for that reason.

On a side note, I really do plan on getting an AK-47 in the future. I was waiting for CS to update the G10 scales like they have with the Recon 1, Lawman, etc. I actually emailed CS and asked but haven't received a reply yet. BUT, if I find out that the newest AK-47s are still hollow ground, then I might be inclined to get one sooner than later...
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I know for certain that they changed the Recon 1 clip and spear points, the American Lawman, and the AD-10 to flat grinds, but from what I can tell the AK is still hollow and is still listed that way on every retailer I've seen.
 
Both great knives. If I had to choose, I'd go Recon 1.

Depending on the size of your hand, those cutouts for your fingers might not be the most comfortable. I have an XL/2XL hand and the Recon 1 fits me well.

Have you looked at the CS Ultimate Hunter? The handle is more neutral shaped and might be more comfortable. My Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter is one of my favorite knives.
 
marrenmiller said:
I know for certain that they changed the Recon 1 clip and spear points, the American Lawman, and the AD-10 to flat grinds, but from what I can tell the AK is still hollow and is still listed that way on every retailer I've seen.
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Thanks but that doesn't give much assurance to me that I will get a hollow grind if I purchase one. I've seen Recon 1s and American Lawman's listed as hollow ground by some retailers still as well. I suppose I could always contact the seller. AK-47 hollow grind, newer, smoother G10, I'd snatch right now. BTW, I've always wondered this but never asked, is the pommel on the AK steel?
 
I guess it comes down to personal preference and what you are comfortable with. I tried the AK 47, really liked the design but it felt awful in my hand. I gave it away. I prefer the recon 1.
 
gazz98 said:
Depending on the size of your hand, those cutouts for your fingers might not be the most comfortable. I have an XL/2XL hand and the Recon 1 fits me well.

Have you looked at the CS Ultimate Hunter? The handle is more neutral shaped and might be more comfortable. My Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter is one of my favorite knives.
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I had to get rid of my Recon 1 as the handle was just too skinny. Lots of blade, but the thin handles made it difficult for me to use as a work knife. Like you, I have some pretty good sized mitts, and now that they are a bit arthritic, I really want a comfy handle at work. Sometimes I use my knives out on the job all day, to the point where I take them out of my pocket and just keep the knife in my tool bags.

My two favorite work knives (at least for now!) are my Ultimate Hunter and the CS Bushranger. Both have large handles that are lightly sculpted and provide a great grip for sweaty, tired hands for all day use. For size reference, when I hold the Ultimate Hunter, in my palm, I nearly cover the entire handle, just a little peek of the G10 on the blade side and butt show. Still very comfortable in the hand when in use. It has a GREAT utility design that can be used for all manner of tasks. The Bush Ranger is just a big, heavy duty tank of a knife that is another winner of a work knife.

The AK47 provides a really secure grip even with dirty, sweaty hands. But that same design is nearly impossible to use with work gloves due to its blocky handles. Due to the cut outs on the scales (no doubt intended to secure a good grip) the knife really difficult for me to use if I have to change the grip if I have to have careful positioning of the blade for a cut.

And for me, all the squared off surfaces made it harder than it should be to get in and out of the pocket. No problems getting the knife in and out of the pocket when using the Ultimate Hunter, Bush Ranger or Recon 1 (gone but not forgotten!).

Robert
 
If love tanto blades, the Recon 1 is definitely one of the best options out there. Strong pointy tip with a mean edge. But if you can’t stand tantos (nothing wrong with that) get the clip point or drop point instead.
 
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