Cold Steel Recon Scout alternative?

Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce

Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
4,837
Howdy Folks
I'm looking at picking up a Cold Steel Recon Scout. I've owned a lot of Cold Steel knives and I really like them. So Please don't go bashing Cold Steel in my thread.
The reason that I'm considering a Recon Scout is that I've owned several TrailMaster's and while I enjoy them quite a bit they are just too large to be practical for me. I really like the styling of the Recon Scout, with it's clip point blade and oval guard. But the rat tail tang does bother me a bit. I don't want this to turn into a debate about full tang vs rat tail or "do I really need a full tang knife" etc.
Please give me some recommendations for knives that are similar to the Recon Scout. I typically like a 4-5" blade, but I haven't found anything similar to the Recon with a shorter blade.

Here's a pic of the Recon Scout just for fun

RECONsCOUT.jpg


Thanks
-Chris
 
Got a budget? I really like all of my CS fixed blades. Picked up a Kobun for 25 bucks, and am very happy with it. Nice low profile blade.
 
I'd like to keep it around the price of a new recon scout. I'm sort of planning on buying a nice leather sheath for whatever i end up with, so maybe $200 max if the knife comes with good leather.
Funny you should mention the Kobun, I've been eying it for a while. I've owned some of Cold Steel's value line knives and I've been pretty happy with the quality you get for such a low price.
 
Big difference between the San Mai version (Cold Steel san mai is very good), and their regular. Best prices I've found are 102 for the regular, and 210 for the San Mai version.

If you're looking in the San Mai ($200) budget range, you might consider Bark River, such as the Manitou, Custom Skinner, or Custom Bowie. Those are around 170, and comes with a nice Sharpshooter leather sheath. Barkies are pretty fantastic knives.
 
Non Cold Steel ?

Fallkniven S1 -

I have no problem with Cold Steel , I own several but the S1 will run circles around the Recon Scout any day of the week.

Tostig
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Big difference between the San Mai version (Cold Steel san mai is very good), and their regular. Best prices I've found are 102 for the regular, and 210 for the San Mai version.

If you're looking in the San Mai ($200) budget range, you might consider Bark River, such as the Manitou, Custom Skinner, or Custom Bowie. Those are around 170, and comes with a nice Sharpshooter leather sheath. Barkies are pretty fantastic knives.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go for one of those Barkies -- the OP mentioned the stick tang bothering him, suggesting he's worried about damaging the knife. Those Bark Rivers are specialized slicers with thin grinds. Any kind of use that would damage a stick tang would surely damage a knife with such a thin edge and tip. I have a Manitou, and while it's a gorgeous hunting knife, it is NOT a hard user. It's meant for precise slicing tasks, and not much more. I can't speak for those other Barkies, but I imagine they have similar builds.

I'd second the Leatherneck, when it's available. It's supposed to have a larger than normal stick tang. If true, it's probably got more steel in the handle than the Recon Scout. I don't know for sure though.

There's also the "new" Ka-Bar, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/853747-Ka-Bar-USN-MK1-First-Impressions that might be worth looking at.

Yeah, the tangs still aren't full... but these are just some alternatives out there. The BRKTs are of course nice, but too specialized for general use IMO. Not that that's a bad thing; Bark River is my favorite knife manufacturer for that reason! You just gotta know what you're buying ;)
 
I'm a Cold Steel fan, own dozens, but there are several good alternatives to the RS. Ontario (RAT), ESEE, Becker/Kabar all make good camp/bushcraft/survival knives at fair prices. You can even check Scrap Yard at the moment for their 511. Knife is impossible to beat at $90, unconditional lifetime warranty and the best rep in the world.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
Howdy Folks
I'm looking at picking up a Cold Steel Recon Scout. I've owned a lot of Cold Steel knives and I really like them. So Please don't go bashing Cold Steel in my thread.
The reason that I'm considering a Recon Scout is that I've owned several TrailMaster's and while I enjoy them quite a bit they are just too large to be practical for me. I really like the styling of the Recon Scout, with it's clip point blade and oval guard. But the rat tail tang does bother me a bit. I don't want this to turn into a debate about full tang vs rat tail or "do I really need a full tang knife" etc.
Please give me some recommendations for knives that are similar to the Recon Scout. I typically like a 4-5" blade, but I haven't found anything similar to the Recon with a shorter blade.
Click to expand...

Hey man, I personally love the Recon Scout, especially the San Mai version, and I bought it for exactly the same reason you did (liked the TM, but too big) and it is the most fun fixed blade I have ever picked up. I personally don't have anything in the same niche, so can't recommend you something.. but 2 things:

1) by what you said in your post, are you implying that TM's are full tang and RS's are not?

2) if you DO buy the recon scout in san mai... and you get yourself a leather sheath.. can I buy the cordura sheath it comes with off of you? :D The secur-ex sheath my SK5 one came in is a POS
 
Fallkniven A1 for me. I much prefer it over my the Recon Scout. It's also stainless but still tough as nails.
 
Fallkniven F1 3G is only 4" but it's a beast, and the leather sheath (pistol style) is very nice
 
Cold Steel SRK.

When you get it out of the box you will hold it all day, sleep with it that night and get up and hold it all day again. They are tough, big when you want big, small when you want small and they have that "feel" of the perfect knife!
 
Randall model #15 with a CDT? (not a full flat grind)

You guys are right about the Fallkniven but wrong knife IMO.

Try the Northern Lights series for a full flat grind and similar pattern as the recon scout.

Njord #NL3
njord.jpg


Frej # NL4
 
I should mention that I prefer carbon steel. I like the the patina that they develop with use. I've tried the KaBar USN Mark 1, and it was a great knife on paper, but didn't feel right in hand. I'm considering the SRK, I've owned a couple of them and end up selling them to fund things I think I want more. But it lacks the full guard.

The big draw for me with the Recon Scout is that it has a Flat ground carbon steel blade and a full guard.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
I should mention that I prefer carbon steel.
Click to expand...

Full flat grind production (not custom), in carbon steel, with a guard (guards are so passe' :D)? Slim pickings. Carbon steel doesn't sell too well with the new breed of knife buyers I guess. I traveled to a brick and mortar recently because they stock Randall's every last one of them was stainless, I asked about the traditional folders on the wall, every last one of them was stainless. Good luck.
 
Carbon steel bowie with a guard? Go custom, check out the For Sale by Maker, Fixed Blades section. You'll find makers there making knives like that, some very affordable. One that comes to mind is GL Drew, and atakach (maybe not spelled correctly?) make knives in this category, maybe a bit more traditional in appearance though.
 
Not sure why you'd think Barkies won't hold up well. My Aurora has held up nicely to a wide range of tasks, including batoning. Those are generally some variety of tool steel, I want to say O2 or A1 or something like that, but I am too lazy to look them up right now.
 
Well, a KaBar Short?

For that size, and requirements, thats a bit of a tall order. You might try a Ritter MK2 (also known as the Becker BK12). Its a 6in blade, 3/16 thick with a thumb ramp and a spear point. Not quite a FFG, but a high saber grind. At least its good old 1095CV :).

The BK7 is sweet as well, but a bit larger than you're looking for.

Good luck.
 
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