Cold Steel San Mai Tanto folder

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

Joined
Sep 28, 2005
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I recently purchased a NIB Cold Steel folding tanto with San Mai construction. It is a lockback, no pocket clip but has a nylon sheath. My future brother in law showed me his camping beater knife days before and it was the same knife but larger. Mine is 6"overall with a 2.5" blade. Any info on it would be appreciated (price now, age, quality, rarity). I assume it was one of their first san mai models but have found nothing about it when doing searches.
Thanks in advance
 
It was called the Shinobu as I recall. There was a clip point and tanto point blade available. With and without San Mai steel. 3 sizes smallest was a keychain size. Next had about 2 1/2- 2 5/8 inch blade. The last has around a 3 inch blade. The two largest came with a cross-draw sheath and all had a nice Kraton grip.
 
No, those were available in the '80s.

I have one with a blade just over 3 inches long that I bought in the mid 80's (Can't remember exactly when).

Nice knife.
 
They are shinobu's. I have the large and medium sizes NIB. I got a Calypso Jr. about the same time and never carried them.
 
I have the smallest Shinobu, carried it on a daily basis for over 10 years. As a result the textured kraton checkering started to smooth out, a genuine 'pocket worn' finish. This made it feel really good in the hand. Superb knife, I just wish I'd also picked up the 2 larger models. Cold Steel gets a lot of stick (often for good reason) but down the years they have produced some gems.
 
I think some are older than from the early 90s. I had one I bought new in Illinois and I lived in Illinois from 1980 to 1986. I know it had to be at least that old from back when Cold Steel was just in its infancy. I couldn't swear by it but I am fairly certain I bought that knife while still on active duty so it had to be no later than 1984. If you have one consider it a gem. They were fairly well made folders and perform quite well at edge keeping. With use the handles can degrade pretty fast. I've seen some that were still in relatively good repair lock and blade wise but the handles needed replaced. Its a real good find. If it were an automobile it would be an antique.

STR
 
It was the first San Mai I am aware of. I bought one in the 80's when they first appeared at shows. Locks like a tank. Took hours to thin the edge so it would cut well due to resisatnce of center layer. Holds the edge just fine.

Years later, I bought one at a house sale for a couple of bucks -- in a Buck 110 case no less. It had the same excellent lock-up and thick edge - more like it was intended to stab rather than cut. I have yet to tackle getting it sharp. The markings are slightly different between the two.
 
Thanks all- now I know a little more about this great knife- not sure if I'll ever use it though- as it is in pristine condition it may become my only wall hanger!! And I got it for less than the list price of $125 off of the web!!!
 
I have the large shinobu. One the toughest knives I've ever carried. I would never sharpen the tanto point cause I used that edge as a screwdriver, chisel, whatever.
The only problem I had was the Kraton rubber handle scales would come off from back pocket carry.
I carried and abused (drove a truck and operated heavy equipment so you can imagine what it went thru.) one for about 5 years.
Yes the inner steel is tough, however I sharpened so many times it has a radius to it now.
Still own it and brag about it whenever I can.
You picked up one of the great Cold Steels.
 
Long time lurker who recently re-kindled my interest in knives. I'm digging this thread up after doing a little research here. This happens to be one of a 1/2 dozen knives I presently own. Mine happens to be the large model with a 3 1/2" blade. I carried this a few times and it saw some light use before it ended up in the bottom of a drawer for about 15~20 years or so. I would like to know what type of steel the blade was made of. Any additional information would be appreciated! TIA!

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