The Cold Steel Spartan seems to be a very overlooked top quality, low price, 7.5 oz overbuilt large folder. Handle is 6 inches and overall length is 10 1/2 inches.
Price is in the $56 - $60 range and this case is the exception to the rule you get what you pay for.
The Spartan gives you much more than what you pay for.
The blade is Japanese made AUS8 (this is not super duper steel but it is good steel in fact it's very good) a large, wide 4 1/2" long and 4mm thick. I would think those who say Cold Steel does a worse job at heat treating their AUS8 steel either do not know what they are talking about or are lying because they hold a grudge against Cold Steel's president.
The handle is a thick stiff Zytel like material (CS calls it grivory) that is FULLY LINED top to bottom inside with hardened stainless steel. This handle does not flex when I squeeze it as hard as I can .
It utilizes Andrew Demko's triad lock which has been tested to withstand about 600 pounds of force. The knife itself is another Andrew Demko design. Fit is excellent no play at all in any direction. Opening is smooth and large phosphor bronze washers are used to make this possible.
The finish on this knife is another story and well for lack of a better word quite Spartan. It's rough black grooved handle, bead blasted blade and hardware make for a subdued non glare finish which is far from pretty.
The size of this knife is just about small enough to carry in your pocket just a tiny bit larger and it would be too big for pocket carry.
This knife dwarfs the Spyderco Manix in size and is even bigger than the Zero Tolerance 300 series.
Despite the large size of this folder the grip is just adequate for my medium sized hands if you have extra large hands or long fingers you may find your fingers touching your palms quite a bit. Despite this fact the Kopi grip design would make dislodging your grip quite a task and the knife grip should remain quite secure if you were to forward thrust or pound with the pommel.
Lets make this clear from the start you will not get any brownie points at all from sheeple with this thing it is a large vicious folder both in looks and depending on the situation (work or SD) function as well. I would hate to be on the receiving end of this thing in a life death situation.
To wrap it up as far as lock strength, durability, and reliability I am sorry but this thing will easily out do the above mentioned folders (which I also happen to like very much) as well as most others for what it is and that is a top quality low priced large dependable folder.
Despite to above I would not recommend using this as a pry bar.
Price is in the $56 - $60 range and this case is the exception to the rule you get what you pay for.
The Spartan gives you much more than what you pay for.
The blade is Japanese made AUS8 (this is not super duper steel but it is good steel in fact it's very good) a large, wide 4 1/2" long and 4mm thick. I would think those who say Cold Steel does a worse job at heat treating their AUS8 steel either do not know what they are talking about or are lying because they hold a grudge against Cold Steel's president.
The handle is a thick stiff Zytel like material (CS calls it grivory) that is FULLY LINED top to bottom inside with hardened stainless steel. This handle does not flex when I squeeze it as hard as I can .
It utilizes Andrew Demko's triad lock which has been tested to withstand about 600 pounds of force. The knife itself is another Andrew Demko design. Fit is excellent no play at all in any direction. Opening is smooth and large phosphor bronze washers are used to make this possible.
The finish on this knife is another story and well for lack of a better word quite Spartan. It's rough black grooved handle, bead blasted blade and hardware make for a subdued non glare finish which is far from pretty.
The size of this knife is just about small enough to carry in your pocket just a tiny bit larger and it would be too big for pocket carry.
This knife dwarfs the Spyderco Manix in size and is even bigger than the Zero Tolerance 300 series.
Despite the large size of this folder the grip is just adequate for my medium sized hands if you have extra large hands or long fingers you may find your fingers touching your palms quite a bit. Despite this fact the Kopi grip design would make dislodging your grip quite a task and the knife grip should remain quite secure if you were to forward thrust or pound with the pommel.
Lets make this clear from the start you will not get any brownie points at all from sheeple with this thing it is a large vicious folder both in looks and depending on the situation (work or SD) function as well. I would hate to be on the receiving end of this thing in a life death situation.
To wrap it up as far as lock strength, durability, and reliability I am sorry but this thing will easily out do the above mentioned folders (which I also happen to like very much) as well as most others for what it is and that is a top quality low priced large dependable folder.
Despite to above I would not recommend using this as a pry bar.
