Cold Steel Statement

He has used outlandish marketing style to generate publicity and draw attention to his products. You can't deny the man is a genius at that game. And we are all the "dupes", giving him free publicity.

He generates publicity, but it is bad publicity...I for one do not do business with companies that feel the need to try to walk over the competition to reach the top, makes me wonder why their product can't speak for itself.
 
20+ years ago, a guy named Phil Engledrum put out a magazine called "Gun Tests." Lynn "Tanto" Thompson, as he was often referred to then, was a major advertiser/contributor, at least at one point. The magazine was pretty irreverent, and they did some crazy things, and Thompson's stuff was largely just a lot of hot air and hype, trying to appeal to the armchair ninja and action movie tough guy crowd.

The defining moment was when Gun Tests went down to Mexico to shoot some domestic pigs, in a pen, to "test" cartridge/bullet effectiveness. Thompson's contribution was to stab some pigs with a large CS tanto.

Told me all I need to know about Lynn "Tonto" (not a misspelling) Thompson, and I haven't bothered with any of his drivel since.
 
I saw that article about 6 yeARS AGO.

Between Palmdale and Pasadena, on the Angeles Crest Highway is the Hidden Springs Cafe. It is a lovely spot in a gorgeous setting.

I know Jim, the present proprieter, well. He had a copy of that magazine. I opened it and right away saw the picture of the hand holding the tanto, which already was driven up to the choil into that hog. Which was still standing. There was another pix of another hog being totally shot up.

After I finished reading it, Jim hid the magazine, remarking that he did not want his customers to think that "Deliverance" was going on at the Cafe.
 
Originally posted by Bruz
He generates publicity, but it is bad publicity...I for one do not do business with companies that feel the need to try to walk over the competition to reach the top, makes me wonder why their product can't speak for itself.
Click to expand...

Please! Folks like Mick Strider don't need me to stick up for them, they're big boys and can handle some competition. You say Cold Steel products don't speak for themselves? Is there anyone out there who has been unable to field dress game with a Master Hunter? I don't think so. How about someone who was incapable of fending off an attacker with a Recon Tanto because the knife somehow "failed?" I doubt it very much. :rolleyes:

Excuse me, but I'm to buy another Cold Steel blade right now!
 
Originally posted by RL
BTW, how did his "Special Forces" shovel get the name "Special Forces" shovel??? Is it used by the special forces???
RL
Click to expand...

Cold steel's special forces shovel is a near exact copy of a shovel issued to Russian special forces, (spetsnaz, sp.)

From what I hear the cold steel shovel is better, the tip of the Russian shovel bends under use.

Fred Perrin loves his cold steel shovel

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/2292/shovelrev.htm

Even if you don't like cold steel's stuff read Fred's page. It's funny as hell.
 
Originally posted by knifedaddy84
I hope you don't mean Ka-Bar, in all likelihood, that's more of a knife than you'll ever need.
Click to expand...

For the record I like Ka-Bar :)

I'm talking about these $20 made in China dull as a brick and couldn't sharpen if your life depended on it specials that you sometimes see.

For instance:

http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...PriceEnd=&Brand=46&SearchText=&SKU=FRC840SOIF

There's no way in h#ll any branch of our armed services ever used this knife to "survive" in Iraq. They should just sell this product for what it is, a POS, but instead they paint "Iraqi Freedom" on it to entice the gullible.
 
Frost cutlery, you can expect no better from their blades. They are made for kids to ruin or lose the first.

Steels junk.

That URL showed a product that was designed off the ka-bars used by our troops.

Brownie
 
People are very quick to put down Cold Steel, but you have to give them this much: They do go out on a limb to make some "alternative" type products.

I don't see Benchmade making any Nogales clip point knives, or Columbia River making spears...

I like cold steel, I wish they made some higher end folders, in metals like S30V, but thats not really their style right now, so thats ok.

At least we live in a country where this type of capitalism is allowed.
 
Although I am new to BF I have noticed a very distinct distaste for Cold Steels Product. And I am at a lost as to why. I have a CS Voyager and a Para Edge Neck Knife, and I am satisfied with both. What I'd like to know is this distaste due to the product or due to the eccentric owner?? I have not found a fault with the product nor has anyone else I know that carries CS knives. Are they the same as a BM or Spyderco high end knife?? No, because the majority of CS knives are in the low end (under $100)but they are a good buy for the product at their price. I for one will buy more regardless of how eccentric the owner is. As long as the product is good, I'm Happy.
 
Originally posted by brownie0486
Frost cutlery, you can expect no better from their blades. They are made for kids to ruin or lose the first.

Steels junk.

That URL showed a product that was designed off the ka-bars used by our troops.

Brownie
Click to expand...

I tottally agree... but I also think it's unethical to invoke the name of a military campaign or any branch of the armed services to solicit sales in a dishonest way. I can see this knife being sold for $29.99 at a bad army surplus store or by a shifty dealer at a gun and knife show as the "Official Iraqi Freedom Survival Knife", and to me that's just wrong.

Now if the knife really is used by the military, that's a completely different story.

Then again some would say it's wrong to let a sucker keep his money, so to each his own.
 
Cold Steel are 'OK' products.........

It's Lynn Thompson who sucks...........:rolleyes:
 
As I see it the debate isn't are Cold Steel, Strider, Kabar, etc good products or not, (I even hear good things about CS's fixed blades), instead I believe the debate is about one persons disrespect for for other knife making proffessionals.

If Mr.T didn't mean to include reputable companies in his wide ranging rant then he should have at least qualified his remarks by stating that there were at least some exceptions to his described "charlatans". Instead his remarks clearly say that people that dress how he describes and sell two-tone knives with para cord wrapped handles are "chalatans" and "dogs". IMHO this is unacceptable :grumpy:

For the record, Strider fixed blades do nothing at all for me, and I don't think the fact that I own a single Strider folder ranks me as a hardcore fan ;)
 
I have to agree that bashing other companies isn't exactly good manners. However other companies shouldn't mark their product as "SEAL", "USMC" etc... if they don't have the contracts to supply them or they aren't based on the designs (and even then....).
 
Actually if he was refering to the man in the camo BDUs green Strider Shirt and the boots... HE WAS INSULTING Mr. Chuck Mawhinney one of the greatest snipers and the nicest guy out there. He was in the Strider booth area, along with customers, Duane, and a few Rangers when I stopped by to say hello.

BIG OLD LT insulted not only Strider Knives the company, the people, customers, Duane, and also a man who could pop his fat head at 1000 yds easily! Mr. Chuck Mawhinney. These peopel are not wannabes, these are the warriors who have been in the arena. A-HOLE!

I have never bought nor will I buy a Cold Steel product.

This swipe at Strider Knives and those associated with Strider floors me. Thompson is in for a very rough time at NY knife show!
 
Originally posted by Bongus33
I have to agree that bashing other companies isn't exactly good manners. However other companies shouldn't mark their product as "SEAL", "USMC" etc... if they don't have the contracts to supply them or they aren't based on the designs (and even then....).
Click to expand...
Ah, but that's one of the other points, Cold Steel themselves are not whiter than white in this regard.
 
Cold Steel makes an ok knife, they should make the handles tear up your hand less and coat the tang under the kraton to prevent rust, rather than pour cash into another "Proof #3" video.:) The "big guy" behind the company though, seems more like a showman. This article won't hurt much, it'll just make die hard Cold Steel fans stick to his products more. We can just laugh at it.
 
Originally posted by Bongus33
I have to agree that bashing other companies isn't exactly good manners. However other companies shouldn't mark their product as "SEAL", "USMC" etc... if they don't have the contracts to supply them or they aren't based on the designs (and even then....).
Click to expand...

Yeah go for it Cold Steel, bash all those other companies that put the names "SEAL" and "USMC" on thier knives. Bash all those knife companies that make a profit off the military.

*Ahem*

-Cold Steel "Recon" 1
-Cold Steel "OSS"
-Cold Steel "ODA"
-Cold Steel "Recon" tanto
-Cold Steel "Military" classic
-Cold Steel "Delta" dart
-Cold Steel "Special Forces" shovel

Lets not forget those adds about Cold Steel knives in Gulf War 1.

:barf:
 
NIB,
Don't forget all those knives WILL cut a rib roast and make Lynn FATTER!!!!

Funny how associated those names are with Military outfits HMMMMM....


Maybe Lynns jealous of Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer because they are in shape and don't weigh 400 lbs?????

Maybe they don't make BDU's to fit Lynn just right?


This is the worst thing I have seen come out of CS in a while...
 
As long as the product is good, I'm Happy.
Click to expand...

Makes two of us.

I haven't ever had a CS product fail on me and I've put a lot of miles on one particular small voyager. I have stabbed CS Blades full force into concrete with only minor damage to the tip which was easily corrected with about 5 minutes on a Lansky. I have pried with them, chopped, thrown and dropped alot of CS products and despite what everyone says about Lynn, What Lynn says about his knives are from my experience TRUE. I have a friend of mine who dropped an open CS large tanto voyager from about waist height onto asphalt. Excuse me INTO asphalt. The knife stuck into the asphalt and remained there until removed.
Say what you will about Lynn Thompson but personally I can hear him laughing all the way to the bank. I can't believe you all are getting your collective panties up in a wad (yes you are quit trying to deny it) about this. Not one of you who were pissy about this "blatant Strider Bashing" have admitted to being fans of Cold Steel before this article came out. Which tells me you didn't like them to begin with. The article has changed nothing has it? As all of you have brought up the guys at strider are all "real world operators" I think that they can damn well figure out how to "operate" a phone and call Lynn if they have an issue with what he's written.


QUIT YER BITCHIN'

If you don't like Cold Steel, don't buy their knives. It's that simple. If you don't approve of Lynns business tactics, Don't buy his knives. If you're worried that Mick and Duane might not recover from this obviously devastating blow that little old Lynn has struck them then for gods sake go buy a Strider knife. This is getting silly. Several of you just don't like Cold Steel and seems to me as you're just taking this opportunity to jump on the bandwagon.

As for me? Well I'm not a die hard fan but, I don't really give a Sh!t what Lynn Thompson does in his spare time. For all I know Laci Szabo my all time favorite designer of sharp edgy things might wear a pink tutu and shave his ass hair to make a wig for his cat. I don't care what he does as long as he keeps putting out blades that I'm interested in. Same with Elton John. I like his tunes, I don't wanna know what he does in his bedroom. If Lynns behavior upsets you then it's your business. Personally I like to see a little cutthroat in the business world, it keeps me on my toes. So I guess in summary I don't care what Lynns Printed his knives work.. And that's really all I'm interested in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top