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Their folders have great ergo's. And their fixed blades are not designed for girlie hands, I agree.
Actually I was gonna say, the ergos of their folders was what really sold me on CS blades.
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Cold Steel Success
- Thread starter Thrustus
- Start date
Actually I was gonna say, the ergos of their folders was what really sold me on CS blades.
Well you don't see people complaining about how you can't get Spyderco Enduras, Dragonflys, Persians, etc in those. Though you can get a few in ZDP-189. The big thing is that they used to use better steels like VG-1 and downgraded them where as other companies have upped their materials. Like how the older Enduras were AUS-6 and pinned, now they're screw construction and VG-10, Benchmade used to use 440c and ATS-34 and have replaced those with 154CM, D2, and S30v, or how Kershaw used 440a extensively on their knives a few years back and replaced that with Sandvik.
That may very well be the case!
I just don't know. I don't think "high end steel" when I think Cold Steel now, and I can't help but wonder if going the better steel route (or even just adding a "better steel line") would hurt their identity.
It's an interesting academic question though. I do think in reality CS would be crazy to change a thing. Keep stabbing stuff, keep Lynn's bike shorts, keep the enormous folders...people are buying the product, and its all part of the product.
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I can only speak for myself of course, I would love to see them add better steels to their main folder lines (Voyagers and AK47/AL/Recon 1). I don't think things would change overnight. And they'd need to keep the AUS8A line, no doubt.
I guess they're doing fine as it is, I agree with that assessment, and I agree with "If it ain't broken..." as well. I just would love to be able to buy a Recon 1 or AL with a 154CM blade. And they have a few new ones lined up:
that also look deserving of a better steel. Oh well.
LOL at his bike shorts, btw!
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I just wish those things actually had bolsters. I'd love to see 'em in black G10 instead of faux stag, too.
. And they have a few new ones lined up...
that also look deserving of a better steel. Oh well.
LOL at his bike shorts, btw!
It will be interesting to see if those "traditional" CSs you pictured "fly" with the average CS customer. Or make, say, the Buck 110 fans say "Maybe I'll try one of those."
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Hell, even just some stabilized hardwood would be nice. I just can't stand "plastistag"
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It took me a while to learn that when it comes to CS, I just needed to ignore the over the top advertising and just look at the knives. Over the years I've found a few of their designs quite useful and appealing.
I stopped buying their products because, although Andrew Demko brought great ideas when he joined CS, I'm not a huge fan of AUS8 knives made in Taiwan. I've got a ridiculous bias against Chinese and Taiwanese knives, I know it's stupid and I've seen some excellent products from both of those countries but I just can't get over it. I've got an American Lawman, and if it were American or Japanese made, with a bit better steel, I'd carry it a lot.
Don't get me wrong, AUS8 is quite functional and probably a good choice for a budget priced hard use knife. I was disapointed when Cold Steel decided not to make San-Mai versions of the new Voyagers. I'd have bought a few of those.
I stopped buying their products because, although Andrew Demko brought great ideas when he joined CS, I'm not a huge fan of AUS8 knives made in Taiwan. I've got a ridiculous bias against Chinese and Taiwanese knives, I know it's stupid and I've seen some excellent products from both of those countries but I just can't get over it. I've got an American Lawman, and if it were American or Japanese made, with a bit better steel, I'd carry it a lot.
Don't get me wrong, AUS8 is quite functional and probably a good choice for a budget priced hard use knife. I was disapointed when Cold Steel decided not to make San-Mai versions of the new Voyagers. I'd have bought a few of those.
I'm with you. Even "bone stag" would be better. Or plain old jigged bone.
Of course, one might want to suggest that CS spend less on marketing and maybe spend the money on some decent stag.
But...nobody cares about stag anymore. No good kids!
Just want huge folders that you can stab a cinder block with!
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- Mar 3, 2006
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I am inclined to agree with that thought. I too was really looking forward to a San Mai version of the Voyager line and whereas I love the TriAd lock, that, coupled with the new handles, just isn't enough to endear them to me. I will take the old handles along with the VG-1 any day.
As for the new folders, I am looking to try one out as soon as they hit the stores.
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The whole reason why they ditched San Mai on the Voyager series because of supply chain issues. The series got pushed back an entire year as a result so they just went with the AUS-8 because it was reliably obtainable.
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this is blasphemous to other spydey fans but my idea of a real military is a 4" clipped voyager in s30v and g-10 scales. nevermind the atrocious closing. better to keep it open in a tense situation.
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I'm a fan of both Cold Steel and Spyderco. I own two Militaries. I would never worry about them closing when I don't want them to.
Would love to see S30V in a Voyager or Recon 1 though. :thumbup:
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The timing of this thread is funny as I'm thinking about selling all my AUS8 knives because of lackluster edge retention. I own several cold steel knives and like them a lot their toughness is outstanding. That said the edge retention of the AUS 8 is sadly lacking, I just don't want to have to resharpen the edge at the end of a days work.
Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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Yeah it was VG-1, had VG-10 on the brain I guess.
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One of the reasons I find the Cold Steel line so usable and durable is because of the steel they use. To me being the knife nut I am and having grown up with Case CV and SAK stainless steel blades I find the Cold Steel blades to be just fine and on par with what I was already used to maintaining. Also being a true knife nut very seldom did I leave for the day without a touched up ready to go blade on me. From the stand point of sharpening ease I've found the AUS8 blades and the Sharpmaker go pretty well together for quick and easy daily maintenance. After a time once the edge becomes so obtuse you put a new bevel on it with the Edge Pro and you are back up and running. I have a few swipes per day maintenance on my Mini AK47 which gets used by me and my wife pretty much several times a week for anything from cutting a cardboard box to shape in the yard cutting grass dirt and all for plants and mulching or trimming of JB Weld from a broken or cracked ceramic pot we are determined to keep alive for one more season and because it is a cheap user I have no hesitation about doing these things with it because, well quite frankly the tip doesn't break, I don't have to worry about the edge because its dull after beating it up a little each day until the touch up and then it usually cleans up right quick ready to roll again next day.
It may fall behind in blade edge keeping but folks the difference between AUS8 and 154CM cutting 3/8" hemp rope in controlled pressure and weight test cutting trials is about twenty cuts, maybe 25 more with the 154CM before you have to resharpen. Honestly, there could be drawbacks there if Cold Steel was to switch to say the 154CM steel or something similar because I don't think this steel or other better edge keeping steels available are going to be as tough as the one Cold Steel has chosen to use. For me the AUS8 sharpens right back up in about 5 seconds. I don't see it helping the model or Cold Steel to go to a better edge keeping but less tough blade steel just for 20 or even 40 more cuts between touch ups to the edge. Those touch ups to a harder or higher wear rated steel may not even be as easy as what is required of the AUS8 steel depending on what steel was used. Some of these high wear steels are difficult to sharpen at times. For most users AUS8 responds well to any number of sharpening techniques just about like they are used to from knives they grew up with. This means no learning curve, no need for new super sharpeners to go with their new super blade steel blades and that they can still sharpen them on their conventional bench stones the way they always did. People like that. This steel doesn't have a lot of inconsistent issues or bad batches like others have had and overall it does not give a lot of problems to users for pitting or staining so how much better could one ask in a beater folder? If the edge gets dulled down during the day as I use it being the knife nut I am I'm going to touch it back up to biting sharp before heading out in the morning for the next day just like always and I will do this no matter what steel it is so what does it really matter what it is so long as I can get it biting sharp day to day with relative ease?
STR
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Man this discussion has got me daydreaming, can you imagine a CS Recon clip point in S30V! I like that knife as it is with the AUS8 and would absolutely love it with S30V. You have to admit they do have some nice designs regarding their 'simpler' offerings, ergos, lock and materials. Will there ever be a 2 tier offering so to speak, probably not Lynn is eating pretty well as it stands....