Cold Steel tests the Sebenza against their Cold Steel Code 4

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The test is surely interesting, but has no relevance for my daily use of folders. And while I don't really think or want to insinuate that the Seb in the test was tampered with, I am kind of amazed that it is possible to wrist-flick a Sebenza that is more or less fresh out of the box. All of mine were tight as a clam when new and required a loosening-up period of weeks, sometimes months.
 
I think these are the videos you are referring to, and I'm not sure I'm seeing what you think you're seeing; or maybe you're not remembering the videos quite correctly?

[video=youtube;bYozOCQM7CI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYozOCQM7CI[/video]
[video=youtube;TpiMUuhZS80]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpiMUuhZS80[/video]
[video=youtube;i_AtApX3468]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_AtApX3468[/video]

Now, it's somewhat difficult to tell due to how grainy the videos are, but maybe you're referring to the left most MKII in the very beginning of the first video when you mention a blunted tip? However, if you watch the videos again (the magazine test for the mkII is the beginning of the second video), you'll notice that he's not using the left most knife, but it appears to be the right most knife with the broken quillon, which is obviously still rather pointy.

For all those who claim foul play, I suppose there's really only one way of knowing for sure: Perform the tests yourselves, and see what you can come up with.

I'll concede the rounded point is not as easy to see as I remembered it, and it certainly is not 1/8" of the point rounded off, more like 1/16", so I did exaggerate. My appologies to Cold Steel and all those concerned on that...

The problem with seeing the condition of the points is not just the video quality: The knife chosen is black, and it is shot for the test in front of a white background: This means that the "whitish" exposed metal of the edge grind is blurred by the background, so even if the edge is ground rounded near the point, the black finish still looks "pointy".

The only moment I could find where shadows and the background don't play havoc with what you can see is at 0.49 in video #2: Just as the point is about to slip off the ruler, the shadows "equalize" and you can see both the actual metal in the bevels, darkened a little, and how the extremities of this unpainted metal relate to the edges of the blade's black finish: Looking at the frozen image, after going through the magazine, the point looks like 1 mm is missing (slightly under 1/16"), but more importantly it doesn't look jagged but rounded off, with the black finish still coming to a point, so far less exposed metal at the -really- sharp tip of the black paint than on the sides of the paint.

That being said, it could have been worsened by the steel magazine, and it really isn't as obvious as I initially remembered it...: The slight roundness is suspicious, but barely visible... The other moments you can see the knife don't really count, as the knife's point could have been brought back...

I have to back off on the cheat being obvious, but I think it's there in a small amount, just not enough to call it as clear-cut owing to the background color... Another thing I noted is that the force used must really be excessive, or the Mk II guard quillion would not have broken off: With so much force, it is possible the Tanto could be made to out-perform the Dagger in a complicated object like the rifle magazine, so the combination of excessive force and the rifle magazine could be a genuine result with such a small amount of tip "rounding off"...

The video's conclusion on the snap cuts are wrong, because they are simply wacking flat objects with the edges flat...: A real test would involve a dual motion of a tip prick followed by a slicing cut, once the point is inserted, and this on a soft and sharply rounded target...: They would have had to seriously damage the dagger's point to make it fail to vastly out-perform the Tanto on "real" tip slicing...: I would say that on this they are misleading, but not in a way that is cheating.

Thanks for finding the videos, as I had been looking for them and did not find them.

Gaston
 
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The test is surely interesting, but has no relevance for my daily use of folders. And while I don't really think or want to insinuate that the Seb in the test was tampered with, I am kind of amazed that it is possible to wrist-flick a Sebenza that is more or less fresh out of the box. All of mine were tight as a clam when new and required a loosening-up period of weeks, sometimes months.

My experience with a brand new Seb is exactly this. Very tight pivot and in no way flick able. Only after a few weeks of daily use it might be able to.

Who knows if it was tampered with or not. The tests are meaningless anyway. Especially with a frame lock. Frame locks will always perform the worst in these types of tests.
 
I would like to see these "tests" being performed live by Lynn Thompson in the presence of Chris Reeve, if possible with Sal Glesser in the role of judge.
Maybe then we could learn something useful from them.
 
+1 on this. That's exactly what they seem like... an Infomercial knife company. Kind of like, "Hey everyone! Look at how great we are compared to these other companies!". I think that's one of the reasons I never bought a CS knife. Their "Marketing" just makes me lose all interest in their products, no matter how good they might be.

And I have HUGE respect for Chris and Anne Reeve as well. I hold them and their company in high regard.
First of all, think it's pretty disrespectful that this thread was dumped in this subforum, why not CS's rather than one of an actual respectable manufacturer. Posted this in the thread over in general since I guess we've got 2 ongoing discussions about this..

"Didn't know much about the guy to start with, but I occasionally listen to the Steve Austin podcast and he recently interviewed Lynn Thompson. It's rare I turn off one of Steve's shows before the end, but my asshatory and BS meter was full within 30 minutes into the interview. It's almost like the guy is a living, breathing parody of 75% of his customers."

I don't know who Demko is other than I guess he was the one who invented the triad lock? I don't know enough about his integrity to believe one way or another that he would alter a test. After just listening to an interview with LT, and from a few other things I've read, IMO there's no telling what that guy would do to either pump sunshine into his own brand or attempt to discredit another.
 
First of all, think it's pretty disrespectful that this thread was dumped in this subforum, why not CS's rather than one of an actual respectable manufacturer. Posted this in the thread over in general since I guess we've got 2 ongoing discussions about this..

"Didn't know much about the guy to start with, but I occasionally listen to the Steve Austin podcast and he recently interviewed Lynn Thompson. It's rare I turn off one of Steve's shows before the end, but my asshatory and BS meter was full within 30 minutes into the interview. It's almost like the guy is a living, breathing parody of 75% of his customers."

I don't know who Demko is other than I guess he was the one who invented the triad lock? I don't know enough about his integrity to believe one way or another that he would alter a test. After just listening to an interview with LT, and from a few other things I've read, IMO there's no telling what that guy would do to either pump sunshine into his own brand or attempt to discredit another.

So no Bad comments or videos supposedly not stroking crk cannot be posted? And what because cs doesn't have 600 dollar folder they aren't a respectable manufacturer? I own knives from both companies they all have their pros and cons. Are you really not sleeping well because of this video who the blank cares. I can tell you someone that's less but hurt then all these guys whining about a stupid video CHRIS REEVES himself. You think he gives a crap I bet he watched the video giggled and walk away. And you guys are flipping your tops it's almost sad did CS also with the release of this video send each and everyone of you like a.personal attack on your families or something ? Because with some of the reading over this it seems that way. I get it someone said their rice crispys were better then your frosted flakes but the personal butt hurt is amazing from people that Chris could careless were really alive or not.
 
So no Bad comments or videos supposedly not stroking crk cannot be posted? And what because cs doesn't have 600 dollar folder they aren't a respectable manufacturer? I own knives from both companies they all have their pros and cons. Are you really not sleeping well because of this video who the blank cares. I can tell you someone that's less but hurt then all these guys whining about a stupid video CHRIS REEVES himself. You think he gives a crap I bet he watched the video giggled and walk away. And you guys are flipping your tops it's almost sad did CS also with the release of this video send each and everyone of you like a.personal attack on your families or something ? Because with some of the reading over this it seems that way. I get it someone said their rice crispys were better then your frosted flakes but the personal butt hurt is amazing from people that Chris could careless were really alive or not.

This is why I don't get involved in these things. It's a focking pocket knife for God's sake. First of all, who are you and wtf are you blabbering about? "But hurt" and CHRIS REEVES are really all I need to know. Maybe one of the 75% since I hit a nerve?

There's a reason there's a general forum, a CRK forum, and a CS forum and showing the appropriate respect to the maker (who pays to be here I assume) in each. Your shitty syntax, mouth-breathing rants are probably better served in one of the other forums.

Now please, please tell us more about the SABANZA
 
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You hit no nerve of mine . I just find its funny how yours was hit so hard among others. You are right it's a knife and a well built knife you know it cs knows it. Yet you let this test ruin your day. And what because some don't agree with you their opinion is wrong and unwarranted? Then to top it off you fall to name calling? Well played sir well played :thumbup:
 
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No day ruined here. Anyone who knows me here and outside the forum knows I carry other brands frequently (maybe carried CRKs 4-5 months this year total) and have posted that a Delica, of all knives, made me briefly consider selling all my knives over $300, so it's not about being in a cult or feeling superior or even being But Hurt. I like knives and I like discussion and it's why I'm on forums, but I feel there are the appropriate places for it to take place out of respect for the maker. Any other subforum around here, you don't see Benchmade cutting or lock tests in a Spyderco forum and so on. Comparing knives of different brands is kinda what general is for. For example, one guy in the Spyderco forum started ranting about how much better his Contego is than some Spyderco. He kindly got told to fork off by a few as he should...and I like the Contego a decent bit. In other news though, my first impression of LT does not reflect how I feel about his knives, only him.
 
And for the most part I agree with you so if that's what the mods want to do here they should remove this thread. But they haven't yet is it because they don't really let this bother them or they haven't seen it yet ? I would truly believe they could careless about the whole test and what have you heck this more free spotlight for them. Now some will say bad spotlight I disagree I see someone watching this and then looking crk up and seeing the countless praise and consider buying one. We all know the test isn't relevant but yet so many people are flipping out about it.
 
So no Bad comments or videos supposedly not stroking crk cannot be posted? And what because cs doesn't have 600 dollar folder they aren't a respectable manufacturer? I own knives from both companies they all have their pros and cons. Are you really not sleeping well because of this video who the blank cares. I can tell you someone that's less but hurt then all these guys whining about a stupid video CHRIS REEVES himself. You think he gives a crap I bet he watched the video giggled and walk away. And you guys are flipping your tops it's almost sad did CS also with the release of this video send each and everyone of you like a.personal attack on your families or something ? Because with some of the reading over this it seems that way. I get it someone said their rice crispys were better then your frosted flakes but the personal butt hurt is amazing from people that Chris could careless were really alive or not.

They aren't a manufacturer at all. They are a marketing company. Their marketing just doesn't work very well on me. But, neither does Tapout, Oakley, or those goofy girl jeans with the white yarn stitching.
 
Here are my thoughts:

Firstly this is a classic case of trial without jury. This test is only valid if Chris Reeve or someone from their company is part of the test and can sign-off on the knife first. Having the maker and designer of a competitive knife being the jury of another person's design is not an impartial test.

Secondly, I would say for starters the impact test should come after the weight-hang test, or the weight hang test is invalid. Any person can see the second weight hang test will be compromised by spine whacking the heck out of the knife first.

Thirdly, some words about being a positive member of a community: Having a offshore knifemaker like Cold Steel pit itself against another respected knifemaker's product, in a test contrived to disparage the hardworking USA knifemaker is just poor taste, regardless of the subject of the attack. No amount of back-tracking, apologizing , or justifications, or stupid "we didn't want to do this, but the fans made us" type idiotspeak in the video can make up for the fact that it was done. All of the people involved in these sorts of one-sided videos, if directly representing their own designs or employed by a specific maker, are 1st rate douche-bags. I don't really care if it's Spyderco, or Benchmade, or anyone else under attack. The competing maker should be invited to the test session out of respect. You would not see Chris Reeve doing this sort of test of some Andrew Demko design, because he isn't a douche.

Coldsteel has lost any future business I might have sent their way, but I tend not to gravitate towards junk made in sweatshops anyways.

Firstly - The test is only valid to you if Chris Reeve signs off on the knife. It was extremely valid for plenty of other people who actually watched the video and listened to Andrew.
Secondly - Again, did you actually watch the video? The weight-hang test was done of two knives - one brand new out of the box.
Thirdly - Well here all you're doing is bashing CS and showing yourself to be the real douche bag which is what you just called Andrew Demko.

Butt hurt much?
 
That's true that they probably don't care. I guess they feel they've been doing their thing over 25 years and it's working for them so far. This is not to say nothing negative can be said about a brand inside it's forum. I've openly criticized CRK here before and other brands inside their forum. That's what was so awkward about the Hinderer forum was that zero dissenting opinion was allowed. Now they're gone for whatever reason of their choosing. Constructive criticism should be wanted by a maker if they have the desire to improve, and it should be given by the customer when warranted. At least you really do own or have owned a CRK to be able to speak on it (well you say you do, not to say that you don't) which often is not the case here and with other brands too ("Spydercos are ugly and plastic and made overseas so they're crap and overpriced and that's a FACT though I've never owned one", for example).
 
No not at all I Owen a lot of knives hell some I loved at first and hate now haha. Some I hated and can't put down now. One of my favorite to carry is a manix translucent blue. I will say this I'm sure crk seen the video and I bet they are on the drawing board take a stronger lock just to do it.
 
As a general rule, we put threads with contending companies in General Knife Discussion.

As a general rule, we close threads with as many personal insults as we're seeing here.
 
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