Cold steel to use s35vn more and XHP less

Cold Steel to Gradually Shift to S35VN from CTS XHP
Posted at Mar 4, 2018 4:55:30 PM By Cold Steel / Category: News & Events
Dear Cold Steel Customers, We’d like to let you know about some changes you’ll begin to see on Cold Steel products—sold both in the U.S. and internationally. We have found that it’s become increasingly difficult to acquire the quantities of CTS®XHP steel needed to produce our products within a timely fashion. While we are very pleased with the outstanding performance our CTS®XHP products have provided customers over the years, we are challenged by its inaccessibility and feel that using American CPM-S35VN offers a formidable solution to this problem. We feel we can deliver the same, great quality products to our customers sooner and for the same price, by using American CPM-S35VN steel—which arguably offers the same strength, durability, and edge retention properties that are associated with CTS®XHP. Our goal is to always have satisfied customers, and we feel that by eventually using CPM-S35VN for more products, it will allow us to get our awesome blades in your hands sooner and help to prevent long backorder wait times. This change will not take place overnight, but rather, will be a gradual process. Thank you for your continued support and stay #neverunarmed! Sincerely, Lynn C. Thompson and the Cold Steel Crew
 
Just watched a video from Mr. Ada on YT where he reviews the new S35VN Recon 1. In his review he says the blade is hollow ground...but the blade is ground all the way back to the choil like the newer XHP models with the flat grind are, which makes me think it's a flat ground blade. Did they really switch back to hollow grind or is the reviewer wrong? From the video I can't really tell what grind it is. Anybody got a new S35VN (coated version)? I like both grinds...I'm just curious
 
Yes, I know that they changed the grind from hollow to saber/flat....but according to the YT review of the new S35VN version (coated version) they switched back to hollow grind, which I found a bit strange because the change to flatgrind was just a year ago. So I'd just like to know if they really switched grinds again or if the YT reviewer is wrong
 
I love XHP, but I have S35vn in ZT and really have no complaints about it. I think Cold Steel does a great job on heat treating so I would expect that the these new blades would be excellent.
Bob
 
I know we've had edge retention comparisons between the two steels but can anyone comment on toughness? Should s35vn be tougher since its slightly easier to sharpen?

Edit: nvm second post explains it:thumbsup:
 
JackTheKnifeGuy said:
If s35vn is cheaper to get I hope they bring back the XL talwar. maybe a little cheaper than the xhp version
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The retailer I buy from has started getting S35VN Cold Steels and they are the same price as the XHPs (Recon 1and other models). I was hoping they were cheaper.

An XL Talwar XL would be great if it was a few bucks less than the old XHP version but if it ever is made, I would expect it would be priced similar.

Has anyone seen CS S35VNs for less than the XHP versions they replaced?
 
I have always wondered if there is enough difference in the bulk price of some of these steels to ever warrant a price increase/decrease. I believe there is a lot of marketing hype involved to make sure there are always perceived pricing tiers.
 
ScooterG said:
I have always wondered if there is enough difference in the bulk price of some of these steels to ever warrant a price increase/decrease. I believe there is a lot of marketing hype involved to make sure there are always perceived pricing tiers.
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Good post.

I always wondered if a $50 420HC (as an example) knife is worth another ton of $$$ for a steel like M390. How much more could the actual steel actually cost and how much harder is it to manufacture? I’ve seen $100-150 in additional costs for the latest super steel. Seems nutty to me.
 
I also wonder about increased material costs meriting such large increases in msrp. Blade steel and handle material (carbon fiber).
I suppose knife enthusiasts are as susceptible to marketing as everybody else.
I might be happy to see CS starting to use American made s35vn steel. Then I remember that cts xhp steel is American made, and has been marketed as better steel than s35vn.
At least the prices aren t going up. Hopefully the excellent CS heat treatments will continue.
 
ScooterG said:
I have always wondered if there is enough difference in the bulk price of some of these steels to ever warrant a price increase/decrease. I believe there is a lot of marketing hype involved to make sure there are always perceived pricing tiers.
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Its the way the world is, is the latest iPhone worth the upgrade, new features on cars etc etc. As long as people buy into "new" is always needed this will be how it works. How many that buy these new super steels actually need the "upgrade" from the crappy old steel.
 
Who said the old steel was crappy? New for new's sake is crazy when the old works well. With all the new super steels, it's like they all play "mine is bigger than yours" .. then the price goes up. At least Cold Steel tries to keep the prices relevant and "good bang for the buck".
 
Mike Sastre said:
At least Cold Steel tries to keep the prices relevant and "good bang for the buck".
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This is the reason i'm starting to be drawn toward cold steel more and more. My favorite knife company has always been spyderco for the amount of versatility in their knife steels. What i've found though is that cold steel is just as versatile, but in their DESIGNS. Every year there's a new crazy design or spark of innovation that I kind of took for granted before I actually bought a few. Keeping the steels the same keeps the affordability high and unnecessary "upgraded steel" costs low. Bang for buck couldn't be any truer. Where else can you find s35vn or cts-xhp for sub $100, and in a folder can take the amount of abuse as cold steels. And if you don't like the Recon, try the spartan, talwar, american lawman, espada, voyager, immortal, because they're all around the same price but so different in design/ergos there's a match for everyone.

Cold steel only seems to increase price for knife size instead of model and I like that.:thumbsup:
 
I just signed up here to ask a question and saw this post first.

I have been out of the loop for around 5 years, but CS was(still is) one of my favorite brands, that said all/most CS Knives I have are AUS-8A or VG1 San Mai III, some are budget knives with various other steels such as 8Cr13MoV or German 4116.

Both materials seem very good too me so I never jumped on the newer metals, hell I didn’t know until maybe a year ago that CS had changed their Blade Material to the CTS-XHP. Was also lost when the Magnum Tantos were all 3V with a Black Finish lol Those did stand out too me as mine only came in Stainless Finish.

Like a lot said, Im sure it’s also part of a market strategy. Cold Steel have always used great/comparable Steel as far as I know...
 
MikeyConti said:
I just signed up here to ask a question and saw this post first.

I have been out of the loop for around 5 years, but CS was(still is) one of my favorite brands, that said all/most CS Knives I have are AUS-8A or VG1 San Mai III, some are budget knives with various other steels such as 8Cr13MoV or German 4116.

Both materials seem very good too me so I never jumped on the newer metals, hell I didn’t know until maybe a year ago that CS had changed their Blade Material to the CTS-XHP. Was also lost when the Magnum Tantos were all 3V with a Black Finish lol Those did stand out too me as mine only came in Stainless Finish.

Like a lot said, Im sure it’s also part of a market strategy. Cold Steel have always used great/comparable Steel as far as I know...
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Super steel isn't needed for everyone. But in today's market everyone is lookin for cost to performance
 
Does anyone think this means the Mini Recon 1 will be back in S35VN form? I was able to grab a clip point after they were discontinued but I prefer the tanto style.

I don't have any experience withe either material so I'm pretty sure I'll be happy with either one.
 
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