Cold Steel: Tri-Ad Locks Or VG-1...Which Do You Prefer?

C

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I just got a NEW 2011 Cold Steel XL Voyager with a Tri-Ad lock. It's very impressive, very strong and very sharp. The only criticism I have is that it's a bit large for my taste. It's not that the blade is too long. It's just that it's not as light as the earlier line of Voyagers.

Many people, for whatever reason, don't care for AUS8 stainless steel. CS actually upgraded their steel in the last run to VG-1, a steel many people seemed to like. Many actually praised CS for finally getting away from AUS8 and going with a steel with better properties. Now Voyagers are back to having AUS8 blades and, for the first time, its awesome Tri-Ad locks (and I use "awesome" sparingly, believe me!).

I have the Rajah I, II and Spartan knives and have a great deal of respect for the Tri-Ad locks. I can't help but be impressed by the new Voyagers but wondered how you guys -- those of you who like CS -- feel about the new Voyagers. Given the choice, would you prefer to have the old lockback knives with VG-1 stainless blades or the new Tri-Ad locks with AUS8 blades?

What are your views on VG-1 stainless and the Tri-Ad locks? Would you be willing to pay $25 extra per knife and have BOTH? Or do you not notice any difference between AUS8 and VG-1?

I don't know much about VG-1, but heard many good things. Anyway, what say you?

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I always have rust issues with aus8. I heavily prefer vg1 and would buy a voyager if it was a slip joint in vg1. I think the tri-ad lock is overkill anyhow. I like quality materials as opposed to over the top locking anyday, but if your a very hard user and have to have a folder....
 
I prefer the look, feel and pocketability of the old Voyagers. For me, that supplants any improvement in lock strength and steel flavor in the new version. We each have our priorities.
 
I'd for certain pay extra to get better blade steel in the new Voyagers. Vg-1 is pretty good stuff and much better in terms of edge retention tha AUS-8. I'm not for certain how much extra I'd pay though. With that being said for a folder like the voyager I'd rather have the newer generation with the triad lock than the older generation with the vg-1 seeing as the voyager is IMO kinda a harder use knife.
 
I like the ergonomics and build of the new Voyagers. I think it would nice if they offered a slightly more expensive version with VG-1 blades, but personally I would just stick with the AUS-8A ones.
 
i don't worry about locks failing and blade closing on your hand because i don't make it a problem. my greater worry is resistance to overextension. it all depends on how you use your knife. sorry i can't answer your question. :D
 
Right...and thanks. It's interesting that the company for years tells us how strong their knives are, then tells us that they've significantly increased the strength! I don't much care for slip joints as I had an issue with a slip joint years ago...had the blade catch in some wood and then snap back out and get my thumb. I was a Boy Scout. Never wanted a slip joint after that. Folding knives had to have locks. And though I've never had any problems with linerlocks, I just stuck with lockbacks. As much as I like Tri-Ads, I'm not willing to sacrifice the size and weight to own many of them. Maybe a Rajah or Spartan, but that's what they were designed for. I don't want them in my Voyagers. Nutnfancy sure has flipped out over them, though. But he's strictly hard use. I'm not. If you need a hard use knife, buy a Marine Raider!
 
I think if you're using your cs knives in such a manner to actually notice and be somehow negatively affected by the change of steel, well, I'd say you're making a big deal out of a small one. And maybe, you'd be happier with a knife made out of a much "better" steel then either of the choices.

Or I'd say, go with a custom demko. I hope to have my second one soon, and not a single compromise was made!
 
I don't care about AUS8, it stays sharp enough for long enough and I can strop or sharpen it back in a couple minutes, no biggie. And I like the lock. So new ones for me (old ones look better though).
 
It's funny how some folks have rust problems with the AUS8 (including Nutnfancy). I don't know much about knives, but I do know handguns. I've had friends who have poison hand oil chemistry. They can just touch a gun and if they don't get to it with a good oil or CLP, they leave a red print. I've owned carbon steels and AUS8 (and others) and I've never had problems.

One of my poison chemistry friends gave me a nice Beretta 70S. He left just a small rust spot on it I never could remove. I tried leather and CLP to remove it but it didn't work. Also tried a Q-tip with toothpaste...nothin'. Finally had it hard chromed.

It made me wonder why people don't have some of their favorite knives hard chromed. Might make it hard to sharpen.

Anyway, no more rust problem with the Beretta. I've got a box full of AUS8 knives and none has rusted. Good chemistry.
 
I've got a VG1 large Clip serrated
While it does hold a better edge than aus 8 it's more prone to chipping
 
I'd pay extra to have the triad and VG-1. It would be a great combo on a 4 to 5 inch folder. I personally liked VG-1. It is a good steel.

Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
I'd pay extra to have the triad and VG-1. It would be a great combo on a 4 to 5 inch folder. I personally liked VG-1. It is a good steel.

Joe
Click to expand...

VG-1 was my standby for a very long time, it's a lot better than most people would ever think.
 
Lock strength should trump any argument involving the "Steel War" mentality that is to pervasive in the knife world.
 
I own four VG-1 Voyagers and like them all a lot. They're all prone to vertical bladeplay though if handled rough. There was a huge and - let's say - lively debate going on at coldsteelforums about the step back to AUS8A, especially when it wasn't yet clear how much the new Voyagers were gonna cost. I had already decided I was not going anywhere near the new ones for the price originally suggested.

But the new Voyager - even with a less preferable steel - is an incredible knife for the money, and the Tri-Ad lock is a huge improvement IMHO. Ergonomics are also improved in a major way, the old handle had hardly any contours to it at all. So I now regularly EDC a large clippoint Voyager (straight edge). I paid less than $40 for it, which honestly puts them in the elite group of supervalue for money folders such as the Tenacious, Rat 1 and a few others
I'd still prefer VG-1 to AUS8A. But for this price, the new Voyager is a no-brainer to me. Excellent FFG stonewashed blades as opposed to satin hollowground, wider too, stronger, better contoured handles and (IMHO) the strongest most reliable lock in the business.

The Voyager went from quite good to outstanding. ;)
 
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