Cold Steel Vaquero 21XVS Now Out

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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Well, the new Cold Steel Vaquero 21XVS is out with a 5-inch VG-1 serrated blade. So what's the dif between AUS 8A and VG-1? Is this a step up or a step down? And if so, is it significant, or did they just find another steel supply? Anyone bought one yet?

It goes roughly for the same amount minus a few bucks as the 6-inch AUS 8A.


b4_1.JPG
 
The VG series of steels comes in 10 different types starting from the lowest with VG-1 and going to the highest with VG-10. The latter is used by quite a few knife companies now. It has become the the main blade steel choice for a lot of Spyderco's models too.

I don't think that there would be much of a difference in VG-1 to AUS-8A, minus the cobalt content. I guess that VG-1 would be a good basic stainless steel, but don't expect serious edge-holding from it.
 
I was expecting this answer, and I'm a bit disappointed that the only edge Cold Steel is holding is its edge in mediocre steels. A number of years ago when I was mostly into guns, Cold Steel was, I thought, the primo knife to have if one were to go into knives. I must say that in learning more I haven't come to utterly disregard their products, but I'm disappointed that they've dropped to using steels like 440A and VG-1 when they could be using much better. I mean, they've certainly cut corners in their handles, which aren't reinforced with liners, so where, I wonder, is the money going? It wasn't so long ago when 440C was the going steel. Now Gerber and CRKT are using liner steel for their blades and Cold Steel isn't terribly far behind them.

Perhaps I should begin collecting Gerbers, CRKTs and Maxams like one of my friends collects Saturday Night Specials from the 60s and 70s.

--Confed
 
While they do make some cool products and unashamedly promote the combative aspects of some if their line, their designs in recent years have not changed a lot. Essentially they're milking their investment in tooling (from their OEM manufacturer.)

The growth in the market has been in folders and their Voyager line really needs a revamp IMHO... better steels, better grips.
 
How about new DVDs? Would you settle for new DVDs?

They got rid of the molded belt clip, and that was just a couple of years ago. New innovative changes resulted in a black stainless belt clip. And steel -- VG has to stand for "Very Good."

I agree, BTW. Cheers!
 
I looked at the new knives for 2006 on the Cold Steel website and it looks like they are dropping a lot of the 440A. And going back to their AUS-8A instead.

I don't know anything else about the VG-1 blade steel. I tried doing an internet search for the element composition for it and didn't find anything.
 
It's true. I was told by CS that when they ran out of this huge batch they'd bought, that the 440A knives would be eliminated...UNLESS...they had proven to be popular knives. I like their Pro-Lite and Night Force knives very much but, again, would like to see them made with at least 440C.
 
I wouldn't mind seeing a Vaquero Grande in PLAIN EDGE with AUS8A... that would be nice. The switch to 440A coincided with a lot more production from Taiwan.

Considering the asking prices, you can usually get better from other brands but to the uneducated masses Cold Steel have got a lot of equity in their name and reputation.
 
Back in the day they were top notch, but every season that goes by they stay the same in quality if not get worse. While BM and Spyderco rise up in quality. I am pretty upset with them for using VG-1. I own their recon 1 folder, it is a good knife, but their newer knives just don’t seem to “cut it” anymore. I do however stand by their fixed blades. I have had pretty good experience with their carbon V.
 
VG1: C Cr W Mo V Ni Co
VG1 0.95-1.05 13.0-15.0 - 0.2-0.4 - 0.25 or lower -

Looks like a plain stainless. Not bad, but nothing special either.
 
Thank you for posting the steel element breakdown for VG-1. It doesn't look that bad to me.
 
Oh at first i thought it was gonna be VG-10:( . I really wish cold steel would stop trying to appeal to the masses and try to appeal to us folks that actually know the differences in steels. They should get a forum on here or something............
 
AUS8A and VG10 are ok... one step up from a gas station knife.

S30V and D2 are a hell of a lot better.
 
Yes, S30V for me! And it's not that their 440As don't cut well or that AUS 8 is crummy. They claim their heat treatment process is done with liquid nitrogen or something ("sub-zero quenched") and that this mitigates the situation somewhat. Okay, so I'm suitably impressed when they pound their knives through steel car tops and cut a zillion pieces of cardboard. And it's nice to know their knife lockups are tested, something that other manufacturers don't do -- but I'd still like their knives to be offered in the best gun steels of the day. (Or even offer some of their folders in carbon.)

But other knife companies are going to really crappy steels. As I said in another post, CRKT and Gerber have now entered the "junk knives" catagory by making blades from liner material (420J2). And the sleazy part about it is that they've done it very quietly. All their old specs are still being used by many of the knife sales outlets. As Ross Perot would say, "That's just sad."
 
I never did buy into that hammer a "knife through the hood of a car" demo, a nail can be hammered through -just won't cut well. Similarly, a D2 knife may chip when hammered through the hood of a car -but it'll outcut and outlast AUS8A any day of the week.

"Subzero quenched" is standard if the heat treater knows what they're doing.

All marketing ... I used to think Cold Steel was the best knife company in the world too. I know better now.

I'd recommend Benchmade or Spyderco for a mass production knife.
 
What is "sub-zero quenching" and can anyone do it? The CS people say they use liquid nitrogen and get it some kinda cold. But aren't you guys being a teensy bit hard on AUS 8A steel being "one step up" from garbage knives? I mean, there are many good companies and some formerly good companies that used it.

Hasn't anyone ever tested Cold Steel's AUS 8A steel against CRKT's AUS 8A steel? Would there likely be a difference? Would the heat treatments be the same?

In a moment of weakness, I ordered a couple of the 5-inch Vaqueros today. It's a better carry size than the 6-inch.

CS21XVS.jpg
 
the best company that uses AUS 8 in my opinion is blackjack. Cold steel's good,but Bj blows it out of the water in quality.
 
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