Cold Steel

E

egdod

Joined
Mar 20, 2005
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couldnt get the search feature to work so this might be a repeat.
I just recieved the cold steel DVD's set in the mail (didint order just showed up) any how I watched them and I gotta say pretty amazing test these knives were put through. Has anybody dealt or had any of these knives?
Are they really that strong and durable or is this a doctored video?
 
You will find Cold Steel's products are rather debatable. I will not say more as there are others here that are far more knowledgeable than I.
 
Please attempt to use the search feature again as this is possibly the most debated subject in these forums.
 
The tests are pretty amazing but duplicating any of them voids the warrenty, which shows you how confident Cold Steel really are in their products. Some have pointed out that CS fake some of their tests, which may or may not be true. Most of their products probably can survive the tests, but there is nothing to indicate that the compitition can't.

The DVDs are entertaining, but take them with a grain of salt.

Many don't like CS's marketing tactics, and judge the company as whole on it. I have several of their products and think they are sound for the price. They seems to have quality control issues, and a few bad blades get through and misteriously brake when they shouldn't, but for the most part, they are rugged blades. CS offer lots of unique things as well. I like their knives, and for the price, many of them are hard to beat.

Will
 
In what I have seen the cold steel fixed blades in carbon steel are pretty good but in use I like ontario's 1095 mil-spec just as well and maybe better, they are good for the price.
 
I've seen people duplicate small portions of the tests and came away with the same results and heard of others who tried splitting wood and destroyed their CS knives in short order... the point is, don't do those things in the video and you should be fine.
 
It is hard to judge unless you talk to someone who has handled both the lower end and the higher end stuff, for example someone who has the San Mai Tanto as well as the say... All Terrain hunter? I myself have a few Cold Steel items but honestly would break my heart to subject them to those cruel tests. I will say that for the price, the All Terrain Hunter is awesome, can't say much for strength (there is absolutely no bolster) but the edge has kept very well, through two camp trips and a couple of "test throws" (nevermind that one... heehee)
For the really really "cheap" stuff for example the Panga Machete, i gotta say it did not hold up very well. It also uses 1095 "tool" steel, like Ontario knives, but IMHO Ontario is built better. Also, the QC part is correct, I had three shipped at a time and two out of the three the edges were completely uneven and just looked like a mess.

To sum it up, don't spend mega bucks on the expensive stuff yet, play around with their beater stuff, build confidence and then splurge. The videos are pretty amazing and i even did that "hanging rope/cut in mid air" test myself and my little Spydie Native did better than the 14" Panga

happy research!

aXed
 
i even did that "hanging rope/cut in mid air" test myself
Click to expand...
I've done worse with many knives, Cold Steel and others. I slash at branches and thorns and vines in the woods, same technique. A smooth swing, hit the target at 45 degrees, and follow through.

Amazing. :cool:
 
I have a Cold Steel SRK and am pleased wit it. It has a strong tip, a tough blade, and can take a really sharp edge. I did a bit of tip testing and lateral strength testing to see if it would really hold up, and it has :) So, my experience with Cold Steel knives, in particular their carbon V fixed blades, has been positive. Oh, by the way, don't pay retail; shop around at places like http://www.newgraham.com and http://www.cheaperthandirt.com
 
In general Cold Steel's Carbon V, AUS 8A, AUS 6A, and SK 5 products are good and reliable for their price range, as reliable as depicted in the video. I own several of their products and am very pleased with them.

On the other hand, they do have QC problems. I like their Kukri machete and bought two. The edge in one is solid and stout. It has handled everything I've put in front of it. The other machete's edge bent and lost it shape with the very first chop. Go figure.

The quality of their knives depend on who they contract to make their knives for them. It is widely believed that Carbon V is 50100-b aka 0170-6C, the same steel used by Camilus for the Brute, Necker and the BK line. It is possible that Camilus makes CS's Carbon V products. That explain the overall quality of their Carbon V knives.

Lastly, keep in mind that Cold Steel is not a knife making business, it is a marketing business. Their DVD is nothing more than a marketing tool. The purpose of the video is to sell knives. It is here that some disagree (with cause) with Cold Steel's practices. Their marketing strategies work business wise, but may be ethically misleading.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I think I read somewhere that Cold Steel doesn't manufacture anything, or at least not everything the sell. That in fact it's made in various parts of the world (China, Japan, USA, Taiwan) by various manufacturers, which would explain the varying quality between models and lines.

That's just what I remember reading somewhere though, so take that with a couple grains of salt.
 
Thanks Y'all, I knew that I could get an honest answer here. I was thinking on the same line as just about every one that posted. I have noticed that through the 18 years I have been in the Army that alot of high speed - low drag knife companies comes the the post exchange, but if they dont continue being a hot item you can just about bet its not that great of a product. In other words I have seen their products on the shelves for a while know so some of the troops like them.
 
Planterz said:
I think I read somewhere that Cold Steel doesn't manufacture anything, or at least not everything they sell.
Click to expand...

The only thing Cold Steel actually makes are the More Proof and Sword Proof DVD's. Everything else is made for them by other manufacturers.
 
I had a cold steel recon 1 good knife and very strong except when cutting minila they show it cutting through 1 inch I tryed 3/4 and could never make it through even after hand resharpening. the factory edge just wasent sharp enough and did not hold up to the minila like you hope it would now I carry a knife made from 154cm much sharper and much better edge retension and it will cut the minila
 
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