Cold steel

Don't know about their folders, I have the Ti Lite but have never used it to cut anything...just a carry knife thats real pretty. Their fixed blade stuff I do know and they are XLNT. their full sizeLP (old model aus 8 I think) is super, did not need to be sharpened after gutting/skinning 3 deer and 4 mouflon sheep..still shaves. Got a new one with VG1 steel, but have not used it yet. also have master hunter carbon V (Little too large for my tastes) and a carbon V bowie, both are good... stains up easier than stainless but buffs out easy enough.
 
I just got a new version zytel Ti-Lite (my first CS knife) & really like it. It has a really solid lockup with no blade play at all & the way the liner is designed it would be difficult to get it to fail I think. The handle is a bit thicker than I would like, but the zytel material seems solid. It is also exceedingly hair popping sharp - even more so than my Al-Mar Falcon (which to me always seemed exceptionally sharp).
 
I love my ODA, great knife. I use it for splitting firewood. But the Secure-Ex sheath is pure crap. Mount it on your belt and its a son of a bitch to get the knife out. Does anyone know of an aftermarket sheath for us guys that appreciate good leather?
 
i recently purchased a cold steel outdoorsman in san mai 3for hunting season i was extremely pleased i found it online for $115 and it was worth every penny the blade was perfect for gutting and cutting rope
 
I've got 2 serious problems with buying from Cold Steel. One, is that the owner of the company likes to hunt endangered species. That's enough to boycott his company, in my opinion, but the second reason is that they stupidly produced an imitation of a Japanese folded steel tanto and got it completely ass-backwards. So, for those two reasons alone, I never buy from them.
 
I own quite a few cold steels...the trail master (carbon V) I consider a stable field survival knife...not as good as my busse but for an off the rack , not bad...comfortable....massive enough to chop and easily field sharpened...just one knife slingers opinion...
 
I ignore CS' marketing. It is just a load of hype. Let me give you an example not yet listed in these forums. CS use a steel they call Carbon V. Well, my 1991 Machineries Handbook list Carbon V in 3 different carbon levels. The steel list in Machineries is basically a 10xx series steel with vanadium. A .95 carbon V is 1095 with vanadium. This steel type has been around for decades. It was in Machineries when I started in engineering in the sixties. It is a common description in machine shops to describe a water hardening tool steel from group 2 of the water hardening types. I doubt that this is the steel that CS use. Since Camillus make their Carbon V models it is most likely to be O170-6C. This is a different steel (it is a proprietry name and I don't have a cross ref yet to the AISI system). Now this is marketing. Taking a steel and calling it by a common designation that ususlly descibes another different steel.

MDG retired mechanical engineer at large.
Disclosure: I own a CS master hunter in AUS 8. It is useful not a world beater.
 
MDG,
Much has been written on Carbon V. "Carbon V" is a trademark name by Cold Steel and can be anything they want it to be. While Camillus has been making CS's knives, it has been 1070-6c, which is the same steel as 50100-B (AISI). 0170-6c is just an "improved" version of 1095 (vanadium added) and has been used by a lot of knife maufacturers for a long time. The original steel manufacturer who held the patent went bankrupt years ago. In a recent telephone conversation with Camillus, they claim to own the remaining world supply of 0170-6c. They used it in CS, CASE, Marbles, and others. Now that Camillus no longer makes CASE or CS, it is not clear what CS will use for Carbon V. The patent on 0170-6c ran out years ago and so any steel manufacturer could make another run for a knife manufacturer if they were willing to buy enough of it. I think Mike Stewart (BRKT) stated in a thread on this subject that the last run was 200,000 lbs. for Camillus/Case.
I am not an expert, but I have spent alot of time on the internet researching this very subject.
Ron Athay
 
Ron,
Yes, Carbon V as a trademark can be whatever CS wants it to be. As a profesional engineer I find it interesting that a common workshop term can be turned into a trademark. I have found some references since that support the idea that CS' carbon V is a 50xxx steel. But 50xxx steek is a C Cr steel. Here is a page from my Machineries handbook on the steel classifications

50xxxsteelmachineries.jpg


50xxx steels are not a carbon vanadium steel as would be expected in a machine shop by the use of the name carbon V. They are a Carbon Chromium steel.

Now here is the page from Machineries for the Carbon V general steels. W2 would be in this class and the CS carbon V is obviously not W2. Datasheet for W2 here http://www.leedsteel.com/data_sheets/W2.doc.

carbonvmachineries.jpg


Now none of this detracts from or contradicts what has been said on this forum. But this does add another dimension to the marketing hype from CS. But it does support what you and I have said.

Many of the correspondents on this forum may be unaware of Machineries Handbook. It is the bible for machine shops. It was first published in 1914. My edition, 24th in 1991, was published by Industrial Press in New York. The information in it is correct.

Now what can I say about Carbon V in the future. The same as any lawyer would, Caveat Emptor. Just don't expect it to be a carbon vanadium steel.

MDG
Retired Mechanical Engineer at large
Disclosure: Just found that I also have a CS K7 kitchen knife. Wouldn't you believe it, the Kraton handle is loose.
 
I like tools and weapons that range from cheap to reasonably priced and DO THE JOB. Cold Steel sells the best factory made knives you can buy in my not so humble opinion. I have been buying from them for 15 years or more, and they are excellent knives (etc.). I lean very strongly toward carbon steels, Cold Steel's "Carbon V" in particular. I still own 2 or 3 Trailmaster bowies, 1 Master Hunter, 3 Recon Tantos, 2 SRKs, 2 or 3 of their various kukris, 2 of their Bushmans, a couple of their little push daggers, their 4-inch plain edge clip point folding Voyager, rattan staffs, and sjamboks. The Voyager is great, and it's a keeper. I also had a 5-inch tanto point Voyager, but it was too big to suit me. I traded it to a friend. I had one of their really big/heavy kukris and gave it to a big, strong boy, too. I hope he was worthy of it. You want beautiful? Buy a fancy custom knife. You want quality, utility, and excellent value for your money? Buy Cold Steel. Many of their knives I've bought are what they sell as "factory seconds" and you will have to look very hard to find even the slightest imperfection -- IF THAT. Their best sale is from December through January (I think through Jan.). It's their Christmas sale and they send out a special flyer the first part of December -- IF YOU ARE ON THEIR MAILING LIST for catalogs, of which you'll get about 2 a year.
 
I didn't know there was so much disdain for Cold Steel. Personally, I could care less how they market them.. it's a free country and people can do as they wish. We have the right to bear arms, and whatever speculation is made about that right being taken away, it's not going to happen easily or anytime soon. I own a CS blowgun and kukri machete, both of which perform outstandingly well. I am interested in purchasing a Bushman and would like to know what those who have one think of it. Thanks.
 
Say what you will about Cold Steel (I own an Urban Pal...pretty cool)...the Proof DVD with Thompson runnning around in his little shorts Sjambok-ing wiffle balls and slashing the bejesus out of briskets is one of the funniest/creepiest things I have ever seen.
 
Cold facts here. I like cold steel advertising even though it may not be appealing to all people. I am a guy who uses balistic gelaten and wet newspapers covered with jean material and leather etc. I stab it, i cut it, I slam into it and have had knives close on my hand. I know what points penetrate and not for the most part. I know what cuts and what dosnt. I know that serated blades do cut but can get stuck in tough material and in turn hinder cutting. Cold steel has helped me in my study of defense and i respect them for thier work.

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.
 
Rainieri said:
I've got 2 serious problems with buying from Cold Steel. One, is that the owner of the company likes to hunt endangered species. That's enough to boycott his company, in my opinion, but the second reason is that they stupidly produced an imitation of a Japanese folded steel tanto and got it completely ass-backwards. So, for those two reasons alone, I never buy from them.
Click to expand...

Which endangered species would that be? What is your proof that it's endangered?
 
Hmmm... I may have joined this forum at the wrong time!

I own knives from many makers and I use them! Hard! Danged hard!! My Marble's 'Ideal' Hunting knife (4.5 in.) that is on my belt everyday, a Case 'Seahorse Whittler' that is never out of reach, (a new addition replacing another old Case.). If all else fails there is a light-weight Cold Steel tanto-styled neck knife, (can't recall the model name), that resides between my shirt and tee shirt. Why these three? Simple. They work! Why so many? Various uses, then again, I carry a gun everyday as well.

That Cold Steel blade had by far the best edge at purchase that I've ever seen. When I bought it I didn't expect it to ever see much use. I was in error. Seems that I go for it more than the other two combined, opening boxes, bags, toys for the kids, food in the kitchen (after washing!), and more other things than I can recall. I've touched the edge up from time-to-time with a ceramic stick, that's all it has ever needed.

I own three Cold Steel products now, all of which were bought prior to seeing their DVD. (I've got to admit, Lynn Thompson looks silly stabbing blue jean pant legs stuffed with beef! What a waste of good meat!) First was the neck knife mentioned above, then I have a machete that it is better put together than any other model I could find. What the heck, a machete is a machete. I don't expect top-of-the-line steel for $10! Banana trees don't know the difference! Then there is a Kukri. Not the current model but rather the smaller version with the 'Carbon 5', 9 inch blade. When I held one I knew I wanted it in my camp box. First one was stolen and I tore up the internet in order to find a replacement of this discontinued model. It is bull-strong, stays sharp, easily touched up (if needed), cleaves, carves, slices and dices like a champ.

I'm looking for another folding knife right now and joined this forum tonight in order to gather opinions. I've got to tell you that while seeking opinions is an important step in purchase decisions, experience is even of more importance. My experiences with Cold Steel, while not vast, has been first rate. Why should I care if they are making copies of, often old, blade styles? I've heard complaints about Marble's as well, but nothing will ever take the old 'Ideal' from my belt! It has proven itself utterly reliable when my rear was on the line and done it more than once. Same goes for my Marble's double bit Hunter's Axe. They work! That is what matters, not silly advertising nor commentary on someone's lifestyle like the (so far) baseless hunting comment above.

All of that said, what are the opinions on the Titanium/ VG-1 'Ti-Lites'?

Bull, out!
 
I love my ti-lite by c/s.
I can get it dull but two minutes and it's sharp.
I have a few more c/s blades
all I can say is shop a round don't go to the company web site you will pay to much
 
After many years collecting knives I have my first Cold Steel knife on the way. It's a plain edge AUS8 El Lobo. They recently changed to VG-1 steel, discontinued the plain edge version and renamed it Medium Vaquero. Fortunately I found the older version from an online retailer at a good price. I'm looking forward to it's arrival.
 
stevekt said:
After many years collecting knives I have my first Cold Steel knife on the way. It's a plain edge AUS8 El Lobo. They recently changed to VG-1 steel, discontinued the plain edge version and renamed it Medium Vaquero. Fortunately I found the older version from an online retailer at a good price. I'm looking forward to it's arrival.
Click to expand...
I bought one of those off ebay a few weeks ago and they are nice knives. The recurve cuts very nicely. The only problem I have had with it and an El Hombre (plain edge, large Vaquero basically) is when you cut hard into something binding like cardboard, you can feel the blade move back, sort of like bladeplay, but only in one direction (back towards the spine).

I'd be interested to see if yours does that too, as it may just be a design issue. Other than that, they're fine knives.
 
I'll look out for that when it arrives but I'll likely cut mostly light stuff like packing tape and shrink wrap with this knife.
 
I have three cold steel knives and like them all very much. Master Hunter, Voyager, and an AK47 folder. I could care less about the advertising. What I care about is the product that I get for the price I pay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top