Cold Steel?

Cold Steel is one of those companies that used to be pretty good ten to twenty years ago. But like a lot of others including SOG, Gerber, Al Mar, and to a lesser degree Blackjack and Benchmade they have deteriorated severely. Some of them have gone down in selection others in quality or styling and many have sent their manufacturing to lesser factories and all have suffered from quality and appeal in my opinion to the point that I would not buy any of their current offerings. Twenty years ago I could not wait to see and buy their next new model, today I could care less.
 
Of course paying the MSRP of $699 is nuts. Yea their stuff is pricey, but you do get a nice knife for the money on the higher end stuff.
Click to expand...

Golly guys, don't you realize that Cold Steel don't want you buying a knife direct? You buy direct you pay MSRP. You shop around, look under rocks, in cracks, you find much better prices.

By making MSRP so high, Cold Steel forces you to buy from distributors. Ever figured out why you don't buy direct from GM? GM sells trucks to dealers. By selling to dealers, GM will sell a lot more trucks than if they sold them direct from Flint MI. GM also does not have to carry inventory, the distributors have the inventory, and the dealers are the ones stuck with unsold trucks at the end of the year.

Its a Business Model.

Cold Steel makes cheap knives for cheap people, and they make expensive knives for people who are willing to pay more.

Its called a Business Model. GM offers cheap Chevy's, mid priced Pontaic's, upper priced Buick's, and Cadillac for the upper crust.

I have compared prices, and after shopping around, and I did not find the price of a San Mai Trailmaster to be all that different from a Fallkniven Thor.

They are both made in Japan, and when you look at them, I don't see any reason why they are not made in the same plant.

I don't read anyone saying bad things about Fallkniven.

Have not bought any of the Cold Steel Chinese knives, but bought Chinese Bucks, and Chinese Schrades. They work, and they were cheap.

And most people, they are cheap too. Cold Steel has to sell knives that people will buy, or Cold Steel goes bye bye.
 
I like Cold Steel for the most part. They always have good factory edges that aren't overly obtuse like most other companies, they have decent prices on alot of knives although they get a little carried away with the higher end stuff. They have pretty good QC overall. Their designs are what keeps me from bying their products most of the time, they just don't appeal to me. Their marketing is a whole 'nother story that has been covered already. They are woth keeping an eye on IMO.
 
Recieved an American Lawman, 2 weeks ago, Its well built, sharp and I'd purchase another if I lost this one.
 
Sam Patch said:
Golly guys, don't you realize that Cold Steel don't want you buying a knife direct? You buy direct you pay MSRP. You shop around, look under rocks, in cracks, you find much better prices.
Click to expand...

Who's paying retail for this stuff. It is easy to find anything Cold Steel makes for 35% - 40% off of retail. I can get any of it for less and I still would not own it. It just isn't what it used to be, and I am not willing to settle for even what it was in the day any more.
 
Got an American Lawmen last week. Very solid knife. Not that sharp OOTB but a touchup with the Lansky really honed it up. No i wouldn't pay 115$ for it but 70 bucks ain't bad.
 
It's sad to me to go into some pretty big stores and have trouble finding any damn thing that is not made in china.
 
I have owned alot of CS knives over the years and none has let me down. I currently own two Hatamoto's one new design and one original design. The original is starting to develop a tiny bit of blade play if you bang the tip down hard or press on it hard enough right at the tip. Blade doesn't move other wise. I also have had an original issue Master Hunter since they first were introduced. There is no better hunting knife made today imho. I have many hunting knives too and have had a ton of custom hunters. Still go back to the Master Hunter every time. I have 2 recon scouts too, one is a beater with the handle starting to loosen and the blade sharpened every which way but it still works and I belive that knife to be right around 13 yrs old. I have had the TM's too and good knives although a little thick for my tastes. The Recon series of folders are extremely well made and the street price is very good on them. They are rugged and stout. I do belive they pay BM for the use of the axis lock. I have had the American Lawman and although a very well made knife just wasn't me. I am waiting to get a Caldenonian folder too.

Price is a subjective thing too. Would I pay retail no way, but the street prices are very reasonable it seems and the Hatamoto's are wicked knives and extremely well made too. Oh yea I can't forget my old school Voyagers. You the Japaneese made integral clip AUS8a knives. I like those too and own a lg and xlg.

Do I go along with there advertising hype? Not for the most part but they still make knvies that are on the high end and low end that pretty much anyone could afford. Anyways that my story with CS and I am sticking to it. keepem sharp

PS a CSR said to send the Hatamoto in that has the bit of blade play and they would fix it free which is cool.
 
udtjim said:
It's sad to me to go into some pretty big stores and have trouble finding any damn thing that is not made in china.
Click to expand...

CS has a lot of pieces made in China now and SOG is another company that I used to like a lot but almost every one of their knives are made in Taiwan and China now. I really don't care if the stuff looks OK or not it is a matter of principle. Mainland China is an enemy of the USA IMO and that will not soon change.
 
Just recieved my order from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. I got some CS knives: Kitchen Classics: (2) steak (1) Chef (1) Slicer. These knives are excellent, very sharp out of the box, I'm impressed. The other piece I got is the Trail Hawk, nice little tomahawk, but not sharp, well at least not what I expected. I'm I wrong here? Should it be razor sharp or what? Please enlighted me. SMKW also sent a free 4" pocket sheath for a folder, very nice, thanks SMKW.
 
Shaolin said:
The other piece I got is the Trail Hawk, nice little tomahawk, but not sharp, well at least not what I expected. I'm I wrong here? Should it be razor sharp or what?
Click to expand...

Mine was very dull too. Go to the axe and tomahawk forum here to see what every one dose to customize theirs.
 
A lot of this debate is for one personal reason or another.

It seems that most of the negativity has to do with the owner, This is a personal reason, not that the knife is good, bad, cheap or expensive.

I personally do not like Spyderco. I detest cutting holes in perfectly good blades. BUT, this is just my own opinion. I would never tell someone not to buy one because I don't like the looks of it.

The same thing goes here. Some people dislike the owner so much, they won't even look at a Cold Steel product, let alone buy one.
 
I own a GI Tanto and a Master Hunter. the MH I'm pleased with aside from the price I payed for it, as for the Tanto...

I'll have to agree that it's over sized and unpleasant to hold.

I haven't tried older CS models, but from what I have tried and read about in reviews, I'd rather do business with custom makers from this forum, such as Scott Gossman, Daniel Koster, fiddleback, Kaleb Renolds and other makers I haven't yet had the opportunity to do business with..
 
I have alot of knives from CS. Love the voyagers and recon-1 for hard use, beat-up folders. Taken to carrying their X2 voyager lately when unable to carry a firearm or fixed blade. Their "custom series" folders don't do it for me at any price point considering the materials and other options out there. I did get a Natchez Bowie at a gunshow this weekend for $250 and think it's worth every penny of that. I also have a few GI Tantos as truck knives and they fit the role perfectly. Same with their bushman series. I find some of their stuff better than others. I have 6 machetes and 4 hawks from them, picked up 3rd party via the internet. All arrived rather dull and took some work to get reasonably sharp, which surprised me since all the other CS stuff I picked up has been shaving sharp. Guess it varies down the line like everything else. I do like the old CS stuff from Japan and the U.S. a little more, but these days everything is going China. Even Benchmade and Spyderco have models from there now. As long as the quality holds high, I won't have a big issue with it. Sign of the times I guess. As for the owner, I have no issue with him, but the over-the-top marketing is amusing at best, and gets old after awhile.
 
I just watched the first hour of the "Real Proof" Cold Steel promotional DVD... What a hoot! Yeah, sure it's propaganda, but what a lot of fun for a knife enthusiast. Can't say I understand the vitriol some folks have for Cold Steel. I just got the big and beautiful Natchez Bowie, and I'm VERY impressed with the fit and finish, and hair shaving edge (at half MSRP). I will be posting a review soon, stay tuned!
 
I have a bunch of CS products. Fixed blades, Folders, Hawks, shovel, Poll Axe, etc. All have been great users. The most expensive is a Tralimaster Bowie in Sanmai. I think they are overpriced at normal prices. (only because I have found other brands in that price point that I prefer more......Busse, Scrapyard etc....even Fallkniven large fixed blades are priced about the same). I got my Trialmaster sanmai a while ago at a large sporting goods store for $150, and it has been worth that. I would like a different handle material (after 6 years of use). The Kraton is a bit too soft, and grippy when dry. Many of their products are great value/utility/price point. I have yet to have any of their products leave me feeling as if I had wasted my money, and that cannot be said of many other companies with comparable products in the same price point. I have not had any CS folder lock give away and bite me, ever. I cannot say this about other folder's in the same, or even higher price range. All their hawks, shovels, etc have been extremely useful, and darn right fun. Their GI tanto has been a tough thrower (about all I use it for). Their push knives are great.

I have more expensive blades, but when a beginner asks for a reasonable priced entry blade, I usually include CS in my list of recommendations.

I agree that much of their marketing statements are funny (like the best type of this knife in the world etc. Strongest, sharpest, etc are hard to quantify. Cutco states they are the sharpest knife in the world.....that is crap, but they are decent kitchen knives.).

I love a lot of CS's designs. The willingness to do new things, or make old designs available (hawks, bowie styles, etc).

I wish more manufacturers would put out video's like CS's. Many of the knives I have owned would not do a lot of the things on those video's. Sure some of the stuff is cheesy, but being able to hang from a locking knife's lock, or putting it in a vice and seeing how much weight the lock will take is very helpful. No folder I have ever owned besides the Recon 1 will take 200 pounds on the lock. (I doubt many high end tatical folders would), and the recon 1 is much cheaper. Just an example. (for instance I had a knife dealer tell me the Gerber applegate folder would hold 1000 pounds on the lock, I called bs on him and showed him I could flex it with my fingers, I also had comparably priced Buck folders that would not take 20lbs on the lock without folding even when new....I know, I have had them fail in normal non abusive use, my brother had surgery on his hand once as a result of a buck folder lock giving way with light pressure in normal use).

just my 2 cents.
 
zignal_zero said:
my experience:

their products - great :-)
their service - awful :-(

overall, i like CS
Click to expand...

Interesting perspective. Personally, I'd couldn't come away "liking" a company whose service I would describe as being "awful," but maybe that's just me.;)

Regards,
3G
 
3Guardsmen said:
Interesting perspective. Personally, I'd couldn't come away "liking" a company whose service I would describe as being "awful," but maybe that's just me.;)

Regards,
3G
Click to expand...

oh trust me, i know what you mean, i was on a one man boycott for a long time. i couldn't hold out when i saw the true flight thrower, though.

the service i needed was NOT due to product failure, so that affects my overall opinion. i look at it like this- their service might suck, but i'll probably never need it and (for me) some of their products really fit my needs. i consider them to be a good value, too. my Recon Tanto is a beast and it was not very expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top