Cold Steel?

I'm one of those guys who won't look at CS stuff because of the owner and because of the general behavior of the company. I don't preach to others about it, it is just my opinion.

I see buck coming in and talking with forum members on their forum and dealing with warrenty issues despite being a huge company that has gone multinational. I see spyderco discussing issues and asking forum members for advice. I see the same things from Bark River, RAT cutlery, Busse and many excellent and talented knifemakers. Why the heck would I ever deal with an impersonal company like CS?
 
Recently was fortunate to pick up a Cold Steel "Ultimate Hunter" (Japan)
from a forumite at a very reasonable price, this is my first one. Impressive.
Compared it to a Benchmade 551S Griptilian.

Benchmade uses a checkered Noryl GTX for grip,
Cold Steel uses a checkered Thermorun for grip.
I have big hands and the CS has a more comfortable rubber-like grip for me
that tends not to slip. The BM has a more hard plastic feel. Both have dual
thumb studs, the BM has a smoother opening, the CS has a vault lockback.
It will be interesting to see how these match up in the field. The Benchmade
uses 154CM steel, the CS uses AUS8A.
I understand the CS Ultimate Hunter is now available in VG-1.

CS 61LPS
BM 551S

*Price (street) Same, around $70.00

*Blade length Same, approx. 3.5 inch.
CS 61LPS Blade 4.0mm/.1575" thick AUS8A
BM 551S Blade 2.92mm/.115" thick 154CM

Length CS 61LPS Open 8.5" Closed 5.0" Lockback
Length BM 551S Open 8.1" Closed 4.6" Axis Lock

CS 61LPS Weight 5.9 oz.
BM 551S Weight 3.25 oz.

CSBM.jpg
 
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CS doesn't make any good pocket jewelry or collectible stuff, but they work fine for beaters, imo.

Spyderco Clipits are harder to flick because they are pin constructed and the pivots are not adjustable.
 
Ultimate Hunter.
On some forum (either here, THR, or EDCF) someone did a comparison between the Ultimate Hunter and the KaBar Dozier lockbacks. The cheap ones, $20, not the expensive ones in D2.
They found that the KaBar was just as good of a knife as the Ultimate, for a third of the price.
Can anyone uphold or smash this claim to bits?
Hardheart- I personally agree with you (about CS) but Lynn seems to be trying to sell stuff as if it was a collectable)
 
They found that the KaBar was just as good of a knife as the Ultimate, for a third of the price.
Can anyone uphold or smash this claim to bits?
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I have both. The Dozier knives are good value for the money. Not going to knock them, they provide good steel and good design at a good price. Dozier has put good steel and good blade shape into his Kabar knives. The handles are plastic.

The Ultimate Hunter is a big heavy folding knife. Overall the handle is wider and longer than a Dozier, and the blade spline is thicker. I think it weighs more than the fixed blade mini Pendleton Hunter, which is what it is based on.

The Ultimate Hunter has steel slab reinforcements in the handle. It also has a thicker blade. Those slab reinforcements means you can put a lot of twisting force on that handle. More force than I would care to put any knife through.

Outside of those, the differences would be in the blade shape and the blade materials. What blade shape you like is based on what you think is best. The steels, I think the Dozier is ATS-34 and my ultimate hunter is AUS-8. Not enough difference to argue about.

I would rather use the Ultimate Hunter field dressing deer deer than the Dozier. Bigger, heavier, less concern about snapping the handle off.

Though I prefer over any folding knife, my Northwoods Willow.

northwoods_willowleaf_large.jpg


Just my opinion.
 
I only have experience with a CS Voyager. I think its a great knife, solidly built, and it was pretty sharp OOTB. I am not sure about some of the others, and it does seem like some of their prices are a little high, but so far I am pretty pleased with what I have from them.
 
For the price of a Cold Steel "Kukri", you could buy a real khuk from Himalayan Imports with a lifetime warranty. Their warranty includes abuse, and their *recommended* proof testing goes well past what other manufacturers call abuse.

I've heard good things about the CS model, but I really doubt it will stack up to a handmade blade that's described by the manufacturer as "a good substitute prybar."

If you compare the quality of character of the respective founders of the two companies, it's not even a contest. Bill Martino was loved by all. Lynn Thompson probably has to check under his car with a mirror every morning.
 
Khalnath said:
For the price of a Cold Steel "Kukri", you could buy a real khuk from Himalayan Imports with a lifetime warranty. Their warranty includes abuse, and their *recommended* proof testing goes well past what other manufacturers call abuse.

I've heard good things about the CS model, but I really doubt it will stack up to a handmade blade that's described by the manufacturer as "a good substitute prybar."

If you compare the quality of character of the respective founders of the two companies, it's not even a contest. Bill Martino was loved by all. Lynn Thompson probably has to check under his car with a mirror every morning.
Click to expand...

Now you just gave away the goods on the new tactical mirror:D
 
No problem. From what I've read, VG-1 isn't half bad. However, VG-10 is even better.
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Since Cold Steel is not telling anyone what VG-1 is, it could be VG-10.
 
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Just recieved my Recon 1 Tanto tonight. I like this sucker, big, easy to use, sharp as hell Out of the Box. Way better than the CRKT Emergency Rescue I got as well. Thumbs up CS!
 
their WAY overpriced, and the company goes to extremes to say their knives are so much better than others; not for me


:thumbdn:
 
My large voyager just arrived, and it is a beauty.
29LTxyz.jpg


Yes, Cold Steel is pricey, but you can get their stuff at good prices if you look around.
 
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