From one of their youtube vids:
"Meats utilized in this video was carefully preserved and donated to the Ventura County Rescue Mission."
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cold steel
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From one of their youtube vids:
"Meats utilized in this video was carefully preserved and donated to the Ventura County Rescue Mission."
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Morrow
Don't make this weird
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Ah, what the heck, it's been a good show for 6 pages so I might as well throw in my 2 cents.
I love Cold Steel. I'm pretty new to knives and I only own a few Cold Steel products, but I absolutely love them. One of the biggest reasons I like them is because they come out with genuinely new designs (as far as I can tell) like the Rajah series, or the Spartan, or a ton of other knives that they produce.
However, they're not perfect. I'm not a huge fan of the tanto style, which I think they over-use. I own one tanto blade and I've found I prefer a different shape for utility tasks. I also don't like that they put down other companies, but LT at least goes out of his way to back up what he says about his own knives. Andrew Demko also does a great job and I've become a big fan of his.
Overall, I think if you look carefully at their stuff they sell a lot of knives (and axes, and spears, and blowguns, and pepper spray) at a great value. Some are overpriced, but quite a few are an excellent value for what they are. I don't know where else to find a 3.5 inch, kukri-bladed, hard-use folder for $54. Sorry for the essay, I guess I'll sum it all up by saying I fully plan on spending more money on more Cold Steel knives. That's how I feel about them.
I love Cold Steel. I'm pretty new to knives and I only own a few Cold Steel products, but I absolutely love them. One of the biggest reasons I like them is because they come out with genuinely new designs (as far as I can tell) like the Rajah series, or the Spartan, or a ton of other knives that they produce.
However, they're not perfect. I'm not a huge fan of the tanto style, which I think they over-use. I own one tanto blade and I've found I prefer a different shape for utility tasks. I also don't like that they put down other companies, but LT at least goes out of his way to back up what he says about his own knives. Andrew Demko also does a great job and I've become a big fan of his.
Overall, I think if you look carefully at their stuff they sell a lot of knives (and axes, and spears, and blowguns, and pepper spray) at a great value. Some are overpriced, but quite a few are an excellent value for what they are. I don't know where else to find a 3.5 inch, kukri-bladed, hard-use folder for $54. Sorry for the essay, I guess I'll sum it all up by saying I fully plan on spending more money on more Cold Steel knives. That's how I feel about them.
i love cold steel products, the only thing i dont like is watching lynn thomas nearly have a heart attack every time he does a demo of something. I also dont like them discontinuing a lot of their great products and not replacing them with something better.
Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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Yep. I've got my pop corn what about you?
STR
I was thinking maybe we should ask a few of the members here for buying advice since they have such a vast knowledge of knives and Cold Steel. I mean I am humbled at their vast experience that seems to overshadow some of the rest of us. I just can't believe how misinformed I have been all these years drooling over all those articles and dreaming about being in the Military.
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When you get to work....please remember that I like extra fries with my burger.
:thumbup:I have read all the posts with interest.
I don't know enought about Lynn Thompson to have an opinion, but I do have an opinion on the CS products.
I am no expert and have only been buying knives for about 3-4 months. I have been buying inexpensive knives with fairly good reputations, just to see what knife collecting is all about.
One of the first was a CS Canadian belt knife. I like it and it is currently doing a fine job in the kitchen. Don't really have another use for it.
Next, I bought a CS pocket bushman because I had read so much (both good and bad) about the knife and wanted to try it. It is interesting but to me not that practical. It is in a drawer and doesn't see any edc or much other usage.
I then bought my son a CS bushman. It is not the best steel, best design, best quality or best looking, BUT it is pure unadulterated fun.
Both my son and I have chopped, batoned, used it as a spear and throwing knife and even used it for conventional knife uses and I just like this knife. tome that is what knives are for. A tool that is fun to use.
I have a total investment in CS knives of less than $60.00.
Having said all this, I agree that CS has some good values and many that are (in my limited knowledge) overpriced. They also have some "weird" stuff.
I agree that much of their advertising is "over the top" and appeals to "adolescent adventurer wannabes".
I bought what I liked and left the other products alone. I don't anticipate any more CS purchases in the near future, but I will continue to check out their products and if I see one I like, I will buy it.
That is no different than any other knives (with a couple of exceptions) or any product from any other company for that matter.
I don't know enought about Lynn Thompson to have an opinion, but I do have an opinion on the CS products.
I am no expert and have only been buying knives for about 3-4 months. I have been buying inexpensive knives with fairly good reputations, just to see what knife collecting is all about.
One of the first was a CS Canadian belt knife. I like it and it is currently doing a fine job in the kitchen. Don't really have another use for it.
Next, I bought a CS pocket bushman because I had read so much (both good and bad) about the knife and wanted to try it. It is interesting but to me not that practical. It is in a drawer and doesn't see any edc or much other usage.
I then bought my son a CS bushman. It is not the best steel, best design, best quality or best looking, BUT it is pure unadulterated fun.
Both my son and I have chopped, batoned, used it as a spear and throwing knife and even used it for conventional knife uses and I just like this knife. tome that is what knives are for. A tool that is fun to use.
I have a total investment in CS knives of less than $60.00.
Having said all this, I agree that CS has some good values and many that are (in my limited knowledge) overpriced. They also have some "weird" stuff.
I agree that much of their advertising is "over the top" and appeals to "adolescent adventurer wannabes".
I bought what I liked and left the other products alone. I don't anticipate any more CS purchases in the near future, but I will continue to check out their products and if I see one I like, I will buy it.
That is no different than any other knives (with a couple of exceptions) or any product from any other company for that matter.
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I believe CS has raised the bar a bit with the new Tri-ad lock and we are going to be seeing some very advanced heavy duty "hard use" knives as a result, from some other big companies.
Within the next year or so and we will be seeing some new locks perhaps or beefing up of some that already exist.
Within the next year or so and we will be seeing some new locks perhaps or beefing up of some that already exist.I believe CS has raised the bar a bit with the new Tri-ad lock and we are going to be seeing some very advanced heavy duty "hard use" knives as a result, from some other big companies.
It would be nice if CS matched the "strongest lock" in the world with some better steel then AUS8. They won't be taking any marketshare away from their competitors until they upgrade their steels.
I find the whole strongest lock debate pointless, no folder, even a slip joint is going to fail "while cutting using downward pressure", you know, like how a knife is used almost exclusively. If I really need to stab something, I would use a fixed blade anyway.....
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IIRC, it's been said many times on this forum that AUS8A is a good steel choice for the overall theme of toughness. I'm not an expert on steels, but I don't think AUS8A is so horrible that it's holding back their designs.
As for the strongest lock out there, I like knowing that I can chop through a brick wall with my knife and the knife will still function when I get to the other side. I won't ever do that, but I really like knowing that I can.
As for the strongest lock out there, I like knowing that I can chop through a brick wall with my knife and the knife will still function when I get to the other side. I won't ever do that, but I really like knowing that I can.
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Better for what? Can you actually tell the difference?
If you happen to have one when you need it. Or do you carry one all the time?
I have several CS products and find they are pretty good knives; not my favorite, but they work very well for what they were designed for; cutting. I guess my favorite of their line that I've owned are the Voyagers. However, I can never bring myself to carry or use them as EDC like I do, for example, my Spyders, etc., because to me they aren't nearly as comfortable to carry and use.
I haven't purchased any CS products in several years, and don't really anticipate any more at this point. But I think they put out some very good stuff, and some not-so-good stuff. But those are just my own tastes. They try all different types of designs and various products, and these run the gamut. I think the put-downs of other companies is annoying; people will decide for themselves and gravitate to whatever brand(s) they prefer without all that.
I also don't like the bead-blasted finish that's become common on so many of their knives. I seem to remember years ago, they criticized bead-blasting. I do realize it likely keeps the cost down on many knives (as compared to satin finishing the blades).
They are coming out next year with upgraded Voyagers that are FFG which look pretty nice. But since I've become even more selective on my knife purchases, I'm not likely to buy, but they do look very cool.
Jim
I haven't purchased any CS products in several years, and don't really anticipate any more at this point. But I think they put out some very good stuff, and some not-so-good stuff. But those are just my own tastes. They try all different types of designs and various products, and these run the gamut. I think the put-downs of other companies is annoying; people will decide for themselves and gravitate to whatever brand(s) they prefer without all that.
I also don't like the bead-blasted finish that's become common on so many of their knives. I seem to remember years ago, they criticized bead-blasting. I do realize it likely keeps the cost down on many knives (as compared to satin finishing the blades).
They are coming out next year with upgraded Voyagers that are FFG which look pretty nice. But since I've become even more selective on my knife purchases, I'm not likely to buy, but they do look very cool.
Jim
Absolutely, AUS8 is low carbon and softer then a lot of the newer steels that have been on the market for decades. It's lower quality then 440C that's been around for 40 years. Try some VG10, 154CM, ZDP-189, S30V and you will instantly see the difference in performance and edge retention.
I carry a fixed blade when I think I might need a fixed blade, and a folder when I think I will need a folder. I don't carry a knife for self defence if that is what you are getting at.
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I know all that but can you tell the difference in a blind test? I know can't. Some of the more experienced users here might. Have you compared AUS8 with say ZDP or S30V in real world usage? Extensively?
So I guess, if a time comes when you're up against it, you won't stab with your folder.
Sal Glesser
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There is a considerable difference in edge retention that can be noticed easily in longer term useage. Hitachi's ZDP has almost 3 times the carbon content of Aichi's AUS-8 and is generally 5 points higher on a Rockwell scale. (59 vs 64).
AUS-8 is a particularly homogenous steel so the grain structure will be as refined as the grain structure of powdered steels like ZDP or S30V. That means it will get as sharp as the powderd steels, just won't stay sharp as long.
sal
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