Cold Steel's new items

[THG]

Those grips are wrist-breakers and deal-breakers for anyone who knows how to use a knife for anything other than smashing it into something. They're ridiculous and made, IMO, to entice wannabe knife wielders into thinking they're super cool when they're the exact opposite.

I dunno. Those handles look to me to be an improvement. One of the things that turned me off of the old Recon 1s and Voyagers and Gunsites was the straight handle.

I've had that ultra lock (axis lock rip off)

I'm pretty sure I've heard a number of times on this forum that they licensed the lock off of Benchmade.

 

[ctk77]

cs knives are lame because????? they are japanese knives they have a cheap quality and feel about them . and I dont like the steel they use!

 

[Zombie Zeke]

Back to the knives though....

That new Recon 1 Tanto and Trench make a mighty fine deployment duo. I like the Redesigned Recons with the Tri-Ad locks, the AUS8 does nothing for me but they look to sell in reality for 85 bucks, so I am not complaining.

 

[wongKI]

I like the look of the medium Espada. It looks a lot like the Spyderco Persian, but with a less premium (don't all yell at me) steel and higher grind. (Is it a flat saber or hollow grind?) Polished G10, integral bolsters, lock back. I wouldn't mind one.

 

[antonio_luiz]

Here you go sweetpea http://www.scrapyardknives.com/schwag.htm

Like I said, salesmen first.

I will be buying a Recon 1, Rajah III and Trench Hawk long before any of Busses overpriced stuff...they all cut brotha after that it's personal prefence and wallet size.

Touché. One of the things that puts me off BF is the one-eyed Busse fanatics. Yes, they're good knives, maybe even great knives, but there are other great knives out there. Liking one particular brand is no justification for knocking another. I too will likely be adding another CS to my collection before a Busse.

 

[Nikokurausu]

At first I was very apprehensive about the redesigned Recon 1s but now I'm starting to get a bit excited. I was bothered by the lack of the Ultra lock and thought they were switching to straight lockbacks. The Tri-Ad lock is badass though so I'm a bit relieved.

Also, I'm damn ecstatic to see the new Point Guards. I love the Spyderco Swick and Busse Scotch Dispensers I have and one of the things I've wanted is a longer blade with a similar handle. That's exactly what the Point Guards are and that makes me very happy.

 

[3Guardsmen]

I've had that ultra lock (axis lock rip off) fail on me two times because how cheap they were made. I have also had all of my CS knives develop vertical bladeplay after about a WEEK of use. The edge hasn't held up well and has chipped too easy due to bad heat treatment. Last but not least I've had three CS knives that have chipped tips due to dropping it from a three foot coffee table one was a tanto.

I will repeat it once again CS knives have been crap in my experiences. Your experiences may vary.

What do you mean by "how cheap they were made," when speaking of the ultra lock? Are you referring to cheap steel being used for the ultra lock pin? Are you referring to cheap or under-hardened steel being used for the liners? Are you referring to weak omega type springs?

How many CS knives is "all of my CS knives," two, five, twenty? What kind of "use" are you referring to when state that all of your CS knives developed play after "a WEEK" of use? Were you dicing onions, slicing cheese, stabbing car hoods?

You managed to drop not one, not two, but three CS knives from a "three foot coffee table?" Are you clumbsy? Onto what type of surface were these three knives dropped, carpet, wood, granite? Were the knives dropped point first or handle first?

 

[3Guardsmen]

cs knives are lame because????? they are japanese knives they have a cheap quality and feel about them . and I dont like the steel they use!

What knives are you referring to? Cold Steel knives are made in several different countries, predominantly Taiwan and China as of late. Japan is not known for making "lame, cheap quality" knives. Cold Steel uses several different types of steel for their knives.

 

[PropThePolecat]

Am i the only one having a hard time envisioning how- not one, but three- CS folders can chip from falling of a 3-foot coffe table???

 

[misterjuiceman]

cs knives are lame because????? they are japanese knives they have a cheap quality and feel about them . and I dont like the steel they use!

in my mind, Japan is up there in terms of quality with America for production knives. a lot of the great Spydercos are made in Japan, like the Endura and the Delica. the G10 versions of these two knives are among the highest quality knives that I've seen in their price range (which is not particularly low). a lot of high-end production companies used Japanese steels when the American versions of the steels were trash---both Strider and Chris Reeve used ATS-34 as their main steel for their flagship knives, and then there's laminated ZDP-189, which is generally highly regarded. Also, Rockstead knives is a Japanese company and I haven't heard a single criticism of their quality, and for their price ($650+), believe me, if there were something wrong, you'd hear about it.

 

[graham_s]

I am not a fan of LCT. Let's get that out of the way first.
But.
I do like some of his knives. Some of them I hate.
By the same token, I don't like some of Spyderco's knives, or Busse.
I can't think of any manufacturer than makes a complete catalogue that I like.
There is always something I'm not keen on.
I've got a reasonable amount of CS blades, and all of them have been good quality, well made, and held a decent edge.

Some of the new blades for 2010 will no doubt find their way into my collection.
The spartan and the SMIII SRK are looking good at the moment, maybe a few others.

 

[Zombie Zeke]

Stating that Japan makes poor knives is like saying their cars will never get a foothold in the good 'ol US of A. Check into (via Google) Seki City, MCusta, Tojiro or any number of amazing Katana's and Wakazishi's made 500 years ago of layered metals while our brethren on these shores were clubbing each other like baby seals with rock ended clubs...

The Recons now bear a striking resembalance to Ernie Emersons stuff with a dash of Kelly Worden thrown in to boot, that Rec Tanto, is calling out to my bank card!

 

[3Guardsmen]

The Recons now bear a striking resembalance to Ernie Emersons stuff with a dash of Kelly Worden thrown in to boot

CS does appear to have gone a little 'finger groove/cut-out' crazy this year. I imagine that several of the new versions of their older offerings will have to be handled prior to purchase, to insure a proper fit.

 

[Kaizen1]

Am i the only one having a hard time envisioning how- not one, but three- CS folders can chip from falling of a 3-foot coffe table???

If the floor was a hard surface like tile, that doesn't sound unreasonable at all for a common knife, production or custom, to chip at the tip. It seems to me that the real problem is the guy keeps dropping his knives.

Assuming that the knives fell 3 feet onto a hard surface, I'd dare anyone who doesn't think a knife should chip at the tip on an impact like that to test any of their non-CS knives and see how they hold up. A few knives may not be affected- those with very thick tips. I'd guess that most folders would see damage from that.

 

[3Guardsmen]

It seems to me that the real problem is the guy keeps dropping his knives.

He's managed to drop all of his Cold Steel knives, since according to this post, in his thread, he's only ever owned three of them.:thumbup:

This is a list of knives that I personally have owned in the past and present. I will soon be adding a Strider SNG to the list

Benchmade 940
Benchmade 151
Benchmade Pika
Benchmade Pika 2
Benchmade Mini Ambush
Blackhawk Hornet II
Boker Kalashnikov
Boker Armed Forces
Cold Steel AK-47
Cold Steel Recon 1
Cold Steel medium Voyager
CRKT M-16 01-KZ
CRKT M-16 13M
Emerson CQC-13
Gerber Kiowa
Gerber Paraframe
KA BAR Warthog
Kershaw Cyclone
Leatherman Wave
Leatherman Fuse
Ontario RAT 1
Ontario RAT 3
Ontario PSK
Ranger RD-6
Red Scorpion Six E.S.K
Scrap Yard Scrapper 5
Smith & Wesson H.R.T OTF
SOG Aegis
SOG Trident Tanto
Spyderco Clip It
Spyderco Delica 1
Spyderco Delica 4
Spyderco Native
Spyderco Paramilitary
Spyderco Tenacious
TOPS Wolf Pup
Victorinox Huntsman
Victorinox Champ
Victorinox Recruit
Zero Tolerance 0302

Now, let's see your list of knives you have owned in the past.

 

[misterjuiceman]

I doubt if tf8s understood what the term "system" was meant to be and I sure didn't.

I absolutely understood what STR was saying. I didn't ask STR (I named him specifically, but really I was just looking for an answer from someone who has first hand experience with the new CS lock) because I was looking for a watered down explanation of what's on the CS website. I am more than capable of understanding more advanced mechanics than what is essentially just a static system. CS mentions all of the changes they've made, but I don't trust a thing on the website of any production company (with exception to Spyderco and Chris Reeve Knives, I'd believe anything on their websites). I wanted to hear from STR what CS had done to legitimately improve the lock. some of the changes to the original design could have been made to cheapen manufacturing costs, and CS could have passed off those changes as "design improvements."

So, just out of curiosity, how did STR explain the greater strength of the Tri-Ad lock - in your own words - in regards to closing?

I didn't answer you originally because you came off as patronizing, not because of a lack of understanding of STR's explanation. if I'm wrong about the connotation of your message, then I apologize, but that's the impression I got when I initially read it.

 

[A.P.F.]

...I've been on CS forum and found the folks to be extremely nice but mostly clueless on how to use a blade. They think bigger is better and shiny and bigger is even better....more's the pity...

Hmmm...much like my wife. Cziv, you will find me on the CS forum much of the time and I have been carrying and using knives for close to 50 years. I like to think of myself as reasonably familiar with knife use, yet I am old enough to know that I have yet much to learn. I think that what you are seeing is primarily individuals who are passionate about their choice of knives and are having fun with their hobby. Indeed, more youthful members are easily transfixed by bright, sharp, shiny objects, but have we not all been there once?

I've had that ultra lock (axis lock rip off) fail on me two times because how cheap they were made. I have also had all of my CS knives develop vertical bladeplay after about a WEEK of use. The edge hasn't held up well and has chipped too easy due to bad heat treatment. Last but not least I've had three CS knives that have chipped tips due to dropping it from a three foot coffee table one was a tanto.

I will repeat it once again CS knives have been crap in my experiences. Your experiences may vary.

A three foot coffee table you say? That is rather interesting considering the industry norm for a coffee table height is 18"-19". I am compelled to conclude that you either didn't drop the knives from a coffee table, or the alleged damage was caused by a drop of 19" onto a carpet or perhaps a hardwood floor.

You mention that the edge didn't hold up well due to a "bad heat treatment". Of course you have done Rockwell testing to back up your claim?

I have owned a ricon 1 and a ti lite , and the ak-47 and their locking devise to me is a lame copy of the axis lock! by benchmade

Actually, it is a licensed copy of an Axis lock. Oh, by the way, that would be Recon 1 rather than "ricon 1', but then having owned one you would already know that. And, I am sure that you also know that the Ti-Lite is a liner lock rather than a "lame copy of the axis lock!"

I am sorry if I sound 'snarky' guys, but when I get fed a ration of c**p, I like to chase it down with a couple of gulps of truth.

 

[3Guardsmen]

some of the changes to the original design could have been made to cheapen manufacturing costs, and CS could have passed off those changes as "design improvements."

Good Point! Moving the production of their Voyagers and Gunsite models from Japan to Taiwan, as I strongly suspect just happened, even with the Tri-Ad lock and VG-1 San Mai III blade steel upgrades, could have indeed cheapened the manufacturing costs. Does anyone know if there is a price decrease in moving to Grivory from Zytel? I just noticed the New Voyager and Gunsite models list Grivory as the handle material.

Also, from the pictures, the new Voyagers and Gunsites appear to have all screw construction, yet retain a riveted pivot. Short of lock adjustment, which I just realized can't even be performed due to the fact that lock is pinned, does anyone see a benefit in that manufacturing step?

 

[jill jackson]

I don't see all this bashing of knife companies. If you don't like them don't buy anything from them. I like Spyderco a lot and buy more from them than any other company.
But, if a knife from another company looks good to me and I feel it's worth the money I will buy it. So, I have Benchmades, Kershaws, ZT's, Bucks, Cold Steel and a few others. I think they all try to offer products that compete and are serviceable. So keeping an open mind and trying out a variety is a lot more fun to me than just bashing a brand because it's not my favorite. In other words they are just knives, you don't really need all that many to get by. You don't feel they are worth your money, then don't take it personal, just stop buying them and worrying about that brand.

 

[greater]

No these are the CS bashers going into meltdown mode because it appears that CS is making some dynamite products this year.

You notice they first try to confuse everyone by referencing manufacturers suggested retail prices when no one generally pays that in the real world with the exception of one popular company which I will not name that is apparently taking extra steps to insure people do.

Cold Steel does not force MSRP on people and does not bully small businesses as far as I know.

When I see forum join dates of five years ago or more I don't believe for one minute they are speaking out of ignorance when whining about the high prices of Cold Steel knives when in fact most of the CS line up are a great value for the money and even more so now.

So I have to call BS on that because street price is always much less than MFSR.

When these half truths fail then they resort to story telling, idiotic questions in the face of expert explanations and diagrams, then finally insults.

This one guy here practically insults Demko. There are snide comments describing the new knives as appealing to mall ninjas

Next is this guys dilemma of CS blade play and constantly dropping his CS steel knives causing the point to always break but he seems to have bought a few of them anyway.

Another guy basically says in in a nutshell Japanese knives suck.

These new knives are going to be some vicious competitors once they hit the market and are going to give some of our more established lax companies a run for the money.