Cold Steel's triple action, how cheap does it feel ?

[chipdouglas]

Looks like you're getting some good advice. Here is a pic I took of my TA before moving it along to a new home:

You can see how easily the blade can catch the handle if you don't get the flip just right. Now IF you don't care about flipping, it is a pretty sturdy design--about the only way it could fail is for the pivot pin to break or for the aluminum to tear out--it really cannot close accidentally.

My biggest beef was having to clean and lube it so often, otherwise it would gum up and not flip open.

If you're looking for a fast opener that is fun and strong, it's pretty tough to beat a nice balisong. I only gave up carrying my Benchmade Balisong because they outlawed them here.

I'd like to get a balisong, alas I'm in Canada and they're banned here too--it's not worth trying to get one illegally.

 

[STR]

They've been reported to rattle in the pocket as you walk. That tri-fold design has been around a while. Marbles used it in a model they called the Safety Fish Knife, Case used it after that, and I've seen it in various forms from other places including the Perrin knives over the years and with some changes to the designs to still be the same thing with different twists on the offset of the way it closes but otherwise the same thing. After a while and practice you can get the hang of opening one with one hand but its going to take a while to learn and honestly the blade on the Cold Steel version is a true double edge so I'd be careful about carrying it just anywhere if that is the one you are looking at. In many places that would be an illegal concealed weapon in the same class as some other quite serious illegal weapons and anywhere from a misdemeanor to a felony depending.

The one I've handled was cheap feeling and thin. I didn't think it was on par with what I have seen from Cold Steel in the past in other models which were usually quite robust by comparison. This one seemed cheap to me all the way around and while the blade and the idea both seem good I didn't find the knife to be one I'd rate very highly. This design is usually inexpensive for retail and although I don't know the cost of one of these from Cold Steel I'm betting you can do better for the money, even from them. Spend a few more $ and get a good Bali if you like those type of designs.

By the way Chip your email does not work to reply to you.

STR

 

[chipdouglas]

They've been reported to rattle in the pocket as you walk. That tri-fold design has been around a while. Marbles used it in a model they called the Safety Fish Knife, Case used it after that, and I've seen it in various forms from other places including the Perrin knives over the years and with some changes to the designs to still be the same thing with different twists on the offset of the way it closes but otherwise the same thing. After a while and practice you can get the hang of opening one with one hand but its going to take a while to learn and honestly the blade on the Cold Steel version is a true double edge so I'd be careful about carrying it just anywhere if that is the one you are looking at. In many places that would be an illegal concealed weapon in the same class as some other quite serious illegal weapons and anywhere from a misdemeanor to a felony depending.

The one I've handled was cheap feeling and thin. I didn't think it was on par with what I have seen from Cold Steel in the past in other models which were usually quite robust by comparison. This one seemed cheap to me all the way around and while the blade and the idea both seem good I didn't find the knife to be one I'd rate very highly. This design is usually inexpensive for retail and although I don't know the cost of one of these from Cold Steel I'm betting you can do better for the money, even from them. Spend a few more $ and get a good Bali if you like those type of designs.

By the way Chip your email does not work to reply to you.

STR

Um, then I'll abort the project--I do not like cheap feeling stuff. I emailed CS and asked them what was going to be new about the new Triple action release for this year, and they told me it's the heavier grade aluminum and heavier duty hardware. It ''might'' be interesting to see what it feels like in the hand once it hits the store.

I'd like to get a balisong, but they're illegal in Canada and getting caught with one isn't worthwhile at all.

Regarding CS, well I bought a few voyager folders and really like them--they feel sturdy yet quite light. The AK 47 with tri-ad lock is excellent and a tank. Then I got the short and long version of the Ti lite.

I have about 40 high end knives from EKI, Spyderco, Benchmade (not fond of BM for some reason), one Lonewolf, and newly CS knives--I find CS knives to be quite nice and generally speaking I can'T complain about the quality.

If you feel like adding anything you're most welcome--I enjoy reading what you have to say.

 

[STR]

Um, then I'll abort the project--I do not like cheap feeling stuff. I emailed CS and asked them what was going to be new about the new Triple action release for this year, and they told me it's the heavier grade aluminum and heavier duty hardware. It ''might'' be interesting to see what it feels like in the hand once it hits the store.

I'd like to get a balisong, but they're illegal in Canada and getting caught with one isn't worthwhile at all.

Regarding CS, well I bought a few voyager folders and really like them--they feel sturdy yet quite light. The AK 47 with tri-ad lock is excellent and a tank. Then I got the short and long version of the Ti lite.

I have about 40 high end knives from EKI, Spyderco, Benchmade (not fond of BM for some reason), one Lonewolf, and newly CS knives--I find CS knives to be quite nice and generally speaking I can'T complain about the quality.

If you feel like adding anything you're most welcome--I enjoy reading what you have to say.

Well, its nice to know someone appreciates my dabblings here

It seems to me that the knife industry is a lot like the automobile industry in regards to ups and downs or peaks and valleys where companies seem to rule for a time and kind of drop out of view for others. At times Toyota has been on top in the auto industry while right now they've really gone down hill in a lot of ways. Sometimes Chevy seems to have the edge here in the USA and at other times Ford is on top while at others Chrysler seemed to rule the roost and it seems to just kind of go back and forth as quality control and research and development add and change to adapt as time moves along. I see much the same with the knife companies.

While I am the first to admit I really like the companies that manufacture their products themselves and I do watch them closely and buy from them, Cold Steel, A.G. Russell, Frost Cutlery, and others contract out their designs to be made to their specs in various places all over the world. In fact some of the companies that manufacture also contract out part of their line as well. Spyderco is one such company.

Its really quite common these days to see USA, China, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Finland, and a host of other origins stamped on knives today often times from the same company, meaning you can buy a couple knives from a company and see different origin stamps on the blades even though they came from the same place. It just depends on where they had it done I guess and probably money too. It seems to always boil down to the almighty dollar when all is said and done. Anymore with todays modern CNC machining it is not really any disadvantage to contract out designs and as you can plainly see some of the finest knives out there are contract knives so I do not hold it against a company just because they don't actually manufacturer the product themselves.

Some do hold it against these companies it seems but they have reasons for it. One is of course that parts are not often times readily available and you end up suffering some on that if you lose something and need it replaced or you have a problem with a knife you may have some sentiment toward.

Anyway, regardless of whether they make or contract out their products Cold Steel seems to me to be the company to watch right now. I'm sure that as research and development moves along that we'll see further advancement with their line and response to their new overwhelmingly good quality products in the way of new and exciting products from competitor companies also. Kershaw has been a trend setter these last couple of years IMO and before that it seemed like Spyderco was the one to watch so it just seems to me the tide may have turned a bit here recently for Cold Steel. I don't expect it to last. It never does. Should be fun in the mean time though and I look forward to the next company that jumps forward with the next bigger better deal to excite the industry.



STR