Cold Steel's Ultra lock, and the Recon 1?

C

Coldsteel_Fanboy

Joined
Jun 9, 2005
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8
I was getting ready to buy the Cold Steels Recon 1 tactical folding knife, with the clip point blade, non seraded. And I was wondering if anyone has ever used the ultra lock, since it is exclusive to Cold Steel i was needing to know if its good, and is the Recon 1 a good first decent knife to buy?

csstoreonline_1844_6148476
 
It's not a bad knife, but generally people avoid CS folders. There are many better than the Recon for about the same money. The CS is a off tangent knockoff of the AXIS by Benchmade
 
Fanboy,
I have one. There not bad folders, lock up is pretty tight, sharpness out of the box is also good. I would say all in all, it wouldn't be a bad purchase; especially if you can find one on ebay cheap.

Rob
 
Cheap is the key word I think. I used to like Cold Steel. Well, I still like some of their knives and not everything new that they have come up with is entirely bad. The trail guide folders in Carbon V cut pretty well for the money. But some of the other new stuff is just flat out boycott material in my opinion and for a couple reasons really.

It is bad enough to be basically a den of copy cats but when a company goes backwards instead of forwards, and by that I mean in the steel they use, I think it is time to call them on it and stop supporting them.

Just for example this knife you are talking about, the Recon 1: is sporting a 440A blade. We are supposed to feel better about that by the 'sub zero quench' statement in the add I guess, but the fact is for the money they ask for this 440A blade you could get you a knife with a premium blade steel that will vastly outperform this blade. In fact certain Spyderco knives could be had for less and serve you better but for about the same money or a little more depending on where you buy it and if it is bought new or used you could have you a nice Bench Made Axis lock in S30V.

I'd sooner buy a Doug Ritter Axis lock used on the for sale forum here or at the knife forums than this Recon 1 knife with the 440A blade. In fact I believe there is one for sale now on one of the forums. Just my two cents worth on it. I don't mean to rain on your parade but CS has not lowered prices and basically cut corners in materials from my observations.
 
..Cold Steel (and CRKT) has gone backwards in their corporate philosophy by offering the often unsuspecting consumer "less for more".CRKT and CS is now making many of their knives in 420J and other garbage steels(.15 C etc)-"subzero quench" notwithstanding.Many have accused others of being "steel snobs" and to a degree they are right, but only to a small degree(no need for any unpleasantness between "knifenuts"!) and the uninformed and the unsuspecting would buy an over-hype product with an intrinsically decent design but of more poorer materiasl-and in knives ,you cannot tell by eye if something is good or not as the heat-treat,steel-alloy composition etc just isn't visible.After all the bad knives and good knives are often equally "shiny".BTW why can't these companies just offer their existing lines in something like a properly heat treated 440C("cheap" and commonly available-yet quite an adequate steel)?I would buy any CRKT Kit Carson designed M-16 series in this steel for example other mentioned CS folders-too simple an answer? :o :o :o :barf: :barf: :barf:
 
I recently got the new CS catalog, and it has reaffirmed my belief that for the most part, CS is way overpriced. Spyderco and Benchmade are just two of the many knife companies that offer better value and materials. Add to this the fact that CS doesnt make any knives- (they just market them)
Personally, I wouldn't consider buying one.
 
Ok I thank you all for the information on this knife. Dang, I thought Coldsteel was the best knive makers. Because the "More Proof" dvd that comes with the catalog was amazing the stuff they did. But i guess theres better, alright thanks again so much.
 
Truthfully. Cold Steel doesn't make knives. From a practical standpoint the only thing they really make is videos.

Their knives are made for them in Japan and by Camillus here stateside. All CS is is a marketing company for stuff with their name on it.
 
Stickbait said:
..Cold Steel (and CRKT) has gone backwards in their corporate philosophy by offering the often unsuspecting consumer "less for more".CRKT and CS is now making many of their knives in 420J and other garbage steels(.15 C etc)-"subzero quench" notwithstanding.? :o :o :o :barf: :barf: :barf:
Click to expand...


Valid point, however, the marketing strategy addresses the looks of the knives as being more important than blade steels and other issues.

There are a lot of folks that buy only for appearances.


I only have 4 Cold Steels and 2 CRKT left in my collection, they are old, used, and I couldn't much more than give them away.


Thomas Zinn
 
Not only have they gone down hill in blade steel but really it kind of says something negative in a big way to me when you see something like this obvious Bench Made copy of their Axis lock being made and sold. Some of the blame certainly belongs with the company making the knife for Cold Steel to sell. I'm not saying that this amounts to stealing because everyone copies the original lock back that I think Buck started out making and of course everyone copies the liner lock and frame locks too. It just seems to me to be wrong to just start making an almost identical clone to someone elses design. They sure didn't waste any time bringing it to market either.

At least ethical companies ask for permission to use someone elses design. Sal Glesser for example, in asking Ernest Emerson for permission to use the Wave on the limited numbers of Enduras made for the self defense forums. Can you imagine the uprour Lynn Thompson would cause if this situation were reversed? He'd throw a fit so loud it would go round the world and everyone knows it. Yet he doesn't think twice about doing what he himself would be the first to condemn if it were to happen to him. Pretty poor ethics in my book. Pretty much why I have way less Cold Steel knives now than ever before as these Recon 1 knives are not the first clones to come from CS in recent times.
 
I agree with you STR, i dont think knive companys should be cloneing other knive companys idea's such as locks. unless of course they have had promission to do it. but yeah I thought Coldsteel was like, the king of knives.

Me myself admit to going with knives looks a lot more than there steel and handle, and quality. Because for what I am going to be doing with this knife is just a carry around knife. Keep it by my side, maybe cut and stab some stuff. But its not like I am going to be doing anything extream like stabbing car hoods, lol.


thanks again
 
I don't much care for Cold Steel. Their fixed blades aren't bad, but there are better ones for the cash (Bark River, Swamp Rat). Their folders are the same. A Spyderco Endura matches very well against a Voyager, but can be had cheaper. Same with Benchmade and CS's Recon.
 
I ordered one awhile back and ended up sending it back for a refund. Claims to be overbuilt, it was the same knife you're thinking about getting. The first thing that turned my off is the made in Taiwan stamp on it, It matters to me! OK! It had the cheap steel that was razor sharp but it didn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling. I have their large Voyager knife which is quite decent. but this Recon 1 felt real cheap, the locking bolt felt gritty and the studs were sharp as to hurt the thumb when releasing the lock and hey I even have leather like thick skin. Save yourself the trouble and get something else, you can't go wrong with a Spyderco or the others mentioned above. Hope this helps....
I have more than a few of CS knives, the Outdoorsman is a nice one, Master hunter, TM, SRK, Twistmaster is a good beater knife, two Voyagers. To bad the Recon 1 didn't make the cut.......I really gave it a chance...
 
Oh i see. Seems like everyone here has a dilike about think knife. Which is really bringing me to think twice before buying it... Ill look around at the store where I was thinking of getting the knife, and maybe changing my mind if the guy in the store will let me see the knife before buying it.

thanks again
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
I recently got the new CS catalog, and it has reaffirmed my belief that for the most part, CS is way overpriced.
Click to expand...

They sell for substantially less at internet retailers.
 
Isn`t cold steel the only company that if you break the tip off the knife even a throwing knife they will replace it as long as its not a factory 2nd?
I have a recon folder and being a knife thrower thats the first thing I did... It throws great its not meant for it but at 12 ft I stick it fine.
 
I also disagree with the use of the "axis" lock, because it is in violation of a patent. From Benchmade:
"A Benchmade exclusive, this patented AXIS™ locking mechanism is an ingenious marvel that has been touted by some as quite possibly "the strongest folding lock ever." It's the culmination of four years of "tinkering" by renowned custom knife makers Bill McHenry and Jason Williams."

Basically this tells me two things. First, BM has patented this lock, the liner and lock back and Chris Reve style frame lock are not patented. Secondly, McHenry and Williams worked hard to deveolp this lock, it is nobodys right to take that work and make money off of it. (Benchmade has use of the axis because they pay McHenry and Williams).

It is the sort of thing you expect in a cheepo knockoff, but CS has been of decent quality (if questioned by some) and for a company of this notoriety to be selling these knives is disconcerting.
 
Zerileous said:
I also disagree with the use of the "axis" lock, because it is in violation of a patent.
Click to expand...

It may be sufficiently different so as to not violate patent law. It really depends on how broad the patent is and how it works out in court.
 
micah posada said:
Isn`t cold steel the only company that if you break the tip off the knife even a throwing knife they will replace it as long as its not a factory 2nd?
I have a recon folder and being a knife thrower thats the first thing I did... It throws great its not meant for it but at 12 ft I stick it fine.
Click to expand...

I wish I had PT radar! :D
 
My dad carries the same knife you're looking at, BUT it's the older AUS8A version. I have owned 2 AUS8A recons aswell, PE Tanto and the Spear. Both worked pretty well, but the tanto opened and closed like a dream. Felt really nice in the hand.

The AUS8A is FAAAAR better than the 440SZQ they use in the newer versions. Takes a better edge, holds it longer, and even feels more stout inthe hand. Maybe they thinned the liners on the new models however. That could be where the difference in weight comes from.

I have used all 3 versions of the "pullbar" type locks, and I like SOGs Arc-Lock the best so far. The Cold Steel lock is ok, many of them have poor finishing on the interior. When this happens the teflon coating rubs/chips away and leave metal on metal. And since the metal is not smooth, to let the teflon cling I guess, it makes for a less that "sweet" action.

The Benchmade is smooth and quick, but I would prefer the lock knobs to be a bit bigger. That is partially a personal preference and part poll info. Most of my friends have tried them and agree that they could be a tad bigger.

The SOGs seem to be the smoothest and quickest opening. And quiet, my Pentagon Elite 2 is so soft when it opens sometimes I have to look and see if it opened at all. I just wish it used VG-10 steel. :D

Anyway, that's my $0.02
 
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