CS American Lawman Images (56K Warning)

[VR4]

As a lefty, this blade certainly looks like a winner to me. I like the deep pocket carry and being able to choke up on the blade. Has the blade coating improved at all in the new models?

 

[paulhilborn]

No upgrade in the blade coating that I'm aware of so I easily stripped it to a nice satin finish:thumbup:

Paul

 

[VR4]

No upgrade in the blade coating that I'm aware of so I easily stripped it to a nice satin finish:thumbup:

Paul

I'd love if CS used a nice DLC for their black blades but I guess that would raise the price point. Thanks for the info!

 

[A.P.F.]

Wow, how did I miss this when I was looking for info on a Lawman? Great descriptive write up sir. If I may add a couple pictures of a linerless G-10 American Lawman.

Love this knife.

NP, Grinder, thanks for the excellent additional pics! :thumbup:

Just to add a strictly subjective anecdote, when I first heard the Tri-Ad lock snap closed, my first thought was that the lock inspires confidence just from the sound of it. The next thing I discovered, was that the lock bar must be pushed almost to the bottom of the cut-out to release the lock, which renders an accidental release as highly improbable. Through use and in comparison to all the other locks I have tried, I have discovered that I prefer the Tri-Ad lock over all the others. This is a lock that you must try, in order to fully understand my comments.

 

[STR]

I would agree with that A.P.F. Other forums rave about some knives and some locks like they walk on water and yet they would not compare to one of these American Lawman folders in a side by side hard use and abuse test. Not for lock strength, not for lock reliability in various grips and uses, and certainly not for blade steel toughness let alone the price point. The only place they may beat this folder out is in edge keeping and even that would probably be so miniscule for the types of uses it would be seeing as to be barely worth noting.

These American Lawman folders are the kind of knives you buy and use because you don't much care what you do to it and you really do trust one to know it can take it and ask for more. I don't think at this time you can buy a stronger more reliable lock at any price.

STR

 

[Cotherion]

Yup, truly strong and affordable. Don't really care how I use it, it does not need to be babied.

I would like it if Cold Steel came up with a uncoated (as well as not bead blasted) blade and cut the cost down a bit since it is uncoated. It'll sell like hot cakes

 

[cbxer55]

I do not yet have a American Lawman, gonna have to get me one of these eventually.

But I do have two other Cold Steels with the Tri Ad lock, and love em both for both the loud "CLACK" when you open the blade, and how secure they are once opened.

I now view them as possibly the best folding knife lock in existence, bar none. I do think the Black Rhino I recently bought at the closeout price of $64.99, will be my edc for some time to come.

The only thing I do not like about the Large Espada and the Black Rhino is all the shiny stuff. I take the scales off, and buff the shine off using some mild scotchbrite, give it a satin finish. This makes them more user friendly.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I do not yet have a American Lawman, gonna have to get me one of these eventually.

But I do have two other Cold Steels with the Tri Ad lock, and love em both for both the loud "CLACK" when you open the blade, and how secure they are once opened.

I now view them as possibly the best folding knife lock in existence, bar none. I do think the Black Rhino I recently bought at the closeout price of $64.99, will be my edc sor some time to come.

The only thing I do not like about the Large Espada and the Black Rhino is all the shiny stuff. I take the scales off, and buff the shine off using some mild scotchbrite, give it a satin finish. This makes them more user friendly.

Ya, I jumped on two of those close out Black Rino's. One for me, and one for my dad.

 

[vwb563]

Looks great and with all the recent talk about this model, I ordered one It should be here tomorrow. I haven't bought Cold Steel in years, mostly Spyderco, Benchmade, and Emerson so I'm excited to see if the quality is good. STR's recent talks about Cold Steel in particular helped me to make the decision relatively easily.

Same here! I just ordered two after reading STR's review! I haven't bought A Cold Steel in years myself. Kinda drifted away from them. I can't wait till my two new ones arrive! :thumbup:

 

[dc50]

A.P.F. Nice review, I purchased one, I think two years ago, from W&W.
Because CS wasn't the in thing, as they say, it ended up just sitting in the drawer. So my Emersons, BM's and Spydies got all the attention.

Funny how peer pressure even through the net, works.
Its a darn nice knife, and I should use it.

Dave

 

[A.P.F.]

A.P.F. Nice review, I purchased one, I think two years ago, from W&W.
Because CS wasn't the in thing, as they say, it ended up just sitting in the drawer. So my Emersons, BM's and Spydies got all the attention.

Funny how peer pressure even through the net, works.
Its a darn nice knife, and I should use it.

Dave

Thanks, Dave! Your story pretty much mirrors mine. Picking a 'knife of the day' has always been an ordeal for me, but increasingly, a Cold Steel such as the Lawman, has held it's own.

 

[Splat]

Another guy here who bought one because of STR's reviews! :thumbup: This is my first CS knife and I love it. It's now my favorite and EDC. It's just a simple, solid knife and it works. I don't know why but I'm looking forward to holding a Voyager when they come out. It's gotta be real, real good all-around to beat the AL for EDC.

 

[BenLankford]

I wish it came in satin...

 

[GrinderMcgee]

I would agree with that A.P.F. Other forums rave about some knives and some locks like they walk on water and yet they would not compare to one of these American Lawman folders in a side by side hard use and abuse test. Not for lock strength, not for lock reliability in various grips and uses, and certainly not for blade steel toughness let alone the price point. The only place they may beat this folder out is in edge keeping and even that would probably be so miniscule for the types of uses it would be seeing as to be barely worth noting.

These American Lawman folders are the kind of knives you buy and use because you don't much care what you do to it and you really do trust one to know it can take it and ask for more. I don't think at this time you can buy a stronger more reliable lock at any price.

STR

I thought I was enamored with this knife as it is currently my only folding carry piece I trust but you really lay it out there buddy. :thumbup:

For anyone not liking the coating it is NOT hard to remove, it flakes off pretty easy actually and some high grit sand paper would polish it right up.

What a choil!

 

[samhain73]

It's teflon, so stripper should work on it too.

 

[vwb563]

Well I just got my two Cold Steel American Lawmans today. I must say this is one well built knife! And sharp! Definately some of the sharpest knives out of the box that I've ever owned! They both were amazingly sharp so quality control seems to be pretty consistant. Both blades were well centered and both locked up tightly with no blade play vertically or horizonatly on either knife. The pics on the web site I ordered them from were of the older version with the metal liners but the two I received were the newer linerless model. I must say this knife is plenty strong without the steel liners. I tried squeezing the G-10 handle slabs together while the blade was open and I couldn't even make them move. No give what-so ever! The lock engages very deeply with the blade with a loud "clack" sound. The blades were deeply hollow ground and being so sharp they excelled at peeling and slicing up a cucumber almost was well as my ceramic Kyocera butchers knife! Whittling ceder was no problem either. The only thing I didn't like was the super strong pocket clip tension. The clip was so strong I could hardly push the knife down onto my jeans pocket. I sprung the clip a little (very tough to do I might add) and that fixed the problem. The texture on the G-10 handle was great and gave a very good grip on the knife even when wet. Overall I think this Cold Steel is a definate winner! It will definately my new edc for some time to come.

 

[sodak]

Some actually listens to me? Wow! Now if I can just get my wife to do that I'll really be doing something!

STR

I put it on my list when I read your review, and I've worked my way down to it, it's next on my list! Can't wait! :thumbup:

Yes, I listen. I have lots of knives that I wouldn't have otherwise bought thanks to a lot of my fellow forumites! Hmmm... Maybe that could be a thread by itself...