CS American Lawman Incoming

Lenny

Lenny

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
2,505
I've recently become enamored with this knife.
Sounds like a hard use folder, with a killer lock, for a great price.
Got mine for around $58 delivered.
I'm sure it's not one of those "pretty boy" knives, but that's not why I bought it anyway.
It'll be interesting to see what a "lowly"AUS 8A steel can do. :D
Should arrive next week.
I'll beat on it a while then report back in the "Knife Reviews & Testing" forum.
Lenny
 
its actually a great classic design, I loved mine when I had it felt great in the hand and just an awesome blade shape!
 
I have one and it's an awesome blade. Cuts and peels great. Holds a very good edge also. There's nothing wrong with AUS8 steel. I have done a few tests with mine similar to Ankerson's hard use tests and I can say his results are realistic. These things are tough!!!! You wont be disappointed. I had to spring the pocket clip on mine a bit. Way too much tension. Great knives for the price.
 
Ive been wanting to buy one for ages, but i always change my mind because of the steel used. I love the design and especially the lock, and there is no doubt thats its one tough knife. Ive got nothing against AUS8 steel, but i refuse to pay that kind of money for it, when there are so many other better steels in that pricerange.

Its a real nice knife, but so are many other models on the market to choose from, so the Lawman always gets bumped down the list.

Lenny@ Im eagerly awaiting your first impressions of the knife.
 
PropThePolecat said:
Ive been wanting to buy one for ages, but i always change my mind because of the steel used.
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it's kinda like the ole saying "you can't see the forest for the trees!" You are missing out on a great knife with a super duper lock all because of a blade steel used. And it's by no means a junk steel. The way Cold Steel does their AUS8 makes it perform way above the norm. All knives eventually have to be sharpened no matter what steel is used. AUS8 holds a great edge and my American Lawman holds an edge much like most S30V that I've tried.
 
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Great choice. My Lawman has become my goto EDC when I'm not pocketing a slippie.

As for CS' AUS 8A: I've (ab)used an old-style AK47 doing construction and yardwork. It has never chipped out, held its edge much longer than expected, and sharpened right back up. I'm continually amused by the bashing this steel gets from snobs (and, yes, I've got plenty of knives in various supersteels to provide comparisions).
 
berzerker said:
Great choice. My Lawman has become my goto EDC when I'm not pocketing a slippie.

As for CS' AUS 8A: I've (ab)used an old-style AK47 doing construction and yardwork. It has never chipped out, held its edge much longer than expected, and sharpened right back up. I'm continually amused by the bashing this steel gets from snobs (and, yes, I've got plenty of knives in various supersteels to provide comparisions).
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AUS-8 is a great user steel that takes a great edge and is easy to sharpen, it also holds an edge for a respectable amount of time.
 
berzerker said:
As for CS' AUS 8A: I've (ab)used an old-style AK47 doing construction and yardwork. It has never chipped out, held its edge much longer than expected, and sharpened right back up. I'm continually amused by the bashing this steel gets from snobs (and, yes, I've got plenty of knives in various supersteels to provide comparisions).
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I hope its not me you are calling a snob :D

Ive got everything from 8Cr1Mov and 440C to S30V and ZDP. Im not a steel-snob, im just saying that in that specific pricerange, there are literally 100's of other folders to choose from, where the majority has a (arguably) better steel ie. better edge retention.
 
PropThePolecat said:
I hope its not me you are calling a snob :D

Ive got everything from 8Cr1Mov and 440C to S30V and ZDP. Im not a steel-snob, im just saying that in that specific pricerange, there are literally 100's of other folders to choose from, where the majority has a (arguably) better steel ie. better edge retention.
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You won't find many in that Sub $50 range that will do what that knife will do and or is really capable of.
 
I think you'll be impressed with your Amer Lawman knife. I own an old model with the steel liners and a new one without (prefer the new). The CS AK-47 is among my favorite EDC folders - - (I like the 'wave' fast open feature). I was also reluctant to try this series of knives because of what I associated with AUS8 and cheap knives; but I thought I'd give them a try after seeing Ankerson's reviews and doing a little further research. Cold Steel does an excellent job with AUS8A. It does my cutting tasks well, holds an edge, and is easy to maintain in the field, when needed. I convexed the edge on one of my AK-47s, and occasionally stropping it across my jeans keeps the blade nice & sharp, ready for work.
I have confidence in the Demko designed Triad Lock - - so this is often my hard use EDC folder.
 
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PropThePolecat said:
just saying that in that specific pricerange, there are literally 100's of other folders to choose from, where the majority has a (arguably) better steel ie. better edge retention.
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I bet none of the 100's of other folders have as strong a lock. Try one. You might be surprised as far as its edge retention goes.
 
I just got one and this thing is awesome! Takes an excellent edge and so far with my little tests it holds it just fine. The knife looks incredible too. There is absolutely NO blade play in this sucker. Feels like a fixed blade when locked up. Aus 8 is a tough steel, so it will rather roll then chip and the tip will not snap off like shown in Ankerson's video. I can easily say it is the best hard use folder for the money. The one bad thing about the knife is that the G10 is so grippy it will file your pocket to shreds in short order. You will have to file down the G10 under the pocket clip if you don't want to buy a new pair of pants after every outing. But other then that, I have no complaints.
I got a Buck Csar too, and that thing is a monster. Only costs 80 dollars, so real close price wise to cold steel. I don't know if I would beat the hell out of it like jankerson did with the lawman, it is a liner lock, a strong one, but still a liner lock. The liner lock has A LOT of spring tension in it, harder to close then any other frame lock or liner lock I have owned, but it sure as hell won't slip I can tell you there is no way in hell you are going to break the tip off of the Csar. I wouldn't heitate to try to pry anything open with that knife. So you guys might want to look at that too. The steel is ATS-34 and has Bos's heat treatment stamp on it, so you know your getting the best of the best when it comes to that steel. Jankerson have you tried the Csar?

I have had hinderer's, striders, Chris reeve knives, etc... and I can easily say the lawman and buck are some excellent hard use knives for the money.

Here is a pic of the lawman with the Csar and the SNG.

IMG_0124.jpg
 
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In the range of the CS American Lawman, Voyagers, Recon 1's, etc. there isn't really anything with better edge retention and as good, as rugged build quality and design. It's the same tired, easily worn liner lock or traditional lock-back thrown in to keep costs down and the great innovation is a slight change of blade and handle shape.

You can sharpen the AUS8 CS folder a bit earlier but what can you do to beef up the build and blade of an Endura, Vantage Pro, or even Paramilitary 2? Going longer without a sharpening touch up doesn't mean much for me. Dependability and quality out the box is way up there compared to what forumites would like to believe are better without actually buying new CS folders, ergonomics - handle shape and thickness reflects someone who really uses knives designed it instead of someone who just holds and pockets knives a lot.

I could go on about this stuff for a long time but it really depends on the person, if you use folders a lot, very heavily without babying them you actually appreciate the soft, average quality of AUS8 and other outdated blade steel. If an important quality for the folder is how it will/might do as a back-up weapon the designs and build are much better than most. Every time I see a tactical folder with handle that intentionally troubles a thumb capped grip I shake my head in silence for the shameless way it is marketed as if the designer knew jack.
 
I think most CS folders in this series(triad lock) are good folders and are useable beyond what one would expect. I gave my eldest a Voyager with the triad lock and he has beat the snot out of it and the damn thing keeps on ticking. I am going to get the Recon 1 spear point pe that just came out and am waiting on the largest Hold Out folder. I don't know what CS has the company that makes this series of folders do to the heat treat of the AUS8a but I think it works pretty well for the steel it is. Way way better than I ever thought it would. Anyways the Lawman I had, an early version was excellent. I still have it I think some where or it may be at my brothers house some where. keepem sharp
 
PropThePolecat said:
Im talking about the AUS8A model. Its the same steel, thats been used in both the old and new model, right?
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My apologies. For some reason i thought you said they changed the steels on the newer version. I just read your post wrong.
I love mine. I haven't gotten the chance to get a newer one.
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Wearing mine right now. I really like this knife.

For the price , it's a great value , tougher than most like it , and I can use it for anything.

No small parts to break , strong tip and lock and good overall size. Just sand the handle a bit with 400 grit to smooth it down some and you're good to go.
 
The steel is the same, the heat treat is different. They sub-zero quench. After reading an article in a physics journal on what it does it changes how the steel performs. My CRK sebenza in S30v doesn't hold it's edge as well as my recon1. It is harder and chips easier. They are about equal in thickness and both are sharp sharp. I wish the AL was more like the Andrew Demko AD10...an AL with .15-.20 thick blade in sub-zero quenched aus8a with steel or Ti liners under g10 and triad lock under $100 would be awesome. Just dreamin'
 
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