CS American Lawman or Recon 1 for Beater EDC

D

Divega

Joined
May 12, 2010
Messages
47
Don't own a Cold Steel folder yet, but have been hearing many good things about these two knives. Would like to try one out. Any opinions? I know the Recon's blade (clip point) is .5 in longer. Each seems to have the same blade thickness. I like beefy blades. Either feel more substantial in that regard? Is the Recon tip more prone to breakage vs the American Lawman?

Will be using for general letter opening, cardboard cutting, bread slicing, marshmallow stick whittling, commercial fatwood splitting, just anything I may need a folding knife for at home or camping with the family. Heavy tasks I leave to fixed blades.

Am hoping that for the price, there's no foul or regrets in scuffing up and using either of these blades.

Thanks!

Steve
 
I think either will be just fine and they both look much better once they start getting scuffed :)

just your preference in the handle grip.
 
Either knife will do great, but I would lean toward the Recon 1 because of the longer blade.
 
I think strictly from a edc pov, the Lawman is better because of the more utilitarian blade shape. The Recon 1 screams tactical everytime you open it in public. As long as you dont need that extra blade length I would go with the Lawman.
 
I have both and love both, but from your description of specific uses, the Recon 1 would be my knife of choice.
 
I don't see any basis for picking one or the other, based on your usage parameters. The most notable difference in my view is that the lock on the Lawman is stiffer to disengage.

If I had to pick just one for myself, I would take the Lawman. But thats purely subjective. I just prefer it a little more for EDC. Just slightly smaller in the pocket, and slightly smaller to deploy. But still a big, very solid knife.

Got your email, Steve, btw.
 
Powernoodle... I didn't know if you got my email. My computer hiccuped and I did not know if the email was sent. Didn't want to send you 2 emails. Thanks for your reply.
 
Seems I read that a lot of places still have the old version, the one with the steel liners. So if you want the new version, with no liners, you would need to ask to make sure. I'm talking specifically about the American Lawman.
 
Divega said:
I have not read that. Thought it was the same steel. Different geometry?
Click to expand...

Same AUS8 steel and same blade stock thickness. I highly doubt there's a big enough differance in edge geometry between the two to make a differance but could be a slight one, dunno.
 
Divega said:
I have not read that. Thought it was the same steel. Different geometry?
Click to expand...

Same steel, same geometry after sharpening. The AL required resharpening after the same use as the R1. I have used both extensively.
 
Based on my incredible bais and love of RECON 1's for EDC, I would say the RECON 1. My evidence is based solely on carrying one in my EDC rotation for the last few years.

The Manix 2, Spartan, Voyager 4", Rajah 2, AK47 round out the list. I use my hard use knives on hard use things, like using them hard in a useful way.

Seriously, both are really great knives.
 
I just took delivery on a new CS Recon 1 tanto blade from one of my knife pushers yesterday. It's light w/o the liners but strong as per Ankerson's videos on hard use. Very bad *ss.

I was going to strip the blade like Zombie Zeke did with one of his, but it's so nice the way it is, I'm thinking of just sanding down the G-10 and letting it be.

You can definitely beat on one of these! I saw pics of a member who stuck his through his PC tower several times - like butter! :D
 
I have both large and small A.L. , the large model is steel lined and a ridiculous tank of a knife , definatly not for the weak pocket crowd ! I would not mind having a clip or even tanto Recon1 but I have no use for another knife to take up space right now. The small A.L. ( unlined) is such a great little knife , it is perfectly designed IMO aside from pocket clip placement , but you cant have everything :)

Other are right , the AL looks a little less tactical but not much , if that matters to you. I would think the blade shape is a little 'friendlier'.

Tostig
 
I have both (new) versions of the Recon 1 as well as an American Lawman (the version with the steel liners), and if I HAD to choose just 1 of those 3, it would be the Tanto Recon 1 (I modified the blade to make it a Japanese-style Tanto, and smoothed the edges of the G10 scales).
 
I rotate a Recon1 tanto as an edc. I ended up sanding off the serations leaving a nice little belly on the blade .It works great for me .Also I added a small hook shaped piece of copper to the thumb stud just above the spine to act as a pocket catch(like on the Sparton,Espada,Rajha,ect) Easy Pull it out and its open every time. I wish I could figure out how to post a photo.
 
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