CS Golden Eye - UPDATE: Initial Impression

I'm pretty sure I'd like the eye opener, but I don't like the eye color and the clip color. If they ever come out with a Silver Eye or a Black Eye, I'd probably buy one.
 
Great write-up, you included a lot of useful details.
I don't see why the bottom clip screw can't be closer to the lanyard and the bend closer as well so that the knife carries deeper.
You confirmed my concern regarding the finger grooves. I think with my medium hands that my pinky would land on the ridge before the last groove.
I'm really surprised that the knife can't be flipped open. That alone is a deal breaker. I thought the new opening insert/hole design was interesting and not terrible looking but now I have doubts.
 
AF said:
Great write-up, you included a lot of useful details.
I don't see why the bottom clip screw can't be closer to the lanyard and the bend closer as well so that the knife carries deeper.
You confirmed my concern regarding the finger grooves. I think with my medium hands that my pinky would land on the ridge before the last groove.
I'm really surprised that the knife can't be flipped open. That alone is a deal breaker. I thought the new opening insert/hole design was interesting and not terrible looking but now I have doubts.
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Yeah, once I see more I may be convinced, but right now the strengths of the design seem counterbalanced by enough weaknesses that I'll stay away.
 
AF said:
Great write-up, you included a lot of useful details.
I don't see why the bottom clip screw can't be closer to the lanyard and the bend closer as well so that the knife carries deeper.
You confirmed my concern regarding the finger grooves. I think with my medium hands that my pinky would land on the ridge before the last groove.
I'm really surprised that the knife can't be flipped open. That alone is a deal breaker. I thought the new opening insert/hole design was interesting and not terrible looking but now I have doubts.
Click to expand...

Actually you are able to flip the knife open no problem with the "eye" without using wrist flick, so no problem there.
 
The Golden Eye is certainly a good looking blade that I would choose over a ZT any day of the week. Would I choose it over an XHP Lawman? Not so much.
 
A.P.F. said:
The Golden Eye is certainly a good looking blade that I would choose over a ZT any day of the week. Would I choose it over an XHP Lawman? Not so much.
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It's hard to replace a Lawman as IMO it's the best folding knife ever. It's strong, light, thin, balanced with great steel and ideal size for EDC carry. Not to mention that it provides the best dollar per dollar value of all the knife with powder metallurgy steel in the market at about $75. I have owned every iterations of the lawman over the years, and i'm currently sitting on 6 (2x AUS8A honorably retired, 4x XHP version). My daily EDC has been the XHP lawman since 2015 and if you look at my comparison picture in the OP, you can see that about 3/4mm of the edge has been worn away all the uses.

With that said, i personally think that the Golden Eye has been an equal favorite for me. It's worse on the pocket clip and the "Eye" department, but it has a much better blade shape and a more useful cutting edge length. I dont like to carry anything bigger than 8.5" but one of my complain for the Lawman is that it runs out of cutting edge too quickly, especially when cutting box, where i often have to cut twice to finish a cut. The Golden Eye gives me much better cutting edge without being much longer than the lawman.

It'll 100% replace my lawman if it has a normal opening hole or thumbstud and deeper carry clip, but even as it is, it's still one of my 2017 favorites. I like it so much that i'll get the tanto and the CF version soon.
 
Nedser said:
I'm pretty sure I'd like the eye opener, but I don't like the eye color and the clip color. If they ever come out with a Silver Eye or a Black Eye, I'd probably buy one.
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Don't worry the Eye wont stay golden for long, because brass do get patina. I have what people called an acidic hand(or piss hand), so my Eye is already covered with a layer of dark patina. I really like the effect, as i like things that age, like carbon steel.
 
DemkoKnives said:
Well not everybody can love everything. Nice review either way. Thanks guys
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Thanks for jumping in Mr Demko, i'm a big fan of your designs. A lot of things i mentioned are personal preferences, so other people may have completely opposite feedbacks.
 
looks smaller next to that lawman then the specs would make me think. weird.

im gonna add one want to see it in the metal. high end steel and best lock in the industry right now for not all that much money. hard not to like but the gold stuff isnt really for me, but i can live with it.
 
Thanks for the detailed write up. Is the insert in the eye reversible?
 
Blue Sky said:
Thanks for the detailed write up. Is the insert in the eye reversible?
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I dont think so, it's already ambidextrous. Also its angle is fixed in place by a screw directly on top of the blade at about 10 o'clock.

I think you might be able to remove the eye if you have have a small enough screw drive to unscrew it. It looks like a very tiny allen head.
 
hkyew said:
Don't worry the Eye wont stay golden for long, because brass do get patina. I have what people called an acidic hand(or piss hand), so my Eye is already covered with a layer of dark patina. I really like the effect, as i like things that age, like carbon steel.
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I may end up getting one eventually. It combines two of my very favorite knife features--the Tri-Ad lock and a thumbhole. I don't think the ramped insert would make me like the thumbhole any less and might make me like it even more. I tend to favor knives a little smaller for EDC, but knives the size of the Golden Eye are still acceptable to me.

Anyone know what plans Cold Steel has for the Eye? Any more knives coming out that will have it? If I'm not mistaken, the Mini Recon and Mini Lawman have been discontinued, so a knife with the Eye that fills that niche would be nice.
 
Jimislash said:
Nice review. Lord Demko will not be pleased with your outlook on his eye mechanism. :) But I can't wait to get mine!
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I'm still on the fence, I'll probably get one of the cheaper "eye" opener options first to try out like the Khan or Grik. By the way, if you're the same Jimislash from Youtube I'd like to say that you have a right nice channel. Comparison vids are great and it looks like you are into more than just CS knives. You even weigh knives! Plus you don't do any crazy stuff. I recommend you guys check his channel out, even if it's not the same Jimislash.
 
mastiffhound said:
I'm still on the fence, I'll probably get one of the cheaper "eye" opener options first to try out like the Khan or Grik. By the way, if you're the same Jimislash from Youtube I'd like to say that you have a right nice channel. Comparison vids are great and it looks like you are into more than just CS knives. You even weigh knives! Plus you don't do any crazy stuff. I recommend you guys check his channel out, even if it's not the same Jimislash.
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I can understand waiting for the more inexpensive versions. In a sense, I did that myself by not opting for the carbon fiber version of the Golden Eye. But, as soon as my Iraqi dinar hit, I am going to be getting the carbon fiber version. :) Thanks for the kind words, as well.
 
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