CS- love 'em, hate 'em- time to address some issues

[jlh2600]

Do other knife makers not personally come to talk about their products on forums? Sometimes heads of companies, not just representatives?

In all fairness they might just be much smaller operations than CS, because this practice is pretty rare in other industries anyways. But seeing how others take the time, I would figure a company such as CS, who puts such a high premium on marketing, would find it valuable enough to speak directly here about some of these issues, not leaving it up to a friend to act as a pseudo-representative for the company.

What was the "old" Carbon V by the way?

 

[Planterz]

So that makes it okay for the haters to attack LT and CS without even a shred of proof on their side?

What a crock of BS.

Other companies do not need to "prove" what their knives can do. Surely you can't be saying that Benchmade and Spyderco are inferior knives because they don't "prove" this by stabbing car doors and standing bending knives in vices on DVDs. Any attacks we make on CS for this kind of crap is that they say their knives can do this, other knives can't (bullshit), but if you do you void your warranty. That's not proof that's marketing hype.

I know full well that I am not going to convert any of the haters. I am not trying to. But putting an alternative (and more accurate by directness of my information) viewpoint is neither wrong nor trolling.

But you're not doing that anymore. At first, yes, but not now. You're claiming that other companies don't have any proof of what they can do. You sound just like their DVDs. Or am I missinterpreting what you mean when you "throw down the gauntlet". No, you're trolling.

 

[Halfneck]

Didn't Busse knives challenge CS back when they were claiming the Trailmaster was the strongest knife out there? If I remember correctly the gauntlet never got picked up.

DngrRuss1 - No videos but I know there are several knives out there that will do the same things depicted in the CS video. My personal experiment was done with a Spec-Plus Air Force Survival Knife. I was providing medical coverage in the field and there was some metal drums laying about. Figured WTF I'd only be out the $40 or so, and decided to see if I could slam the Spec-Plus through one. No Problem. Only damage done was a few scrapes on the blade coating.

 

[Mongo-man]

Mr DngrRuss1, the abscense of any official Cold Steel repressentative on this forum for the few last years has been supprisingly low.
I have some cold steel tools that i like ( the mini koga, the african walking stick) and i got some cheap machete's from them to do yardwork.

Every CS KNIFE i have ever purchased i traded, or gave away.
LT is a knife producer for the masses, and there is no fault with that. Millions of people use mass produced consumer products and they seem to be happy with them.

The problem most people inhere have with Cold Steel is that they have,collect and use high end knives.

We don't object that Lynn makes knives for the non knife enthousiast who needs a cutting tool.

What happens is that we visually SEE the difference and when actual cutting is done we feel that the Cold Steel knives ( with a few exceptions ) fail.

Instead of trying to regain his position Lynn had 15 years ago, Cold Steel has gone on the commercial tour.

Lynn and his team make claims knowledgable people inhere KNOW are plain lies.

If a manufacturer uses these kind of marketing strategies it raises a big red flag for me, and for a lot of other people.

 

[allenC]

I know full well that I am not going to convert any of the haters. I am not trying to. But putting an alternative (and more accurate by directness of my information) viewpoint is neither wrong nor trolling.

I don't think that you're "trolling", and I don't know if you are right or wrong in your arguments, but I do think that you're wasteing your time.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

You say that nothing done in the DVD is covered by the warranty.

No, Cold Steel does :

"While informative and entertaining, ”SOLID PROOF” and "SWORD PROOF" do contain graphic demonstrations of cutting power that may be too intense for some viewers. The tests shown in the videos are dangerous and should not be duplicated. Testing in this manner constitutes GROSS ABUSE of our products."

You are also contradicting yourself as in the past you also defended this position, do I really need to show you the quotes.

As for the 420 steel, part of his issue with it is that, yes, it is a medium grade steel ...

420 is the lowest grade of cutlery stainless in regards to wear resistance and hardness, it is the same steel found on fantasy knives. It is commonly used to make the liners inside of handles.

[PROOF video]

Now, show me another company using the same grade of steel that can get their knives to perform as well.

Anything mentioned in the video is useless because it isn't covered under warrenty and thus it is simply hype. Have you ever actually compared a 420 Cold Steel knife to other 420 knives and found them to be superior, if so which ones.

As for which knives can outperform the Cold Steel ones, Busse Combat has done live demonstrations with his knives that show vastly superior ability, this has been confirmed by direct comparisons by Mike Turber, Spark and Namviet Vo.

Many of the tests that Cold Steel does to show "superior" performance have been shown in the past to be nothing but hype, Cougar was one of the first (if not the first) to debunk the common door stab promotion for example.

-Cliff

 

[db]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DngrRuss1

Stay tuned... I got more...

Bring it on! I personally like to see insider info even if it’s from LT or ColdSteel. And you all have to admit thatDngr has info the rest of us don’t.

 

[STR]

Lynn could win back a lot of the respect he has lost and maybe even a few customers he has lost too by simply chiming in and explaining some of this stuff that has caused so much controversy with himself and his company. I don't think he has it in him to do it though.

STR

 

[Guyon]

Sorry, but this thread simply has to be linked to www.forumishouldknowbetterthantolinkto.com

Edited to add: Meant to post the original text in a Cold Steel thread at W&C. Too many windows open at the same time. My apologies if anyone was offended.

 

[RedEdge77]

Guyon that thread had my laughing my arse off!:thumbup:

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

Guyon, you can get in hot water for linking to W&C.
You must at the very least, put in a bold disclaimer stating that the link is quite possibly not work safe, family safe, etc.

 

[Cougar Allen]

The sharks are always hungry.

 

[Confederate]

LT is a knife producer for the masses, and there is no fault with that....

The problem most people in here have with Cold Steel is that they have, collect and use high end knives.

We don't object that Lynn makes knives for the non knife enthousiast who needs a cutting tool.

What happens is that we visually SEE the difference and when actual cutting is done we feel that the Cold Steel knives (with a few exceptions) fail.

Instead of trying to regain his position Lynn had 15 years ago, Cold Steel has gone on the commercial tour.

Lynn and his team make claims knowledgable people inhere KNOW are plain lies.

If a manufacturer uses these kind of marketing strategies it raises a big red flag for me, and for a lot of other people.

These are all very interesting opinions; however, substantiation is sorely lacking. You assume CS knives are for the "non-knife enthusiast" and you refer to LT's claims as "lies" that are plain to "knowledgable people." I also question your use of the inclusive "we" to be a bit presumptuous as this board includes many who not only tolerate Cold Steel knives, but actually like them.

There's a line, no matter how fine, between hype and lies. I actually like knives of all stripes and believe for the most part that Cold Steel offers many models that are both appealing, well made and useful. Don't get me wrong -- I love $200+ folders, but have found good knives all across the price gamut.

Another thing, all knives will fail given the right circumstances. Some knives, like cars, are lemons. The probable truth is that Lynn Thompson really does like knives and I think he's pretty straight with his line. And unlike other knife companies I won't mention, but which rhyme with Gerber and CRKT, CS doesn't surreptitiously change specifications on the sly. Thompson is up front in the types of steels he uses and generally what type of strength one can expect.

Does LT have an ego? Sure, but I've found in business that that's good. Does he hype his products? Yes, but that, too, is okay in a world where most knife companies don't publicize the testing of their own products.

I believe most people here are here because they like knives and like most others they have preferences. It's just that often people who like CS are hesitant to admit it because of vocal people who don't like them.

But to each their own.


--Confed

 

[greens]

All the hype and claims aside, Cold Steel makes decent, affordable knives for the average Joe who can't afford to shell out $300 for a blade. The SRK has been used by thousands of troops and CS has donated tons of them to our guys in Iraq and Afg. I haven't seen many knife companies do that, Busse have donated their share as well. It would be nice if every knife carried lifetime warranty, however for the price of their knives, they can't offer that and still manage to stay in business.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

CS doesn't surreptitiously change specifications on the sly. Thompson is up front in the types of steels he uses and generally what type of strength one can expect.

No, he makes big announcements and hypes up "fair to middlin" steel to be the best, and uses (downgrades to?) 420 steel, but "sub zero quenched" (about as impressive sounding as the old standby "surgical stainless".:jerkit: ) He also uses mystery steel names like Carbon V and San Mai III instead of just saying what the steel is, and declares it to be the greatest stuff ever, when it is just decent/average. There is absolutely nothing "upfront" about that.

CRKT and Gerber might use crappy steel, but they do label it as such. They don't make up silly names for it to make it sound more impressive. And they don't charge premium prices for their inferior steel.

 

[Death's Head]

This thread that DngrRuss1 started is stupid. He came in yapping his big mouth trying to convince us that CS is OK. But instead, he is helping fuel the flame with his sorry claims.
DngrRuss1, if you really care about LT and CS, I suggest you stop posting in their defense . If anything you are helping lose customers and adding to the list of things to hate about LT and CS.

 

[NIB]

DngrRuss1,

So if you have no financial buisness in CS other than LT's bestis buddy and you think we are all full of crap then why do you keep coming in here starting threads with your stirring stick. What do you care what we think about CS since you don't have any other interest in CS other than butt slapping buddies with LT. You sure do know alot about CS for just being friends with LT and of course want to throw in your attacks at Strider here and there.

I'm willing to bet that DngrRuss1 is Lynn Thompson, I'm willing to bet Lynn Thompson was the guy trolling around the Strider Forum we had here.


Hi Lynn!!!!

 

[Walking Man]

Lynn could win back a lot of the respect he has lost and maybe even a few customers he has lost too by simply chiming in and explaining some of this stuff that has caused so much controversy with himself and his company. I don't think he has it in him to do it though.

IMO,.... It's not what Lynn has in him (HOT AIR)
But rather, there is nothing to explain. Blatant theft, hypocrisy, and arrogance of the worst kind simply cannot be explained.

 

[Walking Man]

To heck with it!!!!
Who wants to chip in to get DungRuss a custom title?
Maybe Cold Steel SpinDoctor?
Or Defender of the Undefendable
Or ..... Here's a good one.
Cold Steel Quixote!
Keep stabbing those windmills, DungRuss, I'm sure it might get you nowhere quickly!

 

[Death's Head]

DngrRuss1,

So if you have no financial buisness in CS other than LT's bestis buddy and you think we are all full of crap then why do you keep coming in here starting threads with your stirring stick. What do you care what we think about CS since you don't have any other interest in CS other than butt slapping buddies with LT. You sure do know alot about CS for just being friends with LT and of course want to throw in your attacks at Strider here and there.

I'm willing to bet that DngrRuss1 is Lynn Thompson, I'm willing to bet Lynn Thompson was the guy trolling around the Strider Forum we had here.


Hi Lynn!!!!

Don't think this guy is Lynn. This person is definitely someone who signed on just to try and win us over, but doing a horrible job at it. I think if Lynn ever read this, he would slap DngrRuss1 cockiness out of him. DngrRuss1 didn't have the answers to simple questions on facts like makers, blade shapes, etc. A successful businessmen like LT would have fired back facts immediately.
I do think he is more than he is claiming to be. Check out all of his previous posts. He had no intention of showing any interests in knives whatsoever when he joined this forum. Every one of his posts is in defense to Cold Steel. Really, who does that. Who joins a forum just to back a single company due to many members dislikes towards that company. Just because you know Lynn or some person who works at CS, you are going to take the heat for them. If he is just a guy who likes Cold Steel, what does he care what others say about them?
He definitely joined Blade Forums with a single agenda.