CS "More Proof"

SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
I went home this past weekend and my dad showed me his CS magazine and the set of 2 DVD's that came with it.

I read through the magazine like I have 100 times before, and came to the same conclusion. The only things worth buying are the "Seconds" or the "product closeout" sale.

However, after watching the "More Proof" DVD I have to say that I am really impressed with Cold Steel's marketing department. I think that most other knives produced can do the same tests, as good as or better than Cold Steel. I have owned Spyderco, and I currently carry a Benchmade.

Tests included cutting free hanging meat (I guess to show what type of injuries could be inflicted), and free hanging manila rope to test 'sharpness'. Other "tests" such as Stabbing cardboard, stabbing stacks of leather, hoods of automobiles, and wood were to test "strength". Testing lock strength is through free hanging weights, the "stuck in a vice pipe bend", and for some knives they set up a wall with holes in it and do pull-ups with the (Zytel aka plastic) knife handle.

The tests did not seem that difficult, however I doubt that most consumers have ever seen knives perform such tasks much less another company produce such a video. So to the uninformed consumer I guess one would be really impressed with the "performance" that they have seen.

I dont mean to put down CS, I just dont get what their big deal is. I like their products, for the right price, and am planning on getting a 6" Voyager or Vaquero Grande (one of these days). They are kinda far down on my wish list, but they are in the top 10.

(I like sheeple un-friendly things...maybe it is just me.)

How many of yall have seen this DVD? If you have differing opinions I would like to hear.

Thanks.
 
I liked the DVD because I like SEEING how these knives actually perform. I'm sure other companies can do the same thing...but seeing is believing.

Plus, I had my eyes on a couple of CS offerings (the laredo bowie in particular), and seeing how it performed convinced me even more of getting it in the future.

I have a few cs products, and none have disappointed.
 
SamuriDave,

I'm with you; I get the "Special Projects" catalog, although the last CS purchase I made was over 12 years ago.

I'm going to get a 'factory second' skein duh, or however they spell it. You know, the little Scottish neck knife. I want the non-serrated model; I intend to use mine and it will need sharpening. Those serrations aren't worth it. This plan could be scrapped if Strider comes out with a neck knife I like and can afford.

I do want a 4-inch, clip point, non-serrated Voyager. I intend to pack that model into luggage, if I fly, or mail it ahead to my destination. If it's lost or stolen, no loss.

However, even with this plan, I'm in no hurry. I don't dream about CS's. If I sell a knife, or get 'birthday money' then it's okay. I'm not going to spend 'dear to me' money.
 
I'm not sure that many companies' products can stand up to those tests.

Would you stab into stacks of leather or other tough mediums with other folders; or do pipe bends with them? Would you do pull ups with any other folder under $100?
 
I recently got the catalog and quickly flipped to the "seconds" - I was thinking about picking up a Master Hunter second for a spare. Anyway I was surprised to find the price of a the MH second was exactly $3.00 less than I paid for a "first" at an online shop. I guess that could mean that I got a good deal, or that CS seconds are priced a little high.
 
The video watched in a vacuum is impressive, but for real "proof" I would like to have seen some head-to-head with the competition.
 
Realistically, a lot of other knives can do what Cold Steel's knives can do, but the catch is that very,very few can do the same things and stay in the same price range...If Lynn were to leave out the word "competitor" out of the entire DVD, it woulds still have been a nice infomercial which isn't all BS...
 
Ok I watched the video, I bought a ColdSteel.... the Scimitar to be specific. It's a Nice large 4" inch blade plastic handles a secure lock. NOTHING to fancy.. I own 2 Microtechs a socom elite and amphibian. Does the microtech knives cut nice? Yes! Can the microtechs do what the ColdSteels can do. I would say No! -- Here is my logic so please bear with me.

When you have a plastic handle and a metal blade, and you throw, stab and put 100 lbs of weights on it.... the plastic will give WAY more then a metal handle knife like a microtech, or a MOD.. im shure the locking mech ona micro will break long before the CS. Im not trying to bang on Microtech but all I do with my micros is play with them I wouldnt dream of "working"! with them. I get nervous of damaging the knife. Honestly most of the people with a micro would do the same thing as me. Basicly what im trying to get at is a CS is a working mans knife. doesnt look as al lfancy as a boutique knife but you will have no problems using it to cut that dirty wet rope or w/e it is that people cut with knives. all what I just posted about was that in reality a 65$ knife is more handy then ur 250$ knife.



BTW- I made a post about the proof video also if you wanna check it out ;)
 
I've seen the videos, there was a similar post about this within the last month or so.

My problem is that CS screams they have the best knives, bar none. No competitors will try to reproduce these tests, yada yada.
But then tells you these tests will void your warranty.


just my 2¢


dave
 
Originally posted by Mississippi_Dave
But then tells you these tests will void your warranty.
Click to expand...

Well sure it will void your warranty, the video shows extensive break testing which is deliberate abuse by any companies measure. The goal in mind is to show what the knife could do in an extreme use/need scenario when you would not be worried about voiding the warranty.

One thing I can argue very easily is regardless of the hype, steel quality etc... Cold Steel knives come sharper out of the box than any other knife I've owned. They also grind their edges to an ideally thin edge to optimize cutting. So the cut tests are more indicative of the edges put on the blade than quality in build or materials.

I'm a fan of CS knives and would buy more if some of them weren't so outlandish. I also wish they would do some more development with their "Axis" type lock and come out with some more - better models.

IMO the Voyager line is still the best FRN handled folder bar none. Great blade finish, great edge, great ergo's, great lock, decent steel and cheap.

I think people put too much weight into marketing hype, every company does it but in their own way.
 
CS knives can usually be found on the net for less than the price of a second from the factory.

Instead of all this speculation, why don't you try some testing yourself? It doesn't take much investment; I've done most of those tests on a Jaguar backlock I picked up years ago for $4. I hear Jaguar quality is even worse now than it was then, but I think you can still find a knife that will perform all those feats for <$10.
 
They don't specify that the tests which don't damage the knives are covered by the warrenty which they should be as otherwise all the testing is promotional hype and meaningless.

As Cougar noted, these tests are easily duplicated on cheap knives, assuming that you are willing to sharpen them. Cold Steel knives do come with highly polished edges, and many of them have decently thin and acute bevels.


-Cliff
 
It's nice entertainment...
My favorite part is when they're throwing the folders and one splits another in half through the handle...

Whoops... won't be throwing that one anymore.
 
Busse and Strider do the same thing at knife shows. Cliff Stamp wakes up with his morning coffee and puts a different set of knives through the gauntlet / battery of tests just for fun. His detailed and somewhat scientific analysis is posted online on his web page. I am sure there are a lot of enthusiasts that put their knives through a lot of negligent abuse and nary think about it in a course of a workday. For waht it's worth.
 
Melancholy,
From what I understand, the Scimatar that was split in the throwing test continued to be thrown for another large number of throws ( I think well over 50, though I do not have the actual number in front of me)and never broke. If you look at the end of that sequence, even the tip never broke, and that was the thinest tip of the bunch.

I know I was very impressed with that knife's performance under those conditions.
 
I've had a CS Scimitar and other CS knives over the years. Currently I own none. I like Carbon V steel.

I found the Scimitar liner lock to be sticky and potentially weak compared to say the Microbar lock on my carry knife, a Microtech Amphibian.

I have a different philosphy than that professed by Aniketos (every one is entitled to that, especially when it comes to knives).

Originally posted by Aniketos
Ok I watched the video, I bought a ColdSteel.... the Scimitar to be specific. It's a Nice large 4" inch blade plastic handles a secure lock. NOTHING to fancy.. I own 2 Microtechs a socom elite and amphibian. Does the microtech knives cut nice? Yes! Can the microtechs do what the ColdSteels can do. I would say No! -- Here is my logic so please bear with me.

Im not trying to bang on Microtech but all I do with my micros is play with them I wouldnt dream of "working"! with them. I get nervous of damaging the knife. Honestly most of the people with a micro would do the same thing as me. Basicly what im trying to get at is a CS is a working mans knife. all what I just posted about was that in reality a 65$ knife is more handy then ur 250$ knife.
Click to expand...

I prefer to own one or two high quality folders and use them than have lower end user knives as users and high ends as collectibles. I use the heck out of my Amphibian and it still looks relatively new. Search for some other posts on Amphibians and you'll find a fellow who uses his in the Central American jungle.

I would stake my life on a Microtech long before I would on a plastic molded handled Scimitar. That's my opinion.
 
Originally posted by komondor
I'm not sure that many companies' products can stand up to those tests.

Would you stab into stacks of leather or other tough mediums with other folders; or do pipe bends with them? Would you do pull ups with any other folder under $100?
Click to expand...

There are a number of inexpensive folders that I would imagine could handle these "tests" with few problems.

To name a few:
Benchmade Griptilian
Benchmade AFCK
Benchmade TSEK
Gerber Gator
Virtually any SS Spyderco, and probably the Zytel ones as well.
Camillus EDC
Even an old Buck 110.


Like Cliff said, some knockoff knife could probably do them as well.

Do you think that Cold Steel has found some new way to make steel and nylon that makes them stronger than the steel or nylon used by everybody else?
 
Dont get me wrong here, I am not trying to say that a microtech is not better then a CS. I know I posted what seemed to be like a cold steel will do feats that micro can dream about. but try this angle.. you just spent 250 bucks on a knife you want to use it, but then you say to yourself.... damn all im going to be doing is cutting boxes rope and simple crap. You really wanna make your micro look like crap? I dont know really. Honestly id love to trade off my 2 micros for a Strider folder.... I am still a newb in the knife hobby and was not aware that people do make sharpened crowbars.... because that is what I was seeking. But holding my scimitar for a few mins while finishing up to post this I do have to agree the lock is strong but yet has a little TINY play, plastic handles are cheasy but as in the schrade thread... hey if you damage it or loose it.. BIG DEAL! But a final thing I was seriuos about the trade thing as written above ;)
 
Originally posted by fishbulb
Do you think that Cold Steel has found some new way to make steel and nylon that makes them stronger than the steel or nylon used by everybody else?
Click to expand...


Well, considering we are talking about folders, the issue isn't the blade or the handle, but the lock itself-- the joint. The BM Axis locks you mentioned could probably hold their own, but I wouldn't trust the others.
 
Other companies are scared to even try these test. Atleast ColdSteel has "Balls made of Steel":D While other companies dare not even try these test. COLDSTEEL RULE!!!!!!:cool:
 
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