CS Recon I

M

mwerner

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
5,354
Just bought one, my "valentines" present. Hehe- she gets jewelry...

Anyway, I looked over several folders to replace my old CS Voyager, which I've carried on and off duty for 7-8 years.

The Recon is a tough-looking knife. Heavy at 5.5 oz, it's of bolted-together construction, with 5 allen-head bolts and allen--headed blade pivot. Full stainless liners in the zytel grips.

The ambidextrous spring clip is bolted on too, and the knob-on-top of the blade opening stud is ambidextrous as well.

Steel is (according to CS) 440A Sub Zero Quenched. Dunno if that's good or not, not a metalurgist. Sounds cool. The blade is teflon coated. It has a nice, slick opening movement, very positive and silent.
The "Ultralock" looks very strong, and operates pretty silently as well, unlike the big "click" you get from most locks.

The handles are just about 1/4" longer than my old Voyager, and seems like they would make a good impact weapon.

All in all, looks like a nice piece for the 55.00 I gave for it. They had one of those keen throwing spears there too, but I was strong...hehe.
 
Let us know how the 440A sub quenched performs. These look like rugged knives but there have been a lot of sneers about this particular steel. Now, if Cold Steel was to offer the Recon in Carbon V...
 
Interesting as I was looking at one at Gander Mt. sports today. They have probably the best collection of knives in general around these parts. Awful expensive there though. All the stuff is retail price.

I handled said knife and I have to tell ya it is really put together well and didn't have any blade play what so ever. Kind of heavy in the hand feeling too which isn't a bad thing as you know where the blade is at all times. Ultra lock reminds me of the axis lock but I know they are somewhat different. Very even grind lines, even edge cantle, and extremely sharp. I liked the lock on it as you stated it didn't give a loud authoratative click but you knew it was locked and locked solidly when deployed. Very smooth to boot. Let us know how it works out. Keep'em sharp

PS I have found that for the most part steel doesn't make a whole of difference in knives as long as the heat treatment for that particular steel is done right and my guess with the sub zero quench CS is using it will be somewhat tougher and probably the edge will last a bit longer. The good thing is that it will also be much easier to sharpen, which is a very good thing.
 
I hope it holds up for you. I bought a Recon with spear point/combo edge about two years ago and used it extensively for about 6 weeks. Thats when I put it in a drawer and haven't used it since.
Reasons:
Edge just would not stay sharp- and I'm talking about going dull after opening a couple envelopes!

Did not like the Cold Steel serrations (just personal opinion)

Lock malfunctions- this was the killer for me. Not that it ever failed, but screws constantly came out of adjustment- side to side. Caused binding and sticking which sometimes prevented lock-up! After about 4 weeks of use one spring broke. Blade piviot constantly worked loose as well creating excessive blade play.

Too much bother to be a user..a shame. I really liked the ergos and design of this knife. IMHO, the Axis lock is much better.
 
if you got the knife 2 years ago. it might the older version which was made in japan with aus8. and im not sure if it was subzero quenched. plus i remember seeing a few threads about problems with the first few batches of this knife. i have one of each version in spear point. im very happy with them but i do have some of the problems you had. like the serations some of the smaller teath broke off on both knives but thay remain very sharp. and thay only broke off when i struck or cut somthing not ment to be cut by a folding knife(metal fence post,chain link,hockey stick,beer cans,bottel caps).i have not found the lock to malfunction but the one of the springs have come loose. even with one spring working the lock still holds. now the japanise version i try not to abuse that much but i have stabbed it through a few coins and it did get a small tip snap(on a nikel) but not enuff to notice unless you compaired it to a new one. and it has been stabbed through pennys nikels quaters and dimes since with not problems. infact i hammered it through a dime just last week (with a claw hammer not a rubber dead blow)and all it had was some minor abrations on the handel where the hammer struck it. i find that the edge holds well and is very easy to sharpen. now the tiawanise vesion i beat the crap out of(cuz its easyer to replace)it with no regard. just like the the japanise version i stabbed it through all the coins but many more times. cut down a whole back yard full of small trees and weeds all the time just running(with force enuff to loose some of the smaller teath IN! the metal fence post) the blade and serations across the chain link fence.after that it was still shaving but not well. i have hammered this one through pennys and the like. i have spine whaked it with the same claw hammer many times in a row and the only time it faled was when it had the disloged lock spring. and this was holding the handel down to a bench and going to town on it with the hammer. when the lock springs where properly ingaged it did not fale. numerous normal spine whak test where done on this versuon with no falure even with one spring working.i did however break the stop pin after about 3000 wrist snap openings in one day i have since replaced it with a drill bit shaft(solid!)
i have thrown it droped it left it soaking wet with out cleaning it. and it seems to be holding up i put some pb washers in it to replace the teflon cold steel uses and i did some other mods to it here are some pics
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this last one is a pic of the dots you see in the above pics only with no flash
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over all i like the recon 1 alot even with the minor problems

....justin
 
I too went for the plain edge, I have never liked serrations. The knife is very easy to "flick" open, just the slightest lift of the blade allows you to flick it the rest of the way.
 
I just got a CS voyager, but have sent it back because it had some side to side play. Did yours have this? and why did you have to replace it?
 
I don't like the new Taiwan 440A Recons at all. :barf:

I have 2 of the older Japanese made ones (one in clip point the other in Tanto) and they are freaking awesome! Rock solid, AUS-8 (which is my fav) damn sharp and light and easy to carry. The new Taiwanese Recons seem cheap and not nearly as solid to me, blade play, spotty QC, and not nearly as nicely finished. They might be slightly cheaper now price-wise but I will happily pay the extra $10 bucks for the superior quality and materials found in the Japanese made Recons.
 
Unfortunately, I realize I have no way of telling which version I have... There's no serial number on the knife, and the blade isn't stamped with the steel type. I have no idea how long the thing has been sitting on the merchant's shelf...

Still, it seems very solid indeed, with no hint of blade play at this point.
 
More than likely you have a Taiwan made model in 440A. CS switched from last year about this time to Taiwan made Recon 1's. If it does not say on the right side of the blade "Made in Japan" then you have the Taiwan model.
 
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