CS Voyager, why don't they get more attention?

K

K man

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Nov 26, 2000
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I just traded my Spyderco Endura for a Large CS Voyager w/ a clip point blade. I am curious why they don't get more attention. In every comparison between plastic handled folders, the Voyagers always seem to take the back seat to Spyderco enduras, BM Griptilians, ect. I rarely hear praise for Voyagers.

Is there anyone out there who favors a Voyager? They seem like great work knife that wouldn't be too expensive to replace. Even though the steel isnt top of the line and the serrations are odd, I like it better than the endura. It just seems like a sturdier knife.

Does anyone feel the way I do, or am just nuts
 
I have both the large SE Voyager, and PE Endura. I actually prefer the Endura a bit more. It feels little smoother to open and close, and the handle is alot more ergonomic (for me). I also like the thumb rest created by the spyderhole. The Endura is a bit smaller (thinner and shorter) and lighter. The Voyager feels like it might be little more robust, but hardly, if even at all. My Voyager is not fully ambidextrous either; I have to unscrew and move the thumb stud to the other side of the blade.

So I guess to anser your question, I don't really feel the way you do, but that doesn't mean you are nuts :D .

Will
 
I used to favor Voyagers, but then I started getting into smaller knives. I found there wasn't much the Voyagers could do, that the other folders couldn't. I also had some issues with the blades on the Voyagers chipping, due to the very thin edges they had. I still wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to someone looking for a knife that will cut like a razor though.
 
I have two large Voyagers, a clip and a tanto, and like them both. Light, extremely tough, flat for easy carry IWB, excellent steel IMHO, strong lock... The high thin grinds cut extremely well and AUS-8 takes an excellent edge and holds it well. My tanto is one of my sharpest blades. Good working tools at a fair price... what's not to like?
 
Its my EDC. The CS Voyager w/ 4"clip blade. I don't have a need for anything less than 4".. Mine has the thumb studs on both sides so its ambi...It got the attention of a dog owner who thought it would be great fun to let his rotti intimidate me, he almost crapped his pants when I offered to send his phucken dog to Jesus if he didn't control his dog. The knife has been everywhere with me, it has not let me down.
 
CS Voyagers are solid knives. I own an XL PE Voyager and it's a great knife. I think the Voyagers get overlooked because Spyderco and BM have better steel and a better opening method. I feel that for utility or SD use, the Endura is superior to a equally sized Voyager. I must admit the the thinly ground edges of the CS Voyagers make them great cutters.
 
I have several CS Voyagers and find them to be great knives for the price.I EDC a Spyderco Endura and have so since they first came out.I always have a CS Voyager/Gunsite in the glovebox for emergency/back up use even tho the edges are prone to chipping.Chipped or not,they slice like blazes and no big loss if damaged due to the low cost factor.tom. :cool:
 
I've been carrying mine for a little over 2 years, and I love it. Light, great worker, and easy to put a great edge on it. The steel hasn't snapped on my yet after lots of prying, throwing, screwing around, and hard work.

The blade's the perfect size, about 3 5/8 after the tip popped off a while ago (my fault for throwing it... :D), tanto is a great design that's super strong, hasn't let me down yet!

My favorite parts are actually the small stuff: The clip is at the perfect spot, it's the perfect size, best I've seen in a knife yet. And the thumbstud is great. There's a screwdriver slot on one side, but you can reverse it easily for lefties....no such luck with the clip though.


One of the best folders available for 50$ IMO.

_z
 
Rebuttal:

1. Yes, VG-10 rocks AUS8A's world. Can't argue with that...

2. Thumbstud is WAY more better than Sypderhole IMO. I hate those things.
3. I like bigger handle on Voyager better.
4. I have no problem with the Voyager's action: It may be a little rigid or jolting, but then again I don't etch little flowers into my knife or hold my pinky in the air when I use it, so it's being a little rough around the edges doesn't ruffle any of my feathers :D
5. CS is cheaper, bigger blade, more connecting the blade/pivot to the handle, overall probably more rugged.

But hey, pick em up and decide, I just like how good the CS has been to me over the years. They're both good knives.

_z
 
I was considering the Cold Steel Voyager before I went with my Lone Wolf. I have to cut air bags and large chunks of plastic often. The larger the blade and the handle, the easier and faster it is to do these tasks without either getting blood or acid on you. I find a 4-5" folder works the best in my case.
Case in point: The Spydercos are great knives. I have several friends that use them and swear by them - so I investigated. I found I just can't stand them for their grips and their holes. I want them to work for me, but the hole thing doesn't cut it, and the grips just don't fit me. Add the part where I find them ugly, and that sort of seals the deal. I can deal with ugly if it works(Just ask my Rottweiler - http://www.pbase.com/wyk/image/40757649 -). But it just doesn't work for me.
What confuses me is how someone can say the Spyderco is less likely to disengage than the CS because of it's recessed lock when it actually STICKS OUT from the grip VS the CS which is flush and flat by comparison. A simple crescent cut in the middle of the lock doesn't hide the fact some of it still protrudes from the handle. Both have a radius that follows their grip contours, but the Spydercos have a tighter radius, thus the lock protrudes into the palm area more. I have never tested the two in this manner, just arguing the point being made previously based on the opposite finding.
The second problem was the fact both were lockbacks. When I use a knife I push on the grip, I rarely torque or twist it. Thus a solid quality liner lock has never failed me whereas I have had 2 lockbacks nearly cut my fingers off, and a Kershaw razor lockback flat out broke on me. I disengage lockbacks and have had many fail on me this way, and I do not have particularly fat hands or fingers. So I have a hard time trusting a lockback again. The lock should never be on any place on the grip where you basically can apply the most pressure, IMO. Add to this the fact that I place my thumb behind the blade spine and push it as I cut, and a disengaged lock can send the blade flying right into my fingers...again.
As for the action, the Sypderco costs a tad more and that could lend itself to better hand fitting or design? *Shrug* I notice how a blade locks up and cuts more than anything else. If my Sebenza were gritty and clunky to engage, I might be bothered and concerned it might be defective. A $50 folder? Nah. But I do like the Voyagers ergonomics, and I have had Aus8 blades last a while without chipping too badly. I do have to sharpen them more often than I do my S30V LoneWolf, tho(I have a Heat with a great liner lock - too bad the handle is slippery when wet). I would go with the CS VS the Spyderco.

WYK
 
It seems we each have our own personal preferences.
It is certainly a good thing we have more than 1 choice!!

With regards to the lock disengaging, I don't find the dent on the Spydies makes any real difference. My Voyagers lock is a lot stiffer to depress than the Sydercos. Altough this might make it a bit safer, I prefer the smoothness of the Spyderco. If locks becoming depressed is really a big issue, I wonder why they make it futher back, like Buck do, so it is not right under the grip.

Will
 
I looked the the CS Voyager, but there was nothing about the knife that I didn't think Spyderco did better on the Delica/Endura.

I really don't like CS's serrations.
 
The real answer is, they don't get more attention because they've been out so long. They're pretty tough, with strong locks, and the price is fair for the money.
Like any knife that's been around a while you can only talk about it so long without getting really bored. Do a search, you'll see how much it was talked about in the past.
 
I like Cold Steel. I have several of their knives and until recently one of my routine knives for carry when I travelled was a 4" Voyager.

I personally prefer the Spyderco Hole over the thumbstud for a number of reasons. Number one perhaps is that it is easier to find the hole with your thumb when in a hurry. Two, my thumb doesn't slip off at the half way open point with the hole vs the stud. Three, the hole has never been guilty of being so rough or sharp as to cut my thumb and cause bleeding or tear skin like some of the rougher studs have although some holes have had rough edges that left some skin cells inside the hole on occassion. Finally, four and probably most importantly, the hole never disappears by falling off the blade.

The Voyager is a tough knife. I never had any problems with AUS8A steel. It is a tough steel that does a good job. Certainly better than the low grade 420 stuff being offered by many other knife companies for similar or higher price tags than the Voyager can be bought for.
 
I think the bottom line is there is nothing wrong w/ the CS voyager...its just like buying anything else you need to find what appeals to you and fits your needs and your hand the best. My Dad has been using one for years and loves it, I've bought them for other people and handled a lot of them and I think they are good knives they just dont appeal to my tastes that much.
 
I regularly carry, as I do now, a XL Voyager clip point (no other 5" blade for the price) and I find it easy to carry, even for the size, in pocket or iwb abdominal position (conceals very well). With the 5" blade it opens real easy with a mild side flick (if you know what I mean).
 
The CS Voyager is a fine knife in its own right, and I think it can certainly give the Endura a run for its money.
But I don't think you can really compare the Benchmade Griptilians to the Voyager or the Endura.
The Griptilian's dual partial steel liners and the Axis-lock makes it more comparable with folders having dual steel liners.
And the comfortable hand-filling handle of the Griptilian is nearly impossible to beat.

Allen.
 
Cold Steel has stuck their foot in the mouth so many times it is hard to take them serious.

  • They used to complain about liner locks . . . . until they started selling them
  • They used to brag about the superioity of AUS8A . . . . until they started using 420
  • The DVD is a misleading. Watch the folder testing carefully and you will see one of the knives morph into another knife
  • They will not resharpen their serrated knives
  • Their customer service is mediocre
  • When was the last time they improved one of their designs
  • They used to have a forum until collectors asked too many questions
I've watched them "change" over they years and decided to vote with my money elsewhere.
 
My all time favorite CS knife is the Vaquero. I have about 20 CS knives and most are just box sitters, i have carried the vaquero and/or a 4 inch voyager for the past 7 years and they have never let me down.

I also have wondered about the animosity toward the cold steel knives.

Why is this?
 
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