Did Cold Steel ever do a hanging weight test on a fixed blade?

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DangerZone98

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Dec 7, 2019
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So we know that the 4-Max can support the weight of a sedated silverback gorilla, but I’m curious if CS ever did the hanging weight test on a fixed blade? I was wondering if a fixed tang is stronger than a folding one (and if so, by how much).
 
DangerZone98 said:
So we know that the 4-Max can support the weight of a sedated silverback gorilla, but I’m curious if CS ever did the hanging weight test on a fixed blade? I was wondering if a fixed tang is stronger than a folding one (and if so, by how much).
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Not that I can recall or to my knowledge, at least not in the same way (static hang of known weight) that they tested their folders. They did however, do pull ups using a swords blade as handles and the blade bend/flex testing (basically side loading the blade in both cases). Imo they were testing the locks strength, component assembly/fastening method and strength of the handle materials more than anything with the weight hang tests.

In one video Lynn said the failure point of the Triad lock knives was the connection to the handle materials. Not that it is impossible to shear the Triad lock but that the component's attachment point/method to the handle material would fail well before the actual locking system. In another video Lynn said that any fixed blade would far surpass even their toughest Triad folder.

As long as the metallurgy is sound, the heat treatment is proper, their are no internal voids (air pockets etc., more of a concern with powdered steel v.s. traditionally produced forging imo) within and stress risers (sharp angles) are eliminated a fixed blade should far surpass the strength of a folder when tested in the same way (weight applied vertically like in the folder wieght tests, rather than horizontally like in the pull up/blade flex tests). By what percentage? Couldn't tell you.

Edit: I hadn't seen the Warcraft video, It doesnt suprise me though. The strength of any knife is going to be in that vertical plane, just like an I beam. If they would have done that same lift applying the load to the sides, the result likely would have been much different (as it would be with any knife).
 
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DangerZone98 said:
the 4-Max can support the weight of a sedated silverback gorilla
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Pfff, that's nothing, I want to see it support a flailing gorilla!

AlongTheRazorsEdge said:
Lynn said that any fixed blade would far surpass even their toughest Triad folder
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I see this sort of statement from time to time, and I'm sure it isn't meant literally (by the proper definition of literally). I would put the strength of a Recon 1 ahead of the strength of a filet knife or some skinny little santoku. I mean, I could snap (or permanently bend) those in half with my bare (okay maybe gloved!) hands, but good luck trying to do that with a Recon 1.
 
Everything is relative, this is why I think it’s dumb whenever I hear people make broad statement like “You want a hard use knife? Get a fixed blade!”. I’m pretty sure a Mora knife is going to break before the Recon 1.
Even then I’m making a broad statement myself, since they are some strong beefy Mora knife models. The point is, a robust Triad lock folder can be stronger than some fixed blade, it’s all relative.
 
insta9ves said:
Everything is relative, this is why I think it’s dumb whenever I hear people make broad statement like “You want a hard use knife? Get a fixed blade!”. I’m pretty sure a Mora knife is going to break before the Recon 1.
Even then I’m making a broad statement myself, since they are some strong beefy Mora knife models. The point is, a robust Triad lock folder can be stronger than some fixed blade, it’s all relative.
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i believe they are kinda in the mindset.....all things equal a fixed blade with full tang will always be stronger than any lock. which is almost always gonna be true.

the warcraft had a Volvo hang from it. no folder or even a tri-ad would be able to do that...if it could we can bet Lynn and Andrew would have shown it.
 
David Mary said:
I see this sort of statement from time to time, and I'm sure it isn't meant literally (by the proper definition of literally). I would put the strength of a Recon 1 ahead of the strength of a filet knife or some skinny little santoku. I mean, I could snap (or permanently bend) those in half with my bare (okay maybe gloved!) hands, but good luck trying to do that with a Recon 1.
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This is the video in question..

Lynn was comparing the strength of the Cold Steel Counter Tac I to an XL Voyager Vaquero. The Triad knives (and especially the steel lined models) are ridiculously strong for what they are. Personally, I was never interested in folders until seeing the strength of the Triad locking system.
 
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I don't have time to watch it now, but I wasn't trying to call you (or LT) out or anything. Just saying that generally I have heard people say it like that, namely "ANY fixed blade is stronger than ANY folder", without really thinking it through, when I think it is more of an "all other things being equal" proposition.
 
David Mary said:
I don't have time to watch it now, but I wasn't trying to call you (or LT) out or anything. Just saying that generally I have heard people say it like that, namely "ANY fixed blade is stronger than ANY folder", without really thinking it through, when I think it is more of an "all other things being equal" proposition.
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Not taken that way brother ( : I agree completely, it is absolutely dependent on which knives are being compared. There surely are fixed blades that Triad model folders will put to shame. The aluminum XL Espada and Rajah IIs are absolute beasts and not just in the blade but the lock components themselves. Very impressive designs for sure.
 
DocJD said:
I bet there's somewhere , not public , a video of when they loaded a bit more weight , past the failure point .

That had to be pants filling fun ! :eek:
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I think the failure point was caught in this very video. They frozen the image just before the failure.

I wonder if the safety equipment is really appropriate for such experiment...
 
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