Does anyone like the cold steel Ti-Lite?

Really awful knives. Thumb stud is terrible and shreds your thumbs. The quillions are really sharp and tear up your pants or finger. The pocket clip is way too stiff and makes it really difficult to even just remove the knife from your pocket, much less wave open the blade.

Spend a couple more bucks and buy an Endura. It has the real deal wave, not some rip off.
 
mongomondo said:
Thumb stud is terrible and shreds your thumbs. The quillions are really sharp and tear up your pants or finger. The pocket clip is way too stiff and makes it really difficult to even just remove the knife from your pocket, much less wave open the blade.
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This is all true. If you can get past this, though, it's not a bad knife. I don't use the thumbstud, for example.
 
Actually, one thing that does bother me about this knife is that the holes down the handle gather debris very easily. You actually have to clean them out pretty often with Q-tips or something to keep it clean. Other than that mine is very solid, and very LARGE.
 
Mine has up and down blade play from practicing opening, a horribly stiff clip and I found that zip tie waves work even better then the ti-lite (at leat on mine anyway...) So i'm not really too fond of it, I like the design but it lacks in function.
 
I had a zytel 4" model. I did like it better than I expected. I like the stiletto design. That said, for EDC, I think there are much better knives. I replaced mine with a Benchmade 530, kinda the same but different, and have been very happy with it.
 
You guys should put some shrink tubing around the quillians and the thumbstud. Makes a world of difference in comfort on opening. Easy to do too. I have opened mine hundreds and hundreds of times and it is still as tight as it was when new. I don't think it will hold up to abuse like say an Emerson or other CS folders(Voyager, Recon etc) but for everyday type stuff mine has done exceptionally well. It is the zytel version too. I have carried mine fishing and worked well in that environment.

As for being a better company beats me. I like CS, Spyderco, EKI, etc. etc. thats it, keepem sharp
 
The cure for the sharpies on the guards and studs is a Dremel tool with a rubber-abrasive polishing wheel...that'll take all the sharp edges/corners off and leave a nice, smooth, shiny surface...

I've done this with several knives to smooth'em out. :)

I love the Ti-lite design...just can't spring for that much $$$ right now...Bummer. :(
 
LeftytwoGuns said:
Actually, one thing that does bother me about this knife is that the holes down the handle gather debris very easily. You actually have to clean them out pretty often with Q-tips or something to keep it clean. Other than that mine is very solid, and very LARGE.
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Ah, that's true too... I hate that. Q-tips don't even clean it because that dust is the "sticky" kind. I have to open it up and rinse it all out.
 
Had the 4" Titanium handled one on a passaround a few years ago. From what I remember, the lock was stiff, but I enjoyed it. If I saw one of the Titanium ones for a decent price, I would definitely pick one up, personally, as it is a nice looking design, even if it's not the most utilitarian. Not a great slicer, by any means, but for opening mail, boxes, or cleaning your fingernails, it would work fine. I would remember if the blade were wobbly, so I'm assuming it was not.

DD
 
i love my 6incher although its some times hard to carry as its so long (it's scary long, nearly as meancing as my safe keeper 1...). In fact I can use both my hands to hold on to the handle like a two handed sword... The reach is terrific in a fight and the shape is great for stabby stabby action!

-lock up is very tight for mines (no play at all)

-I hate using the thumb screw to open it as im afraid ill slip and cut my thumb to the bone

-barn none the sharpest out of the box knife i have ever owned

-can flick open in a fraction of a second with a snap of the wrist and the use of the quillion to open from the pocket is just as fast (it will rip up your pockets if you don't do it right or do it too often... meh its an acceptable loss for me as the speed of opening it is worth it plus i never really use that function unless its an emergency and then at that time, who the f cares if i tear my precious pocket???)

-you can adjust the opening tension via a torque (sp?) screw which is nice

-not as heavy as you would think from a 6 incher

-the frame lock is very strong (some say the strongest every made which I dont doubt, no ways will it slip close on you) although closing it is some what awkward with a single hand (can be done though but due to the size and sharpness of the blade, it just always makes me nervous when I do)

-so fken cheap why not buy one?

4incher (civilian), 5incher (safe keeper), 6 incher (ti-lite)
Like engines, there is no replacement for displacement...
DSC_9451.jpg
 
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I've got a 6 inch zytel ti lite and it is great fun though I agree entirely that the studs and quillions are nasty sharp. I'd like to play with one of the alluminum handled versions and see how it worked as an impact tool when folded.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
What I REALLY want is a 6" to go with my Vaquero Grande and Rajah II. :D
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hey Esav,

How you like the Rajah? I have been eying this BIG bad boy for a while now - on youtube that damn thing seems indestructible - what's your thoughts..?
 
I like my 4" Zytel...in theory, it's great. Love the shape, like the quillion opening, love the blade sharpness and quality, like the lock stability, haven't had any blade wiggle...problem is, the only way to open it is to brave the awful thumb studs, or snap it open, thereby shredding the pocket on my work dress pants. Ergo, it stays in the drawer.

Can someone go over the process for fixing the studs with shrink tubing/rubber abrasive wheel? I'd love to be able to open it without shredding my thumb...
 
I've have several in both the 6-inch and 4-inch zytel varieties and I love the knives. I have a difficult time understanding how they can be too long or straight to cut, as I have sharpened mine to scary-sharp and have cut things from cord to boxes to wood and have never found it wanting. If you need belly in a knife, this isn't for you; however, if you need a good self defense utility knife, the Ti-Lites are hard to beat.

None of my knives is difficult to open, and I've learned to snap all of them open in a flash...also from a pocket. Some come a bit tight, but none has loosened to the point where it was a problem. Even if it does, it has a screw you can tighten.

Even if you don't open the knife, the thing is still capable of clobbering someone with, closed. It reinforces the fist and can be used to jab or to deliver crushing blows from above. When open, the blade also penetrates very well. Not only do you have a full 6 inches of blade, you can hold it further down and get even more reach.

The only thing you have to watch when buying these things is on eBay. Some are offering the older 440A blade steel model. If you get one and it doesn't have AUS8A stamped on the right side of the blade, you've got the older one.

The 6-inch model can carve up people with Spyderco Enduras or Delicas all day long. The Spydercos are probably better EDCs, but if you're packing a knife to save your worthless hide, I really can't think of a better knife, except maybe a Rajah!
 
Brought this one back from last month. I wanted to read about the Ti-Lite to see what people had to say about it. Looks like several like it, while a few dislike it. I had decided yesterday to purchase a Cold Steel folder and it was between a Rajah II, and an American Lawman. Last night I got home and pulled out my "Special Projects" catalog to check these two out, what ever else is said about CS, let it not be said they put out a shabby catalog! So, in looking I had forgotten about the new Ti-Lites, those with the aluminum handles, and after looking at all three knives now, I decided on the 6" Ti Lite in aluminum and placed my order this morning. A couple of things I noticed about it were; the blade is .156" thick, and at 6" long should be heavy enough to come out of the handle without a lot of problems. Second thing I noticed was the weight of this thing, 9 ounces!! It's heavier than my Strider AR.:eek::) But I like that fact as I always have liked heavy. Oh yeah, anyone know if the aluminum model has steel liners on both sides, or just on the lock side? It wouldn't have hurt my feelings if the pocket clip had been mounted at the butt end, but at least it is mounted higher than a lot of Cold Steel's pocket clips.



edited to add: what can I say, my mall ninja has risen to the top.
 
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I just bought the titanium version online and returned it. The lock over-engaged and could only be opened with a screwdriver. (I'm not kidding.)

I couldn't believe it for the price the Ti version fetches.
 
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