Eat My Own Words - Cold Steel Knives

Pointshoot777

Pointshoot777

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Feb 16, 2001
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Hi guys. Ive picked up only two or three CS knives over the years. For the most part, I steered away from them. I have to admit the cheesy advertising featuring the company owner was the main reason. I thought of CS as 'cheap'.
Well, I'm eating my words now. All because of the Andrew Demko designed CS folders. I bought an American Lawman to try out based on an impressive online review a month ago. Today I received the CS AK-47. Its another Demko with his incredible Tri-Ad lock design. - - - What I like is that they are incredibly tough working knives that I can actually use as tools day-to-day without worrying about. I trust the Tri-Ad lock for hard use. (In my own collection, I only fully trust my fingers to the Tri-Ad lock knives and my frame-lock Sebenza for hardest use.) For toughest outdoor use, I have a fixed blade with me. But these Demko CS knives are extremely impressive.
Combine the strength with light weight & a very reasonable price, and you come up with a real winner. The Demko CS knives are my go-to everyday working folders today. Thats something I never imagined I would have said 10 years ago. - - -
 
Cold Steel knives flew below my radar for a long time as well. But I tried the Recon 1, and have subsequently added 4 more to my arsenal. I sort of enjoy the over-the-edge ads and videos, but I see how others may not. But their folders are tough and are quite a value.

Edit: Ok, I have 8 now -

- Recon 1 clip point
- Recon 1 tanto (bald)
- Lawman
- mini Lawman
- AK-47
- old style medium Voyager
- old style large Voyager
- Gurkha Kukri (blame Nutnfancy)
 
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I was impressed by the Recon 1 as well, and I'm getting an American Lawman sometime early next year, though mine is going to be handmade by Andrew himself :-)
 
Good to hear you found a knife that suits your need. Personally, I can't justify paying as much as they charge for Taiwanese made AUS-8, considering what else is offered in their price range. Same thing with the Pohl Force: it looks like an amazing knife, just not enough to justify the cost.
 
dangreco said:
I was impressed by the Recon 1 as well, and I'm getting an American Lawman sometime early next year, though mine is going to be handmade by Andrew himself :-)
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You'll DEFINITELY have to post pics of that custom here when you get it ! :D
 
My CS acquisitions over the years include an Ultralock, SRK, a brace of Master Hunters, large and medium Twistlocks, a pair of medium Voyagers (tanto and clip), a first model tanto, two Red River Carbon V blades, and a California drop-point. No complaints about any of them. They all do what they're designed to do: cut.
 
Another fan here , got interested when everyone started talking up the tri-ad lock. Since then have got the Recon 1 in clip, AK-47, Mini-Ak all great knives. All are tough as nails and well worth the price. Also picked up the orignal Ak-47, huge knife for a 3.5 inch and is currently my favorite edc.
 
waiting on the new issue voyagers. still have one of the old red river buffalo skinner copies in carbon 5 in my knife rack.--dennis
 
Their advertising used to really turn me off, but now I find it mildy amusing, especially the glares after somethings been sliced and diced. :D I've had *really* good luck with CS, especially the Carbon V models, SRK, TM, MH, etc. Their now discontinued stockman in Carbon V is a great one also, if you like traditionals.

STR got me interested in the triad lock, and I have an American Lawman, can't wait for the Voyagers. That lock is absolutely everything that the hype says - strong as all get-out!
 
Fortunately I got to try out a Recon 1.

Did an edge holding test against Spyderco's VG-10 with my Delica.

Their AUS8 held an edge to about 65% compared to VG-10.

Either I was holding a really good batch, or Cold Steel's AUS8 is more comparable to 440C.
 
Mephtyrm said:
Fortunately I got to try out a Recon 1.

Did an edge holding test against Spyderco's VG-10 with my Delica.

Their AUS8 held an edge to about 65% compared to VG-10.

Either I was holding a really good batch, or Cold Steel's AUS8 is more comparable to 440C.
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I have had really good experiences with cold steels aus8. It holds an edge very well in my "tests" I do, and it is stupid easy to touch up.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
I have had really good experiences with cold steels aus8. It holds an edge very well in my "tests" I do, and it is stupid easy to touch up.
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I was a sworn AUS8 hater, but Cold Steel's AUS8 does really really good. Everyone elses seem noticibly softer in comparasin, and it is finely grained enough to get a screaming sharp edge.

And yep, its stupid easy to touch up
 
I don't mind CS. I think, cheesy videos aside, they actually make some decent stuff for an affordable price. Currently, I have the Spartan and a TiLite and they are both good blades for what they are.
 
ElectrikHellfire said:
I don't mind CS. I think, cheesy videos aside, they actually make design and have some decent stuff for an affordable price. Currently, I have the Spartan and a TiLite and they are both good blades for what they are.
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Fixed it for ya. :thumbup:
I also own a couple.
 
I met Lynn Thompson in 1983 at a gun show. He personally demonstrated some of his knives to me and a few friends. Aside from the cheesy videos and ads, his knives are workhorses. I have never had a problem with the steel they use...always held a nice edge and easy to sharpen. If Cold Steel has a design I like, I have no problem buying it.
 
A fixed blade is not always stronger than a folder. With no design parameters other than one folds and the other doesn't, it doesn't take much imagination to think of a folder that is stronger than a fixed blade.

I would like to own a good Cold Steel folder. The older XL and XXL Voyagers would have been my choices. Maybe a Vaquero Grande. Cold Steel is also the only company producing a variety of decent push daggers, which I owned and carried for a while. The new Safe Makers are a nice design. Tomorrow I'll start EDC'ing a Kudu and see how it holds up. Just gave it a nice coarse edge, so I'll be testing that too.
 
singularity35 said:
I agree, but assuming they are of the same dimensions and materials, I would say that one piece of metal is stronger than 2 pieces bolted together, especially in lateral strength.
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I'd tend to agree with that, but not completely. I'm sure someone could come up with a folder that is stronger even with those criteria, but it wouldn't be easy.

Also, those assumptions were not stated originally. The folder vs. fixed blade statements are generally something like "no folder will ever be as strong as a fixed blade." This is a demonstrably false statement. If parameters are to be added that's fine, but they must be stated, not assumed.
 
CS makes good working knives so if one uses their knives a lot and hard they have a model for you.

I carried a Recon 1 as an EDC for over 10 years and it never let me down and I still have it today.
 
Ankerson said:
CS makes good working knives so if one uses their knives a lot and hard they have a model for you.

I carried a Recon 1 as an EDC for over 10 years and it never let me down and I still have it today.
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Agreed, I do have my recon 1 that I carried and used a lot in the farm. It's still one of the most solid knives I have.
 
I picked up my first CS knife last week... a Rajah II. It's built like a tank.

I needed to carry a knife out back today, it was my ESEE6.
 
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