Fake/Clone Cold Steel 4-Max

[The Whip]

One of the reasons I was trying a hard grip was to see if I could even feel it. It was subtle and not uncomfortable, nor did it feel like accidental depression was a likely risk.

That was my impression, too. I had already read Jimislash's post when I got to handle it, so I was paying particular attention to the issue. It looks a lot worse than it feels. But I agree that a $600 knife needs to be perfect.

The funny thing to me about this topic is that I saw this notch

on the first Tri-Ad that I bought and I thought THAT was a flaw! It was only after I found the same feature on subsequent knives that I realized it was part of the design.

-Steve

 

[dogrunner]

Ok, I just got off the phone with Cold Steel's customer service, and they said that they had not changed the design. So, I am sending them some photos of the knife.

Any updates? I am curious to know what their explanation is - just an innocuous manufacturing variant, something they consider to be out-of-spec but not a warranty issue, or a defect of some sort?

 

[Jimislash]

Any updates? I am curious to know what their explanation is - just an innocuous manufacturing variant, something they consider to be out-of-spec but not a warranty issue, or a defect of some sort?

I haven't heard back from them. I will post right away when I do.

 

[Jimislash]

Ok, I had it verified twice by Cold Steel that my knife is authentic. Here are some photos to help you other 4 Max owners see what I sent them.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[ceptor781]

Sad to say but it looks like cost cutting. Mine is from the first release earlier this year and my lock bar is no where near that proud of the scales and release area has the notch like every other triad lock I have.

 

[`br4dz-]

Out of quite a number of Cold Steel's, I've owned one with a severe fit and finish problem. It's not like they are Chris Reeve's, sometimes a knife just gets pumped out that has tolerances all out of whack.

 

[hermit dave]

If Cold Steel claims that's not a defect, I'll be marking the 4max off my wish list. Every CS folder I've owned has had a flush, parallel lock-bar. I can't imagine they wouldn't send you a good one as a replacement. If the scales are flush with the liner, the lock-bar's pivot-pin hole must be drilled too low.

 

[dogrunner]

hello Mr. Demko,
Please let us know - is this what the flagship CS folder is supposed to look like?
respectfully,
bob

 

[cricketdave]

That would be very dissapointing especially in that price range.

 

[insta9ves]

I've seen this for issue for a lot of other models, not just 4Max. This is most prevalent in the Medium Espada & the American Lawman series, the lockbar moves outside the handle scale.
I have bought multiple version of the same model, like American Lawman or the Broken Skull for example, some has early lockup, and some has late lockup. The ones with late lockup looks like the 4Max in the picture above. Im looking at my first XHP Lawman that i got in 2015 right now and when opened the lockbar goes beyond the handle scale like the pictures above. This is not due to wear, as it's been like that since the first day i got it and i have been using/carrying it a lot the the lockbar position didn't change a bit, so this is fit & finish issue.
It's not just ugly, when you hold the knife with a tight grip, you are able to slightly loosen the lockbar by accidentally pressing it.

 

[Jimislash]

To add a little fuel to this fire, here are some pictures of my back-up 4 Max that I purchased from a recommended dealer. This dealer blamed Cold Steel. Cold Steel claimed to have never heard of the dealer. The "new" 4 Max came with a nice scratch on the lock-bar. When I opened the knife for the first time, a metal shaving fell off the blade, and the blade itself has been polished along the edge, about 1/4 inch in. This would be a cool knife if I had bought it on here as a user, but not so cool as a brand new knife.

 

[dogrunner]

That is frustrating to say the least. Mine has the lockbar issue, but otherwise seems fine. Even that, though, is a concern if QC is at stake.
I contacted Mr. Demko himself to get his take on this. He responded very quickly saying he would check out this thread and I know he was on it for a while. That was yesterday (10/19). If I was him, I'd want to have an example in hand, but he will have to contact CS himself to check into this. That is what he said he would do. I hope we hear back from him as soon as he has information, and for sure I'd like to have CS make some sort of statement here about what appears to be broadscale distribution of knives with the lockbar issue and what they will do about it.

 

[Cold Steel Knives]

Apologies for the delay in response.
It seems that yes, a small number of production 4-MAX folding knives were sent out with a raised lock bar that is not seated flush with the scales.
This is not a safety concern, and it would be considered a cosmetic flaw under our warranty.
We ask that anyone who receives a 4-MAX with this raised lock bar and is unsatisfied with their purchase to please contact our Customer Services team via the email below using the subject header 4-MAX LOCK BAR
​We will endeavor to remedy this quickly
Thank you

Cold Steel
Customer Service
customerservice@coldsteel.com

 

[insta9ves]

Apologies for the delay in response.
It seems that yes, a small number of production 4-MAX folding knives were sent out with a raised lock bar that is not seated flush with the scales.
This is not a safety concern, and it would be considered a cosmetic flaw under our warranty.
We ask that anyone who receives a 4-MAX with this raised lock bar and is unsatisfied with their purchase to please contact our Customer Services team via the email below using the subject header 4-MAX LOCK BAR
​We will endeavor to remedy this quickly
Thank you

Cold Steel
Customer Service
customerservice@coldsteel.com

Hey CS Rep, thanks for the response. Quick question, so is it safe to assume that cosmetic flaw like this is covered under the warranty, hence we will get repair/replacement services?

Also, based on some of the pictures posted here, i would argue that this may not just be a cosmetic, but a functional/mechanical flaw. With the raised lockbar, there is a good chance that when you grab the handle hard, for example during hard downward cutting or even chopping, the lockbar would get *slightly* depressed and come lose. Obviously this won't generate enough force to completely disengage the lockbar, far from it i would imagine, but this will cause some vertical blade play during use and thus accelerating wear to the lock bar.
I dont own a 4MAX(too big for me, but would appreciate an AD-10 sized one), but i have personally experienced the issue i described above on my Medium G-10 Espada and American Lawman. I can say that for my examples, the lockbar aren't even raised as high as the example shown here.

 

[ursamajor]

I have one on the way. I'll let everyone here know how mine turns out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KTMADV]

Thanks CS Rep........ Just emailed customer service and waiting for instructions.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

Hope they get you sorted out...please post up resolution...subscribed

 

[ursamajor]

Hope they get you sorted out...please post up resolution...subscribed

These knives are midtechs, but clearly they are semi custom, because they are still scarce-basically non existent from dealers, and even Cold Steel's website.

I'm am looking forward to mine, I cannot lie...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jimislash]

To add a little fuel to this fire, here are some pictures of my back-up 4 Max that I purchased from a recommended dealer. This dealer blamed Cold Steel. Cold Steel claimed to have never heard of the dealer. The "new" 4 Max came with a nice scratch on the lock-bar. When I opened the knife for the first time, a metal shaving fell off the blade, and the blade itself has been polished along the edge, about 1/4 inch in. This would be a cool knife if I had bought it on here as a user, but not so cool as a brand new knife.

Cold Steel informed me that this area around the edge is caused by the buffing wheel when they polish the sharpened edge. It should be noted that I have contacted Cold Steel about the lock bar issue, and they never informed me about this being a "cosmetic flaw." I am glad it is being settled here.

 

[KTMADV]

Sent mine back to cold steel today. Lets see how long the wait and what they fix. Customer Service was very quick on responding to my emails.Top notch for speedy emails to there customers.