For those that don't frequent the Cold Steel forum...

[Insipid Moniker]

Hold the BLEEPING phone!!!!

A master hunter in 3V!?!?!?

YAAAAAAASSSS:thumbup:

And it looks like the street price will be somewhat reasonable as well. I MUST have one....

+1. I was really hoping the Master Hunter would get an upgrade. And it seems like the price increase will be pretty minimal.

 

[G. Scott H.]

Yeah, I have the same issue. I think it's more like an I beam as they mention a trench for comfort in the description.

Ah! I missed that. Thanks. :thumbup:

"Its ergonomic handle, with its integral finger guard deep comfortable trough and lanyard hole offers a very secure and comfortable grip even when wearing thick, heavy workman's gloves."

 

[chickenfried]

+1. On the subject of premium steels I'm willing to pay a little more to sharpen when I want to rather than when I need to.

Agreed, that Lucky looks very cool. It's like a Muskrat with a serrated blade and CF scales. That just may become my first Cold Steel purchase.

 

[ToddM]

Very nice, G10 and better steel! Street price will dictate popularity, but no one questions their lock strength, so if the street price is reasonable it's going to eliminate the #1 complaint we always hear about CS. Might be my first CS purchase in a long long time.

 

[hiwa]

Hope they upgrade the SRK to 3V as well ; if so , I'm definitely in for one.

edit: Close, but no cigar. I see they just updated it to VG-1 . Not a great step up from the Aus8 or the SM3 with the VG-1 core in the first place.

 

[Larry Turko]

I've never been a fan of cold steel due to materials, steel choice, etc. CTS-XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. Ill be snagging the ultimate hunter, and atleast the new talon making them my first cold steel knives. More power to you if you want to stick with Aus8 but you would be seriously missing out.

I've been fortunate enough to own a custom Demko AD-10 and sold it because of the weight..... same lock, XHP steel and a much lighter package at around 100 bucks is wonderful!

So XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. I'll bet if the steel type wasn't printed on the blade or box you [or anybody else for that matter] couldn't tell the difference with a gun to your head.

 

[nick21]

So XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. I'll bet if the steel type wasn't printed on the blade or box you [or anybody else for that matter] couldn't tell the difference with a gun to your head.

Actually yeah you probably could if you used both for like a month. CTS-XHP is basically a stainless D2 from what I heard, so it's a pretty damn good steel.

 

[asdf12345]

I hope their heat treat is good. I might have to pick up that 3V Master Hunter. The CF slipjoint would be great for UK use as well.

 

[Larry Turko]

I really like the look of Cold Steel's new Talon II , but with the new steel, the Talon will cost more than Spyderco's new premium all black waved Matriarch and of course more than all the older versions of the Matriarch. So I want to buy a Cold Steel folder but I may have to "settle" for Spyderco's version of the knife....ironic isn't it?

 

[RX-79G]

So XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. I'll bet if the steel type wasn't printed on the blade or box you [or anybody else for that matter] couldn't tell the difference with a gun to your head.

I doubt your wife would have enjoyed a gold plated ring as much as a gold one.

People buy nicer steels as much for their potential performance as much as how they actually end up using it. There is nothing wrong with desiring more performance in a knife, car, computer, etc than you need day to day.

AUS-8 is a very good steel, but people who use knives enough can discern the difference with between it and some of the more premium steels. Plus, Cold Steel knives are not cheap. If they are going to sell for more, they need to have premium materials.

 

[Popsickle]

So XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. I'll bet if the steel type wasn't printed on the blade or box you [or anybody else for that matter] couldn't tell the difference with a gun to your head.

But it is, so your argument is irrelevant. Aus 8 vs XHP head to head in a controlled test.... YES, you would be able to tell. Do the masses really need the upgrades? Also irrelevant, because it's been asked for and they believe its best for their company obviously..... otherwise they wouldn't have done it.

heres something to get you started... ankersons edge tests.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...based-on-Edge-Retention-cutting-5-8-quot-rope

I really like the look of Cold Steel's new Talon II , but with the new steel, the Talon will cost more than Spyderco's new premium all black waved Matriarch and of course more than all the older versions of the Matriarch. So I want to buy a Cold Steel folder but I may have to "settle" for Spyderco's version of the knife....ironic isn't it?

I still think Spyderco makes a better folder than Cold Steel. I've handled CS knives but never purchased because they just felt cheap. Now that there is a nice steel upgrade and new designs are out.... obviously I've changed my tune

 

[Elefantener]

Oh I like, i like this a lot. What was that BM 183, go away the men are here in CPM 3V!

Only problem may be the jimping and price...

 

[longbow]

My only bitch is that it seems to take them forever to roll out new products after they are announced. I loose interest pretty quick after several weeks of no show on the market. keepem sharp

 

[B.F.U]

Ultimate Hunter and Lucky. Awesome looking knives. And I like the addition of 3v as well.

 

[A.L.]

I'll be damned, I'm pretty impressed! Master hunter looks good indeed.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

So XHP is a HUGE jump from Aus8. I'll bet if the steel type wasn't printed on the blade or box you [or anybody else for that matter] couldn't tell the difference with a gun to your head.

If you can't tell the difference then you don't cut enough stuff.

 

[beaconterraone]

If Cold Steel abandons AUS-8 for their popular series like the Recon 1, AK, and American Lawman, I think they're going to be disappointed in sales of XHP-only models. The retail prices for XHP models are crazy, rivaling US-made offerings from other manufacturers. Based on the limited information available, it appears they are indeed going to abandon AUS-8, at least with the Recon 1 ("All of the Recon 1's have CTS® XHP blades and G-10 handles, except for the Micro Recon 1's, which have an AUS 8A Tuff-Ex™ Coated Blade, and a G-10 styled Griv-Ex™ handle.").

 

[jstrange]

I will wait to see what actual street price is before I pass judgement, but I do think they need to be careful about moving too much of their line up to high-end.

That being said, Another very popular US brand has a good deal of their line-up made overseas and it has worked out for them. There are occasional grumblings about their price, but most seem to agree that the models made in Taiwan rival anything made over here. I think price should have more to do with the quality of the product (F&F, materials) than where it is made. Cold Steel is not moving their production to America, I just don't see it happening, so why not make the best knife you can make, no matter where you make it.

The Recon series is supposed to be their top of the line folders. It would make sense to me to market them in a way that stands above some of their other lines. Hence the better materials and higher price. Still seems competitive to me for a G10 scaled, super steel blade, high-end blade coating, and awesome lock.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

If Cold Steel abandons AUS-8 for their popular series like the Recon 1, AK, and American Lawman, I think they're going to be disappointed in sales of XHP-only models. The retail prices for XHP models are crazy, rivaling US-made offerings from other manufacturers. Based on the limited information available, it appears they are indeed going to abandon AUS-8, at least with the Recon 1 ("All of the Recon 1's have CTS® XHP blades and G-10 handles, except for the Micro Recon 1's, which have an AUS 8A Tuff-Ex™ Coated Blade, and a G-10 styled Griv-Ex™ handle.").

I don't know about that. The XHP models have an MSRP about 40% higher than the AUS8 models. If that same 40% holds true on street price they would be somewhere between $85 and $105 which is a heck of a value. Add in the fact that the MSRP on the BD1 models has gone up less than 10% and add in items like the Finn Wolf and I think we'll still see plenty of solid, value priced knives, but with some more premium models at decent prices.

Quick Note: I'm basing street pricing on a $60-$75 range. The old models that aren't on sale due to discontinuation seem to be in that range.

 

[craytab]

Oh I like, i like this a lot. What was that BM 183, go away the men are here in CPM 3V!

Only problem may be the jimping and price...

Also the sheath. Crappy looking nylon back and strap. Still a huge improvement though!

You hear that fixed Contego! 3V!