Frost/Cutlery Corner

[Born to Kill]

If you don't mind, let me know your opinion of DirecTV's blade hustlers, Frost Cutlery and Cutlery Corner.

The show intrigued me at first, recently...I'm new to DirecTV and had never seen this show before. The continuous parade of knives made me dizzy.

After a couple of hours of watching, I ordered a 5 pack and have been pretty pleased with what I got considering the really low price I paid for them; roughly, shipping included, 10 dollars a knife.

I noticed right off two had noticable defects. Once bowie type had a curve to the full tang...in the handle...and enough of one to keep the wooden grips from being able to seal flush. One one side, there's a visible gap, a tiny one...but noticable if you inspect it.
Tiny, ever so slight shift if you move it around in a tight grip, but if held firm, it's not that big of a deal.

And, their answer to the Marine Ka-Bar...it's a great looking knife, real leather handle just like the Ka-Bar...feels quite strudy...
But in the handle's butt...where the metal bar inside the handle is supposed to line up and wedge inside that groove...
Mine's not in it. The metal bar is slightly askew, turned a bit...so that it doesn't line up with the groove. It's wedged against it, not in it.

I was very let down with this imperfection and considered returning it, but upon manipulation of the knife, I found it to still be quite sturdy and easily sharpened. Even though it isn't a Ka-Bar, it's still quite lethal...so I decided to keep it.

I know these are cheaper knives...but cheap is what I need...I'm a husband and a father...I make pretty nice money, but it all goes to the family. I'm just that way. I don't get into name brands cuz if I do, that's less money I can spend on my family...on savings for their/our future, etc.

So, anyway...Cutlery Corner, flea markets, Trader's Village...even gas stations...are where I get most of my blades. I don't need a name brand if the knife feels good in my hand, opens and closes fluidly, the safety locks securely in place, etc.
But I also own and appreciate niceness...Boker, Kershaw (both gifts).

Cutlery Corner doing anything nice as far as quality?

 

[Misanthropia]

A friend of mine bought a rainbow finish Frost Cutlery framelock folder from a gas station purely based upon appearances (he's unconcerned with knives), and I had a fun experience with it. I saw it in very rough condition (dirty, rusty, nicks on the blade) and volunteered to give it a bit of servicing, which I assumed would be absolutely no issue. A few torx screws and it should be apart right? Well it came apart quite easily, I managed to clean it up decently, but it absolutely could not be reassembled. The pivot screw would simply not fit back in, not matter how much pressure was applied to the knife. Even a vice grip didn't help. I guess it was never meant to be taken apart.

Moral of the story: it is what it is, a $5 gas station knife for people who don't care about knives. Expending the money for a good knife (a $28 Kershaw Zing is about a million times higher quality and still outrageously cheap) is better then constantly getting new, disposable ones.

 

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

I suspect you'll get a lot of "Frost sucks" as a reply. To be honest, I can't really disagree with those thoughts as I've seen some examples that are truly pure junk.

That said, I also own several Steel Warrior pocket knives that I actually like. I have better knives, but I'm not sure that those knives are better for the tasks I assign to the Steel Warrior knives (like cutting things that I know will damage the blade). I'm not the kind of person who will abuse a $100 + knife - but a $5 - $10 knife is an entirely different thing.

As an added bonus, I really don't care if I lose the Steel Warrior knives. That single fact makes using them (hard), loaning them out, and giving them away, economically feasible. The one knife that I always carry is a Steel Warrior (their sodbuster version) - it doesn't hold an edge all that long (then again, I abuse the knife) but it does sharpen up easily and I find the FF to be quite good for such a cheap knife.

There are other knives (in that price range) that I like quite a bit more - like Opinel, Okapi, and Mora - but I won't abuse them like I do the Steel Warriors. So in my opinion, Frost makes some (at least) knives that are useful tools despite (or maybe because of) the low cost.

The television "show" is a different animal - it's so bad that it's almost painful to watch. Yet there are times when I can't turn away. I always feel like I'm watching a monkey hump a football: I know it's wrong, I know I shouldn't watch, but for some odd, sick, reason - I can't help myself.

And yes, when I ruin, lose, give away, my last Steel Warrior knife - I'll probably buy one to replace it.

 

[Born to Kill]

Much appreciated, gentlemen...

Tahts...really nice description of the show. Monkey humping a football is pretty accurate...and hilarious. +1!

And yes, I've seen their Steel Warrior line...some look pretty nice.

I've been thinking of ordering some. They have some that appear to have really nice bone and stag handles.

Along with Steel Warrior, that show is pushing the Duck line. Mostly flip blades. Know anything about Duck?

 

[richard j]

save your money guys. most of that stuff is pakistan junk. did you see the show where a sword broke and stabbed one of the hosts?
i would go hit up a pawn shop or second hand store. you might even find a good deal here on bf.

 

[Noctis3880]

For fixed blades, I'd go with a Mora or stick with Ka-Bar if you expect to stab some people through the skull or you need a sharpened prybar.

For folders, you can go with Kershaw's China Imports or Spyderco's Byrd line. Personally, I found that Kershaw's $30-$60 offerings are very good value. Perhaps a used Skyline would do the trick for you.

Buying cheap knives isn't inherently a bad thing, just be aware that you might break and replace the same knife several times while another one maybe 2-3 times the price would easily last long enough to pass onto your grandkids.

 

[Born to Kill]

I already found out the hard way about buying cheap swords...

And yes, I've seen the famous video of dude banging the sword on the counter, breaking it, and stabbing himself in the gut with it.

But my experience came during a move. One home to another...had my huge box of swords ready for transport...

Now, normally when movers see my blade collection, I get compliments, oohs and aahs.

This time, however, the movers clowned my swords. I was astonished, as I'd paid over a 100 for a couple of them.

The movers informed me they were fake, worthless as a real sword. Stainless steel...which I didn't think was a big deal, it's stamped on the frickin blade. Stainless steel is good, right? Wrong! For a sword, at least. They introduced me to the term, "battle ready".

When the move was done, I felt deflated, so depressed...literally years of collecting, years of thinking I had authentic weaponry...dashed to bits in a matter of seconds. Blah. I still have those swords, but began a search for "battle ready" swords and axes. I learned the two battle axes I owned were also cheap pieces by actually breaking one battle axe over an old VCR I took into the garage for just such a test. After learning my swords were bogus, I wanted to see if the axes were too. They were. Upon impact with the VCR...FIRST impact, the axe head turned into a projectile and bounced off the garage wall...if the wall had been a person, I'm not saying they'd have been killed...but a definite OUCH and stitches would have been required.

So...there's that...I know better than to buy swords from Cutlery Corner...and I've grown to be wary of the term "battle ready" as many items listed this way are absolutely NOT!

I have a couple of real swords now...one Mushashi and another Mushi...I realize they aren't top of the line, probably below it...only paid 50.00 each at Trader's Village...but they're carbon steel...I can FEEL the huge difference between those and the stainless fakes I had. These are heavy...very solid blades...bloodlines, armor piercing points...

I know better are out there but these make me happy for now.

 

[seelow123]

Frost sucks.......

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Nothing good can be gotten off the Frost tv show. If you are intrigued by the knife tv shows, check out Smokey Mountain Knife Work's tv show.

 

[Noctis3880]

I already found out the hard way about buying cheap swords...

And yes, I've seen the famous video of dude banging the sword on the counter, breaking it, and stabbing himself in the gut with it.

But my experience came during a move. One home to another...had my huge box of swords ready for transport...

Now, normally when movers see my blade collection, I get compliments, oohs and aahs.

This time, however, the movers clowned my swords. I was astonished, as I'd paid over a 100 for a couple of them.

The movers informed me they were fake, worthless as a real sword. Stainless steel...which I didn't think was a big deal, it's stamped on the frickin blade. Stainless steel is good, right? Wrong! For a sword, at least. They introduced me to the term, "battle ready".

When the move was done, I felt deflated, so depressed...literally years of collecting, years of thinking I had authentic weaponry...dashed to bits in a matter of seconds. Blah. I still have those swords, but began a search for "battle ready" swords and axes. I learned the two battle axes I owned were also cheap pieces by actually breaking one battle axe over an old VCR I took into the garage for just such a test. After learning my swords were bogus, I wanted to see if the axes were too. They were. Upon impact with the VCR...FIRST impact, the axe head turned into a projectile and bounced off the garage wall...if the wall had been a person, I'm not saying they'd have been killed...but a definite OUCH and stitches would have been required.

So...there's that...I know better than to buy swords from Cutlery Corner...and I've grown to be wary of the term "battle ready" as many items listed this way are absolutely NOT!

I have a couple of real swords now...one Mushashi and another Mushi...I realize they aren't top of the line, probably below it...only paid 50.00 each at Trader's Village...but they're carbon steel...I can FEEL the huge difference between those and the stainless fakes I had. These are heavy...very solid blades...bloodlines, armor piercing points...

I know better are out there but these make me happy for now.

Over $100 each? I feel sorry for you. $200 could buy you a rather sturdy katana that would be truly "battle ready" and are typically bought for cutting mats in kendo IIRC. $100 would get you a Hanwei Tactical Wakizashi also good for the same purpose, but not really put together in the classic style and has a crappier sheath, but I took a few whacks at my papaya tree with the thing and only had a rolled edge here and there.

Honestly, I think Cold Steel has a monopoly on cheap medieval weapons that can take a beating. Their pricier products aren't as impressive however, which is ironic in many ways.

Name brand doesn't necessarily mean expensive cutlery. We're not talking about Sony here.

Mora = $9-$16 each
Kershaw = $30-$60 each(not their full selection, but this price range is what they're focused on)

You don't have to buy them all at once. Maybe one Mora from one paycheck and a Kershaw from two. Besides, I think a Mora, a Kershaw Skyline, and a Ka-Bar would cover most of the tasks you need from a knife, and all 3 would be under or at $100. Eat nothing but cheap chicken pasta for yourself for a week or two and you could afford it.

 

[Born to Kill]

At the time I spent a hundred a pop on stainless swords...it was probably...oh...

Early 90's. Somewhere around there. Just under 20 years ago...

That's just the price they were at the time...at most every place I shopped...
For some reason, those stainless swords were very popular back then.

I guess alot of ignorance is to be blamed...the lack of a real, fast flowing internet full of information.
I mean, the net was around, but it was dial-up...mega slow...barely usable for porn.
Ah, the memories of waiting forever for a pic to upload!

 

[Hiker Boy]

I bought this folder, which is made by Frost Cutlery, this past summer in Maui. The blade appears to be made of cheap Chinese 440 steel but I only bought it because of the scrimshaw artwork on the handle. I think Frost must send blanks to this artist in Hawaii.

The handle is antler material of some sort.

 

[like em sharp]

Forget Frost, forget Cutlery Corner. There are good knives that can be had new in the $5-$15 range from Mora, Opinel, Okapi, Enlan, Sanrenmu, Buck, Kershaw, CRKT, Byrd... so many options can be found.

 

[lava_lamp]

I used to turn the show on in the background on Friday or Saturday late nights when I was on my laptop. It's kinda fascinating. Never bought anything, though. Only very occasionally do they seem to offer anything but junk.

 

[unit]

I occasionally watch the show just to bask in the enthusiasm those guys have for EVERY SINGLE knife they show. Part of me hopes I will be lucky enough to catch another foolish demonstration leading to a catastrophic blade failure and possibly an injury.

[video=youtube_share;wWLYxlqc3gQ]http://youtu.be/wWLYxlqc3gQ[/video]