GSM is not looking very promising so far…

Their Axes still seem fine although you probably can't go too wrong with 1055, many models discontinued and/or using cheaper steel, prices going up.

Won't be buying anymore CS products which is a shame as as they were before value for money on many of their knives was good.

Although to be honest although out of a "morbid" curiosity I do watch him I certainly wouldn't use his videos when making a choice on what to buy.
 
Do I think that Cold Steel's qc has gone down since the GSM takeover? Mostly, yes...

But having said that, I will say that imo, Joe X's videos are just for entertainment.. Sure if you were looking for a fixed blade knife as a solo peice of kit to demo houses then sure, call it a review. But for what I use most of my fixed blades for 99% of the time, this would have never happend..

Freaking pos knife, it broke after only chopping a car in half, splitting a stump, and then spine wacking it against a metal pole 700 times.. gimme a break 🤦‍♂️

I want to see Joe X slice apples and break down Amazon packages until a knife breaks, you know, the stuff that most knives actually end up getting used for..
 
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GSM is certainly soiling the Cold Steel brand name with many of their new overpriced junky products . :mad::thumbsdown:

But many of the old designs are still well made and a great bargain if you shop around .

You can buy an AD-10 with S35VN / G10 today for $99 . Great hard use folder at a rock bottom price for the quality and performance . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Last Cold Steel purchase I made was about 20 years ago (Safe Keeper). Last week I decided to try an Air Lite. I have to say that it is one of the worst purchases I have made in some time! The stop pin rattles like a snake, the lock bar sounds and feels like a creaking door, and opening it feels like I am grinding metal. Never again.
 
Corton93 said:
Idk, I think it varies alot by model, or day of the week lmao..

I've had good luck so far since the GSM takeover. Bought a 4max scout, sr1 lite, 2 ad20.5's, and a Recon.. all have been rock solid so far 🤞
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Just because they haven’t messed those knives up doesn’t mean they are not diligently working at it. At this point we don’t know what we likely to get from GSM (gas station marketing?); but, we know we will be paying more for it.

n2s
 
CDS said:
Last Cold Steel purchase I made was about 20 years ago (Safe Keeper). Last week I decided to try an Air Lite. I have to say that it is one of the worst purchases I have made in some time! The stop pin rattles like a snake, the lock bar sounds and feels like a creaking door, and opening it feels like I am grinding metal. Never again.
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Have an Air Lite with a loose stop pin too, but it's fine other than that, and rock solid when open, so doesn't bother me too much. Got it before the buyout, and it's the only knife I've ever had that happen on.
 
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DocJD said:
GSM is certainly soiling the Cold Steel brand name with many of their new overpriced junky products . :mad::thumbsdown:

But many of the old designs are still well made and a great bargain if you shop around .

You can buy an AD-10 with S35VN / G10 today for $99 . Great hard use folder at a rock bottom price for the quality and performance . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
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Yeah I’m tempted by this and an old stock Spartan. Got an AD-10 for my son and it feels really nice in hand.

jlauffer said:
Have an Air Lite with a loose stop pin too, but it's fine other than that, and rock solid when open, so doesn't bother me too much. Got it before the buyout, and it's the only knife I've ever had that happen on.
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My old medium Talwar has that rattle too although it’s not really a “user” so it doesn’t bother me too much. Eventually I’ll probably take it apart and add a little teflon tape or something to firm it up…

To me the ease of blade breakage and the clearly uncomfortable handle were the biggest disappointments. I don’t think JoeX is a methodical reviewer, but he’s entertaining to me and I feel I can still learn a good deal by watching him break stuff. :)
 
lmao, this youtuber has a serious problem... calling a knife 'sh*t' after it broke after all that stupidly extreme abuse .... I'm honestly shocked it lasted that long

I think his 'tests' are better suited for a prybar/crowbar

...sorry this guy belongs on my do-not-suggest list, pure waste of time even skipping thru that vid, I can't recover those 30 seconds of my life :(
 
jlauffer said:
Have an Air Lite with a loose stop pin too, but it's fine other than that, and rock solid when open, so doesn't bother me too much. Got it before the buyout, and it's the only knife I've ever had that happen on.
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I have an Air Lite that I bought shortly before the ownership change. It had a bit of back and forth lock rock. My first and only Cold Steel out of about 16-20 knives with the Triad lock that had this problem. I disassembled the knife but could not adjust the fittings to correct this. I continued to use it as a worker, and the lock rock went away. Maybe self adjustment with use. I ve thinned the edge a bit and now this is one of my main weekend edc knives. If it is ever offered in s35vn steel, watch out.
 
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