GSM reveals future plans for Cold Steel - 2021 and beyond

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Your Name Goes Here

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Interesting article at Knife News dot com

New Cold Steel Owners GSM Outdoors Talk Acquisition, Future
December 23, 2020

https://knifenews.com/new-cold-steel-owners-gsm-outdoors-talk-acquisition-future/

Highlights:
  • Doug Mann, Vice President of Product Development & Brand Management at GSM Outdoors
  • "Employment offers were extended to several people, some accepted while others did not"
  • "both Thompson and Andrew Demko are staying with the company. “Lynn Thompson is still on board and is currently working to finalize the 2021 new items and will be working with our team on new designs for the future,” Mann says. “Andrew Demko will continue to do what he has done for Cold Steel for years by bringing cutting edge knife designs to the table. More than 20 new products were in the pipeline prior to the sale, and those are still expected to be revealed in the coming months"
  • “It’s important to note that there are no plans to change the steels used in the knives,” Mann responds. “We are committed to maintaining the level of quality and performance that Cold Steel’s hard-earned reputation was built upon”
  • “There are no plans to discontinue or halt production of any models at this time,” Mann says. “That being said, Lynn opted to keep some of the niche categories for himself such as blowguns and spears, hence why they are notably absent on the new Cold Steel website”
To good to be true ? Let's check back Christmas 2024
 
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I have been a cold steel fan since the early 90's. I have purchased many blades over the years and put them through the test. (Cleared an entire acre of weeds with an emperor katana..no kidding.) Huge fan, but not so much lately.
Gsm I don't know who you are, but for the first time in cs history you broke me. I ordered a wakasashi trainer for my 8yr old son, graduating his first bushido class. It was a Christmas present due dec 2nd. Not only did i wait 3 days to get through, they didnt even have my order in the computer. After i provided reciept and proof money was exchanged, I am still waiting all month and no call back. gsm you ruined it for me. ...p.s. I just bought the last immortal ctx, and you screw me with a trainer,..Bad form.
 
Your Name Goes Here said:
  • “There are no plans to discontinue or halt production of any models at this time,” Mann says. “That being said, Lynn opted to keep some of the niche categories for himself such as blowguns and spears, hence why they are notably absent on the new Cold Steel website”
Click to expand...

I can only wonder what this means?
 
Blue Sky said:
I can only wonder what this means?
Click to expand...
I take it to mean a couple of things. GSM is going to eventually discontinue certain models in the future. Just like CS did. Under CS, models were discontinued approximately every 3 to 5 years on a lot of older models.

What GSM means by "Lynn opted to keep some of the niche categories for himself" ? Before the sale to GSM, cold steel employees said there was going to be (time frame to be determined, but not soon) a website for Lynn to sell some of his private collection. Is this going to still happen ? Who knows.

Maybe it means that Lynn, on his future website, is going to also sell blowguns and spears ?

Or maybe Lynn kept every single blowgun and spear all for himself : )

Going to be fun to find out !
 
Im glad they are trimming down the fringe item. Im sure i'll get bashed for it, but CS needs to focus on producing more of what the market needs to be successful.
 
insta9ves said:
Im glad they are trimming down the fringe item. Im sure i'll get bashed for it, but CS needs to focus on producing more of what the market needs to be successful.
Click to expand...

Neat! So what else did you glean from looking over their books and business strategy?

I'm not bashing your comment, but I think conflating the trimming of items you don't like with business success is a bit of a stretch. I will concede that shipping square boxes of 4" folders is more economical than bulky novelty items.

Here's my guess: Cold Steel sells and makes a good bundle on spears, blow guns, tomahawks, and polymer non returning boomerangs. Why else would LT sell them for all these years? But that's just the thing, HE sold them. Who would have bought all that goofy stuff without Lynn going ballistic on whole hogs, paper terrorist heads, and meat boots? The showmanship is what inspired people to decide they NEEDED those things. My guess is that GSM is going to take CS in a more generic/serious direction that will allow it to fit into their corporate model like a good little soldier.

Personally, I dont see much more I will be purchasing from Cold Steel if they don't continue carrying the special items. I was a customer of their big and loud and ridiculous. But to each his own, of course.
 
Your Name Goes Here said:
  • “There are no plans to discontinue or halt production of any models at this time,” Mann says. “That being said, Lynn opted to keep some of the niche categories for himself such as blowguns and spears, hence why they are notably absent on the new Cold Steel website”
Click to expand...

Lynn Thompson's Special Projects - Version 2021.

I really hope something like that happens, the old style "Special Projects" where Lynn would find some closeout he liked, or had a few runs of this or that made was very neat.
 
I was wondering why the spears, blowguns, and medieval stuff was gone from the website.
I wonder what brand name those products will have now, since they are not Cold Steel "production" anymore.
Also wonder when Mr. Thompson will start selling them direct to the public, or if they are going to be distributor/dealer items only.
 
afishhunter said:
I was wondering why the spears, blowguns, and medieval stuff was gone from the website.
I wonder what brand name those products will have now, since they are not Cold Steel "production" anymore.
Also wonder when Mr. Thompson will start selling them direct to the public, or if they are going to be distributor/dealer items only.
Click to expand...

It's possible that these items simply do not fit into the product line that the new owner wants. It sounds like they want a knife company and they were not interested in these products for distribution.

They probably excluded these items from the sale and LT has decided to set up his own direct sale for them. Lets be honest into todays world with online marketing it's a simple and inexpensive thing to do.
 
LT is a world renowned spear and exotic weapon hunter. I suspect that these exotic hunting weapons were only in the CS lineup because LT wanted them there to promote his hobby and passion. I think he wanted to ensure that people could buy a hunting spear at an affordable price, and he wants to make sure that this continues.

Note that LT grew up very poor, in Brazil I believe, and ensuring regular people could afford great tools and weapons has ALWAYS been a driving passion for him. He is a true entrepreneurial genius and self made man. He has had to fight his way up from real poverty, which is partly why he was so aggressive with his competitors. The dude is a warrior.

Anyway, I imagine GSM was more than happy to let him continue with this as it doesn't hurt them in any way. Keeps LT happy, keeps their spear customers happy, and probably doesn't hurt their bottom line in the slightest.

Just my theory.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Neat! So what else did you glean from looking over their books and business strategy?

I'm not bashing your comment, but I think conflating the trimming of items you don't like with business success is a bit of a stretch. I will concede that shipping square boxes of 4" folders is more economical than bulky novelty items.

Here's my guess: Cold Steel sells and makes a good bundle on spears, blow guns, tomahawks, and polymer non returning boomerangs. Why else would LT sell them for all these years? But that's just the thing, HE sold them. Who would have bought all that goofy stuff without Lynn going ballistic on whole hogs, paper terrorist heads, and meat boots? The showmanship is what inspired people to decide they NEEDED those things. My guess is that GSM is going to take CS in a more generic/serious direction that will allow it to fit into their corporate model like a good little soldier.

Personally, I dont see much more I will be purchasing from Cold Steel if they don't continue carrying the special items. I was a customer of their big and loud and ridiculous. But to each his own, of course.
Click to expand...
Looks like i hit a nerve. Not gonna argue with you man. Buy what you like, YOLO.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Neat! So what else did you glean from looking over their books and business strategy?

I'm not bashing your comment, but I think conflating the trimming of items you don't like with business success is a bit of a stretch. I will concede that shipping square boxes of 4" folders is more economical than bulky novelty items.

Here's my guess: Cold Steel sells and makes a good bundle on spears, blow guns, tomahawks, and polymer non returning boomerangs. Why else would LT sell them for all these years? But that's just the thing, HE sold them. Who would have bought all that goofy stuff without Lynn going ballistic on whole hogs, paper terrorist heads, and meat boots? The showmanship is what inspired people to decide they NEEDED those things. My guess is that GSM is going to take CS in a more generic/serious direction that will allow it to fit into their corporate model like a good little soldier.

Personally, I dont see much more I will be purchasing from Cold Steel if they don't continue carrying the special items. I was a customer of their big and loud and ridiculous. But to each his own, of course.
Click to expand...

This doesn't hurt anyone, LT is going to make the discontinued CS products on the side, while CS continues making knives in decent to good steels. I'm happy to hear this news. And they'll probably still have their big machete line and some other goofy stuff. And if they don't LT will. Either way, as long as the company is in good hands, I hope LT is able to relax and enjoy his ranch and stuff more.
 
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