I Just Got a CS Rajah II

JTR357 said:
I like it...couple questions,if you don't mind.

1.I've noticed most CS products have a real stiff opening action(I've owned several).Is that so with this one?
2.Is it a hollow grind,flat grind or other?
3.Is it a PITA to sharpen like most recurves(for me anyway:o)?

I wish the pocket clip was a little higher for better conceal-ability.That's about it.Great price tag too!:thumbup:

Thanks:)
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1. Outta the box (I bought an American Lawman, Black Rhino and a Rajah 1 in one shopping spree!) the opening action differs.

Unlike what Esav said I'm focusing on the stiffness due to the lockbar putting pressure on the blade. Weirdly enough CS uses very different spring for each folder.

Rajah 1 is medium stiff to open and eases in time (uses a large spring). The Black Rhino is stiff and becomes too easy (uses a too thin spring which irritates me). The American Lawman is perfect and still is (I think due to length of lockbar).

There is an initial stiffness due to the friction of the lockbar to the blade (rounded part where bar touches when folder is opening/closing). Repeated opening/closing smoothens the friction interface and also enables the lockbar to set in deeper when open.

2. Flat for Rajah, hollow for Black Rhino and not-so-hollow hollow for the American Lawman.

3. Go slow and use less pressure when sharpening. This will give you more control. Spydie Sharpmaker eats these profiles for tea.

Yo man, fully agree with the pocket clip thing. Too standing out you know what I mean. An inch higher would be nicer but like Esav says, this is not a concealed type folder for EDC. Alternatively try buying Dockers trousers that have concealed zipper portions beside the knees. I feel they are very suitable. I carry my Ti-lite 6 incher in them and they are confortable...
 
JTR,

If you check out one of the youtube vids for the Rajah II, there's one where a guy is cutting water bottles with a Rajah II and an Angus Trim sword.

Aside from the fun of watching 2L bottles slice in two, I noticed he carried his Rajah II IWB and used the Demko-thingy to open the blade with his waistband.
 
Thom,Yea I watched that one too.It got kinda boring after the 5th or 6th bottle.He should've mixed it up with some dangling rope or even better,some hanging meat!
 
I've been practicing the wave with my Spyderco Delica Wave (about the same thing as a Rajah II :rolleyes: ) and find the technique works more consistantly by turning the blade-side slightly out and away from the body. With the turn, it's slightly safer, without the turn, the appendix is safe, but the leg could get ripped open by the tip.
 
Too many USER positive comments on the lock and knife as a whole for the smoke blowers to compete. Spartan looks like another winner!
 
Mike,

Are you going to try a Southern Comfort for the CS Gurka Khukuri? I can envision the carriage, but not the quick access.
 
Thom,

The ones I did for Lynn were for the #35LTC in Carbon V - thinner and lighter than the Gurkha - and they were set up for concealed carry. I did get the usual "no rattle" lock-up and smooth easy draw from concealment, but it was "interesting" to do. Translate that PITA. One could be done for the Gurkha, but in addition to the extra weight, you've got a little more length and more angle to the blade, so your drawstroke will be different, making it not as practical for concealed carry. LTC actually worked pretty well as a concealment piece.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Remember that Cold Steel doesn't buy steel or handle materials or make the knives themselves. They contract with manufacturers to make knives out of available materials in their own countries.
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Very true. Still, most Cold Steel knives I've bought and used seem to be of consistently good construction and workmanship. You've got companies like Smith & Wesson that put their names on knives of varying quality (some good, some bad and some awful). And others, like Spyderco (as you noted), which seem to have excellent oversight. CS also seems to be in this category.

CRKT was making knives in the U.S. with blade steel that wasn't nearly as consistently good as Cold Steel's. Given the choice of a Cold Steel AUS8 blade and a CRKT AUS8 blade, I'd take the Cold Steel any day. I have some good CRKT knives that I'm very fond of, but I like CS's strength and steel quality better overall. Everyone gets a rotten apple every now and then, but aside from the hype, I've had great luck with the company.
 
I'm not commenting on the quality, only on the unlikelihood of them changing to steels not produced in the country that's making the particular knife.
 
maybe i'm a throwback or something but i would rather have AUS8A over something like S30V. i don't see much of a performance increase, just a price increase.
 
crossada said:
maybe i'm a throwback or something but i would rather have AUS8A over something like S30V. i don't see much of a performance increase, just a price increase.
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I can get AUS8A super,scary sharp as opposed to S30V.However S30V does hold an edge a lot longer than AUS8A,so that's the main reason I prefer it.I agree that it shouldn't be 2 or 3 times as much cost,from a performance view.I'm no metalurgist though.There's a lot more time & work involved in producing these CPM steels,so the cost is more than likely justified.
 
I just read that the Rajah II had a hollow grind.Is this a misprint?Why the heck would they put a hollow grind(weakest edge IMO) on what is mostly considered a chopper?!:confused:
 
Thanks, Mike!

For reasons of mental laziness, it didn't occur to me that different CS khuks would have different dimensions.

Crossada,

I choose AUS-8A over S30V, too.

JTR357,

S30V is more complicated to make, but that's only part of the reason for the greater expense. Labor in China and Taiwan (and possibly Japan) costs less than labor in the USA and shaping S30V is very labor intensive. Being much more wear-resistant than AUS-8A, it takes more time to cut and shape and more materials to cut and shape. More time plus higher labor rates. And we're not even talking about the heat-treatment. :eek: Makes a $40 Spyderco Native a modern miracle.

But let's not speak of this S30V (I put this steel on ignore!), let's hear more about the Rajah II.
 
thombrogan said:
Thanks, Mike!

For reasons of mental laziness, it didn't occur to me that different CS khuks would have different dimensions.

Crossada,

I choose AUS-8A over S30V, too.

JTR357,

S30V is more complicated to make, but that's only part of the reason for the greater expense. Labor in China and Taiwan (and possibly Japan) costs less than labor in the USA and shaping S30V is very labor intensive. Being much more wear-resistant than AUS-8A, it takes more time to cut and shape and more materials to cut and shape. More time plus higher labor rates. And we're not even talking about the heat-treatment. :eek: Makes a $40 Spyderco Native a modern miracle.

But let's not speak of this S30V (I put this steel on ignore!), let's hear more about the Rajah II.
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Thanks Thom,I'm well aware of differences of the cost of labor;et al between the east & the west(not trying to be a smart a$$;))I was just stating my opinion/experiences regarding the two steels as mentioned by crossada.BTW I like AUS8.I can get it sharper than any other steel I have sharpened(not much:o).I do not like AUS4 or AUS6(too darn soft!):barf:(they should be taken off any respectable companies steel options IMHO)

You're right though this isn't about S30V & AUS8:foot:

As far as the Rajah II goes,I'm a little torn about getting one.

Pros-Price:thumbup:,Superman strong lock!:D,Very fine craftsmanship overall,I suppose I could use it for gardening,but still prefer a FB for that.

Cons-Practicality(what on earth would I use this for,living where I live?),The thing is HUGE!It would probably just lay around the house.I couldn't EDC it in Liberal Jersey.:grumpy:
 
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I haven't bought an AUS 8 knife since my last CRKT (two years or more now) but I will still buy a Rajah II soon. And I'm really not into that sort of thing. I like EDC's somewhere between a tactical and a gentleman's carry.

I think the Rajah II would make an awesome additon to my daily carry BOB

Holy Moly! I'm actually going to buy a CS! Never thought it would happen :)
 
I remember when handguns first began to appear in stainless steel. There was a lot of talk about how difficult it was to work and how it would gaul. The first autoloaders were terriby expensive and required special oils and lubes, and revolvers also had problems, but all the production problems were eventually solved and now it's easy to find good, working firearms made of stainless steel, and they're usually better than their blued couterparts. Perhaps some day all blades will be premium, who knows?
 
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