I Just Got a CS Rajah II

darthsoaker said:
Then you would be making a case for safety from accidental release, not lock strength. But wouldn't you be just as likely to press the lock release on a lockback?
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Absolutely not. And I certainly wouldn't be likely to release my grip on a framelock. The reason liner locks came into disrepute is partly because they can slip even with (or because of) a tight "white-knuckled" grip on the release.

I always try to visualize folders as, at best, a fixed blade with a 1 inch tang. Virtually every Bladeforums member would scream in disgust at FB with a 1 inch tang, insisting that it isn't strong enough.
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The whole idea of a lock on a folder is to extend the blade tang by connecting it to the handle. The strength of that connected tang is determined by the strength of the lock.

Keep in mind, I said "equivalent" FB. Sure, my Spyderco Delica will stronger then many CCC hidden tang FB, but it's not a entirely fair comparison, is it?
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"Equivalent" is a good concept but I would have to evaluate it knife by knife.

While this is true for most folders we (or at least I) deal with, or sig. smaller then the Rajah. You have much more leverage on a 6 in blade then a 3in. Lock choice becomes much more important when we're dealing with larger blades.
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Rajah at 6" has a Tri-ad, Vaquero G. at 6" has a lockback, Madd Maxx at 5.5" has a framelock. Do it right and it will hold, whatever it is.
 
I still disagree about the Tri-ad lock revolutionizing the folding knife industry, but as I have class tomorrow, I don't have much time to elaborate.

Confederate said:
It also will revolutionize the folding knife industry, I believe. For the first time, folding knives can be as strong as fixed blades.
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This is the main point that I was objecting to, I don't see how one can even think a, say, BK-2 or BK-7 would fail before or at the same time as a Rajah or most any folding knife. I cannot visualize it happening, if both knives are heat treated properly. I believe that there is a reason why people test locks by applying force to the spine, while no one test a fixed blade in the same way.

The comparison is completely unfair, and if we even get into light prying or further and enter the Noss zone.....
 
There is what's called a law of diminishing return. After a certain point, strength becomes increasingly less of a factor. I doubt, for example, that the LAWKS system reaches that point, but I do think that Demco's Tri-Ad system achieves it, and I think it's currently the only system that does. Having said that, I will most likely never push a folding knife beyond its designed strength; however, the Tri-Ad system pushes the strength levels to such a level that it, for all practical purposes, rivals the strength of a fixed knife. There's a difference between "practically" and "virtually." I choose the former over the latter because I do recognize that point of diminishing marginal return.
 
In the long run the the tri-ad lock's advantage is that it does not really were out. Yes it does very well in the hanging weight tests. More important than that it just is tough. I sure there are fixed blade knives that aren't as strong , these being very low end knives. I think we all know a rajah II isn't as strong as a gurka kukri, or any other quality fixed blade.
 
Hey, Andrew, good to see you here! Lot of great comments on your design. We've had some Very strong winds come through my area, that have downed trees, tree limbs, and in general created a lot of yard waste. Gave me a chance to give my Rajah II a good workout, and I'm definitely impressed with its strength and handiness. I'll be doing a Gun & Knife Show at Heritage Hall in Lexington, KY this weekend, if anyone wants to stop by and check it out in person. Sure you'll be impressed as well.
 
The RAJAH is one of my all time favorite folding knives. I keep one in my BOB as a field knife. Also, I like the high clip placement. I prefer to carry it IWB over the kidney like I would a pistol. It makes it easy to get to. I also removed the stock thumbstud and put on a non-wavable one. I prefer that when IWB.
You just cant beat the design.
 
Gonna get myself the rajah 2 (is that the one with grivory handle?) cause it's cheaper and cause it's cheaper I won't mind 'experimenting' with it :)

Some wood chopping due and I would really like a khukri chopper to try out.
 
Most people who handle the Rajah are very impressed. It's hard to keep these in stock. Sold three of them at the show I just finished in Lexington. Guys are loving the way the blade can be deployed on the draw from pocket.
 
Well, I don't know if there's any advantage to getting the Rajah 1, except for the looks (and it does look a lot nicer). Still, if you're going to use it hardly (as opposed to hardly using it), I'd sure rather have three Rajah 2s than one Rajah 1.
 
Just got another one of these knives today, this one for my brother. It came with the following warning, which I assume is issued because of Andrew Demko's aggressive testing of the knife:
WARNING: This knife is extremely sharp. We have tried to make this knife as strong, tough and safe as possible. Please keep in mind that despite its size and weight, it is a folding knife, NOT a fixed blade and was designed for cutting and very light chopping duties. Do not use it as an axe, hatchet, cleaver, machete, screwdriver, pry bar or sword. Please do not use this folding knife as if it were a fixed blade knife that doesn't fold. Please use it only for tasks appropriate for a folding knife and we're sure it will give you many years of long, faithful service.​
I think I can confidently say that I won't use the knife as though it were a fixed blade that doesn't fold, mostly because all of my fixed blades don't fold.

Lawyers!
 
That warning has been with every one of those I've sold since last October. Nothing new.
 
Hmmmmm...the first two I got didn't have them. Then I got in two more today (as gifts) and both had the warning.

I realize that Cold Steel has to say what they said, but I also think the testing that Demko conducted clearly shows that a good knife in perfect working order will, in fact, act like a fixed knife in many ways.
 
They get criticized for the same thing on their videos. It's the old story, don't do this at home, even if we show the knives off by doing it. The warning isn't for people who use knives normally, it's for people who don't take them seriously enough.
 
I'd like to know what people are paying for the Rajah IIs. I paid about $90 (including shipping). And the price certainly takes into account the knife's inherent strength. As you stated, you can get a fixed knife that will do what the Rajah does, and at a fraction of the cost. If the Rajah is simply a folding knife and should be treated as such, why build it with a heavy, thick blade and a massive, Fort Knox-type lock? In short, the knife is obviously designed for the exact things (mostly) that the warning warns against.

From a legal standpoint, an inconsistency could be shown in the warning and Cold Steel's own marketing and, not being a lawyer, I wonder how it would play out in court. Frankly, I don't think it will ever come to that. The chances of someone slicing into a body part is far more likely than the knife failing, and that's more related to common sense.

In short, this knife isn't made for removing hangnails. I certainly don't think anyone outside of a wilderness fan would EDC it. And I can only visualize what a cop would say if he found someone carrying a Rajah on the New York or Washington, D.C., Metro.
 
Mike Sastre said:
Most people who handle the Rajah are very impressed. It's hard to keep these in stock. Sold three of them at the show I just finished in Lexington. Guys are loving the way the blade can be deployed on the draw from pocket.
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Well mine just arrived and I have to agree with you mike it's impressive and looks to be well made. It fits the hand well and balances nicely. I found it interesting that a spare pocket clip was included.
 
Spare pocket clip is for if you decide you want the clip on the handle's other side - curvature is different, so takes a different clip. Cold Steel does that on a number of their curved handles instead of locking you into having the clip on one side only.
 
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