I was afraid this would happen with the new steels CS is using...

[RevDevil]

Yeah, I knew they would be available for much less than retail. Still about $30 more than the AUS 8 version. I need to try one out so I can make a more informed decision about the change.

CTS-XHP is a vast improvement over AUS8. The price is bound to change, I for one am very glad to see the upgraded steel, I love XHP. Easy to sharpen and take a crazy sharp edge and holds it for a long time.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

CTS-XHP is a vast improvement over AUS8. The price is bound to change, I for one am very glad to see the upgraded steel, I love XHP. Easy to sharpen and take a crazy sharp edge and holds it for a long time.

Yup. Part of my excitement about this move is the fact that XHP remains one of my favorite steels for everyday cutting.

 

[oXObsidianXo]

Again, not sure where the hell you get your prices from upnorth. But, I just check the W&W website, and the CTS-XHP 3" Holout is $99.48 CDN. So that is very reasonable in my opinion and not anywhere near overpriced.

 

[Bushido185]

CTS-XHP is a vast improvement over AUS8. The price is bound to change, I for one am very glad to see the upgraded steel, I love XHP. Easy to sharpen and take a crazy sharp edge and holds it for a long time.

Hey Rev, which knives do you have with the CTS-XHP steel? Your comment definitely has me wanting to try it out but I'm still undecided on which blade to get.

 

[RevDevil]

Hey Rev, which knives do you have with the CTS-XHP steel? Your comment definitely has me wanting to try it out but I'm still undecided on which blade to get.

None of the COld Steel lineup yet, I am waiting on the Recon 1 plain edge. But I have some Spyderco and Hinderer knives with XHP and it lives up to its reputation as being a really good all around steel. In my opinion it is much better than D2 or CPM-D2 which is its closest equivalent. I have been looking at various models and I am also happy to have seen that more and more models were going to get the upgrade. Triad lock with XHP is one of the best things to happen. I love the Triad lock, my custom AD10 is literally one of the best knives I have ever handled.

 

[Sosa]

Perhaps they will release a kudu in AUS8

 

[Buffalohump]

I am seeing a number of the AUS8 models on sale at the moment so those of you who like the steel and want to score some bargains have plenty to choose from.

The sooner you get them bought, the sooner they can stock the new stuff so have at it!

 

[DShiflet]

I said that I had sticker shock with this vendor.

Find a better vendor mate, cause I'm looking at multiple vendor prices and not ONE SINGLE ONE of the upgraded models is anywhere near double the price of the original. So apparently you're shopping at a crap vendor, shop a decent one then you won't be charged double price either.

 

[KenHash]

Pribabkly not going to win any fnends with these comments but, I can't believe I've had to read post after post of screaming excitement in anticipation of CS "upping their game" with the new steels for the last couple of months and now that it's happening the reality is setting in that this "upgrade" isn't going to be free. It's costing CS an arm and a leg make these changes and they need to recoup it somehow. As to whether the new models are "overpriced", the market will determine that. If sales stall out and we see price drops, yup, they were overpriced. Until then the correct terms are "it's too expensive" or "I can't afford it". And while so many folks seem to poohpooh Aus8, Cold Steel seems to do that steel right IMHO.

 

[evltcat]

None of the COld Steel lineup yet, I am waiting on the Recon 1 plain edge. But I have some Spyderco and Hinderer knives with XHP and it lives up to its reputation as being a really good all around steel. In my opinion it is much better than D2 or CPM-D2 which is its closest equivalent. I have been looking at various models and I am also happy to have seen that more and more models were going to get the upgrade. Triad lock with XHP is one of the best things to happen. I love the Triad lock, my custom AD10 is literally one of the best knives I have ever handled.

I completely agree. I have a Hinderer in CTS-XHP and like Rev says, it takes and holds an awesome edge! I just can't wait to get my grubby claws on the Max-4 and the SWIFT-1 in CTS-XHP!!! :thumbup:

 

[Larry Turko]

CTS-XHP is a vast improvement over AUS8. The price is bound to change, I for one am very glad to see the upgraded steel, I love XHP. Easy to sharpen and take a crazy sharp edge and holds it for a long time.

Aus 8 is also easy to sharpen and I would be very surprised if it couldn't take as good an edge as the "crazy sharp" XHP. Perhaps XHP holds an edge for longer but with a steel like Aus 8, which is easy to sharpen, who cares? So what really makes XHwhatever such a "vast improvement"? And the improvement would indeed have to be vast to justify a 1/3rd increase in price.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Aus 8 is also easy to sharpen and I would be very surprised if it couldn't take as good an edge as the "crazy sharp" XHP. Perhaps XHP holds an edge for longer but with a steel like Aus 8, which is easy to sharpen, who cares? So what really makes XHwhatever such a "vast improvement"? And the improvement would indeed have to be vast to justify a 1/3rd increase in price.

XHP is just as easy to sharpen and greater edge retention greatly extends the usable life of the blade. Throw in around double the transverse toughness and significantly improved corrosion resistance and you have a stronger knife that will hold an edge better and rust less. That fits pretty well into the realm of vast improvement.

 

[Bushido185]

None of the COld Steel lineup yet, I am waiting on the Recon 1 plain edge. But I have some Spyderco and Hinderer knives with XHP and it lives up to its reputation as being a really good all around steel. In my opinion it is much better than D2 or CPM-D2 which is its closest equivalent. I have been looking at various models and I am also happy to have seen that more and more models were going to get the upgrade. Triad lock with XHP is one of the best things to happen. I love the Triad lock, my custom AD10 is literally one of the best knives I have ever handled.

I've been looking at the new Recon 1 too. The AUS 8 model can be had for $50-60 so it will be interesting to see the XHP pricing when they hit the stores.

 

[Neomentat]

CTS-XHP is great and all, but it doesn't justify the price jump.

Street price on Aus8 American Lawman was right around $50 from numerous vendors,

Now by upgrading the steel, it's street price is now $120 from a certain headquarter that sell blades.


That's a $70 price jump for a simple steel upgrade, and more than twice the previous price. I honestly don't think I see any value here nor how such a small piece of steel would cost so much more, no way.

 

[UCPOPO]

CTS-XHP is great and all, but it doesn't justify the price jump.

Street price on Aus8 American Lawman was right around $50 from numerous vendors,

Now by upgrading the steel, it's street price is now $120 from a certain headquarter that sell blades.


That's a $70 price jump for a simple steel upgrade, and more than twice the previous price. I honestly don't think I see any value here nor how such a small piece of steel would cost so much more, no way.

I've seen the CTS-XHP American Lawman preorder priced for $94 with free shipping. The same dealer sold the AUS8 model for $67.

 

[UCPOPO]

I've been looking at the new Recon 1 too. The AUS 8 model can be had for $50-60 so it will be interesting to see the XHP pricing when they hit the stores.

I've seen the CTS-XHP Recon 1 at a preorder price of $99 with free shipping.

 

[PHP87]

The good news is that there should be some close out sales on AUS-8A knives.

When CS stopped making the Vaquero 4" Serrated, I got one on close out for $20.00

It remains my favorite CS knife -- I wish I bought 3 or 4 of them at that price.

I still see them on ebay and might pick up another one. I also have one in PE

I've been hoping for a steel upgrade for some time, but didn't expect a super steel like CTS XHP.

I was thinking of something like 440C, VG1, VG10 or maybe 9Cr18MoV.
I think they should also continue selling their more popular models in both AUS8-A and in CTS XHP

My next purchase will be the Black Talon II and at about $110 on the secondary market, it's a bargain.
Compare it to the Spyderco Civi which sells for about $150 and the Black Talon looks like it will be a better knife at a better price.

It will also be my next CS purchase and I'll do a comparison to the Civi I bought last year.

AUS8-A is a serviceable steel, but I wanted a better steel and am willing to pay more for it.
The downside is that I'll be buying less knives.

 

[Bushido185]

CTS-XHP is great and all, but it doesn't justify the price jump.

Street price on Aus8 American Lawman was right around $50 from numerous vendors,

Now by upgrading the steel, it's street price is now $120 from a certain headquarter that sell blades.


That's a $70 price jump for a simple steel upgrade, and more than twice the previous price. I honestly don't think I see any value here nor how such a small piece of steel would cost so much more, no way.

Absolutely ridiculous! I agree, there is no way CTS-XHP is worth that kind of price increase on the Lawman. At least from what I have read so far. I'll try out the steel but it won't be on the Lawman lol.

I've seen the CTS-XHP Recon 1 at a preorder price of $99 with free shipping.

If you are talking about the 4" version that seems much more reasonable. Really like the AUS8 model I have but it has seen better days and could use an upgrade, especially at that price.

 

[upnorth]

Street prices here seem to be a 40-50% jump for XHP, not nearly double the price. Considering you're increasing the wear resistance, and therefore the life of the blade, by at least 50% and getting a significant increase in lateral toughness and corrosion resistance as well, I'd say that's really a bargain.

Now not everyone will need/want those attributes, so I completely understand being unhappy with the price increase, but when the price increase falls in line with the performance increase I have a hard time with labeling it overpriced.

I really think you have to compare apples to apples in terms of pricing and, in this case, that means knives with similar materials and the XHP models look to be very, very competitive in that market segment. Right now for $90-100 you can get a Blur in Elmax, a Manix 2 in S30V or a Recon 1 in XHP. The Recon may or may not be the best buy of the three, as that will depend on individual needs, but it's sure as heck earned a place in the conversation.

Valid points buddy. I expected, and had no problem with, say even a 50% mark up, but some of what I have seen sent me for a loop. I suppose that when the dust settles all will be well. I have always been a real Cold Steel fan, even years back when the regular forums spewed pure hate against the company. Maybe It's a good thing that vendors know that we aren't willing to be taken for a ride. If the vendors up here are scalping I'll just order from the U.S., as many here already do.

 

[powernoodle]

When using AUS-8A, "value" was a major impetus for buying Cold Steel knives. A large Recon 1 with AUS-8A for $49 shipped is a good value. Very good. But $99 for the same knife with "better" steel at a major vendor online? Give me a break. [Both versions are available at those prices right now online, so I'm not making this up]. At a minimum, Cold Steel should offer both flavors. What a sad day indeed it will be when an XL Tanto Voyager in AUS-8A - now available online for $51.95 - disappears and is replaced with an identical knife in XHP costing maybe twice as much.

Now that Cold Steel seems to be abandoning the value factor, I'm probably done with them. Its a shame. At $49, Cold Steel had little or no real competition. At $99, Cold Steel is now just one of many knives competing for my limited knife budget. As long as people keep saying they are "happy" with higher prices, vendors will keep jacking the MSRP. But just as when Benchmade cranked their MSPR, sometimes we just have to vote with our credit cards say "no thanks" to ever increasing prices.

Edit: hey, guess what I just found? A mini Recon 1 in XHP at a major knife vendor we all know for "only" $91.95. Shipping not included. Welcome to the new Cold Steel.