Impressed With My First ColdSteel!

Vanguard41xx

Vanguard41xx

Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
3,135
Ordered a Mini Tuff Lite and it came today. I was never a fan of Cold Steel's designs (other than a few fixed blades and folders) but this is great. It came surprisingly sharp and I am impressed with the tri-ad lock. I'll post some pictures in the morning.
 
Folks make fun of their promotional videos where they assault bags of meat, or their blow guns and other toys, but they make a seriously solid piece of knife for a reasonable price.
 
I still dig Cold Steel even though I sport other higher end brands now. I recently bagged a Rajah 3 as a back up SD blade and it's a great piece of steel and hella tough!
 
Not too long ago I purchased my first CS, a Voyager XL clip point. Since then I have bought 2 Vaquero Grandes (sold for profit), a Rajah II, and a Recon 1. I'm now waiting for my trade of an AK47!
 
As long as you can get by the crap they get as a company, as well as Lynn's booty shorts in the vids, they're great knives :D
 
Vanguard41xx said:
Ordered a Mini Tuff Lite and it came today. I was never a fan of Cold Steel's designs (other than a few fixed blades and folders) but this is great. It came surprisingly sharp and I am impressed with the tri-ad lock. I'll post some pictures in the morning.
Click to expand...

Same experience--the Mini Tuff Lite was my first Cold Steel knife. I have the Hold Out III as well now and I'm looking forward to the Mackinac Hunter series.
 
I've really been impressed by Cold Steel's folder lineup they offer some serious foldes at reasonable prices also they are the only production knives to feature the Triad-lock all in all I'd say they have overcome the negative attention from recent years.
 
I like 'em. I gotta try the newer Voyager XL one of these days. I really liked the older version.
 
Cold Steel put's out inconsistently great knives, this "American Lawman" is a perfect example of what they are capable of, it's not the newer "all G10" version. Rather, this is one of the early AL folders that came properly dressed with stainless liners, which add important heft, and rigidity to the knife frame, and their beefed up triad lock. For sixty bucks, it was one of the best deals to be had on a folding knife. The newer version to put it plainly, sucks, and I'd never buy one...

036.jpg
 
Finarfin said:
Cold Steel put's out inconsistently great knives, this "American Lawman" is a perfect example of what they are capable of, it's not the newer "all G10" version. Rather, this is one of the early AL folders that came properly dressed with stainless liners, which add important heft, and rigidity to the knife frame, and their beefed up triad lock. For sixty bucks, it was one of the best deals to be had on a folding knife. The newer version to put it plainly, sucks, and I'd never buy one...

View attachment 253727
Click to expand...
How do you know it sucks!? Psychic??
 
Finarfin said:
The newer version to put it plainly, sucks, and I'd never buy one...
Click to expand...

Well I have both versions and I can say from EXPERIENCE that the newer version does not suck. It is lighter and smoother operating than the older version and probably about as strong! They are all awesome knives for the money!
 
vwb563 said:
Well I have both versions and I can say from EXPERIENCE that the newer version does not suck. It is lighter and smoother operating than the older version and probably about as strong! They are all awesome knives for the money!
Click to expand...

Can you? Lighter means "cheaper & weaker!" And "uhh" I have no idea how you have concluded that the current rendition happens to be smoother, what it is, is that the steel liner version blade will have little to no side to side wobble due to the inclusion of the liners. it's stiffer when new, for obvious reasons, once worked in a bit, the liner version is always superior to "linerless" versions, you say you've both, I do too, the cheap linerless Lawman has significant wobble in it's blade, tighten that pivot screw and you'll render the motion stiff, so you're stuck, either it's loose, and "apparently smoother, or it's not. Cold Steel sells these cheapened models as being "lighter" because their trying to turn their cost cutting into a positive marketing ploy. I'll pass...
 
Last edited:
Finarfin said:
Can you? Lighter means "cheaper & weaker!" And "uhh" I have no idea how you have concluded that the current rendition happens to be smoother, what it is, is that the steel liner version blade will have little to no side to side wobble due to the inclusion of the liners. it's stiffer when new, for obvious reasons, once worked in a bit, the liner version is always superior to "linerless" versions, you say you've both, I do too, the cheap linerless Lawman has significant wobble in it's blade, tighten that pivot screw and you'll render the motion stiff, so you're stuck, either it's loose, and "apparently smoother, or it's not. Cold Steel sells these cheapened models as being "lighter" because their trying to turn their cost cutting into a positive marketing ploy. I'll pass...
Click to expand...

Dude, there is no need for the hostility. He has a different opninion, and so do you. That's all. :)
 
Finarfin said:
Can you? Lighter means "cheaper & weaker!" And "uhh" I have no idea how you have concluded that the current rendition happens to be smoother, what it is, is that the steel liner version blade will have little to no side to side wobble due to the inclusion of the liners. it's stiffer when new, for obvious reasons, once worked in a bit, the liner version is always superior to "linerless" versions, you say you've both, I do too, the cheap linerless Lawman has significant wobble in it's blade, tighten that pivot screw and you'll render the motion stiff, so you're stuck, either it's loose, and "apparently smoother, or it's not. Cold Steel sells these cheapened models as being "lighter" because their trying to turn their cost cutting into a positive marketing ploy. I'll pass...
Click to expand...

Maybe you got a lemon?

I have the "new" version and it's solid - no side-to-side wobble, nothing, nada, nista, nyet. Nothing. When the blade is locked up, it doesn't move.
 
I purchased a Mini Tuff Lite and am quite impressed with it. It has a nearly four finger grip on a very small knife.

Cold Steel is coming out with a bigger version for 2012.

Tom
 
Some folks, (and I'm pretty sure they know who they are), need to lighten up some and learn to express themselves on these forums without being overly caustic and abrasive toward their fellow members. Failure to do so will result in a rap on the knuckles with a metal ruler and the emergence of the red pen. Carry on.
 
I haven't been real impressed so far. I have a fixed blade (master hunter?) that I really think something is wrong with the heat treat. I have sharpened it many times and got it Sharp and stropped it on a diamond loaded strop and looked at the edge under magnification. I do this to see what the edge looks like and to make sure there is not a wire edge. The first time it hits something somewhat hard, like a piece of wood, the edge rolls. I have also sharpened it and matched the original fairly thick edge bevel.

I contacted CS's CS and I didn't have a receipt since it was a gift from my father. They would do nothing since they only offer a year warranty on their super strong knives that they prove in their proof video. So with no receipt means no year warranty. All I wanted was for them to confirm the hardness was adequate, but since they don't actually make their knives they probably don't have a Rockwell hardness tester. They did say I could pay 20 bucks and have it sharpened.

I also bought an American Lawman due to the design, Triad, and the positive reviews. It was old stock so it has the metal liners. For a $60 knife it isn't up to par in the fit and finish department. None of the 2 scales, 2 liners, or back spacer are aligned with the componet next to it. Many knives you can't tell where one ends and the next starts unless there is a change in color. I also carried it in a pocket for one day that I normally carry my Rift and a big chunk of the coating came off. The Rift is carried everyday and is M4 so black coated and there is no place where the coating is worn all the way to shiny metal and it has been carried daily for a few years now. There is also vertical blade play in the holy Triad lock. Nothing I have done has taken it out. It is a strong lock as it transfers both positive and negative blade forces to a stop pin. Just like a handful of other lock designs. The Triad is a good strong lock but it isn't a great one hand knife and takes a lot of force to depress the lock. Not a ton but it is stiff and makes using the knife at the top of a latter not nearly as easy as other locks. It's a good lock but there are others I would much rather have for a ease of use stand point. The AUS8 is better that anticipated, but I did get a roll and small chip while cutting on a bamboo cutting board. Could be just new metal that needs to be sharpened off.

I haven't ruled them completely out, but the lack of warranty and service, as well as the issues I have had, it will take a special design to pay good money for another one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top