In general, what are your opinions of Cold Steel knives?

Cold Steel has been one of the most innovative knifemakers in the last decade (well, maybe the last two decades), introducing and/or popularizing new designs such as the North American tanto, the Master Hunter and others too numerous to name. Lynn Thompson raised the bar with new steels (at that time) such as Carbon V. Cold Steel delivers great value for the money. Lately CS has introduced a lot of cheaper designs with lesser steels (according to us knife nerds) but those probably meet a lot of people's needs.
 
Thanx for your input Aberta Ed. I do agree with you, I love the Tanto's they have. BTW, you know Barry Melrose?:D ;)
 
Awesome knives...:D


I have 2 Trailmaster Bowies, Lardo Bowie, 5 3/4" Tanto, and a Recon 1 Folder and they are top notch...:D

I have had the Tanto for about 15 years....
 
Cold Steel folders are not to my taste although they seem to have a small cult following.

THE GOOD:
- Pioneers in the U.S. made/designed martial blades and knives.
- They make megafolders.

THE BAD:
- Too many Zytel/AUS 8/lockback knives. I'd like to see a bit more range. Their new lock (a variation on the Axis) looks interesting.

- I don't like how many of their larger lockbacks open. Their Gunsite feels clunky. It "clunks" in place, rather than a "snap".

OVERALL:

Just a personal thing. I do like some of their fixed blades, low-end toys (like the Bushman), and their urban survival and martial arts stuff.

Excellent and informative website too. I think Lynn Thompson and Cold Steel aim their gear more the towards martial arts market than knife nuts.
 
They used to have a lot of decent products at fair to moderate price when bought discounted. Aus8 was a common steel in use, but now they have cheapened their products alot to hold the line on prices. I guess I feel their stuff of a few years ago is in general of better quality. There are exceptions. I would no longer buy their knives even as knock around users.
 
I think their high end products are the same high quality as they have always been. :) (Stainless Tantos, Trailmasters..etc)

They have come out with lower priced products to appeal to the budget buyers just like all the other makers. (Under $70 knives sell big time)
 
Originally posted by Full Tang Clan

Just a personal thing. I do like some of their fixed blades, low-end toys (like the Bushman), and their urban survival and martial arts stuff.

Excellent and informative website too. I think Lynn Thompson and Cold Steel aim their gear more the towards martial arts market than knife nuts.
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I think they make their knives to be used hard and to last along time.

If you have used one of their Tantos (I like my old 5 3/4" Tanto, been using it for over 15 years) or Trailmasters (Very well balanced and very tough) you would understand what I mean.

My personal preference is Fixed blade knives, I really never have liked folders much.
 
Originally posted by Mike990
They used to have a lot of decent products at fair to moderate price when bought discounted. Aus8 was a common steel in use,
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It still is if you look at their high end knives..;)
 
I've only bought 1 CS knife... a ReadyEdge. I used it for about a year, touching up the edge with files. It was getting to be a "NeverSharp" edge(compared to my Spydies)... just got pissed at it last night and ground all the serrations off with my 200 grit stone.

now have a 2" neck knife with a plain edge, but the <font color=black>f</font>ucking &#99rappy heat treat isn't worth &#115hit.
 
I have the 4 CS knives and I love'em but avoid the serrated edge at all costs.( plain edge only)for me.
 
VampyreWolf,

I never liked serrated knives becauce they are a pain to keep sharp..I do have a Tri Hone now that will sharpen serrated knives very well though...

If I needed something like a serrated edge knife I would just sharpen it with a file (you wouldn't believe how well it would cut, just as good as a serrated edge for most things).


The main reason I like CS knives is that they never have let me down.

When I was in the USMC over 20 years ago I broke alot of knives in the field..KBars, Buck, SOG, Gerber...etc. Never could find a knife that would hold up for very long...Until CS started making knives, they hold up..:D
 
Originally posted by CHAINS
I have the 4 CS knives and I love'em but avoid the serrated edge at all costs.( plain edge only)for me.
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I agree 100% :D


I have:

2 Trail Master Bowies.....1 San Mai III and 1 Carbon V :D

1 Lardo Bowie :D

1 Old 5 3/4" Tanto :D

1 Recon 1 Folder

3 Spikes

1 Bushman
 
I seem to be the only one to not speak highly of CS products, so before I start maybe I should put on a flameproof suit.
Their higher end knives may be well built, but the ones I have handled (master hunter and SRK) were both so thick at the bevel that they would be very poor cutters. Maybe great for choppers, but if I buy a knife like the master hunter, I want it for cutting chores, not chopping. I was ready to buy the master hunter based on reputation, but when I saw that I changed my mind.
I have purchased three of the Red River/Hudson Bay series, all in Carbon V. The first one had great edge geometry, but after hearing all the hype about the performance of carbon V, I was disappointed in the edgeholding, I have a number of other carbon steel blades that are better. Later, I ordered two more, and these two look like the edge bevel was put on by poorly trained baboons. I am not exaggerating when I say that my butter knives have a better edge than what those two came with. That was the end of any interest I may have had in Cold Steel knives.
 
I only have experience with their folders, but it was a good deal. Carried them for years, my father carried a few but kept breaking them.

Their warranty was never honored, never could get the serrated blades sharp 'enough' and now that I've had experience with knives from other companies, I'm convinced that there is not a single thing that their voyagers can do that a FRN spyderco can't do better @ a competitive cost.

Regards
 
I have 6 or 7 Voyager folders and feel they are worth every penny you pay for them.

I avoid serrations in general so I don't have that problem. Just sold a Voyager X2 and it is one mean SOB and very cool, just too big for my taste.

All of their liner locks I have had in the past were reliable.

I love my El Lobo and El Hombre plain edges, the Nogales blades are sweet and surprisingly useful, wish they'd have lept the whole line as plain edge...

I will take a different approach from others and say that I like their less expensive folders better than their higher end stuff, I was really disappointed in the Recon I had, pretty clunky.

I really wish they would come out with some high end pieces in G-10, Titanium and Micarta like the higher end Spydies, I'd buy them.
 
Ankerson> I always have at least one Serrated Spyderco model with me... either my new (3 months)Combo (50/50) Military, SE FRN native, or SE Tufram Cricket.

I just don't like CS's "serrations" as they don't sharpen on my 204.
 
I've got a large Voyager and a Desperado that I feel are solid, good work blades but not that pretty, fit and finish is so so. After using Spyderco serated blades I'm not a big fan of Cold Steel's serations I have a Boar spear, a Sjambok, and a Special Forces Shovel also. The SF Shovel is my favorite Cold Steel product so far, very handy. :)
 
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