Is it just me or Cold Steel knives are general either low quality or overpriced ?

Rat Finkenstein said:
they certainly sell plenty of stuff to their target market- people who don't know any better.
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You're right, what would a guy like STR know? :rolleyes:

Cold Steel, both the company and their knives, are if anything - fun. And isn't that why most of us collect knives?
 
Considering the purpose of a knife, I find the CS tests appropriate because butchering and cutting meat is one of the many uses the knife was developed for, if not the primary reason next to a weapon. Of course the manner is amusing and nobody is forced the watch the tests.

Although some find the CS tests "both hilarious and highly objectionable" that's fine with me because we are all entitled to our opinion which is the purpose of this forum. I personally would like to know how a particular knife will perform, especially if I am considering buying one.

I feel that Adam Demko's presence to the CS team has breathed new life and direction into CS, which seems to have responded well to the market this year with an improved product line and competitive pricing (if you shop around).

I don't consider myself a knife expert, but I also like, use and collect Busse, Swamp Rats, Customs from Landi, Centerfinger and Fiddleback, SOG, Spyderco, Benchmade, Mission, Buck, Gerber, Kershaw and Cold Steel.
 
Falcor said:
Considering the purpose of a knife, I find the CS tests appropriate because butchering and cutting meat is one of the many uses the knife was developed for, if not the primary reason next to a weapon. Of course the manner is amusing and nobody is forced the watch the tests.

Although some find the CS tests "both hilarious and highly objectionable" that's fine with me because we are all entitled to our opinion which is the purpose of this forum. I personally would like to know how a particular knife will perform, especially if I am considering buying one.

I feel that Adam Demko's presence to the CS team has breathed new life and direction into CS, which seems to have responded well to the market this year with an improved product line and competitive pricing (if you shop around).

I don't consider myself a knife expert, but I also like, use and collect Busse, Swamp Rats, Customs from Landi, Centerfinger and Fiddleback, SOG, Spyderco, Benchmade, Mission, Buck, Gerber, Kershaw and Cold Steel.
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I agree, there are a lot of good knives on the market today and I like a variety of them myself. :)

Andrew Demko has taken Cold Steel in a new and better direction IMO and we are seeing some of the best products that CS has ever made because of him. They are improving all the time and I do believe we will see even better and more interesting knives in the future from them.

LCT does really like his products, well he should since it's his Company and it's only fair that he would get excited about them. Yes they are on the more aggressive side of Marketing, but that seems to work for them.

For the money they make good products that will really do what they say they will. They know they will because they test them over and over all the time to make sure that they will perform as advertised.

Do I like everything they make?

Nope, I don't, but then I can say they same for any knife Company out there.
 
Falcor said:
C
I feel that Adam Demko's presence to the CS team has breathed new life and direction into CS, which seems to have responded well to the market this year with an improved product line and competitive pricing (if you shop around).
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Don't you mean Andrew Demko?
 
I have only owned one Cold Steel knife, one of the American Lawman's, one with the steel liners. I picked it up on a whim from a neaby P/x, and I was very satisfied with it. Cost about $65. The handle ergonomics were great, I really like having the choil option to choke up on as well. A bit heavy, but damn it sure felt tough. The Tri-Ad lock was really, really stiff at first, but after a few days it broke in nicely. I ended up trading it as part of a package deal, but I plan on replacing it with one of the new versions without the steel liners.

Many of Cold Steels designs seemed gimmicky, and ugly, and that kept me away. Funny enough, I was showing some of the Cold Steel videos to a friend for a laugh, but thats when the American Lawman first caught my eye. After seeing one at the P/x, I was like "why the hell not?" Now I know that if they come out with another design that catches my eye, I will definitely consider it.

I still prefer Spyderco's overall for EDC, but for a beater knife, Cold Steel has impressed me with at least one of their models. :thumbup:
 
I recently picked up a large Voyager on closeout from SMKW. It's a whole lot of folder in a lightweight package. Seems very well made to me. :thumbup:
 
I like their folders and none have failed me yet. Their prices are not too bad and they have so many varied designs to choose from. In addition they keep coming up with new models to keep collectors/users happy. Time to cut cold steel some slack.
 
I just got a CS large voyager (clip) in a trade a couple of months ago and I'm amazed at how much I like it. I carry it at least as much as my paramilitary, sere, and endura. The CS is super, super sharp; feels big and solid; and is very light.

I also own a Trailmaster and a Recon Scout, which I think are fantastic. At the moment, the Voyager is the only CS folder I own, but I'll be buying a Lawman in a couple of weeks. And I'll probably pick up a SRK as well. I've really started to like CS over the last several months.
 
I own several Spyderco's - cpm s30v; vg10, a benchmade in 154 cm. I personally love the CS Aus 8A. My SRK is a brute and after hard use a few strokes on a ceramic rod and it pops right back in to shape.
 
I have a couple Cold Steel knives that I am very happy with. A Carbon V Recon Tanto, a Safekeeper II (IMO the best production pushdagger), and a SK-5 Gurkha Kukri. All of these knives are excellent for what I want them to do. Maybe a bit overpriced but you have to buy them from the right place (Knifecenter). They also make the very best blowguns and throwing stars. And just for the record, those silly videos make me smile. :thumbup:
 
I haven't found anything wrong with the CS blades I've handled.
They actually seem to be very good values.

me - 2 cents
 
The only CS product I own, or have ever owned, is the san mai III srk, and although it is probobly my least favorite of my fixed blades, it is going up against a blackjack and a fallkniven a1. That being said,, it is as sharp and sturdy as you could ever ask a knife to be. I just don't like the hollow grind. Even if you didn't like rubber handles, hollow grind, or stainless blades, I don't see how you could get one, use it, and be dissappointed with one.
 
Good question- for noobs like me- this is what I want to see answered. The part about recent v's older CS product makes it harder to get by on ALL the old threads.
I am thinking about buying more CS blades and am split over looking for second hand or new. My next tentative post will be titled something like 'Warning Cold Steel content NOOBS only.' Hope to keep the veterans cool...
 
I own a 12 inch bowie machete and a Cold steel Spartan.

Both were inexpensive and both are well built. I'm satisfied with their products.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
Cold Steels advertising is gimmicky, there product line is vast with some really oddball stuff, but god bless them for the bringing Andrew Demko's designs to the forefront..Cold Steels AUS8a is good stuff, not on par with latest wonder metals but good and practical, the Tri-Ad lock is a leader, the Recon 1's are on par with more expensive knives, I have the AK47 (gave one to my brother) three Recons (gave one to my little bro for his 18th) both Rajahs and the master hunter, all are in use and great knives...Lynn Thompson is over the top, but he should be its his company.
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Thank you for saying that. One thing he won't be accused of is being a wimp...

Gimme da hype... I like it... It's like a sizzling steak. Much better than simply steak.

Am I the only person to like CS's spine whack tests in their videos? BTW, I have a few folders that fail even mild spine whacks. That said, I use those knives as if they were slip blades.

Spine whacks serve a purpose. Just don't overdo them.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Old thread.

Cold Steal has about the worst warranty in the business, and some of their stuff is extremely overpriced.

They don't make knives, they are a marketing company dedicated to hyping up their wares. They tell everyone that low to mid grade materials are high end, and they certainly sell plenty of stuff to their target market- people who don't know any better.

That and the fact that they rip off people's designs ensures I would never do business with them.
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Well, well, well...

I guess I fit their target market because I fell for their hype and dropped da cash for a Recon 1 folder, a Mini Lawman, a Black Rhino and a Paradox.

I don't suppose it makes any difference if I own a Strider SnG, an Emerson Commander and a Combat Karambit, a few Benchmades, a Swamp Rat and other really good stuff.

I've really abused the CS Recon 1 folder, and the last stupid thing I did with it, showing it to a friend, was take a 1 inch cutting board, and did a full downward stab into it. When I did it before, the clip point blade managed to penetrate the board and come out perhaps 1/4" on the other side. Foolish me, my friend warned me, asking "Do you really want to do that??" and I did it... and frigging split the board in two. So, am I happy with that "low to mid-grade material" stuff? Heck yeah...

My only beef with the Black Rhino is the sucker is such a honkin' big knife, that I can't EDC it, but heck, who cares? It's COOOOOL............

Ditto for the Paradox, which I modified so it will open more easily. More than worth the 60 bucks or so I spent on it. Do I carry it? Of course not. But it's COOOOOOLLLL too...

And the Mini Lawman? Well, I shortened the blade to be under 2.5 inches, and grooved up the scales. Happy I am, and it's one really strong little knife, what with the Triad lock and all.

So, count me a sucker. NOT...

Folderguy
 
Falcor said:
IMO accusing knife makers of ripping-off other people's designs is very easy to throw out but very difficult to prove based upon a preponderance of evidence let alone beyond a reasonable doubt.

Agreed the Tri-Ad lock is THE lock at present and I have a Raja 1 and an AK47 and ripping this one off is pretty obvious.
However if you take the knife designs from the Imperial War Museum and add them to those from the Tower of London, then add to those from Malaysia and the Philippines, you will find nearly 70% of the current knife designs in some form there. Of course add-in the rest of Europe,Middle East and Asia and I reckon nearly 99% of current knife designs can be found in some form in that group.

All of these regions were making knives for war, hundreds of years before there was a USA.

Apart of obvious copying and misrepresentation, I believe that most knife designs are part of the evolution process which is healthy for the industry.
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What's so obvious about the Triad lock? Ripped off from where? Isn't that lock one of Andrew Demko's designs? And doesn't he work for/affiliated with Cold Steel?

I musta not gotten the memo.
 
Dorito Monk said:
While I find cold steel's marketing to be both hilarious and highly objectionable, I have to admit that the cold steel products I've owned were priced fairly. They were no great bargain, but they weren't overpriced, I'd say.

That said, they weren't what I'd call well-made goods, either. :thumbdn:
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Objectionable, huh? In what way?

Not well-made goods? That's a debatable point. Compared to what at what price-point, not MSRP, but street price?

I'm plenty happy with my four CS knives. Lotsa bang for the buck.
 
I had a scimitar that I beat to hell and still had a ton of life left in it...a guy at work was trying to buy it from me for months I finally gave it to him to force myself to carry one of my other knives, and then he beat the livin hell out of it. In all fairness to the question it was one of the Japanese made ones before they started switching over to different facilities and the quality was great.
 
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