Is it time to rehabilitate Cold Steel? CONTROVERSIAL

I've always like Cold Steel products. I don't know why so many people hate them so much. In my opinion Cold Steel makes the toughest folders out there, and for more than reasonable prices. Nothing beats a Tri-Ad lock NOTHING! (aside from a fixed blade, of course)

I look forward to seeing more products from Cold Steel in the future. I would like to see more G10 knives with upgraded steels instead of AUS-8. Not that there's anything wrong with AUS-8 (It's one of my favorite steels) but after so many years of using the same steel it just gets boring after a while.
 
stabman said:
I like how Cold Steel has a wide range of products.
And they're just plain fun; last time when out in the woods I chopped down a 3" diameter maple with the XL G-10 Espada, and my dad got a similar size one down with the Rajah 2.
Why? Well, if you have to ask, you just won't get it.

Or how about when me and a group of friends used the ball head war club to bust up fire wood at a beach party? Who else puts out things like that? (sound of crickets ;))

It seems like a bunch of folks cannot like more than one or two brands...good for them I guess, but don't get huffy at those with more varied tastes.

The only thing I'd change would be more G-10 and micarta, and less Kraton; I hate Kraton, and the way it turns to goo over the decades.
And more high end steel would be great. The trend seems to be going that way, and I applaud it. :)
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Nothing puts me a chopping mood more than my Rajah2.

It's the only knife I carry when I'm out doing yard work.
I agree about the Kraton and I 'm not too fond of the Grivory, although it is functional.
I was lucky enough to pick up a Rajah 1 in G10 on closeout a few years ago.

I think we need some pics...

 
Mannlicher said:
CS makes good, functional knives, from more than adequate steel, and sells them at competitive prices. They stand behind their products. What's not to like?
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I agree, There is room in my smaller collection for Cold Steel along with my Emerson's and ZT's, they are nice knives for the price! AUS8 is good enough for edc ,but would I want a Triad Voyager in VG-1?......absolutely!
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Maybe the regular turnover in manufacturing is reflected in their worst-in-the-industry warranty?
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We have no time limit associated with our warranty and we stand by our products 100%.
We also have a very polite team of human beings who work in our customer services department. :)
If anyone has any problems at all, just give us a call.
We'll do everything we can to help.

As for our manufacturing - Nothing has changed since 1980. Our products are factory made - and we subject them to the same tests that one would expect from high-end custom knives.
We provide proof of their strength, sharpness and durability with video proof and live demos. We back up our brag.

We use materials from all over the world (including the USA). Our R&D team are all based here and they work closely with our factories on every stage of production.
We also have quite possibly the toughest QC in the industry. We take a lot of pride in our work and we endeavor to always produce the very best product. Again, if you ever receive anything that isn't perfect, give us a call.
 
I just received a XL Espada yesterday. Love it, although admittedly way too big to edc. It sticks out of your pocket too far, and I do not dress sloppy: i.e. shirts two sizes too big worn untucked. I bought it more for a display knife along with my other L Expada and soon to be purchased M Espada.

That being said, my edc currently has been a CS Black Rhino right side and a Spyderco Endura left side. And the AUS-8 seems to be doing fine on edge holding. Also have an old Vaquero Grande that has been a yard/garage knife for a lot of years. Serrations are almost gone, intentionally, but it still cuts like the dickens.

I enjoy their promotional videos and do not take them all that seriously. They look like they have a lot of fun making them. More power to them. I'll definitely be buying more CS product in the future, along with other companies product as well.

I just like a nice useful knife, and CS does in fact make plenty of them. Sure some of their stuff is over-the-top, such as the XL Espada. Don't buy it if you do not like it. Enough said.



 
Wow that twistmaster is a cool knife... I had no idea they made something like that.

TF6xefN.jpg
 
Besides the Rajah 1 , these two are my favorites, the Black Sable and the original Talwar



 
I wasn't aware that Cold Steel needed rehabilitating. Sure, the marketing is rather over-the-top, and people sneer at the types of blades (and at LCT, for that matter, although I wouldn't want to fight the man), but the products are good quality. I've never felt their higher priced stuff was really worth it, and I dislike the balance and weight on their swords, for the most part, but their budget stuff is quite good, and their more unique items are some of the best that's readily available. There's actually surprisingly little CS hate, from what I've seen, and pretty much none of it is directed towards the quality of the products. The marketing videos are silly, but fun to watch, and they clearly work for the intended audience. And honestly, I'd rather the mall ninjas have decent blades that aren't made with questionable heat treat by child laborers in China or something.
 
Here are my four CS knives.
1. Old Vaquero Grande, circa mid 90's.
2. Espada XL
3. Espada L
4. Black Rhino.

 
cbxer55 said:
I thought Cold Steel already made butterfly knives!?!?!?
Or have they just not made any recently?
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Cold Steel used to make a balisong. It's very hard to find nowadays. Since, Cold Steel has made three knives similar to Balisongs but require two handed opening: the Black Rock Hunter (DC'd), the Paradox, which comes in two sizes, and the grivory handled Paradox.

I've got a BRH. Very nice knife. Shame it was discontinued. I plan to also buy a standard Paradox.
 
I've had CS knives for decades. Thier high-end khukuri (LTC and Gurkha) are top of the heap modern designs IMHO. Their old school voyagers were great, as well as the fixed blades I've owned. Even their off the wall items are very good. Everyone should have a SF Shovel in the garage or truck for the low price. I used one of their HD rattan canes for years in the canyons of the southwest. It's unbreakable and saved my bacon when I broke my leg on a river vega and had to walk 2+ hours back to my rig. I actually had the cane in my left hand and my CS LTC Kukri in my right hacking my way through mesquite and carrizo cane. A few years ago I picked up two CS blowguns (1 for myself and 1 for my oldest son) and we absolutely love them. Some of the marketing is over the top (thanks CS for giving some background on that), but the products need no defending to people who've used them. On top of very solid steels, some of the designs are really superb. Take care.
 
I own a lot of Cold Steel, and I'll own a lot more. Their products are made well, and I like a lot of the designs. Is an Espada XL, a Rajah 2, or a Steel Tiger karambit something I'm going to EDC? Of course not, but they're certainly fun to own. I don't carry swords around with me either, but I certainly don't oppose owning them!

As for their marketing, sure, it's over the top and silly, but nobody forces you to watch it, you pretty much have to actively seek it out on Youtube or at the website, or watch the proof DVD, it's not like Lynn Thompson is popping up in your middle of your favorite TV shows and chopping up pigs and stabbing through car hoods. And they're clearly having fun, hell, if I was rich I'd probably have a room setup where I could slice through slabs of meat and hanging ropes and such too.
 
Honestly, my absolute favorite parts about CS video's?

Meat cuts! I mean, come on, cutting hanging pigs? Who would not love to test out their big knives and swords and axes like that?

I know I would!
 
Oakengroves said:
Am the only person who finds Cold Steel's intentionally over-the-top, light-heart marketing preferable to what has become boilerplate "HARD USE TACTICAL OPERATOR" marketing by dozens of manufacturers? Strider, Microtech, Protech, and Hinderer lead the market with distasteful and boring marketing practices, imo.

Cold Steel's silly marketing videos are enjoyable. I'd rather watch Lynn Thompson chop through a meat-boot than read about how a knife is designed for "elite special force use." Cheesy heavy metal riffs are preferable to exaggerated, boring claims about how a knife is going to turn its user into Solid Snake.

Some may disagree, but: Cold Steel makes the best budget-conscious and cost-to-performance folders on the market today. I own CRKs, Benchmades, Spyderos, Mcustas, Kershaws, and ZTs, but when I need a cheap beater that will get a nasty job done, I reach for a Voyager or Recon-1.

Cold Steel needs no rehabilitation because they make outstanding products that have sold well for a long time
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Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfOTIsh4X4Q&feature=youtu.be Gotta love the cheerleaders.
 
Forgot definitely not bashing Cold Steel I've moved on to different brands only thing I still own is machete had a original tanto got out of S.O.F Magazine in the early 80s. A Recon 1 help me find this place been considering getting a new one.
 
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