Is SANMAI of CS worth money?

Welcome TomPreech.SanMai made by many custom makers may be of some value.Maybe even some production knife co.like MCUSTA.However I would look into the materials and heat treatment Cold Steel uses before spending the large amount of $ they are asking over there regular steel.This is the same company that for yrs.was trying to make everyone believe the AUS8A steel they use was a premium steel and better than all others.
 
TomPreech said:
I have just seen the SANMAI ads look interesting. But I am not sure the real life experince.
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The intent of CS San Mai is to get toughness and edge retension in a stainless blade. I don't have one. But I've read several threads from guys who have them and say that they work. BUT. Most of the models are way expensive.

Whether it is worth the money that CS asks in order to get that performance I suppose depends on your needs. Most of us will give on the stainless property and just use a non-stainless blade for a fixed blade to get the toughness and edge retension.

I can't think of any circumstance that would justify the price of a CS San Mai Blade in a folder. In the case of a folder most of us go for edge retension and give on the toughness. I don't know anyone who chops with a folder.
 
Laminated steel is really only worthwhile when the center steel isn't flexible enough on it's own to make a strong blade. For example, ZDP-189 is often laminated, as it can be too brittle on its own. Frosts of Sweden laminates some carbon blades, making a core of RC 60 and sides of the low 50s.

Laminating AUS8 or VG1 is pretty pointless. Both are more than strong enough to work on their own.
 
Mystery steels used by only one manufacturer really aren't a safe bet. You're much better off getting one of the true "super-steels" like S30V, D2, or that steel which is only spoken of by other steels in whispers, Rost--I mean, Infi.
 
I have the trailmaster in the older sanmai I like it. I got a really good deal when I bought mine years ago. $150 new on close out at my local sporting goods store. I have never seen one close to that ever in price. I think at full price they are too much (even though I really like mine, I would take that money and buy a Scrap Yard Dogfather........or one of the custom bowies on the exchange from makers that are frequently less expensive than full priced sanmai............) Also in the price range for production are falkniven with sanmai steel laminated stainless that everyone who owns loves.
 
I'd save my money and get a Fallkniven, maybe two, for the amount of $$ Cold Steel is asking for their SanMai products. CS SanMai is good, but not for those prices.

thx - cpr
 
Nope, not worth the over inflated price. Sanmai (laminated steel) isn't exclusive to CS and they charge the most that I've seen for some of the cheaper steels in the market today.
 
I like the San Mai, but it's nothing amazing. Considering that my voyager that I live by has the same steel as the core of the San Mai I can not see spending the money, even as a dealer, on any of the custom series. I've sold a few to people that want a showy mantle piece, but thats it. Most people will tell you to stick to a VG, S30V, of even an AUS blade. You get the same out of it, and they are far cheaper.

also, i've noticed that the simple designs from Cold Steel are great. I love the voyagers and ti-lites, but the more complex ones (AK-47, Recon) always screw up. The san mai ones are great in design, but again, they have too much put into them and tend to not hold up to the abuse that the cheaper ones will.
 
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