Is the Cold Steel Recon Scout a risky buy?

Tenbeers said:
I posted a similar query on the CS forum.
The failures I've seen so far happened during batoning. I'm curious if there have been failures like those from chopping.
If the tang is weakened due to stress risers from sharp radiused corners etc.,could that cause a failure when chopping also?
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Probably yes, it is similar levels of stress
 
KenHash said:
If the concern is that the 90 degree transfer from blade to tang can cause a failure when batoning, Cold Steel changed that design a few years ago to a radiused transfer. My understanding is that this corrected the previously reported failure problems. If this is correct then I would think there should be no concerns about buying a CS Recon Scout.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1140243-Recon-Scout-Tang
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hmmm, I would love to see if that is actually true
 
TheDandyLion said:
Yeah... I am not so sure until I see someone take the new RS through the ringer
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It literally takes 20 seconds to remove the handle. I have done it in the past. The kraton is not that tough. Then you can rehandle with micarta
 
TheDandyLion said:
Hmm... I wish I had the money to throw around to find out myself
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Problem for me is that there are so many other nicer knives near that price. And I would not be surprised if CS brings out the TM and RS in 3V at some point.
 
Cobalt said:
Problem for me is that there are so many other nicer knives near that price. And I would not be surprised if CS brings out the TM and RS in 3V at some point.
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But then they'll jack up the price and for that you could go for a Bark River or Bussekin. a I think for my friends gift I'm going to go for an Ontario knife, SP-5 maybe. He loves my Ontario Kuk
 
Get him a Scrap Yard Chop house! Course, you still have to spring for a sheath, but worth every penny.
 
If the concern is that the 90 degree transfer from blade to tang can cause a failure when batoning, Cold Steel changed that design a few years ago to a radiused transfer.
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Any idea how many years ago this was? If it was changed that is.

Probably yes, it is similar levels of stress
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My understanding of that particular issue is that batoning is more stressful than chopping. A few Becker BK2s have been broken when batoning and they have full width tangs. Some knives just seem more able to handle this stress than others. Batoning technique also seems to be a valid issue. There are plenty reviews of the BK2 where the knife didn't fail when used for batoning or otherwise. Several years back someone posted a lengthy article about the proper batoning technique. He was using the most basic Mora with red wooden handles. One technique broke one and another didn't. I'll try to find the post or article.

I have several knives that are more than capable but I'm still curious about the Recon Scout's radius issue in regard to chopping. If chopping is less stressful. As with the BK2 there are many test reports of the RS that show the knife batoning and chopping with no issues. I've got to wonder if the RS's that didn't fail have been weakened from this activity and will eventually break or if the radius issue was overcome by "proper" technique. I had a CS Trailmaster that I beat the hell out of as far as cutting and chopping and had no problems. I have a RS that has done some chopping without issue also. In neither case was the knife used to baton. Both were purchased many years ago. Long before there was talk of any correction on the tang radius. I'm thinking that the RS may be fine as a chopper but questionable as far as batoning, allowing for "proper" technique if that is a valid question.

I'm still not sure what to make of the broken BK2s. Tang cutouts, user error, wrong batoning technique,QC issues,heat treatment? I suppose some of those elements could be at fault on the RS as well. I am a fan of both company's products so I'd like to get a true understanding of these issues.
 
OP - here's the (my) simple answer to your question: I have been beating the HELL out of mine through wood (numerous camping trips) for 4 years. The knife has had NO issues with the edge or spine. I have had it stuck in tons of logs and have had to wail on it with all of my strength many, many times. I would guess these broken ones we've all heard about are just rare defects... I say it's a great knife and you should get it.
 
jasonbroni said:
OP - here's the (my) simple answer to your question: I have been beating the HELL out of mine through wood (numerous camping trips) for 4 years. The knife has had NO issues with the edge or spine. I have had it stuck in tons of logs and have had to wail on it with all of my strength many, many times. I would guess these broken ones we've all heard about are just rare defects... I say it's a great knife and you should get it.
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No, I'd say design flaw more than defect. I would say that the HT on some is good enough to keep the design flaw from showing itself or they were never taken to that extreme. But these all broke doing very simple tasks

[video=youtube;KmO0XSWhV04]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmO0XSWhV04[/video]
[video=youtube;sbeWMHMAOps]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbeWMHMAOps[/video]
 
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