Lock Strength - Spyderco Paramilitary 2 vs Cold Steel Hold Out II

In my view, Cold Steel's concentration on lock strength amounts to classic misdirection and deflection from the things that really matter to most folks when they make a folder purchase. And to me it feel likes like an admission on Cold Steel's part that they really can't compete against the top makers. It keeps Cold Steel in a category of knife manufacturers I refer to as "also rans".

AFAIC, if Cold Steel really wants to step up its game, it's going to take more than a strong lock and a single premium blade steel to do it. Until then, lock strength tests like this one will be little more than a source of amusement to me.
 
Last edited:
bld522 said:
In my view, Cold Steel's concentration on lock strength amounts to classic misdirection and deflection from the things that really matter when making a folder purchase. It feel likes like an admission on Cold Steel's part that they really can't compete against the top makers. And it keeps Cold Steel in a category of knife manufacturers I refer to as "also rans".

If Cold Steel really wants to step up its game, it's going to take more than a strong lock and a single premium blade steel to do it. Until then, lock strength tests like this one will be little more to me than a source of amusement.
Click to expand...


They are. ;)

CTS-XHP, CPM 3V and CPM 20CV currently.

As far as other makers go, CS has been around since 1980. ;)

If they couldn't compete they wouldn't have been around that long believe me.

As far as the lock thing goes, it's nothing more than marketing, they have a strong lock and they are using it as part of their promotion.

The knives perform like they say they will and they have been consistent in that respect over the decades.
 
Fair enough, Jim. I'll relinquish the points you made. It just seems as if Cold Steel is basing way too much of its raison d'etre on its lock strength. But that just could be POV.
 
bld522 said:
In my view, Cold Steel's concentration on lock strength amounts to classic misdirection and deflection from the things that really matter when making a folder purchase. It feel likes like an admission on Cold Steel's part that they really can't compete against the top makers. And it keeps Cold Steel in a category of knife manufacturers I refer to as "also rans".

If Cold Steel really wants to step up its game, it's going to take more than a strong lock and a single premium blade steel to do it. Until then, lock strength tests like this one will be little more than a source of amusement to me.
Click to expand...

Thing is, as I alluded to earlier, there's a decent amount of stuff that's more relevant that they do better than most. Your average Cold Steel will cut circles around the average ZT and will outdo the majority of Benchmade offerings as well. Their ergonomics seem to be getting better and better, they're not nearly the overbuilt pocket bricks that so many large tactical folders end up being, and they offer a lot of performance for the money. Sometimes I feel their marketing does them a real disservice.
 
bld522 said:
Fair enough, Jim. I'll relinquish the points you made. It just seems as if Cold Steel is basing way too much of it's raison d'etre on it's lock strength. But that just could be my point of view.
Click to expand...

CS is part of the knife world and has been for a long time and they actually do make some good knives.

All depends on what wants to do and likes, price point etc just like any other brand.

They have a pretty large variety of knives to choose from, all different price points and uses.
 
Ankerson said:
CS is part of the knife world and has been for a long time and they actually do make some good knives.
Click to expand...
I know. I own a VG-1 Voyager XL and it's a knife I wouldn't part with. I bought it on the cheap and it sees a lot more use than many of my more expensive knives. So credit where credit is due. :thumbup:
 
bld522 said:
Fair enough, Jim. I'll relinquish the points you made. It just seems as if Cold Steel is basing way too much of its raison d'etre on its lock strength. But that just could be POV.
Click to expand...

I don't like a lot of marketing, they all have different spins on how they do it.

The lock strength thing is just another thing, but they are actually being very fair about it so one might look at it that way.

I am sure it will pass just as most marketing campaigns do.
 
Ankerson said:
I don't like a lot of marketing, they all have different spins on how they do it.

The lock strength thing is just another thing, but they are actually being very fair about it so one might look at it that way.

I am sure it will pass just as most marketing campaigns do.
Click to expand...

Yup. And the other simple fact is that all anyone has to do to completely shut them up is to build a stronger lock.
 
bld522 said:
. . . or concentrate on the features that really matter and relegate lock strength to the status it deserves.
Click to expand...

CS has always concentrated on strength and performance in their folders from the beginning.

Locks have to be reliable and the knives have to perform cutting stuff, they do.

They have as I said been consistent.

They have upped their game using the higher end steels now so I believe more people will start to see how well their knives actually do cut, the geometry has always been there though.
 
Yep. If Cold Steel could just concentrate on continuing to improve their own products and leave their competitors alone, they might just percolate to the top.

Time will tell . . .
 
bld522 said:
Yep. If Cold Steel could just concentrate on continuing to improve their own products and leave their competitors alone, they might just percolate to the top.

Time will tell . . .
Click to expand...


I don't know about the top, but I would bet they will increase their market share by a good percentage.

They are going in the right direction I think, the lock thing will pass.
 
bld522 said:
OK, Jim. I'm going to hold you to that. ;) :D
Click to expand...

I am hoping they go back to those performance videos they used to do, you know the ones were they cut stuff etc, actual use type stuff. :)

They can do that again now that they are using the better steels. :D
 
hkyew said:
I'm confused with all the arguments. let's ignore the lock strength for now and enlighten me the following:

does the holdout use worse steel?
does it really have worse blade grind and *cutting* ability?
does it have worse daily usability vs the knife being compared to?
is the holdout less ergonomic in every grip? is it much more uncomfortable to handle when cutting stuff?
is the holdout harder to carry, heavier and chunkier?
does it provide less value in terms of usability & material for the price?
Click to expand...

I checked out a Hold Out (a large version) at the local gun store.
I did not like the ergonomics at all, and thought it was ugly as hell.
Both of those are subjective things though, so others will disagree.

I also do not own a Paramilitary one or two...the blade and handle are both too short for my preferences.

Both knives looked like they would cut things fine, but I haven't used either, so I cannot compare that.
 
bld522 said:
In my view, Cold Steel's concentration on lock strength amounts to classic misdirection and deflection from the things that really matter to most folks when they make a folder purchase. AFAIC, if Cold Steel really wants to step up its game, it's going to take more than a strong lock and a single premium blade steel to do it. Until then, lock strength tests like this one will be little more than a source of amusement to me.
Click to expand...

What you say may be true, tho' I think lock strength matters to a LOT more of the folks who are motivated to buy these types of knives to begin with, than you seem to think. I can only speak for myself when I say that if some lunatic were to attack me and my 5 1/2 year old grandson on the street (maybe farfetched, but chit DOES happen), I'd be much more comfortable , if could feel confident that my 5 1/2" XL Vaquero blade won't break, or cut a couple of my fingers off, if I happen to miss his heart and hit his sternum (It's happened before). I'd really like to be relatively certain that his breastbone would lose to Cold steel lock and blade. ;') YMMV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top