Most Iconic Cold Steel Knife

What do you think is the most iconic cold steel knife?

  • Recon Tanto

  • SRK

  • Espada XL

  • Recon 1

  • Master Tanto

  • Other (must state what model)

  • Trail master

Results are only viewable after voting.
Although I've never owned one, and never had any interest in them, when I think "Cold Steel", I think of all the ads I saw back in the 1980's for tantos.

And I could be wrong, but I believe it was Cold Steel who basically created the Americanized tanto knife, which became, and still remains, very popular.

So I say tanto.
 
Im surprised to see the Recon 1 picked first over THE Espada XL in the folder dept.

although I could see the Espada being more of a "Lynn favorite" than an iconic Cold Steel knife.
 
Wanted to know a few answers before giving my own.

Story time.

For me it’s a toss up between the Recon Tanto and the Master Tanto, leaning towards the Recon Tanto for me personally. I remember going to the army surplus store with my dad back when I was probably 9-10 years old. It was the first time I had been around any sort of weapons, and the first time I had ever seen Cold Steel knives.

Out of the many blades/swords there, Recon Tantos were ones that really caught my attention through that glass booth. The angles, the double grind, how shiny they were, I can remember it vividly.

These exact thoughts went through my mind with eyes wide.
“Those are the real ones(blades).”
“Those are for professionals, actual ninjas.”
“I can’t believe ninjas are real. And when I get older I’m gonna get one of those real ninja knives and be a real ninja”

My Dad actually bought the cold steel dvd for me and my brother to watch (my mother was furious! I thought it was cool as hell…)

Turning 30 this year, and I never did shake that Tanto fever.
Every time I hold a Recon Tanto, I’m reminded of that time, kind of a happy place.
 
I would say the Master Tanto. It really speaks to what I think of when I think Cold Steel. The magazine as said it all. Everything about the Tanto was overbuilt and was an unapologetic weapon.

However, the most iconic to me personally, is the Trailmaster. I bought my first one in Carbon V back in 2002/03 for about $140. Most expensive knife I ever bought by far, and I was still in college.

It showed me what a tough trail knife should be.
 
I voted for the Master Tanto though I actually consider the original Tanto with a wider point and brass guard and pommel to be more iconic.

They're close enough.

My second choice would be the Urban Skinner/Safekeeper III. I thought it was strange that the oldest in that series was numbered III. lol
 
I would incline toward the Tantos. But almost neck and neck would be the SRK which, in my opinion, has been a sort of benchmark for survival knives for many years.
 
It's the Master Tanto by far.

For 40 years now, if you thought about a factory tanto or perhaps any tanto, Cold Steel would be the company that came to mind. And of most of those years it probably would've been the Master version. The Tanto is to Cold Steel is like what the 110 is to Buck. We probably would have gotten a tanto later if Lynn didn't bring his out, but it would've lacked the same oompah that the Cold Steel had. Great knife, great marketing.

In my mind, it goes - Master Tanto, Trailmaster, and the deluxe Espada XL as most iconic Cold Steel designs.
 
Last edited:
killgar said:
I still remember the mystery of "Carbon V". 😁

These are my most memorable ads. Seeing the ad on the left always made me cringe (the thought of being stabbed through the hand).

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This ^^^

If you are someone who was a Cold Steel fan from way back when they were something of a rogue knifemaker... ya gotta vote Tanto. Everything else is epilogue.
 
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