Quote Originally Posted by Spey
"I think I had read the reason CS transitioned production to Taiwan was actually to increase production quality of their products. After Camillus went bankrupt I remember CS started production in China (darker days ...). As they later transitioned production to Taiwan ..."
Not to knock down Taiwan, but to compare Taiwan as a "step up" from Seki is nonsense. Seki City Japan made several Cold Steel stainless models as early as the early 90s, some from practically the time Cold Steel was founded. Everything else came at the same time or after... A much smaller proportion of Cold Steel models (compared to the overall catalogue) are made in Japan now, almost all of them high price San Mai III versions, or very pricy models at any rate.
By contrast, in the early 90s, Seki production included some much lower cost models like the plain Peacekeeper line, in plain Aus-8 (actually as good if not more than San MAi III in my opinion) and to say the loss of all these lower-cost Aus-8 Seki City models, with excellent nylon sheaths instead of the current dreadful Securex, is a step up in quality is just delusional. Because of this, I would only consider vintage Aus-8 Cold Steels from what I know...
Quote Originally Posted by Spey
"I personally don't think there is any "fall from grace" related to Lynn Thompson moving production from Japan to Taiwan. ..."
Again, not in line with the fact all their pricier models are still made in Japan (unless they have stopped making all the San Mai IIIs)... The big difference is in their mid-range knives, which used to have plenty of excellent Japanese made models, and now have few or none, a huge step back in terms of quality of finish.
Many of their mid-price Taiwan made knives are bead-blasted to ease finishing costs, which means any scratch is there to remain forever (unless sent out to full re-finishing). With Seki made or other higher end blades, the grinding was the final finish, which allowed erasing scratches with just sandpaper: A huge step up in appearance and actual value over the long haul...
To illustrate the loss of going to Taiwan, just compare a bead-blasted Taiwan made Peacekeeper I dagger and the same mid-range cost Seki Made Aus-8 version of the same knife... No comparison...
This type of Seki-level finishing, combined with Aus-8, good nylon sheathing and a reasonable mid-range cost, is why I have no interest in almost anything Cold Steel offers right now...
Gaston
Hmmm ..., I feel you have selectively quoted me twice in your reply taking what I wrote both out of context and effectively arriving at a misinterpretations. I think it unfair to then call misinterpreted comments and opinions "nonsense" and further building a case for "delusional".
This will be a best attempt to come to common ground with you.
In your first quote from my earlier post, you fail to read/understand that I was making a
comparison of Cold Steel knives produced in China to Cold Steel knives produced in Taiwan.
In your second quote, you appear to assume that my statement
"I personally don't think there is any "fall from grace" related to Lynn Thompson moving production from Japan to Taiwan. If anything what comes to mind to me is CS being known for popularizing the Americanized Tanto, as this seems to be an in your face to Japan and what I think to be a most symbolic Japanese design :-o"
is reflective of the Company Cold Steel and their products, when my statements were directly related to Lynn Thompson and his business model of being in your face, and doing whatever he decides he wants to do. I commend him for this, even though the industry has condemned him for decades (typically, for the same types of things that other "manufacturers" got away with time & time again).
Additionally, you go on to describe "pricer" Cold Steel models made in San Mai III as if San Mai III is superior to their newer offerings (CTS-XHP & 3V). Considering those San Mai blades typically had VG-1 cores and were laminated with steel like 420j I would agree they were superior to say AUS8 of the day. It sounds as if we agree to the allure of laminated steel blades as they exude a presence of quality of things past, and it's arguable that the production of a laminated blade illustrates a level of mastery of that process ... I would comment that I believe the laminated steel would have actually been purchased pre-manufactured and that the softer 420j laminates actually made production easier and faster for the knife maker. I would also comment that in my experience San Mai III (Cold Steel knives that I have owned) is of lower performance to 3V (rolling, chipping, overall edge-holding, etc.). Additionally, those softer 420j laminates were/are more susceptible to scratching & scuffing that you also mentioned (as a negative). I also like San Mai blades in the same way that I like Damascus. Are they "better" because they are of laminate composition ... (I would say, from a performance and maintenance perspective, no). They still possess intrinsic value though.
I would also agree with you on the bead-blast finish in that I would prefer that step not be done. For many folks, I would assume they would like the reduction in "finger-print-magnet" that the earlier versions had. My "guess" is that this is not so much about reducing finishing costs as it may be a process of the new finish coating option requiring it and therefore they process the coated and uncoated blades the same way. Example: pre-Taiwan models that were coated, typically has a fully finished blade underneath (removing the coating revealed a surprisingly nice satin blade
.
You have raised some valid points related to changes in production where you prefer the older products. I would agree with you that I also prefer some of the old.
With regard to the OP ..., and my earlier post;
It is my opinion that Dollar-for-Dollar Cold Steel is not what I would term as "Most over-rated production knife brand".
I believe they have continued through the decades offering a wealth of options (my Triple Action Tanto comes readily to mind) for good value, and potentially created as much controversy as any manufacturer while being kept on the outside by all the major knife publications.
