My $9 Worth

[banana-clip]

CS makes some pretty decent knives.

Most people think if it doesn't cost $200.00 its a POS, that may be the case for some knives but not for CS or even Mora's and SAK's.

 

[dougo83]

I have no opinion of Lynn as a person, nor am I going to go out of my way to form one. However, I think his blades suck. Not only do they suck, they are generally over-priced flea market trash. Many of the products his company sells are perfect for the clueless mall ninja crowd and have absolutely no real-life use.

 

[dougo83]

Hey, nevermind $9, I have $.02 to chip in...I have a Cold Steel Master Hunter, and love it...for $79, find a better all-purpose hunter.

Where did you find a Master Hunter for $60 less than retail?

As far as a better blade...I can pick up a handful of any FB and do the same work. For much cheaper.

 

[banana-clip]

I have no opinion of Lynn as a person, nor am I going to go out of my way to form one. However, I think his blades suck. Not only do they suck, they are generally over-priced flea market trash. Many of the products his company sells are perfect for the clueless mall ninja crowd and have absolutely no real-life use.

You must have broke one while using it?

 

[A.P.F.]

I have no opinion of Lynn as a person, nor am I going to go out of my way to form one. However, I think his blades suck. Not only do they suck, they are generally over-priced flea market trash. Many of the products his company sells are perfect for the clueless mall ninja crowd and have absolutely no real-life use.

This coming from a fellow who owns and uses a CRKT M16-14D, which to me represents a good example of an over priced knife that is perfect for a mall ninja or an armchair soldier.

The fact is, that you can make your point more eloquently without a 'trolling' attitude.

 

[dougo83]

You must have broke one while using it?

Not exactly...it fell out of my pocket from a forklift and broke on a concrete shop floor. It was a Voyager btw. Complete piece of plastic junk that looked, felt, and lasted as long as gas station specials all for just about $90. What a deal...

This coming from a fellow who owns and uses a CRKT M16-14D, which to me represents a good example of an over priced knife that is perfect for a mall ninja or an armchair soldier.

The fact is, that you can make your point more eloquently without a 'trolling' attitude.

So...lemme see...your whole "point" was to insult and attack me because I don't like LT's garbage knives? Way to go fanboy. You had nothing to add except your opinion that sharing my opinion made me a troll Please, come back when you have something to add.

Oh, and I almost forgot, the CRKT isn't regular carry, it was a gift when my brother, far from an "armchair soldier" got back from Iraq. you know...that's where they have real combat, something I am sure you have no clue about. The CRKT's hold up damn good. They work well and he had no complaints. In fact, the reason he brought one back for me to use was to replace a different folder.

 

[Monocrom]

To my limited knowledge I've heard that he tends to steal knife designs with no credit or without permission, hence the nickname "Cold Steal" associated with Lynn. I do not know the man, nor do I know all the messy details about claims that he stole or "borrowed" designs from other makers, just passing on some of what I've read on the forums about Cold Steel.

One rather famous example would be his "borrowing" of Mick Strider's rather popular fixed-blade Tanto design. That particular tale is indeed messy. Especially since Mick Strider is no White Knight. (To put it mildly).

It's not on Cold Steel's website anymore. But the original summary of the Cold Steel version of Strider's tanto actually made it seem as if a certain someone had ripped off the design from Lynn Thompson. Although L.T. certainly didn't have the nerve to go so far as to use Mick Strider's actual name.

Seems the "borrowing" was a bit too blatant, even by L.T.'s standards. Instead of the paracord wrapped handle, the Cold Steel version now sports thin handle slabs. Perhaps I'm wrong, but who else but a scum-bag would steal someone else's popular design, and then accuse the originator of being the rip-off artist. That level of lack of integrity probably takes years to cultivate. Doesn't happen just overnight. :barf:

 

[A.P.F.]

...So...lemme see...your whole "point" was to insult and attack me because I don't like LT's garbage knives? Way to go fanboy...

I rest my case.

 

[GronK]

Lets see now. My large Twistmaster has served me well for several years as my go-to light weight camping blade. My two Red River trade knives have done kitchen duty quite nicely for many years, far better than others of the ilk I've tried. My GI Tanto is a perfect blade for working around the house. It was perfect for un-sticking a painted shut window serving as pry-bar, sharp blade and putty knife all in one. As for LT himself, he's obviously no Sal Glesser but he is who he is which is more than can be said for some in the industry.

 

[Ankerson]

Not exactly...it fell out of my pocket from a forklift and broke on a concrete shop floor. It was a Voyager btw. Complete piece of plastic junk that looked, felt, and lasted as long as gas station specials all for just about $90. What a deal...

That I seriously doubt ever happened.

Sounds like a troll to me.

Make up some better story next time.

They are made out of Zytel and I have hit mine with a hammer a number of times and it didn't break so I highly doubt dropping one on concrete would even dent it.

 

[dougo83]

That I seriously doubt ever happened.

Sounds like a troll to me.

Make up some better story next time.

They are made out of Zytel and I have hit mine with a hammer a number of times and it didn't break so I highly doubt dropping one on concrete would even dent it.

Typical fanboy/troll response...Somebody's opinion or experience doesn't sit with yours so you call them a troll You can call it what you like...I have NEVER had a knife break from a fall. Perhaps it was a defect. Who knows? CS still has it...waiting on them...as far as hitting it with a hammer "a number of times"..."make up a better story next time." :thumbup:

 

[Larry Turko]

I've purchased a least 75 CS products over the last 20 years or so and I liked them all [or I wouldn't have bought them in the first place]

I strongly agree with axtalnO about Thompson's seemingly insatiable desire to kill animals. I've never understood how someone can force themselves to pull the trigger on any animal unless that's their only option for a meal or in self-defence. In one of his catalogues Thompson wrote that he had a whole menagerie of pets that presumably he's fond of. It's strange how some people can love some animals and kill others without a second thought.

Thompson has obviously put himself out there as have some other knife makers. Emerson's blogs make me want to puke but I'll keep buying his knives because ,as with CS products, I really like them.

We usually have no idea about the personality, ideology or politics of most people we buy from. In Thompson's and Emerson's case, they have revealed themselves somewhat to the public and I suppose if someone wants to ' punish' them for that [ by not buying their products] they're free to do so. However it seems to me that if we were to logicallly extend this type of thinking we couldn't, for example, go to movies starring actors who have beliefs we disagree with.

In conclusion, I think that hysterical tirades against individuals, who we may not like, but have no power to hurt us, is extremely bizarre.

 

[forcedestrike]

CS knives make me feel dirty based on Lynns advertising and general over the top marketing mantra's.

I just dont want to be associated with that company in anyway what so ever. His knives are ok but nothing special so I dont feel a great loss.

I am sure Dork Ops knives are pretty well build (in terms of tolerances not function design!) and that the owner is pretty martial in mentality that doesnt mean that I will cease to trash talk about them.

If you can't say it to a man's face, don't say it at all.

Seriously? So I should fly to America, meet him and explain face to face that he is incredibly annoying and his videos make me want to curl into a ball and cry before I can discuss him and his knives on a knife forum?

I am 7000km away and I will publicly state that him and his company lost my respect a long time ago, What now?

 

[Ankerson]

Typical fanboy/troll response...Somebody's opinion or experience doesn't sit with yours so you call them a troll You can call it what you like...I have NEVER had a knife break from a fall. Perhaps it was a defect. Who knows? CS still has it...waiting on them...as far as hitting it with a hammer "a number of times"..."make up a better story next time." :thumbup:

Yeah OK.....

I have been using CS knives since 1986.....

Although I am hardly a fanboy as I own a lot of knives from different companies.

 

[KarlMaldensNose]

I've purchased a least 75 CS products over the last 20 years or so and I liked them all [or I wouldn't have bought them in the first place]

I strongly agree with axtalnO about Thompson's seemingly insatiable desire to kill animals. I've never understood how someone can force themselves to pull the trigger on any animal unless that's their only option for a meal or in self-defence. In one of his catalogues Thompson wrote that he had a whole menagerie of pets that presumably he's fond of. It's strange how some people can love some animals and kill others without a second thought.

Thompson has obviously put himself out there as have some other knife makers. Emerson's blogs make me want to puke but I'll keep buying his knives because ,as with CS products, I really like them.

We usually have no idea about the personality, ideology or politics of most people we buy from. In Thompson's and Emerson's case, they have revealed themselves somewhat to the public and I suppose if someone wants to ' punish' them for that [ by not buying their products] they're free to do so. However it seems to me that if we were to logicallly extend this type of thinking we couldn't, for example, go to movies starring actors who have beliefs we disagree with.

In conclusion, I think that hysterical tirades against individuals, who we may not like, but have no power to hurt us, is extremely bizarre.

I agree with everything you write, especially the things I've emphasized.

 

[dougo83]

Yeah OK.....

I have been using CS knives since 1986.....

Although I am hardly a fanboy as I own a lot of knives from different companies.

1. The number of years you have been using their knives is irrelevant. I have been using Bucks my whole ife too. So has my dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. However, I still posess the cognitive faculties to realzie that they do, in fact, break and that some people don't like them. I don't agree with it, but it's their right. I certainly don't act like a 2 year old and call them names because they don't like my knives.

2. As I said, calling someone a troll because you don't agree with them is fanboy nonsense. It has nothing to do with the variety of knives, or anything else, that you own. :thumbup:

Anyway, back on topic. Still no word from CS about my busted knife. Tracking info says they have it, but they say they don't. That right there is reason enough for me not to buy another one. I am the same way with any company. I dropped Gerber for not fulfilling warranty promises. But I am not going to go out of my way to track him down to say so.

Oh, and to whoever spouted the nonsense about "saying stuff to LT's face": when he comes down here to Texas and I see him, I will gladly tell him his knives, that I own, suck. I will also tell him that he shouldn't charge so much for such ridiculous designs. I will also tell him that some of his products (the rubber baseball bat, imitation okapi, and various and sundry objects designed for sneaking through metal detectors) are ridiculous.

 

[Ankerson]

1. The number of years you have been using their knives is irrelevant. I have been using Bucks my whole ife too. So has my dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. However, I still posess the cognitive faculties to realzie that they do, in fact, break and that some people don't like them. I don't agree with it, but it's their right. I certainly don't act like a 2 year old and call them names because they don't like my knives.

2. As I said, calling someone a troll because you don't agree with them is fanboy nonsense. It has nothing to do with the variety of knives, or anything else, that you own. :thumbup:

Anyway, back on topic. Still no word from CS about my busted knife. Tracking info says they have it, but they say they don't. That right there is reason enough for me not to buy another one. I am the same way with any company. I dropped Gerber for not fulfilling warranty promises. But I am not going to go out of my way to track him down to say so.

Oh, and to whoever spouted the nonsense about "saying stuff to LT's face": when he comes down here to Texas and I see him, I will gladly tell him his knives, that I own, suck. I will also tell him that he shouldn't charge so much for such ridiculous designs. I will also tell him that some of his products (the rubber baseball bat, imitation okapi, and various and sundry objects designed for sneaking through metal detectors) are ridiculous.

Did you call them???

You have to stay in contact with them if you want to find out what's going on.

I had to send in a Trail Master for warranty when I broke the hand guard loose during a field test review I was doing, it's all documented on the CS Forum with photos. I called them, had no problem sending it to them, asked how long it would take to be resolved, they said likely 8 weeks. I called them to check on it after 4 weeks and they had info that I would be getting a new knife. Later on it was stated that it was in a defective batch.

Out of the 50+ CS knives I have owned over the past 25+ years that was the only one I ever had to send in. I wasn't happy about about it at all.

CS stood by their product and sent me the new knife and I finished up my review on the new TM, I have owned 4 of them over the years and still have 2 of them now.

 

[dougo83]

Did you call them???

You have to stay in contact with them if you want to find out what's going on.

I haven't had time to call them. The 3 e-mails, however, should suffice. If they are going to offer warranty service, like every other manufacturer, they should respond.

 

[Ankerson]

I haven't had time to call them. The 3 e-mails, however, should suffice. If they are going to offer warranty service, like every other manufacturer, they should respond.

Email is never a good way to contact them, calling them is the way to go.

 

[HuntersHikes]

I got it for $79.95 on www.knifeworks.com

Have you personally used the MH? It's a hell of a hunting knife. My statement was hyperbole, which you obviously missed, but my point is that for $80 or so, you get a great hunting knife...that's all.