My vintage Cold Steel pictures, discussions, and general shenanigans

[1stID]

Another new one for me is a Master Hunter, in stainless steel from Japan. This one was brand new it looks. A solid and handy knife.

I have the Carbon V version too, so have both.

 

[jlauffer]

Next up is an early Recon Scout. The first ones were supposedly handed out to military units heading over for Desert Storm, and didn't have any markings so that if lost no Iraqi could possible know who'd been in country or some silly super secret squirrel idea.

After that, Cold Steel sold a slight different version via their Special Projects line, and these too didn't have any markings or logos, as was the case for Specials Projects stuff. I have a LTC kukri from then that's also unmarked.

Eventually they started to sell them via Cold Steel, but by then the blade pattern had changed, and no longer had the little notch behind the blade.

This is Special Projects version, with the notch, epoxy coating, and no markings. It was listed on eBay as possibly being a CS Recon Scout, but the seller wasn't sure. He said the lanyard hole was different than other ones he'd seen, but I don't notice a difference myself. He also mentioned the grind angle looked different. Maybe it's a 2nd - I don't think Special Projects marked their 2nd's that way - correct me if wrong.

Based on the looks, way it feels, I'm about certain it's a real Cold Steel.

Nice! Some Recon Scout info here (scroll down a bit):

Post in thread 'History of Cold Steel Trail Masters (and Recon Scout)'

Apr 4, 2018

Carbon V Trail Master with black epoxy-coated blade/guard - #16CB

Period: 2002 - 2006

Blade Steel: Carbon V

Blade Markings (stamped):

Side 1:
TRAIL MASTER logo

Side 2:
COLD STEEL USA

Sheath: Black leather, with strap that goes over guard

==================================================================================

San Mai III Trail Master - #16JSM

Period: 1998 - 2005 (San Mai III); 2006 – Present (VG-1...

• jlauffer

• 
• 

 

[1stID]

Yeah, that's where I got my information from about the history, plus thinking that the Gen 2 Recon Scout wasn't super secret "sterile" as much as just sold by Special Projects and so didn't have any markings or logos on them.

I still need to get one of the actual sterile Recon Scouts - I bet there were not many made, and even fewer that are around anymore.

 

[1stID]

I have a Urban Pal on the way. You don't see many of them, and this one was NIB, with box, sheath, and key chain set. Was on EB for 250 bucks, and I was the one and only bidder for it, which sort of surprised me. Should be here this week.

 

[jlauffer]

Yeah, that's where I got my information from about the history, plus thinking that the Gen 2 Recon Scout wasn't super secret "sterile" as much as just sold by Special Projects and so didn't have any markings or logos on them.

I still need to get one of the actual sterile Recon Scouts - I bet there were not many made, and even fewer that are around anymore.

Wish you luck. I have one, and other than one that Mike Sastre had, don't think I've ever seen another one. But I'm not as active in searching out old CS as I used to be.

I have a Urban Pal on the way. You don't see many of them, and this one was NIB, with box, sheath, and key chain set. Was on EB for 250 bucks, and I was the one and only bidder for it, which sort of surprised me. Should be here this week.

Saw that one...only one I've ever seen with the box.

 

[1stID]

I post about CS knives on a gun board, and one guy posted a picture of a Gen 1. I told him to holler at me if he ever wants to sell it. I wonder what units were issued those knives? Never got anything good like that in the 1st ID - we had those crappy wire cutting bayonets that were single edged but as sharp on one side as the other. Plus some stupid quick detachable section on the sheath where you'd look down and your knife was gone - ask me how I know! Every smart trooper wrapped it with 3-4 rolls of tape.

The Urban Pal set looks like someone packed it away about 30 seconds after opening the box and never touched it again, from the photos. Original box, knife, sheath, and never installed key chain. Dare I put the key chain on the sheath or leave Han Solo in the original packaging without a crease in the cardboard?

Should be here tomorrow - will post to let everyone drool. I'm still surprised no one else put a bid in for it. 250-300 is what I've seen them go for, and this was the nicest one I've seen.

I saw an Urban Shiv in NIB condition, with leather sheath, a few months ago. That one got bid up to over 500 bucks. Still should have bought it.

Also saw an Imperial Tanto go for 2950 a few days ago too. Only 4 bids on it so not a large number of people but at least two really wanted it. It went for far more than I've seen - usually the Tantos are about a grand (what I got mine for), and the Imperial Tai Pans, which I think there are only 500 of instead of the 1000 Tantos (the one that just sold was in the 900's) usually go for 1500-1800.

What I really want now is a Flight of the Intruder Trailmaster. I was bidding on one on EB maybe 6 months ago, and my 700 dollar bid didn't buy it. Sold for about 800., which I'd pay now.

 

[1stID]

Here's the Recon Scout collection.

Gen 2, Special Projects version with the Gen 1 Trailmaster notch behind the blade.

Cold Steel Recon Scout, with the Gen 2 Trailmaster blade so no notch, and Cold Steel markings.

CS RS but in San Mai stainless, and made in Japan.

I need a Generation 1 Recon Scout, which had a slightly different blade shape, and were parkarized not epoxy coatings. If you have one (ha1) holler at me.

 

[The Whip]

I post about CS knives on a gun board, and one guy posted a picture of a Gen 1. I told him to holler at me if he ever wants to sell it. I wonder what units were issued those knives?

Some went to Marine Force Recon units. I suspect they were the primary recipients (and thus inspired the knife's name), but there may have been others as well. Lynn was always tight-lipped about it, so the information that I've gleaned over the years has been hard-won. You can read a bit more about them in post #104 in my Cold Steel Knives In Combat thread. The Gen 2 models were also issued, but not all of them. Cold Steel introduced the knife to the market by selling the sterile Gen 2 overruns via Special Projects.

You've gotten some really great knives lately! That early Outdoorsman is especially nice, and in the best condition of the few I've seen. Please do share photos of your Urban Pal when it arrives, especially the box. I've never seen one in the box, either!


-Steve

 

[1stID]

I got the Urban Pal in today. Was in brand new shape, like I'd saved up the 25 bucks or whatever it cost in 1984, bought it from the knife shop in the mall, then rode my Huffy bike home while jamming out to ZZ Top's Eliminator on my Walkman.

 

[1stID]

The Whip said the original box it came in was pretty rare, so picture my horror when I opened my mailbox today to see the package as a padded mailer and not a carboard box. But everything was in fine shape.

The model number is listed as 10, in case anyone needs it as the early catalogs didn't have a model number with them.

Does anyone know the model number for the Urban Skinner? I don't know it.

 

[1stID]

And a group shot of the push daggers. From the top:

Desperado
Safe Keeper II
Terminator
Urban Skinner
Urban Pal

All Japanese made except for the Safe Keeper II, which was MI Taiwan.

 

[The Whip]

The Whip said the original box it came in was pretty rare, so picture my horror when I opened my mailbox today to see the package as a padded mailer and not a carboard box. But everything was in fine shape.

The model number is listed as 10, in case anyone needs it as the early catalogs didn't have a model number with them.

I hate it when people are too lazy and cheap to put a shipment in decent packaging! I'm glad yours arrived in good shape, though. Thank you for sharing your Urban Pal photos. Like you said, it looks brand new! Since you have one new-in-box, you should consider adding your pictures to jlauffer 's excellent History of Cold Steel Push-knives thread.

Does anyone know the model number for the Urban Skinner? I don't know it.

See nephron 's post #25 in the history thread.


-Steve

 

[1stID]

Got it - #10.

Number only models that I have:

Terminator 24
Urban Skinner 12
Urban Pal 10
Outdoorsman 18
Trailmaster 16

I put pictures of my Urban Pal and box on the Push Knife topic.

 

[1stID]

Got a new Cold Steel in, one of their Hudson Bay models. In 95, they made for just a few years a line of camp / kitchen knives. There was a whole page write up about it in their 95 catalog about the history of this type of knife and how it could be used. Those 90's catalogs were like the early Banana Republic catalogs, where they would go into detail about the article of clothing, history, types of material and sticking. It was always very interesting. Then they, like Cold Steel would, moved away from a limited number of high quality items to endless amount of junk not much different that what Walmart sold.

Maybe it was what was needed to stay in business - maybe there's just not that much demand for a few, high quality items compared to use and lose junk. But I do miss the glory days of both companies.

Anyway, this knife was apparently only offered in 95. The sheath is very similar to the Bushman pattern.

 

[1stID]

Couple more Cold Steels. First up is a clip point serrerated folder. It's a first year model - can't see it in the photo, but the thumb stud is only on one side, and is screwed in. CS probably had them falling out, so they soon went to a double stud and glued or welded or something-ed in.

 

[1stID]

Next up is a Black Bear Classic. CS has made several versions of this knife, with the first version I've seen in their catalogs from 1995. It was priced at $220, which was quite a bit of money for the time, and came in a leather sheath, complete with a sharpening stone, so you could both ruin your edge and cut your fingers while in the field.

Later on, CS made a Carbon V and epoxy coated version, as they often did with their patterns, and called it the OSS. These came out in 2004 by my reading of their catalogs.

I'd bought a while back a Taiwan version of the knife, with the polished stainless blade, mostly because it was only 80 bucks or so on eBay. I never though much of the blade pattern or sub hilt, and thought it sort of mall ninja goofy looking. But once I got it in and waved it around to the horror of my wife ("You'll put your eye out!"), I actually liked it. It is a wicked looking blade, fully sharpened on the top edge, and at 8 inches longer than about anything CS made then except for the Trailmaster and early Magnum Tanto.

Later on, I found and bought the Carbon V blacked out version. Then a few weeks ago I saw this beauty on eBay. The knife looked nice but the sheath was their Kydex version, which doesn't have the same class as the leather one, plus how and I supposed to dull my blade and slice my fingers without the sharpening stone? But I bit a moderate amount and won it.

Holy moly, it's a very nice knife. This version, which I date as early as 2006 from the San Mail steel, has a lot more heft and feel than the other too, I guess from the mica handles instead of the rubber. Awesome looking knife, and wicked sharp on the top edge too. Maybe I'll keep my eyes peeled for the leather sheath with a beat up blade, and pair them up.

Shot of all three blades - Taiwan version at the top, Carbon V version, and Japanese version, in San Mai steel.

 

[jlauffer]

There was also a Taiwan version of the BBC, in 400 Series Stainless. I received a sale flyer back in the mid to late 90s with the Taiwan one for $100 so I bought one, as the Japan version was twice the price. Many years later I got a Japan version, and was able to compare them...the Taiwan version was just as nice. They also did a run of R1's in Taiwan.

 

[1stID]

I want to say the first versions of the R1 and Black Bear were made in Taiwan, when everything else was being made in Japan or the US. Later on, CS had both made in Japan.

Got a few more coming in next week. Another Gen 1 Trailmaster - didn't need it but it was 200 bucks or so and in great shape, so it's worth that much just for the quality of the blade. And a 9" Oyabun, with a black epoxy finish and in Carbon V. I have the 9" stainless version that was MIJ. Was under 200 so sold!

I was bidding last week on a nice 12" tanto, with the 90's style leather sheath. The price got too high for me and was won at 375, which wasn't bad, as you don't see too many 12" versions.

I'm still stunned the Imperial Tanto went for $2900 a few week ago. They generally run a grand, with the Imperial Tai Pan being 1500-1800. That Tanto was the most expensive sale I've seen so far for any Cold Steel knife.

 

[jlauffer]

I want to say the first versions of the R1 and Black Bear were made in Taiwan, when everything else was being made in Japan or the US. Later on, CS had both made in Japan.

Could be, but since they already had a bunch of stuff being made in Japan, seems odd that those 2 would start in Taiwan. I always figured they were already being made in Japan, and the Taiwan ones were test runs to check the quality of Taiwan production. At the time those were the high end of the CS offerings, since they had micarta handles. So if Taiwan could do those well, they could do anything. But we'll probably never know for sure...

 

[1stID]

If you look in the 1995 CS catalog, page 34 for the R1 knife, it says on the side Taiwan. and then on the next page about the Black Bear Classic, while it doesn't say where it's made and there are no markings on the blade, the write up says "we export the mica from the USA and the premium steel from Japan." So it wasn't made in either country, and I've seen photos of the BBC with Taiwan markings. And this was in 1995, when CS was having anything not Carbon V or low end like the shoves and battle axes, made in Japan, so the weren't having issues yet with Japanese production.

I'm not sure if there are earlier than 95 versions of these two - the 93-94 catalog doesn't list them, nor the 88. So I think 95 was the first year.

Might just be a matter of the factories that CS was using in Japan didn't have the capacity to work on those two lines, so CS had the same type of steel exported to Taiwan for assembly, then later on some capacity opened up and they had it all made in Japan.