New Espada XL S35VN I received has the New Cold Steel Logo

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DayofReckoning

Joined
Mar 11, 2021
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179
Received a new Espada XL S35VN this morning and was surprised to see it has the new Cold Steel Logo printed on the blade. I figured that they would eventually start printing out the new logo, just didn't know when. Looks like they have started.

Anyone else have any new cold steel knives with the new logo?
 
If you don't mind my asking, what address did it's packaging have? I believe they are now based out of Texas, where as before it was Ventura, California.

Also, if you could share a few pics of your new knife, that would be awesome... And thanks in advance, sir :)

Btw, I have an XL Espada on order now, and should have it in hand early next week. I'll definitely come back to this post to let you know what markings I get on mine.
 
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The packaging looks exactly the same as it has for years now, along with the old Ventura CA address. Was very surprised by this, as I figured they would change the logo on the packaging as well.

Whether you get the new logo on your Espada will depend on whether it's the G10/Aus10 version or Polished S35VN. I say that because the S35Vn version was totally sold out everywhere for a little while there, and these are the new batches of knives, whereas the G10/Aus10 version was never sold out, so you might end up getting one that's been on shelf for a while.

I'll try to grab a few pics later. Nothing special to show though. I'm pretty neutral on it, part of me would have rather have the old logo version, the other half likes that it's something new that 99% of Espadas don't have right now.

My sample QA wise seems pretty darn good. Blade grinds are all perfect, blade centering is just a tiny hair off, but very acceptable.
 
I have the same model as yours coming.... So, I guess I know what to expect now.
As for the packaging, they are probably waiting to exhaust that older inventory.
Thanks for the info :)
 
Since this posted thread pertains to the OP's new Cold Steel XL Espada, I'm putting up this pondering question I have rolling around in my head, (which can likely only be answered with guesses anyway).
CS has offered these for quite a few years now. They also have been available in different sizes and materials. Their highest priced version has been their full size 7.5" blade 'XL Espada', having aluminum frame/bolsters and polished G-10 handle scales, (with different blade materials throughout the years of it's existence). It's this particular version I wonder about... I wonder as to how many total of these have been likely produced up to this point?
Of course there's the more affordable XL Espada version, having the cost savings mostly done in it's handle construction, and I believe a different blade material. That lower cost likely makes that version more acceptable to more folks, and likely makes it a better seller overall. But, my pondering of "how many made?", is focused on their premium XL Espada with the aluminum bolsters/frame and polished G-10 handle scales.
With it's S35VN blade steel, the current XL Espada' MSRP is a whopping $649.99! Now, I know that the actual "street price" is currently much less, (more like half that amount), but it's still not exactly an inexpensive item. It's also not exactly the size that the average EDC person chooses to personally carry. So, many, (if not most), of the folks that purchase one of these, are likely doing so for other reasons, (neat collectable for their collection, the wow factor, the novelty thing, and so on).
I do wonder how many folks have paid the $ to be a part of the ownership crowd of this knife, (again, I'm speaking here of the full sized XL Espada with the aluminum frame/bolsters & polished G-10 handle scales).
It's probably a question I'll never get a true answer on, since that information will likely never become public.

I've asked many of my friends that are knife guys, that not only edc, but that also buy knives on a pretty regular basis, if they own this knife... But none of them have personally owned one of these themselves.

If we ever get a Cold Steel Representative to come in and use this forum, there may be a slight chance that a rough estimate could be shared.

It's current "street price" seems to be holding at about half the price of the MSRP, and I would guess that the vendors that recently received their inventory of them, had secured their dealer pricing months ago.
As negative world situations continue, (shortages of raw materials, work force slow downs due to Covid outbreaks, shipping rates increasing, inflation/US Dollar devaluation, fuel costs rising, and so on), I could see the dealer prices rising on Cold Steel's vendors. Although the MSRP will in all likelihood remain the same throughout the rest of this year, the possible rising dealer's prices on the vendors would most likely be passed onto the consumer as rising prices at the retail level. So, (as an example), while the S35VN 'XL Espada' can currently be had in the range of $330 to $380, that price could increase to something like $400 to $450, (or even more).
All just guesses, of course... but I think they are realistic guesses.

As for how many were made?... If I was to guess, (and I mean truly just a guess), I'd say maybe a total of three to four thousand.

Btw... I know most of you already know this, but for those of you that don'tt... Espada is a Spanish language word, it meaning 'Sword'.
I would say it's a fitting title for these beastly sized folding knives, especially the XL versions! :)
 
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Spoke too soon on the QA guys. I noticed yesterday, after only a handful of times gently opening/closing the blade, that the knife has a loud rattle when shaken. Obviously one of the pins inside is at fault (it's not the pocket clip or blade rattling). I'm not tearing it apart and trying to fix it, it's going right back in the box and I'm sending it back for a refund/return.

Hopefully the replacement won't have any issues. Damn, very frustrating.
 
DayofReckoning said:
Spoke too soon on the QA guys. I noticed yesterday, after only a handful of times gently opening/closing the blade, that the knife has a loud rattle when shaken. Obviously one of the pins inside is at fault (it's not the pocket clip or blade rattling). I'm not tearing it apart and trying to fix it, it's going right back in the box and I'm sending it back for a refund/return.

Hopefully the replacement won't have any issues. Damn, very frustrating.
Click to expand...
That can be frustrating. I’ve noticed that on some triad knives I’ve had, and the offender was the blade stop pin having room to move side to side. Often, there is grease in there to stop it from moving when shaken. Grease can be added to keep it from rattling.

Of course, if this happens when the knife is closed, then it’s likely something else rattling. Maybe the blade hitting the sides, which can usually be tuned out by tightening the pivot.
 
jux t said:
That can be frustrating. I’ve noticed that on some triad knives I’ve had, and the offender was the blade stop pin having room to move side to side. Often, there is grease in there to stop it from moving when shaken. Grease can be added to keep it from rattling.

Of course, if this happens when the knife is closed, then it’s likely something else rattling. Maybe the blade hitting the sides, which can usually be tuned out by tightening the pivot.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it for sure is.

The rattling is when the blade is closed. Definitely not the blade hitting the sides though, I ruled that out. Grease would probably fix it, but I'm just going to play it safe and get an exchange.
 
Yes when in doubt send it back as a brand new knife should have no issues. Out of about 15 CS knives I've had to send one back for grinding issues but that's it. Hopefully you get a nice one back with no issues because that's not a cheap knife at all.
 
Sorry to hear about your Espada. It's generally an easy fix -- it sounds like the little pin is loose -- but still not acceptable on a collector. If you were gonna carry and use it I would say tear into it so you can polish and properly grease the action.
 
I received my specimen today... Mine too came in a Ventura, California Cold Steel box.
The blade, just like yours, has the new Cold Steel logo on it.
I now get to wondering, could Lynn Thompson have been the one to have planned this new logo for the knives? I mean, yes, it could be the brainchild of GSM, but with the sale of Cold Steel being done so close to the end of 2020, it could be just as likely that Lynn was the one planning on the slightly different logo. He seemed to always come up with new ways of keeping fresh, keeping things from becoming too stagnant. So, that would be a pretty benign enough question that maybe we can ask a CS Rep, (if they ever come in here to allow us to pick their brains on things) :)

I did an inspection of my new knife, and thus far, I can only say that I find it impeccable... It's not an inexpensive knife, but I find it's uniqueness to be worth the fee I paid for the admittance to it's ownership :)
 
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I received a new Espada XL S35VN today. Mine also came in a Ventura CA box, and the blade has the new logo on it.
Question for you guys, what logo is on the pocket clip of your Espada?
Mine has an old logo.
 
Moneycat said:
I received a new Espada XL S35VN today. Mine also came in a Ventura CA box, and the blade has the new logo on it.
Question for you guys, what logo is on the pocket clip of your Espada?
Mine has an old logo.
Click to expand...
I have the large version in s35vn and it has a stainless steel clip with cold steel written on it, not coated nice shiny stainless. Hope this helps some and I've had mine for a short while as well.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Since this posted thread pertains to the OP's new Cold Steel XL Espada, I'm putting up this pondering question I have rolling around in my head, (which can likely only be answered with guesses anyway).
CS has offered these for quite a few years now. They also have been available in different sizes and materials. Their highest priced version has been their full size 7.5" blade 'XL Espada', having aluminum frame/bolsters and polished G-10 handle scales, (with different blade materials throughout the years of it's existence). It's this particular version I wonder about... I wonder as to how many total of these have been likely produced up to this point?
Of course there's the more affordable XL Espada version, having the cost savings mostly done in it's handle construction, and I believe a different blade material. That lower cost likely makes that version more acceptable to more folks, and likely makes it a better seller overall. But, my pondering of "how many made?", is focused on their premium XL Espada with the aluminum bolsters/frame and polished G-10 handle scales.
With it's S35VN blade steel, the current XL Espada' MSRP is a whopping $649.99! Now, I know that the actual "street price" is currently much less, (more like half that amount), but it's still not exactly an inexpensive item. It's also not exactly the size that the average EDC person chooses to personally carry. So, many, (if not most), of the folks that purchase one of these, are likely doing so for other reasons, (neat collectable for their collection, the wow factor, the novelty thing, and so on).
I do wonder how many folks have paid the $ to be a part of the ownership crowd of this knife, (again, I'm speaking here of the full sized XL Espada with the aluminum frame/bolsters & polished G-10 handle scales).
It's probably a question I'll never get a true answer on, since that information will likely never become public.

I've asked many of my friends that are knife guys, that not only edc, but that also buy knives on a pretty regular basis, if they own this knife... But none of them have personally owned one of these themselves.

If we ever get a Cold Steel Representative to come in and use this forum, there may be a slight chance that a rough estimate could be shared.

It's current "street price" seems to be holding at about half the price of the MSRP, and I would guess that the vendors that recently received their inventory of them, had secured their dealer pricing months ago.
As negative world situations continue, (shortages of raw materials, work force slow downs due to Covid outbreaks, shipping rates increasing, inflation/US Dollar devaluation, fuel costs rising, and so on), I could see the dealer prices rising on Cold Steel's vendors. Although the MSRP will in all likelihood remain the same throughout the rest of this year, the possible rising dealer's prices on the vendors would most likely be passed onto the consumer as rising prices at the retail level. So, (as an example), while the S35VN 'XL Espada' can currently be had in the range of $330 to $380, that price could increase to something like $400 to $450, (or even more).
All just guesses, of course... but I think they are realistic guesses.

As for how many were made?... If I was to guess, (and I mean truly just a guess), I'd say maybe a total of three to four thousand.

Btw... I know most of you already know this, but for those of you that don'tt... Espada is a Spanish language word, it meaning 'Sword'.
I would say it's a fitting title for these beastly sized folding knives, especially the XL versions! :)
Click to expand...
I got mine a while back, its CTS XHP, I do carry it but not often.

IMG_1527.JPG
 
Does anyone know if the Aus10 version of the XL Espada is still being made or not? I'm looking at it because of the traction the handles afford compared to the S35vn model.
Thanks
 
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