New Member with a question re: CS

W

wyophile

Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
4
I just joined the forum, and want to thank you all for the valuable info you make available through this site. I hope to contribute.

Since I've never been a part of a blade forum in the past, I have what may be a novice inquiry for all of you who have a great deal more experience: I've seen many folks post negative comments pertaining generally to Cold Steel. Can folks share their experiences, or otherwise bases of their opinions?

I only have experience with one CS blade, so I don't have much to offer. In terms of context, I have Kershaws, BMs, Spydercos, a ZT 0350 and my hunting knife is a Buck Vanguard. I like all my knives for different reasons, but remain curious about a couple of CS offerings.

Thanks again.
 
I own a few CS knives , older Recon , Bushman , the older ringlock knife - cant recall name -

I like them all , they have all done what I expect them to do.

I think the bulk of the negativity is the extreme opposite of fanboyism.

Some folks tend to jump on bandwagons whether in the positive or to the negative without having much more reason than they enjoy the controversy.

My two cents :)





oh and... I pay no mind to that stuff , if I like something whether its a knife or a particular brand of beer , it is my choice and I do not let the likes/dislikes of others sway that.


tostig
 
I've never had a Cold Steel, so I can't provide any personal, first-hand opinion on their products.

What I have seen on bladeforums and elsewhere is some negativity towards Cold Steel. I think it comes down to poorer quality control. I've heard many more stories of Cold Steel products breaking under normal use than other companies' products. Cold Steel also outsources much of their manufacturing which also bothers some people. I'm sure there are other reasons why people dislike Cold Steel but those are the two big ones that pop into my head.
 
Much of the controversy around CS surrounds Lynn Thompson, his attitude and the blantantly deceptive copy cat marketing practices of CS; not so much the products themselves.
 
A lot of members agree that some of cold steels products are very nice, example being the Recon 1 folders. Most of us, however, don't fall for the whole "way of the warrior" advertising that cold steel/lynn thompson uses. I've never had a problem with any of their knives and I find the ultra-lock to be very trusting and sturdy.
 
Cold Steel is one of several topics here on www.bladeforums.com that will always generate a passionate reponse. Discussion of the company usually morphs into a discussion of Lynn Thompson, Cold Steel's president, as is the case with these threads:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4856086

EDIT: The above link didn't work. Here are some related threads:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=671691&highlight=lynn+thompson
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=674431&highlight=lynn+thompson
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603116&highlight=lynn+thompson
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=453172&highlight=lynn+thompson
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=622410&highlight=lynn+thompson
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=604113&highlight=lynn+thompson
 
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Cold Steel is a mixed bag of great products and complete duds. The Voyager line is one example of knives that represent some of the best bang for your buck out there. Many of their other folders do not exhibit the same quality.
Just read up on a few reviews before picking something up.

As for Lynn T. Yes, he does a lot of dumb stuff. No, he's not as bad as some people make him out to be.
 
3mptin3ss said:
the products are usually well made and can be put to hard use.
Click to expand...

I have owned and used CS products since 1986 and found them to be very dependable and tough knives. I currently have 14 CS knives. :)

I don't get into the negitivity because I KNOW they are good knives and I really don't care what LCT does since I don't know him personally.
 
I've got an SRK, a Voyager, and a Trail Master Bowie, and I've had no problems with any of them. In fact, the SRK is one of the toughest knives I've owned. I've used it for several years, and with the exception of a few "battle scars" on the black coating on the blade, it has come through with flying colors.
 
I own a few CS blades, I like them, but there were some quality issues like uneven blade grinds on my Larado Bowie, and the horrible blade finish and edge sharpening that my katana came with. -also I was unaware before ordering that many of their blades are out-sourced to China.

But they still function very well, (after some sanding and sharpening), I enjoy using them, and I would still consider buying more in the future.
 
I have a couple of Cold Steel knives, and they're very good knives for the money. Both are in Carbon V steel, and they could easily last a lifetime of hard use. :thumbup:

The issue with Cold Steel, as stated before, is Lynn Thompson. I could care less about him; in the past, and now, he had some very nice, hardworking knife designs; but his whole 'Warrior Lifestyle' thing can be flushed, AFAIC.

Bear in mind that Cold Steel doesn't make any knives themselves, they're all contracted out from other manufacturers. There are many, MANY other makers & designers out there who make knives that are just as good, or better. That's what makes this place and our "hobby" (knives) so interesting & fun.

thx - cpr
 
Buy them if you like them. Like most other companies, they make some products that will fill a niche for you, and some that won't. You will get better advice asking about specific models than about a company as a whole. Emotional responses are inherently unprofessional, and relate to personal issues that won't help you pick and choose. We all do it, though.

Get a Sebenza! :D
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Buy them if you like them. Like most other companies, they make some products that will fill a niche for you, and some that won't. You will get better advice asking about specific models than about a company as a whole. Emotional responses are inherently unprofessional, and relate to personal issues that won't help you pick and choose. We all do it, though.

Get a Sebenza! :D
Click to expand...

How true. :thumbup:

Either a Sebenza or a Strider SmF anyway, can't lose either way. :D :thumbup:
 
I've handled a few of their designs and I kind of liked a couple but their not all that high on my list, a lot of their designs look a little too much like Lord of the Ring Goobie Ghoul weapons for me.

Plus I'm a little wary about a company that sells their products with a DVD called The Wattiors Edge, in their catalog.
 
They make some high end items that are worth the price, some that definitely arent. Most of their cheaper products actually work very well. That being said, I am of the group that thinks his marketing hurts our hobby, but I do still buy a product or two from them on the occasion.

I really like the Pocket Bushman that got generally horrible feedback. :D
 
Ankerson said:
How true. :thumbup:

Either a Sebenza or a Strider SmF anyway, can't lose either way. :D :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Oh no....now you've done it. You've said sebenza and strider in a cold steel thread. that has to one of the signs of the apocalypse. good thing it isn't 2012 or we'd all be dead by now. :)

To stay on topic. I do not currently own any cold steel products but I have in the past (Voyagers) and found them to be a good value. I doubt I'll be buying any more in the future as most of their designs don't appeal to me.
 
I feel that Cold Steel is a hit or a miss. Forgetting their "politics", their knives are either great or just OK depending on the model.
 
You will find very little negative about the knives. Most of them are very good knives.

The criticisms are usually ad hominem attacks against Lynn Thompson.

Some folks who dislike Thompson are unable to truthfully criticize C.S. knives, so they launch bitter hate campaigns against Mr. Thompson.

I own several CS knives, and I find them to be superior to most competitors' knives in the same price range.

So if you're buying a knife for the quality/price ratio, you can't go wrong with CS. Don't write off a good knife simply because someone here has a personal hatred of the company's owner.
 
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