Observations on a seldom discussed, great camp folder an old style knife

[Geoff in Philly]

For the past 8 years I have periodically used and shelved a CS "twistmaster", CS's version of the opinel. I have both the 5' and 3.?" styles. They are Carbon V with knobby, rounded, zytel handles. Every time I get a new knife, the CSt/m gets put in the back of the drawer. Eventually, it cycles to the front. It is slow to operate, but has 0 play once locked open. I do mean "0". It has less play than all 3 of the sebenzas I have owned, my Bob "T" ATCF, all my BM's and MT's. It is solid to the bone, It has a flat grind with a high bevel and takes and holds a great edge. Thin blades are great. Presently, I am on an island in western Canada where fire making (for fun and warmth) is welcome. The t/m whittles fuzz stix like nobody's business. Food prep is a whiz. Oh yes, the blade is stained, but it rocks. It is not the toughest, fastest, tacticalest, baddest, out there, but it is a helluva user, even if it would rust wickedly if not cared for. But, what's wrong with that? I use appropiate lubrication...

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[bmcneil]

Hey, you don't have to convince me that Cold Steel makes an excellent knife for the working man!

 

[Hoodoo]

Great thread Geof. No doubt we often lose sight of functionality because we get caught up in the hype. Functionality has always been my main criterion for knife purchases, i.e., what will I use it for. Actually I'm not familiar with this CS model. I've always been a big fan of Opinel, though.

I'm surprised about the play in the Sebenza. Mine is rock solid. There is a lot of hype on the Sebenza but the reason I like them is that they are extremely functional, solid and dependable (so far

). I like the thin blade and the hollow grind because it serves most of my daily knife work. However, a small Opinel would too, although it would have to be sharpened a little more frequently. No biggie though. I have a friend who has been carrying an Opinel daily for 20 years. Same one. Never heard him complain once and I think he still takes it out just to admire it.

In simplicity there is often great beauty.

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Hoodoo

And so, to all outdoor folks, the knife is the most important item of equipment.

Ellsworth Jaeger - Wildwood Wisdom

 

[fudo]

I bought several of the twistmasters on closeout several years ago. They are great users. I think that the reason CS has a hard time selling them is that it takes two men and a boy to open them, using both hands. The pivot could stand just a little play.

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict

 

[Recluse]

I have a first generation 5" clip point model, and I love it to death. I think of it as a "cyborg Opinel" because of the marriage of a good, old-fashioned design with modern materials. I totally agree on the zero blade play AND the propensity to rust. I made the mistake of using it hard and putting it away wet only ONCE (when I was young and foolish

) and I paid for it. It is definitely a two handed opener but mine is pretty smooth all things considered.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I have one of the original large Twistmasters and one of the medium, both clip points. Great users. Sort of like Opinels on steroids, with better steel. The big grip on the five inch blade is excellent for major skinning jobs. Nice to see CS is again offering them in a variety of configurations and sizes: clip, drop point, tanto.