old cold steel tanto and old gerber guardian 2

bammann45

bammann45

Joined
Oct 29, 2005
Messages
881
I know CS products get mixed reviews on the forums. I have a CS tanto from ~1988 which my parents got me as a Xmas gift -- I was in the 8th grade at the time and a bit of a maniac.... hmmm... I am still a maniac. Anyways, it is marked cold steel, ventura california. The bolsters and end cap are solid brass and the handle is wrapped in a tacky rubber grip. The leather sheath it came with has slowly fallen apart over the years. Is there a difference in quality between this one and the current ones?

Secondly, from around the same time period, 88-89, I got a Gerber Guardian 2. It seems like Gerbers reputation is often not well regarded on the forums either. It is a long, double edge dagger ~7" blade with a black coated aluminum handled. The blade is marked as "Designed by RW Loveless". It came with a reinforced black nylon sheath.

Any comments on the quality, value etc of these knives? They are both very sharp and seem well made. I am just wondering if they are from a bygone era of both companies....
 
Yes, the Cold Steel line has improved immeasurably. Their materials are very good nowadays and I like them, for the most part.

Regarding the Gerbers, "Loveless" is an appropriate moniker. They used to make good knives, though somewhat lackluster in design, but are excellent knives to avoid. They're just as lackluster now, only they're made from all-in-all much cheaper materials. Their Paraframe is, in my opinion, the worst folding knife I've ever used. And I got my first two locking knives at a Dollar Store!

If you can find one, the old Carbon V tanto fixed blade was a solid, basic knife. And their G.I. Tantos can be had for around twenty bucks and they're good to pack away in your bug-out bag and put in the trunk of your car.

For folders, I like the Voyager 5-inch, the Vaquero Grande and the Recon 1. But stay away from their San Mai III knives. It's a gimmack, and your money could be much better spent on a better knife.
 
i like the old gerber guardians myself, not a bad little dagger at all, agree gerbers new stuff isnt like the old.
 
I like the old gerber and cold steel line ups. They both have some collectability. probably more so with the gerber guardian 2. Is the cold steel the standard, recon, or master tanto?
 
The cold steel is the old "standard" model. Regular sized blade for that time and brass boster and end cap.
 
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