Old School Recon Scout... Sterile. What can you guys tell me about this knife?

[kdstrick]

Hey fellas, I posted this question over in Levine's section of the forum before Cougar advised that you guys may be able to help out with this.

I know this is one of the original Recon Scouts made by cold steel. I got it from my uncle in the early 90's but I have no idea how long he owned it before I got it. Notice it is sterile. Was this common in this knife? Also, I've never seen one with this type of snap on the sheath, It is flat and silver in color. Any information about the year built, steel, etc... is very welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks again....

 

[gunfixrjoe]

That is almost certainly a Carbon V blade. Hopefully someone with more info will come along soon! Nice catch

 

[Kwon Kwang]

The first Recon Scouts were indeed sterile. They were issued to US troops during Desert Storm. USA-made, production starting in 1990, out of Carbon V.

You have a very rare knife that should be cherished.

 

[Bigfattyt]

The sheath looks just like the one that came with my old Trail Master with a sanmai blade.

 

[Indiana Joe]

I don't see markings on the blade -- is that what the "sterile" means?

 

[DShiflet]

I don't see markings on the blade -- is that what the "sterile" means?

Yes. That way, if the military decides to name the knife the Mk 4 or the Mk 18 or whatever(as they are prone to do), they won't have "Cold Steel Recon Scout" stamped on the blade.

 

[Mike Sastre]

Your knife is the second run of sterile shortened Trail Masters that became the Recon Scout. I don't believe the first run even had the name yet. They were given to some SpecOps troops in the first Gulf War, who apparently liked them, and the knife went into production, hence the name. Your version is the one that went into production. The original ultra rare first issue had a very subtle recurve to the blade, and the black finish was more like blueing than the baked on finish of yours. The blade steel is indeed the venerable Carbon V. Here's a picture comparing each sterile version and another showing current CS issue with a straight ricasso. You can see the subtle recurve in the lower original sterile Recon. I carry mine in one of my Southern Comfort sheaths.

 

[Mike Sastre]

Yes. That way, if the military decides to name the knife the Mk 4 or the Mk 18 or whatever(as they are prone to do), they won't have "Cold Steel Recon Scout" stamped on the blade.

SpecOps troops will a lot of times cary unmarked (sterile) equipment so there will be no country of origin attributable to them.

 

[GIRLYmann]

that's a real beaut mike.

 

[kdstrick]

^^^^^^^^^ you guys are the best! Thanks for the help, I had been wondering about this for quite a while.


.

 

[MarkG1965]

I had one back in the day. Great knife. I Know I got mine in the 1991 time frame.

 

[daniel.milligan]

View attachment 675783 Just stumbled onto this and from what I've read it is a 1st issue. Any additional info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

[unklfranco]

The recon scout is one of the best knives I ever got from cold steel. It would be great if they made a special edition in L6 or S7.

 

[Charlie Mike]

The recon scout is one of the best knives I ever got from cold steel. It would be great if they made a special edition in L6 or S7.

I second this request! S7 is tough shit.

 

[bramley02]

great piece of history. few coverage on this beauty.

I came across another version of sterile: no false blade on the tip. I bet that would be earlier version.

now most attention is on: batoning, batoning, batoning.

Your knife is the second run of sterile shortened Trail Masters that became the Recon Scout. I don't believe the first run even had the name yet. They were given to some SpecOps troops in the first Gulf War, who apparently liked them, and the knife went into production, hence the name. Your version is the one that went into production. The original ultra rare first issue had a very subtle recurve to the blade, and the black finish was more like blueing than the baked on finish of yours. The blade steel is indeed the venerable Carbon V. Here's a picture comparing each sterile version and another showing current CS issue with a straight ricasso. You can see the subtle recurve in the lower original sterile Recon. I carry mine in one of my Southern Comfort sheaths.

View attachment 370728 View attachment 370729 View attachment 370730