Outdoorsman is a butter knife and customer service is abysmal

A

alou1

Joined
Mar 16, 2023
Messages
13
It's been 20 years since I bought a Cold Steel product and so I decided to pick up the Outdoorsman which caught my eye. It's advertised as being razor sharp which in my experience, is believable, especially given the price. When I received it, the blade was so dull it couldn't cut paper. It was as sharp as the bone breaker. I did however like the feature of the sheath where there is a ribbed thumb rest that you can push to help extract the knife from the sheath. I figured the dullness must have been a fluke so I called for a return label. After being promised the label will be shipped "by the end of the day" 3 days in a row, it finally arrived in my inbox. I returned it and a week after they received it, nothing. No package, no communication. I called and they said they're doing me a favor and shipping a new one rather than sharpening the one I got, which was not only never mentioned, but it takes weeks if not months to get back if going the resharpening route. I got my replacement and ta-da! Not only was it dull, it was DULLER than the first one! And to top it off, the knife was stuck in the sheath and had to be ripped out. Then Cold Steel sent me an email asking me to review the knife. I gave it a 1 star and explained everything in detail. But shockingly, the review was not posted. Hmmmm....... WTF? Did Cold Steel become a joke over the past 20 years?
 
alou1 said:
It's been 20 years since I bought a Cold Steel product and so I decided to pick up the Outdoorsman which caught my eye. It's advertised as being razor sharp which in my experience, is believable, especially given the price. When I received it, the blade was so dull it couldn't cut paper. It was as sharp as the bone breaker. I did however like the feature of the sheath where there is a ribbed thumb rest that you can push to help extract the knife from the sheath. I figured the dullness must have been a fluke so I called for a return label. After being promised the label will be shipped "by the end of the day" 3 days in a row, it finally arrived in my inbox. I returned it and a week after they received it, nothing. No package, no communication. I called and they said they're doing me a favor and shipping a new one rather than sharpening the one I got, which was not only never mentioned, but it takes weeks if not months to get back if going the resharpening route. I got my replacement and ta-da! Not only was it dull, it was DULLER than the first one! And to top it off, the knife was stuck in the sheath and had to be ripped out. Then Cold Steel sent me an email asking me to review the knife. I gave it a 1 star and explained everything in detail. But shockingly, the review was not posted. Hmmmm....... WTF? Did Cold Steel become a joke over the past 20 years?
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No, only over the last few years, since the GSM buyout, at least for customer service. However, product quality has remained pretty good from what I've seen personally, and heard from others. But sheath issue claims have been around since well before GSM. Too tight, too loose, and dulling of the blade when inserting/removing. For too tight, there are little nubs inside the sheath throat that can be sanded/trimmed to loosen it up.
 
alou1 said:
It's been 20 years since I bought a Cold Steel product and so I decided to pick up the Outdoorsman which caught my eye. It's advertised as being razor sharp which in my experience, is believable, especially given the price. When I received it, the blade was so dull it couldn't cut paper. It was as sharp as the bone breaker. I did however like the feature of the sheath where there is a ribbed thumb rest that you can push to help extract the knife from the sheath. I figured the dullness must have been a fluke so I called for a return label. After being promised the label will be shipped "by the end of the day" 3 days in a row, it finally arrived in my inbox. I returned it and a week after they received it, nothing. No package, no communication. I called and they said they're doing me a favor and shipping a new one rather than sharpening the one I got, which was not only never mentioned, but it takes weeks if not months to get back if going the resharpening route. I got my replacement and ta-da! Not only was it dull, it was DULLER than the first one! And to top it off, the knife was stuck in the sheath and had to be ripped out. Then Cold Steel sent me an email asking me to review the knife. I gave it a 1 star and explained everything in detail. But shockingly, the review was not posted. Hmmmm....... WTF? Did Cold Steel become a joke over the past 20 years?
Click to expand...
Yes, Cold Steel has turned out poorer products than before, but not for the reason you might think. CS was never a knife company in the sense that Buck is a knife company. CS makes knives in the way Nike makes shoes. CS always contracted with (as opposed to employed) designers, worked out a product, and contracted a manufacturer at the lowest possible price. What happened in house was a marketing process that named the product, told a story about it, photographed it in exciting settings, and placed it a cultural context that made people want to have it. Inventory was also in house. Your knife shipped from Ventura CA. What made CS products good was a dictatorial leader (Lynn Thompson) who was dedicated to his own life story, to good products, and to a company with a good reputation. Thompson was a lifetyle salesman, and if the products were poor, everyone would see through the entertaining BS (and it was BS) and recognize the grift. But with decent products, we could feel comfortable pretending to live in the illusion of life he was selling us (outdoorsman, mercenary, spy, cowboy, samurai, big game hunter, etc.). CS website and paper catalogue and the products in them were my grown up version of all the accessories I had for my big Hasbro G.I. Joe in the mid '70s. Thompson stopped at almost nothing to keep crappy products out of his catalogues because he had to in order to keep us believing the CS lifestyle myth. And it worked! There were products that were failures, but not because of bad manufacturing; they just didn't appeal to us.

Thompson is gone, so there is no dictator to hold manufacturing responsible for sharp edges, good accessories, timely shipping, and so on. Your knife might be drop shipped from the manufacturer. Even if there were anyone committed to the brand, they would not have the ability to exert positive influence on what arrives at your house.

So, while CS is no more a marketing screen for a largely offshore manufacturing mill than in Thompson's day, what made it work well as a source of good products had no institutional permanence. Eventually CS will disappear altogether, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
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That’s really disappointing. I have a bad feeling that even after I ship it back the second time, I’m still going to get a dull replacement. Don’t even trust that the San Mai is even done correctly. Might just sell it.
 
alou1 said:
That’s really disappointing. I have a bad feeling that even after I ship it back the second time, I’m still going to get a dull replacement. Don’t even trust that the San Mai is even done correctly. Might just sell it.
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If you can relate to my lifestyle/G.I. Joe metaphor, you might see your way to living with the knife. I personally really like the Outdoorsman design and all its features. I'm considering getting one in the standard steel. Since I have never liked CS's sharpening (grinds have always been too obtuse, even in in the '80s), the first thing I would do is put a new edge on it. Plus, if the edge is dull from the factory, you can rest assured that no one oversharpened it and possibly burned away the heat treatment. Finally, the knife deserves a good leather sheath, so don't worry about the one it came with. In short, I propose you keep it and make it yours in every way that means something to you. Then share your work with us!
 
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Not to throw this thread off track, but I recently ordered 2 AD-10 Lites (Tanto) at an excellent price. Received them and they were beautiful. But after flicking them open with a loud solid lock-up, I absolutely couldn’t disengage the lock on either one. Had to use a rubber mallet and smack the lock bar to release the lock. Was so disappointed, immediately returned both, just didn’t want to fool with them. On the other hand I also purchased 2 Mini Leathernecks (Spearpoint) and they exceeded my expectations, felt very solid for such a small boot knife. Only thing I felt may need improving is another 1/2” added to length of handle. But can’t complain since it is a true budget model. I think it’s just hit or miss now. My CS collection is done, satisfied with what I have.
 
A lot of people will come on here & say "Just sharpen it yourself" but that's not acceptable. When you buy a knife, it should have a WORKING EDGE. Your brand-new knife should be able to do what its primary function is & that's TO CUT! I HATE when I order a brand-new knife & it arrives dull AF.
 
The Zieg said:
Yes, Cold Steel has turned out poorer products than before, but not for the reason you might think. CS was never a knife company in the sense that Buck is a knife company. CS makes knives in the way Nike makes shoes. CS always contracted with (as opposed to employed) designers, worked out a product, and contracted a manufacturer at the lowest possible price. What happened in house was a marketing process that named the product, told a story about it, photographed it in exciting settings, and placed it a cultural context that made people want to have it. Inventory was also in house. Your knife shipped from Ventura CA. What made CS products good was a dictatorial leader (Lynn Thompson) who was dedicated to his own life story, to good products, and to a company with a good reputation. Thompson was a lifetyle salesman, and if the products were poor, everyone would see through the entertaining BS (and it was BS) and recognize the grift. But with decent products, we could feel comfortable pretending to live in the illusion of life he was selling us (outdoorsman, mercenary, spy, cowboy, samurai, big game hunter, etc.). CS website and paper catalogue and the products in them were my grown up version of all the accessories I had for my big Hasbro G.I. Joe in the mid '70s. Thompson stopped at almost nothing to keep crappy products out of his catalogues because he had to in order to keep us believing the CS lifestyle myth. And it worked! There were products that were failures, but not because of bad manufacturing; they just didn't appeal to us.

Thompson is gone, so there is no dictator to hold manufacturing responsible for sharp edges, good accessories, timely shipping, and so on. Your knife might be drop shipped from the manufacturer. Even if there were anyone committed to the brand, they would not have the ability to exert positive influence on what arrives at your house.

So, while CS is no more a marketing screen for a largely offshore manufacturing mill than in Thompson's day, what made it work well as a source of good products had no institutional permanence. Eventually CS will disappear altogether, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
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Ouch! I feel...so...empty or hollow. Maybe a nice drive will make me feel better, but without leaving the garage, or opening the door...😭
 
JTR357, u get new dull knives too? Man that sucks! I’ve noticed made in US knives come pretty sharp. My Lacy Szabo Taiwanese Spyderco was not sharp. Seems to be a trend with expensive knives and country of origin….
 
I guess I've been really lucky? Never had a problem with Cold Steel Folders coming anything but sharp. I really like my Colossus. Of course if you know how long ago those were discontinued, then you know the last time I brought a CS product. I do have their 1917 Frontier Bowie that my wife bought for me, but tbh, I knew that wasn't going to come sharp. Same for their tomahawks and machetes, but they are decent working tools. I've been wanting a custom tomahawk with a small hammer poll that is around a lb. Even Cold Steel's Trail Hawk weighs 23.6 oz. The handles usually require fitting (I don't mind).
Ryan Johnson's company makes nice tomahawks. Something you're proud to have and use. I have an olive drab ATC Model 1.
 
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JTR357 said:
A lot of people will come on here & say "Just sharpen it yourself" but that's not acceptable. When you buy a knife, it should have a WORKING EDGE. Your brand-new knife should be able to do what its primary function is & that's TO CUT! I HATE when I order a brand-new knife & it arrives dull AF.
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Agreed, but that's no longer a reasonable expectation with CS.
 
alou1 said:
JTR357, u get new dull knives too? Man that sucks! I’ve noticed made in US knives come pretty sharp. My Lacy Szabo Taiwanese Spyderco was not sharp. Seems to be a trend with expensive knives and country of origin….
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It's rare but it happens.
 
jlauffer said:
For too tight, there are little nubs inside the sheath throat that can be sanded/trimmed to loosen it up.
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Bought a brand new Master Hunter when they offered them in 3V only to discover the little nubs chewed up the rubber handle the first time the knife was inserted. I was so disgusted it's never even been used. It was hard to buy another Cold Steel product again. What a scummy design.
 
The Zieg said:
Yes, Cold Steel has turned out poorer products than before, but not for the reason you might think. CS was never a knife company in the sense that Buck is a knife company. CS makes knives in the way Nike makes shoes. CS always contracted with (as opposed to employed) designers, worked out a product, and contracted a manufacturer at the lowest possible price. What happened in house was a marketing process that named the product, told a story about it, photographed it in exciting settings, and placed it a cultural context that made people want to have it. Inventory was also in house. Your knife shipped from Ventura CA. What made CS products good was a dictatorial leader (Lynn Thompson) who was dedicated to his own life story, to good products, and to a company with a good reputation. Thompson was a lifetyle salesman, and if the products were poor, everyone would see through the entertaining BS (and it was BS) and recognize the grift. But with decent products, we could feel comfortable pretending to live in the illusion of life he was selling us (outdoorsman, mercenary, spy, cowboy, samurai, big game hunter, etc.). CS website and paper catalogue and the products in them were my grown up version of all the accessories I had for my big Hasbro G.I. Joe in the mid '70s. Thompson stopped at almost nothing to keep crappy products out of his catalogues because he had to in order to keep us believing the CS lifestyle myth. And it worked! There were products that were failures, but not because of bad manufacturing; they just didn't appeal to us.

Thompson is gone, so there is no dictator to hold manufacturing responsible for sharp edges, good accessories, timely shipping, and so on. Your knife might be drop shipped from the manufacturer. Even if there were anyone committed to the brand, they would not have the ability to exert positive influence on what arrives at your house.

So, while CS is no more a marketing screen for a largely offshore manufacturing mill than in Thompson's day, what made it work well as a source of good products had no institutional permanence. Eventually CS will disappear altogether, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
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you're description of Lynn reminds me of Buckarooo Bonzai
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