Quality of ColdSteel?

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

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I used to think that ColdSteel was stupid, and dismissed them because of the rediculous videos, and names of the knives. But recently I've been going to the site every day. Thier knives look really cool and funtional. I'm also intrested in alot of thier swords and self defence weapons.

How would you guys rate the quality of CS work? How's the warranty, and how are the people at customer service?

And then I had a few questions about thier knives and weapons....

How does the tri-ad lock hold up? Is it like a modified compression lock?

How's thier VG-1? Is it similar to VG-10? What about thier AUS-8? SK5 carbon? Krupp 4116?

How do the knives them selves hold up? Blade play? Cracking handles?

Knives I'm thinking about in particular; Recon 1, Scimitar, Ultimate Hunter, Voyager series, Laredo Bowie, Master hunter, Spike Series, machetes, any of thier weapons like the spears, tomohawk, or the swords.

Thanks, I know this is alot of Q's.
 
I like a lot of CS knives. The handles tend to fit me better than most and while some of their stuff is a bit out there, they try things that others won't.
 
most of their stuff is well made and very strong. great folders.

i have the ti lite, scimitar, voyager bowie, ak47 and a medium vaquero, and i like them a lot. no play on any of them. the safemaker 2 is a great push dagger too.
 
On the occasion they have a spotty production run, but on the whole, most of their product is decent. Most of their expensive stuff isn't the best value...Paul Chen is the way to go on functional swords without losing your mortgage.

I really like their machetes. Nice rubber grip, cheap, unkillable.
 
Im a fan of CS as well, they have good knives for a good price. that said I only have limited experience with some of the knives you mentioned. I have a Recon 1, tanto 1/2 ser., great knife and my favorite EDC! and the clip point Rcn 1, 1/2 ser. strong knives and the AUS-8 can get very sharp!

the VG-1 on the voyager series (made in japan and incredibaly sharp OTB) is great as well the recon 1 and the voyager will loosen up a little bit over time which makes the voyagers that much easer to flick open.

they will both (the recon1 and voyager series) eventually eat your pocket a bit but at different rates, the G-10 is the fastest, and I believe that the pocket clips are made of non-spring steal, I have bent the recon1 clip on both of my knives multipul times.

As for the SK-5, I dont recall if my SRK and/or recon scout are made of it or another steel, nor have I had a chance to beat them up yet either. I know that there Japaniese knives are VERY well made and incredibally sharp OTB. that about it for my experience/ knowledge on the knives/ material in question.

the Recon 1 is a great knife, I love mine very much very solid and cuts like a sharp chain saw.

I cannot attest to there business practices ( ethics ) but I have had nothing but very good customer service from them.

Hope this helps!
 
I think a lot of folks get turned off by some of LT's over-the-top marketing strategies and blow-hard antics. Like him or no, he's certainly a successful business man. And, I gotta say, over the years I've owned and used a lot of different knives, both custom and production, and my Cold Steel knives have always met or exceeded my expectations considering their price-point and manufacturing materials. My take: all-in-all, good knives at reasonable prices.
 
The American Lawman is awesome. At its price, I think it's the best folder out there.
 
In the past I've had a Recon Scout that withstood a hell of a beating in my hands before I gave the knife away. Same for an SRK. Currently have a Vacquero Grande, two Recon 1 folders and a machete. I have no complaints about any of them other than some of the higher models are somewhat over-priced.
 
I have alot of CS stuff that I bought in the 80s and 90s.They are all good knives.I have'nt bought any in recent years.Not because of anything wrong with them,I've just moved on.
 
I own a bunch of there knives and edc a Calendonian. I ain't kiddin when I say it rivals about any prod./custom knife I have owned as for fit and finish. Same goes for the Black Talon custom series. Build quality is superb. I have also had a couple of clunkers in quality but any prod. company or prod. run that can happen too especially if not ISO certified manufacturing.

I have owned a Master Hunter of several different years to give away as gifts and have owned a MH from the first year of prod and am on my second sheath for it. BEST hunting knife I have ever used. Same goes for the Recon Scout, just a good design and heavy duty. Mine again is Carbon V and I have 2 of them. I think there Voyager series especially in the VG1 are an outstanding value too. I also have a couple of Scimitars one is a clunker and one is made extremely well. Like someone said if you can get by the hype of advertising there folders and most of the fixed blades aren't half bad, but again I wouldn't pay retail for them and haven't on any of them. keepem sharp

PS the Caledonian I keep coming back to is in a word SUPERB
 
I have purchased a half-dozen or so CS knives since the original Tanto back around `83....in my experience, I`ve found them to be solid, well-constructed, and reliable workhorses. Like many members here, I think their marketing is geared toward 13-year-old Mall Ninjas In Training, but the product seems to be decent for the money. After examining one of their swords (a katana), I would avoid them....Chenness is the way to go (IMHO) if you`re in the market for a "real" sword at a realistic price.
 
I will tell you this. I have knives worth much much more. Every time I get the catalog I still always see stuff I want to order immediately. I usually don't, because I already have something to cover the size. I still have several of my cold steel knives. I have not broken one yet. even with some stupid stuff done to them. I keep at least 2 or three of their products in my vehicles (special forces shovel is small enough to put in the trunk with the spare tire. I have a hawk, and oddly enough I usually have their poll axe in my truck tool box, mounted on a shorter pick handle.

I am not a super fan of Kraton handles on larger choppers. I had a san mai trail master for about 8 years that got used a decent amount. Came stupid sharp, and stayed sharp literally for years before I had to finally break down and sharpen it. At that time I had no knowledge of how to sharpen a convex edge. I took it to more than one sharpener and asked them what to do. They told me that they could not sharpen one either, and that you had to be a real pro (they were knife sharpeners at knife shops).

I reprofiled it with a v edge (oh the sorrow that causes me now). Now I know how stupid easy convex edges are to sharpen, it kills me. I sold that one a while back for a good price, since I had a much more expensive, larger chopper that I used.

Most of their stuff is a very solid value for what you get. When you get into the higher priced stuff (san mai stuff etc) I would take several other brands at those price ranges. I do really like the san mai steel. When you compare it to layered stainless from Fallkniven, the prices don't seem that off. But I am again, not a huge fan of the kraton handles after extended heavy use, it tends to be too grippy and gets a bit soft in heat.

I really need more of their hawks.........pocket bushman, and a bunch of other of their products.
 
I love my Voyager clip point, well made and strong. Pocket clip is terrible though.
 
I like Zytel better than G10. The older Recon-1s were wonderful. They were smoother and felt better in the hand. All in all, the Voyagers are fine knives for EDC. They can get some kinda sharp!
 
I'm considering a Recon-1 right now and will pro'lly get one. I've had an SRK in Carbon-V steel for years and love it. MOF, I thought I lost my first SRK which was unused when we moved but recently found it. Now I'm deciding whether to sell or keep it. I do love the handle and the Carbon-V is a great steel. I have handled an AK-47 knife and was surprised how comfortable it was. It the blade was a 4" I'd pro'lly have 1 or 2 of them. From asking around about CS knives I've found people reluctant to admit they like them. I guess it's because of the self-induced hype of the company....... I don't know, but I've heard more good than bad.
 
Mastero'... well, everyone's more or less said everything you might want to hear but I have to go on about their special forces shovel. All the mall ninja-reputation CS might have aside, the SFS is a versatile tool once sharpened (though that can take a lot of work). I think the one in my car has actually seen more chopping use than digging, strangely enough.
 
Cold Steel has a little of everything - cheap, rugged users; medium priced, good campers; swords; specialty items like axes, hammers, and spears. And very expensive, overpriced artsy items.
Nobody has as wide a product line, and if you are smart about what you buy, there are many good values to be had in their line.
 
I've purchased both versions of the AK-47 and both are tanks! Solid construction, excellent ergonomics, and an intimidating design all combine to make one helluva heavy-duty tactical folder. I couldn't be happier with them.
My next CS blade will be their new "Spartan" which is due to be released in a few weeks.
 
Recon folders,Recon Scout, Laredos, Safekeeper II, Lawman, Ghurka Kukri, TiLite (small and large), GunSite tanto, Frontier 'hawk, never had a lock fail, wicked sharp, and customer service has been good so far.
 
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