Quality of ColdSteel?

[T. Erdelyi]

I heard bad things, bought one of their folders anyways, and it turned out to be disappointing.
They don't really offer anything I'm interested in that I couldn't get somewhere else...

You said

I heard bad things, bought one of their folders anyways, and it turned out to be disappointing.

What folder did you by and what did you find disappointing about it, (sharing info in the community helps all of us) maybe your insight will save another but without particulars no one will know what your talking about.

...They don't really offer anything I'm interested in that I couldn't get somewhere else.

Is the reason you made the above statement because it's easier and cheaper to get the same thing elsewhere and if your not interested in anything they have, why would you look anywhere else for the same thing, you did say you weren't interested in anything they offered?

Remember to share your opinions but if you don't back them up with anything than it's not a valid or validated opinion.

 

[folderfan2093]

I heard bad things, bought one of their folders anyways, and it turned out to be disappointing.
They don't really offer anything I'm interested in that I couldn't get somewhere else.

Which folder did you buy. i hear bad things about their folders but good things about their fixed blades

 

[Keith Montgomery]

They have some good folders and quite a few good fixed blades. At what you can get them for on the internet, many Cold Steel knives are good value. If you pay anywhere near retail, they are a ripoff.

 

[b.c.molin]

I have but one Cold Steel knife, a BraveHeart which I purchased in March 2008, and it has been used to slice fruit and vegetables through to opening cardboard boxes and cutting wrapping paper and sticky tape.

It was very sharp out of the box and has retained about 80% of its sharpness after day in and out usage. I am very happy with it.

About four years ago a late friend who was well known for his tsuka-maki skills recommended the then available CS Warrior series swords as being cheap well balanced and forged blades but having only passable fittings.

I would be interested if anyone has had the chance to see/use the recently released Dragonfly series of Japanese style blades and what are their impressions?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The Dragonfly series is gorgeous and has excellent handling characteristics. The one thing that I always worry about with their Japanese swords is that the tsukas are notorious for cracking or being made out of dry almost crumbly wood. The ito is also known to loosen up badly over time. Otherwise, very solid pieces.

 

[b.c.molin]

The Dragonfly series is gorgeous and has excellent handling characteristics... Otherwise, very solid pieces.

Many thanks for the information. They certainly look good to me. And so the quest begins again...

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Personally my tastes run more towards Hanwei's offerings, but for a beat-it-the-hell-up sword, CS does a good job. For a nicer dragonfly, I'd have to vote for Bugei. They'll also beat any price on Hanwei products you can find (which makes sense since James Williams, the owner, is closely tied to Hanwei's R&D dept., and all of Bugei's pieces are made by Hanwei.)

 

[mongomondo]

Decent to good folders, but they all have terrible, way too stiff pocket clips. I like my Voyager but I'm not buying anything else until they fix their pocket clips.

 

[b.c.molin]

For a nicer dragonfly, I'd have to vote for Bugei

The quest, only just begun, has already met its first challenge!

Seriously, I have had a Hanwei Practical Katana for over 4 years. It is a good fun backyard cutter.

Bugei were not in my budget in those days. I have no current idea as to their costs.

My interest in the CS was based upon seeing a photo of a Dragonfly and liking its looks very much. It seems the challenge of purchasing a CS product is getting it at a price considerably less than the MRRP which reflects its true value when compared to similar products that are available.