Quick review of Cold Steel G10 AK

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WVHILLS

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Picked this knife up a few weeks ago from Newgraham after buying the Spartan and experiencing the Tri Ad lock for the first time. I was really impressed with the solid lock up in all directions. This thing locks up as tight as a Sebbie:eek: I promise. Paid $75.00 for it which I think is pretty reasonable for what you get. Yes the blade coating is crappy and AUS8 isn't some super exotic wonder steel... BUT the lock is awesome, the G-10 is grippy and the clip is pretty substantial:thumbup: Plus it has a wave, it takes a little getting used to if you are used to an Emerson but just as fast once you get it down.

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The coating has already started to chip away from being in my pocket with keys I guess
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I've carried it every day and haven't really used it for anything other than slicing some cheese for crackers and opening a few boxes and envelopes but it will still shave hair from my arm. The hollow ground blade does make it a pretty good slicer

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The handle is a perfect fit for my hands and is comfortable.

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Here are a couple pics of the clip. The aluminum backspacer is pretty cool and could definitely be used as an impact device.

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One last pic with my Streamlight PT 1L, a freakin awesome little light to throw in your pocket or pack.

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Over all I give the AK a strong 7.5 out of 10 for being a reasonably priced, super strong and readily available folder. Things I would change, I wish it were American made, needs a better blade coating or none at all, probably would benefit from a more popular steel like 154cm or S30V. But then again it would probably cost $175.00.
 
Thanks for the review! I really wish CS would release a 'high end' version of their popular folders in San Mai or something of that nature. I dont mind paying more for quality. I cant stand coated blades that wear easily and that and the mediocre steel is the main reason I wont buy CS folders.
 
the name is really...disastrous. Imagine using that for SD and being in front of a jury when they tell them that you used an "AK47" on a guy...
 
Artfully Martial said:
the name is really...disastrous. Imagine using that for SD and being in front of a jury when they tell them that you used an "AK47" on a guy...
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Eh, if I decide to vacation in NY state I'll leave the AK at home. Honestly though I really can't see a Southern WV jury caring what kind of knife someone used in self defense.
 
Thanks for the review and awesome pics. I have an older bolt-lock model. This new model is definitely rounded off and looks to be more hand friendly. Even the thumb plate is rounded off. I'd like to see CS offer one higher end steel but within reason, maybe VG1 or something priced similarly. FYI, if you have an old slip joint and about an hour, you can literally scrape the coating off with impressive results. I removed mine because it looked terrible (all scuffed and scratched) after carrying/using it. The blade finish on mine actually looks stonewashed:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28393890@N07/5440289362/
 
Nice review. That wave/disc opener looks like it would work pretty well, I like it more than the thumbstuds you usually see.
 
Have an American lawman with the tri-ad lock... the lockup is amazing. you would be hard pressed to find a better 50$ knife...

Aus 8 will hold a moderate edge, is plenty tough, and plenty rust resistant (as long as its not bead blasted) and sharpens up pretty easily.

The Teflon works great until you start cutting anything worse then cardboard, though the finish on the blade isn't to bad.

taking apart a knife with a tri-ad lock seems difficult... so cleaning may be an issue.

The G10 is just as strong as the lined version... much lighter.

and the aluminum pummel is a upgrade over the grivory pummel.
 
I have that version of the AK-47, think it's a well-designed knife, and agree that the Tri-Ad lockup is great. I do wish it was named something else, but at least it's not called a Hoodlum(yeah, I know where that name came from, but I still think Hoodlum is a terrible name for a knife.)
 
Nedser said:
I have that version of the AK-47, think it's a well-designed knife, and agree that the Tri-Ad lockup is great. I do wish it was named something else, but at least it's not called a Hoodlum(yeah, I know where that name came from, but I still think Hoodlum is a terrible name for a knife.)
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I definitely agree with you, the name is tacky and very "Mall Ninjarish". Artfully Martial stated that it could be spun in a court room to a disadvantage. I don't totally disagree with that, but I think it is more of an issue of location.
 
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Well, to be more precise, I'd say the prosecutor wasn't doing his job if he didn't try to spin the name to reflect poorly on the defendant. Whether that will prevail, we cannot say, as we'd have to meet the jurors.

But what I can say is that if we named it something generic, or even friendly, it would be harder to pull that stunt off.

When I take over the world, the SD knives I manufacture will have purple G10 handles and be named the "fluffy bunny" and so on. I'll have special gay-pride editions so you can have the rainbow logo on the handle. These aesthetics are totally irrelevant to the intended use of a tool or weapon, but to the common man, they will be seen as proof positive that this could not have been the weapon of a murderer.

Because the common man is generally an idiot.
 
Artfully Martial said:
Well, to be more precise, I'd say the prosecutor wasn't doing his job if he didn't try to spin the name to reflect poorly on the defendant. Whether that will prevail, we cannot say, as we'd have to meet the jurors.

But what I can say is that if we named it something generic, or even friendly, it would be harder to pull that stunt off.
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If the defendant has used the knife during the comission of a crime I'd say yes definitely. However if this is a legitimate case of self defense then I doubt that a competent prosecuting attorney would even consider pursuing charges against the individual involved. Atleast not in Wayne County:cool: A lot of this depends on the officer that responds to this hypothetical incident. If he or she finds no probable cause to arrest the victim then it usually ends there criminally anyway, civilly is a different story.
 
Handwrecker said:
Nice review. That wave/disc opener looks like it would work pretty well, I like it more than the thumbstuds you usually see.
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It works just as well as a thumbstud or disc, and equally as good as Emerson's wave:thumbup:
 
Just bought this knife myself and thinking about using it as my EDC for awhile. I guess I'm just getting too old to care if my knife or gun sounds or looks too tactical. I'm tired of all this PC crap.
 
Got this one for my friend after he lost his original-version AK at a job site. The lock is great & the handle couldn't be grippier or more secure. The wave on this thing is more aggressive than either Emerson's or Spyderco's (I have both). Very fast opening. Very stout knife regardless of the price. I do wish CS could see to making more blades in satin finish though.
 
The AK-47 does grip one's hand just about as well as any knife out there.

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I do wish CS could see to making more blades in satin finish though.
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Its an easy DIY job for those so inclined.

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I did, yes. It was easy to reassemble. But you need the correct torx bits - which any good knife junkie should already have. :)
 
powernoodle said:
I did, yes. It was easy to reassemble. But you need the correct torx bits - which any good knife junkie should already have. :)
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I have the proper torx bit to fit the pivot, but the damn thumb plate is smaller than anything I have. I can't have a satin blade with a black thumb plate:thumbdn:
 
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