Recon 1 New Cold Steel Folder.... Good/Bad?

L

LoyalPatriot

Joined
Mar 20, 2001
Messages
2
I just recieved Cold Steel's Special Projects Book, and they have a new folder with a new locking system I have several Cold Steels now and have nothing but praise for their product.

I was wondering if anyone has seen or used the new Recon 1 with the super-duper "Ultra Lock".
I am considering the Tanto Point 50/50.#27LTH
If it is a good one can I get it any cheaper than the $111.99 CS is asking??

Thank any input will help.

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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
Who watches the Watchmen.
 
Lets see:
Cold Steel offers 420 steel (cough), plastic handles, and a copy of the axis lock.

Why not get a benchmade for about the same price? Then you'll get some real handles, 154cm blade or M2 blade, and the original genuine axis lock!

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It hurts to be on the cutting edge.
 
I would have to second what Quarterstaff said. "Sub zero quenched" 420. I'm sure that the knife makers know what that means, but to me, Sub Zero was a bad guy in the movie Running Man. I can only guess what he used to quench the blades.
wink.gif


I hate it when marketing people use technical terms out of context, without explaining them. Kind of like "hydroformed steel" - who cares? Or Getrag transmission - sounds contagious.
 
Sub-zero quenched means that they took the steel below zero when quenching it. AKA cryogenic quench. This has the advantage, I believe, of reducing grain size and transforming more austenite into martensite (or vice versa). This can improve the toughness and edgeholding of the blade on which it's performed. See Wayne Goddard's testing at http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/edge.htm It's not an obscure technical term at all; it is what it sounds like. The only problem is that they're doing it to 420, which is a cheap steel to begin with. That said, I'm a definite fan of Cold Steel's Carbon V steel and AUS-8 stuff; I just find their recent choice of stainless to be aimed more at low price than cutting ability.
 
I love CS fixed products, especially the factory seconds...but other than the Voyager's, and I never liked thier folders...go with a bendmade or spyderco!


Steve in NYC
 
Given CS's historic penchant for "creative" advertising, I don't think it's unfair to question the exact meaning of the "sub-zero" quenching process they describe. As I understand it, and I certainly may be wrong, a true cryo treatment (i.e. one that yields the austentite transformation benefits Burke has described) involves bringing the temperature of the blade somewhere down in the vicinity of -300 degrees Farenheit. I'm not claiming that CS doesn't do this with their blades, but the fact remains that simply bringing a blade down to say -1 degree Farenheit (which is technically a "sub-zero" temperature) yields little to no benefit. Ergo asking the question seems prudent to me.

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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
No mention of 420 Steel..........

#27LC #27LCH #27LT #27LTH #27LSH
Blade Length:
4"
4"
4"
4"
4"

Blade Thickness:
3mm
3mm
3mm
3mm
3mm

Overall Length:
9 1/3"
9 1/3"
9 1/3"
9 1/3"
9 1/3"

Weight:
5 oz.
5 oz.
5 oz.
5 oz.
5 oz.

Steel:
AUS 8A Stainless with Black Teflon coating
AUS 8A Stainless with Black Teflon coating
AUS 8A Stainless with Black Teflon coating
AUS 8A Stainless with Black Teflon coating
AUS 8A Stainless with Black Teflon coating

Handle:
5 1/3" Zytel
5 1/3" Zytel
5 1/3" Zytel
5 1/3" Zytel
5 1/3" Zytel

Cold Steel® is famous for raising the bar in the knife industry and our new Recon I tactical folders are sure to set a new standard that will be hard to beat. Why? Because they are as tough as nails and will cut like a chain saw! We have pulled out all the stops when we made these knives. Every facet of their construction has been over engineered to make them as strong, durable and effective as humanly possible. The blades are made out of our proven AUS 8A stainless steel and the handles are thick Zytel®, massively reinforced by heat treated steel liners and five locking bolts. To compliment their super tough blades and handles they each feature our revolutionary Ultra Lock (patent pending) which practically precludes lock failure.

 
oops, my mistake. They use that 420 sub zero stuff in their randal COPY, Sog COPY, and black bear classic. As for the AUS steel... well you can get a CRKT M-16 Tanto for around $40.
Although I like their fixed blades (but not the krayton handles) the most of their folders leave a bad taste in my mouth.

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It hurts to be on the cutting edge.
 
Not to flame with CS fans
wink.gif
I used to like CS products, I still like their Carbon V things, such as SRK. but the rest... ANd especially their overhyped and overaggressive adds
smile.gif


We have pulled out all the stops when we made these knives.
Rather when making that add IMHO, pulled stops that is.

The blades are made out of our proven AUS 8A stainless steel
That must be the one so much better than ATS-34. Not that I liek ATS-34 either but still.


To compliment their super tough blades and handles they each feature our revolutionary Ultra Lock
He he
smile.gif
Although if they make this folder in Carbon V I'd buy one. But not in the "premium" AUS-8
smile.gif
After having a few CS folders made of premium AUS-8 I think I'll pass on that one
smile.gif
Especially the serrated ones.

In short I'd go with Benchmade, SOG or REKAT.


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zvis.com
Have Fun,
Alligator
 
To answer the other question, once they are out to the dealers, most on-line dealers will sell them cheaper than Cold Steel themselves. For instance, just checked Bayou Lafourche to check out the "blowout" another dealer was having. Noticed the Culloden on my way by -- $42.19 for the big one, and $35.99 for the little one. Could compare that with the catalogue.

Can't figure out where my copy is ? ? ? Maybe because I never buy anything.



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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
CS uses AUS8 and zytel because they are inexpensive materials. CS uses these materials to give the customer less for their money. You can get comparable or better CRKT knives which use the same materials. When the hell is CS going to use higher grade materials?
 
I prefer Carbon V or practically any other good carbon steel over stainless, but have no problem with AUS8 and Zytel. The steel holds a more than acceptable edge, cuts well with the thin grind of the Voyagers, is easy to resharpen, no problems with corrosion. As for Zytel, it's tough, light, corrosion resistant. Not as elegant as some other materials, but it does what it's supposed to. You can spend more money, but I doubt whatever you're cutting can tell the difference between AUS8 and ATS34.
 
So far, Benchmade's Axis lock is the smoothest operating mechanism I've tried. I don't know how smooth Cold Steel's Recon 1 is yet, but it seems overpriced when you consider a Zytel handle and AUS8 blade. They look nice, although, I could do without the teflon coating.
 
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