Recon1 vs. Recon Mini

G

garytelecastor

Joined
Oct 7, 2010
Messages
41
I have been eiyeing the Recon 1's for about 6 months and have finally decided to pull the trigger on one.
I love the design of the clip point and it comes in three different choices. A 2", 3", or 4" blade.
Now I know that some are a little taken back by the Aus 8 steel but it is Japanese, and I don't think that
they would put a bad steel on one of their sales leaders.

Here is my dilemma. I am buying it with the sole purpose of EDC and I am wondering if the 4" will be too
beefy to fit well with outstide activities. I like the Mini but I am just kind of in a quandry as to which will
be of more utilitarian use.

So give me some input here, please and fill me in on your thoughts. I thank you very much.
 
It depends on what you are doing, really. My EDC is routinely a 3 inch or less blade, and it's just fine for me...but then my knife needs are basically limited to opening boxes, packages, and envelopes, cutting an occasional zip tie or cord, and rarely, peeling an apple. What would you be using your knife for?
 
I do use the knife for opening packages and boxes etc. But I also use it for outside work as well.
I have been looking at the 3 in, but I kind of dig the 4".
 
I had the recon mini and ended up selling it later on. Maybe I just didn't like how small it was, but anyways, I ended up buying the Recon 1 with the clip point and I liked it alot. I EDC'd it for a while. Overall, it's a great knife. And the lock is solid as hell, too!
 
well, I cashed in on the Recon 1. Left the Mini until later.
I like the knife. It fits well in my pocket. Itis heavy duty made, the blade is a 1/4" wide and 4" long. I bought the ciip point, which I really like
Very sharp, of course, like any of CS from the factory.
I am not at all happy with the open/close on this knife. I am hoping that this wil change with break in.
 
garytelecastor said:
I do use the knife for opening packages and boxes etc. But I also use it for outside work as well.
I have been looking at the 3 in, but I kind of dig the 4".
Click to expand...

I just got my recon 1 and it's surprisingly very light, and pretty thin. And with the small pocket clip anyone who would see clipped to your pocket will think its a small knife. My current EDC is me recon 1 and a spyderco delica 4 for public use. Two great knives.
 
Same experience here.
My Recon1 has been sanded for smoother G10 and the black paint has been removed. Making it more acceptable as a tool.
But what a great workhorse. It's thin ground and offer a very confortable grip for hard cutting.
Also it's really well balanced.
This is a great outdoors folder knife. Now it's really big for the city. The Code4 is thinner and lighter and features the same great lock with a slightly shorter blade.
This is a nice alternative.
Now I really love my Spear point Recon1 as a reliable all weather cutting tool. Not steeple friendly. Anyway I got a Voyager XL in my car for roadkills. ;-)
But my Recon1 is my favorite CS folder to date. I keep a Spyderco Chaparral or Caly3 at hand for public uses...
2013-06-06194850_zps8b8434fb.jpg
 
Nemo said:
I got both, if you need pics...
Click to expand...
I have the plain edge Spear point Recon 1, and will soon have the same in the code4. Love the Recon 1 as well as the American Lawman.

Now if Cold Steel would just release a Code4 Lawman...
 
garytelecastor said:
well, I cashed in on the Recon 1. Left the Mini until later.
I like the knife. It fits well in my pocket. Itis heavy duty made, the blade is a 1/4" wide and 4" long. I bought the ciip point, which I really like
Very sharp, of course, like any of CS from the factory.
I am not at all happy with the open/close on this knife. I am hoping that this wil change with break in.
Click to expand...

I thought the exact same thing but after awhile it does become easier. A good thing to try is leave it 1/4 open and let it sit while not using it and and that will help, I got the Tanto blade serrated edge and I love it.
 
Nemo said:
Same experience here.
My Recon1 has been sanded for smoother G10 and the black paint has been removed. Making it more acceptable as a tool.
But what a great workhorse. It's thin ground and offer a very confortable grip for hard cutting.
Also it's really well balanced.
This is a great outdoors folder knife. Now it's really big for the city. The Code4 is thinner and lighter and features the same great lock with a slightly shorter blade.
This is a nice alternative.
Now I really love my Spear point Recon1 as a reliable all weather cutting tool. Not steeple friendly. Anyway I got a Voyager XL in my car for roadkills. ;-)
But my Recon1 is my favorite CS folder to date. I keep a Spyderco Chaparral or Caly3 at hand for public uses...
2013-06-06194850_zps8b8434fb.jpg
Click to expand...

What did you use to get the coating off the blade?
 
ron finkbeiner jr said:
What did you use to get the coating off the blade?
Click to expand...

Hi Ron,

I just used a paint removal goo, the same I had used on my Izula and HEST. See my little blog and you will find pictures of the process.

Now the blade is "sheeple" friendly. (not "steeple"...;))

cheers
Nemo
 
I prefer a larger knife for EDC, so I would (and did) personally get the full size Recon 1, but here's a ridiculously abusive test on the Mini:

[video=youtube;ZiHLRkCKoSw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiHLRkCKoSw[/video]

One thing I want to mention is that there is nothing wrong with AUS8A. No, it doesn't hold an edge like M4, it's not as tough as 3-V, and it's not as stainless as H1 - but it does hold an edge, it is tough, and it is adequately rust resistant, all while being super easy to sharpen. I just take my AUS8A knives and give 'em a few strokes on the stone and I'm astonished as to how sharp they are after, and they hold it pretty well! Definitely not the "junk steel" that snobs like to make it out to be. I paid $105 with shipping for my Recon 1 and I'm more than satisfied. It's my overall favorite folder. The Recon 1 series is a series of folding tactical knives built to go to war. I think AUS8A is a great choice, and everything else about the knife is awesome, too. No complaints whatsoever about mine.
 
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So I have been using the R1 for about 3 weeks as an EDC. I have to say that I absolutely love this knife.
So far it has stood up to everything I have had to throw at including cutting metals and plastics.
The coating has taken a little of a beating but I expected that.
Sharp as a Razor. I went over the edge after the first week and after a little use on my edge pro it was
sharp as new. Strong lock, which I love, as I put some pressure on it now and then. I did have a little trouble
with the opening for a couple of days and I contacted CS. Got a great email back from a service rep named
Anthony Russell. He explained how to loosen the knife up and a few other things about the lock. Great company
service skills. So all in all very happy with the knife.
My next project is to cerakote my Rat 1.
 
Definitely not too big. Almost exact same size as the CRKT Crawford Kasper I carried for years. My only beef is the price and it's more of a nit. Taiwan knives should be cheaper. I could buy an MSRP of $60-70 with street being $40'ish. Nothing wrong with the steel, though.

QC generally seems perfect and design is great. The clip is definitely too tight out of the box but that's fairly easily remedied. I would love another one in tan/dark earth G10 with a stone washed blade.
 
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