Review on coldsteel Ti-lite and Gunsite

mafiaguy said:
Recently I've been drooling over the cold steel 6 inch Ti-lite and the Gunsite knives, however other then the video they provide to prove their knives i have no info on either model.

Anyone here have either of these knives or could offer a review on either of them?

They can be found here

Ti Lite
http://www.coldsteel.com/tilites.html

and here

Gunsite
http://www.coldsteel.com/folding-knives-gunsite-series.html
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I had the 4" Ti-Lite, the blade was too thick to cut well and mine developed some blade play after a while. Not a bad knife, but I think there are much better knives to spend your money on. BTW: the 6" Ti-Lite is a HUGE, two handed beast. WAY TOO big for my pocket. As for the Gunsite, I don't think a partial serrated tanto is very practical. I had a Voyager and it was nice.
 
My wife bought me an original Ti-lite for Christmas when they first came out, I've been carrying it for about the last 4 years. I'm a bit neutral on it. It does ok for what light cutting chores I have to do. The blade shape does not really lend itself well to do more than just light cutting IMO. If you want something that is for all around utility chores and cutting,and getting the job done well, get something else. Ti- lite is not that easy to sharpen either, edge bevel is too steep, blade shape etc. The Edge Pro helped with that, but free hand was a booger though. As for the gunsite model, I can't help you, as I've never owned one. I hope that helps you some. -Matt-
 
I EDC a Gunsite, but I don't have a ti-lite. Here in Texas it is ok to carry that blade length and I carry it because of the size. I find that it carries well for me, it is relatively thin so that it is not as bulky as one would think. However, sometimes it is a bit too thin and feels like it may torque out of my hand. I could live without the serrations but I can also live with them. I was just using it today to shave down the end of a PVC pipe to fit into something else and it worked fine. It came with and holds a shaving edge (I don't remember resharpening it yet actually).

I really like the knife, I got it for a good price (I don't think that I would pay retail but it was more than worth what I did pay).

Anything more specific that you would like to know?
 
digitalrebelttu said:
I EDC a Gunsite, but I don't have a ti-lite. Here in Texas it is ok to carry that blade length and I carry it because of the size. I find that it carries well for me, it is relatively thin so that it is not as bulky as one would think. However, sometimes it is a bit too thin and feels like it may torque out of my hand. I could live without the serrations but I can also live with them. I was just using it today to shave down the end of a PVC pipe to fit into something else and it worked fine. It came with and holds a shaving edge (I don't remember resharpening it yet actually).

I really like the knife, I got it for a good price (I don't think that I would pay retail but it was more than worth what I did pay).

Anything more specific that you would like to know?
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Well does it feel strong and robust, like it could take a beating? Also has the blade really held up that well?

If you were to buy it again would you? if not what would you get instead?
 
I've had a 4 inch Gunsite for years, and it definitely will take a beating. I've used it for just about anything you can think of that one would use a pocketknife for. Scratched off some of the logo prying nails out of a wall, but after 4 years of daily use, that's the only damage I can report. And resharpening has always been a breeze, either with the Sharpmaker or the Buck pocket steel. I'd highly recommend it.
 
Another Gunsite owner, I EDC it and am very pleased with it. The tri-lite is right handed am I'm not, so not got one.
 
mafiaguy said:
Well does it feel strong and robust, like it could take a beating? Also has the blade really held up that well?

If you were to buy it again would you? if not what would you get instead?
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It absolutely feels well made. I've been carrying mine for about 2 years and I am in the market to buy the other size (smaller) as well. I would, and probably will, buy another.

I generally keep mine as my self defense knife, so it doesn't get beat to death normally. I know that the other day it was the knife in my pocket, so it was what I used to trim the PVC. I was standing bare foot on concrete when it was over a hundred degrees out, so I was hurrying. I used it to shave down the end of the PVC a bit- it worked well, although I had problems with it digging in more than I wanted, which made the handle torque around a little, nothing bad and nothing that has happened before and I would chalk it up to me trying to hurrying and PVC being very tough to shave.

I don't think you would be disappointed, although some might think that the knife is a bit large for pocket carry. I carry a 6 inch voyager at times too as well as a fixed Kobun, so it works for me.
 
I have the 4 inch zytel ti-lite and it already feels pretty big. I haven't handled the 6 inch ti-lite but I'm guessing it must be a beast. :)
I don't put it through any hard use at all, I just use it to open boxes, letter, etc, but I also like to just play with it by snapping it open all the different ways possible. I mainly like it because of the stiletto look it has. Also, I believe it comes decently sharp since I accidentally sliced my door one time and the blade was unscathed. I don't think that it would be the most functional knife for things like outdoors use, but it's a pretty thing. My main gripe is the clip. The clip is a bit hard and tight making it hard to clip to some of my jean pockets.

Also, I was just wondering, my 4 inch zytel ti-lite is aus8a steel, and it still says so on cold steel's website, however I was looking at thebladeshop.com and they list the 4 inch zytel ti-lite as being 440a steel. Does anyone know if this is just a mislabel or did coldsteel also make the blade out of 440a?
 
I've owned and carried the Ti-lite VI (the six incher) for a year or more. It was razor sharp right out of the box and has proven to be a good, rugged knife. I use mine a lot for cutting hay bale twine, irrigation hose, and such. Holds its edge pretty good and is easy to sharpen. Also a frightening knife, especially when I snap it open from my pocket. It has a super strong lock so I have no fear of it accidentially closing on me. I'm on the local sheriff's dept and have equipped about half the deputies with the Ti-Lite VI. It will slice through a seat belt real easy, also puncture a vehicle tire with little effort. I have dealer privileges with a couple of major cutlery companies and get them for $36 each, then provide them to the other LEOs at cost, about $38 with shipping.
 
I have both the 4" and 6" and carry both as EDC; both are good designs and work well for what they are made for (get back to that in a sec). On the use/feel they cut and slice with ease, the knives feel tough and fill my hand well. Yes there is no denying the 6” is huge, in the hand you feel like it a half sword but, when you stab something with it, it goes deep with ease.

To my next point, the implied intent of the blade, it's not a chef knife (paper thin slicing of vegetables), it's not a survival knife (hacker slasher of brush and trees it can be but… get a machete it’s easier) it's basically a "Stabber/Slicer" a fighter, that’s not to say you can't as other have said they use it to do hard work (see other’s comments) The design is made for piercing and rough cuts. That being said they are perfect design to do just that and more.

The 6” sits well in my front hip pocket of my jeans, I usually wear a long sleeve button up shirt open over a t-shirt that helps to cover the butt end in my pocket and the other knives I carry (all legal, I read and follow all laws. Knowing the laws prevents people from using the impression of law to trick you). I have to say it fits in my pocket well and I usually don’t even think about it until I need it. For the price they are some of the best knives out there. Just remember you’re going to hate yourself one day if you need something like that and you didn’t buy and carry it. 9/11 some people trapped in the WTC had to use a squeegee to hack a through a wall to get out of the building. If they had a knife like the 6” they would have been out a lot quicker, that’s why I carry the 6” just in case.
 
I'm not a big fan of the TiLite. I have one, but the blade is a stiletto-type, designed primarily for penetration. It handles light duty cutting, but forget what you see on the Cold Steel video about whipping it out of your pocket and having it open in a flash. You'll probably end up ripping your jeans.

The Gunsite is an excellent knife. There's enough of a plain blade there to do everything you might need to do with a plain blade and it has enough serrations to cut through more stubborn jobs. I love mine and would recommend it in a heartbeat.
 
drgnclwk said:
I have the 4 inch zytel ti-lite and it already feels pretty big. I haven't handled the 6 inch ti-lite but I'm guessing it must be a beast. :)
I don't put it through any hard use at all, I just use it to open boxes, letter, etc, but I also like to just play with it by snapping it open all the different ways possible. I mainly like it because of the stiletto look it has. Also, I believe it comes decently sharp since I accidentally sliced my door one time and the blade was unscathed. I don't think that it would be the most functional knife for things like outdoors use, but it's a pretty thing. My main gripe is the clip. The clip is a bit hard and tight making it hard to clip to some of my jean pockets.

Also, I was just wondering, my 4 inch zytel ti-lite is aus8a steel, and it still says so on cold steel's website, however I was looking at thebladeshop.com and they list the 4 inch zytel ti-lite as being 440a steel. Does anyone know if this is just a mislabel or did coldsteel also make the blade out of 440a?
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as far as i know,there's no 440a version.
anyway,i own a 4 inch ti-lite myself.
its looks fragil,because of the stiletto shaped blade,but its nice and tough.
i once dropped it of my balcony(dont ask me how i did it lol),and it took a enormous hard hit.
it felt right on the point,so i rushed down the stairs,and thought the knife was finished.
to my surprise,the only damage there was was a blunted tip,really nothing more!
and it was not that bad blunted either,one trip on the sharpmaker and it was fine again.
the lock was still super stiff,not evben the slightest blade play.
and believe me,it was a hard hit :D
 
The older Ti-Lite VI was made with 440A blades. When I got mine I was that glad the AUS 8 blade,not 440A. I ECDed mine for over a year.and still do.
 
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