Should I get Spyderco Endura or Cold Steel Broken skull?

I'd pick the endura because I find the lock more than sufficient for cutting tasks.

I'd pick Spyderco overall because I find LT, his lawsuits, his marketing, and generally most things about him obnoxious.
 
Quite happy with the lock on my Endura as well. Plenty of fine knives with the similar lock.

Id pick the Endura. I subscribe to several of the arguments for that POV already stated in this thread.

Im neutral on most aspect in regards to the Broken Skull. It doesnt have any features though, which sells me on it over the Endura.

Not a fan of the silly name but then many a sought after knife have had a silly name (yes, I know why its called the Broken Skull. That does not make me like the name more).
 
I'm a huge Cold Steel fan (of their knives, NOT their marketing), and I have way more CS knives than Spyderco, but I would still rather have an Endura. No coating, Spydie hole, many different versions and colors to choose from... It's the better knife IMHO. In addition, the BS has no steel liners, so before you start comparing lock types just know that the BS would be as susceptible to side to side play with hard use that to me at least would put their ability to stay locked about equal.
 
Endura's been in continous production since 1989. It's lock must be ok if it continues to be a best seller for Spyderco year after year.

I want to try out the BS. Looks like a great knife, right up my alley... Besides the coating and naming of course.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
It isn't a better knife. Linerless g10 scales and a useless pocket clip. It's an ok knife for ~$40.
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Mine has better, geometry, better steel, lighter weight, better F&F, I count the linerless G10 as a plus, I find the bladeshape more useful, lacks any form of bladeplay (my Enduras inevitably develop a bit of vertical play, not a deal breaker, but certainly not as good as no bladeplay), opens as easily. I'll take Spyderco as a company over CS any day, but don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
 
I used a friend's Broken Skull while hiking to hack thorns away from trails, and it performed better than nearly anything else, I've tried over 10 years for the same task. Many knives won't hardly cut, the branches with one slash. But, the long grippy handle and thin sharp blade was superb at it. Plus, it developed no blade play whatsoever, unlike some other lockbacks I've used for the same thing.
 
about the lock isse:
A. It's called breaking in, folks. My BS is way smoother than when I got it a year ago, not really harder to unlock than my Pacific Salt
B. unlike that knife I just mentioned, the TriAd has no blade play and doesn't move a millimeter when closed, but my Pac Salt has some lock rock and started to develop it in the very first weeks of use

saying that FWIW

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ThePeacent said:
about the lock isse:
A. It's called breaking in, folks. My BS is way smoother than when I got it a year ago, not really harder to unlock than my Pacific Salt
B. unlike that knife I just mentioned, the TriAd has no blade play and doesn't move a millimeter when closed, but my Pac Salt has some lock rock and started to develop it in the very first weeks of use

saying that FWIW
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Every knife I've bought new has needed no break-in period and have performed admirably from day one, except for the Cold Steel knives. The Code 4 and Lonestar Hunter I got new had some of the hardest-to-open locks I've ever witnessed, even harder than the Manix BB lock, and the lightly used Recon 1 and Voyager that I received as gifts were just as bad even when I got them after someone else had them 'broken in' for me.

Cold Steel is 0 for 4 for me in making easy-to-use knives, while Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, and even SOG have sold me knives that are not only easy to open but also easy to close. The only common trait in knives that are hard to operate is the Tri-Ad lock, which is so excessively overbuilt that it makes operation difficult, something that I am not willing to sacrifice for an overbuilt folding knife that survives tests I will never do to my knives.
 
KingMC said:
Every knife I've bought new has needed no break-in period and have performed admirably from day one, except for the Cold Steel knives. The Code 4 and Lonestar Hunter I got new had some of the hardest-to-open locks I've ever witnessed, even harder than the Manix BB lock, and the lightly used Recon 1 and Voyager that I received as gifts were just as bad even when I got them after someone else had them 'broken in' for me.

Cold Steel is 0 for 4 for me in making easy-to-use knives, while Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, and even SOG have sold me knives that are not only easy to open but also easy to close. The only common trait in knives that are hard to operate is the Tri-Ad lock, which is so excessively overbuilt that it makes operation difficult, something that I am not willing to sacrifice for an overbuilt folding knife that survives tests I will never do to my knives.
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That's fair, though I will say the Emerson's I have owned required far more break in than any of the Cold Steel knives, as have several of my titanium framelocks. You are, frankly, exceptionally lucky that none of yours have required any of that.
 
I've seen CS tri-ad lockbacks, that were hard to open one handed and to depress the lockbar, but the BS wasn't one of them.
 
There is nothing wrong with a knife needing a break i period. I wouldn't say,"don't get that knife" because a break in period. Some of my favourite knives had more than a break in period. My Emersons needed to be taken apart and cleaned upon purchasing. I'm surprised to hear so many stories of Enduras with lock rock problems. I have never encountered problems with the Endura's lock myself. Not to say it can't happen. However if it did it is likely a quality control issue on Spydercos part. CS could alsi have those same QC issues on the BS. Just decide which features you like best and give that knife a go. Only you can truely know what you are looking for in a blade.
 
get broken skull because you gonna end up getting that endura later and will have both this way :)
 
ourgon said:
Be honest, if Spyderco or Benchmade invented triadlock no one would complain.
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And I've never complained about the Tri-Ad lock...other than a few good designs that are very functional or cool, the Tri-Ad lock is the best thing Cold Steel has going for them.

I just thought it was very funny that someone would complain about the "over-built" nature of knives with liners, but still want one of the strongest locks out there.
Seemed to be quite ironic. :D
 
Broken Skull is the best CS, I've used. Slim, strong, very lightweight, extremely sharp and cuts like mad. I have many Spydercos and very few CS, nothing at all wrong with Enduras, but that BS is really great too. I made fun of the name, wouldn't have never bought one, but my friend did and after using it a few hours, have to say it's really good at cutting.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
I'm a huge Cold Steel fan (of their knives, NOT their marketing), and I have way more CS knives than Spyderco, but I would still rather have an Endura. No coating, Spydie hole, many different versions and colors to choose from... It's the better knife IMHO. In addition, the BS has no steel liners, so before you start comparing lock types just know that the BS would be as susceptible to side to side play with hard use that to me at least would put their ability to stay locked about equal.
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Sorry, but that's way off, triads don't develop side to side play from hard use, even after extreme prying a tiny tighten of the pivot screw and it's 100% rock solid again. I have absolutely smashed my recons and AK-47 for years and years, some abuse yes just because i have multiples of the same knife, prying, chopping etc - zero play anywhere, i'm guessing you don't hard use many of those CS knives you own. There is no need for those skinny little soft liners, the G-10 slabs have even been proven stronger in many abuse tests than knives with both FRN and liners. Endura is a great knife also tho, i prefer the pacific salt. OP won't regret his decision no matter which knife he goes for.
 
KingMC said:
I would choose the Endura (preferably in ZDP189) and many other knives before I'd choose the Broken Skull. The Tri-Ad lock is so overbuilt it is hard to operate normally, even worse when trying to one-hand it. All that stubbornness in a lock when I don't ever need a lock that strong makes it so that I don't even consider any CS knife if it has the Tri-Ad lock, the back-lock on the Spyderco is easier to use and just as unbreakable as the Tri-Ad for all normal use. The Spyderco also carries the benefit of being made by a company that has earned my respect and makes knives I would be proud to own(my personal opinion, anyway).

I would choose the Stretch over the Endura, but that's a personal preference in design.
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Older Gen Triads were stiff. Newer gen Triads are smooth. In fact, on my 4Max, the Triad is a hair smoother, and easier to actuate, than the powerlock on my Tatanka. And the powerlock on the Tatanka is smoother than the backlock on my Endura.


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I'm trying to imagine a universe where a Cold Steel is a better choice than a Spyderco. I am not being successful.
 
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