So how is the post-GSM Quality Control on Cold Steel blades?

jux t said:
I was going to type out all the new ones I have that I can compare to the old ones, but decided to save time and just say that the quality is the same. They just don't like to include left pocket clips now. If I were a lefty, I'd probably not buy new CS folders. I wonder why they aren't including lefty clips more many models now. If it's a cost saving thing, then it might end up costing them more when left handed people stop buying. IDK.
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I'm left-handed. I only buy ambidextrous knives with the left pocket clip. If it doesn't have a left pocket clip I do not buy. So if this is the norm I guess I bought my last one just my humble opinion
 
Been contemplating a SRK in SMIII, mainly because they can be found for less than $100. Perhaps I’ll try one if the QC is seemingly still good…
 
I suspect that it could be a couple years for any QC changes on old models still made with the pre-GSM steel.

Issues would probably be more visible in newer models.
 
SeanODCS said:
I recently bought a San Mai II Trail Master - new logo and still Made in Japan - a beautiful knife.
The only down side is the sheath as I would have preferred leather.
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By "new logo" you mean the box right? There's no change on the markings on the knife itself.
CS TMs haven't been offered with leather sheaths in decades and I think they went to the hard synthetics directly.
But the Japan made TMs both the solid Aus6/Aus8 and all San Mais have always had that same Nylon/cordura sheath,
which is not as nice or robust as leather, but it is very light. has no dulling issues and undoubtedly serves to lower the cost.
A great many people purchase affter market leather sheaths for their Trail Masters.

I personally am fond of that Nylon/cordura sheath. Both my first Carbon V SRK and Master Hunter came with those sheaths.
 
KenHash said:
By "new logo" you mean the box right? There's no change on the markings on the knife itself.
CS TMs haven't been offered with leather sheaths in decades and I think they went to the hard synthetics directly.
But the Japan made TMs both the solid Aus6/Aus8 and all San Mais have always had that same Nylon/cordura sheath,
which is not as nice or robust as leather, but it is very light. has no dulling issues and undoubtedly serves to lower the cost.
A great many people purchase affter market leather sheaths for their Trail Masters.

I personally am fond of that Nylon/cordura sheath. Both my first Carbon V SRK and Master Hunter came with those sheaths.
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Yes I like them too, nylon/cordura, I would much prefer them to the new plastic ones. They remind me of a leather sheath in some ways. I think though the plastic ones might stand up to abuse better.
 
For my hunting knives, like the Pendleton and Master Hunter, I prefer the durable, very light weight sheath that is easily cleaned afterwards. It is going to have a knife with blood, fur, tissue shoved into it after cutting up the animal (I hope!). Furthermore, in humid climates, leather sheaths tend to trap moisture and rust the blade (if Carbon V like my master hunter).
 
I love my older Cold Steel knives and gear, as to quality control check out the steel choice on this New product I'm sure the new ownership had a big hand in. I hope this isn't indicative of things to come.
www.coldsteel.com

CLICK N CUT

The issue most people have with a utility knife is weakness. Weak locking mechanisms, thin brittle blades, and an inability to do hard work. Cold Steel has a
www.coldsteel.com www.coldsteel.com
 
I've got a Counter Point 1 coming Wednesday. I'm going to assume it's new stock, but I won't know until it gets here.

This will be my first CS since the buy out. Now, I'm not expecting perfection for a knife under $70. However, I have plenty of older CS stuff dating back from 2002 until about a year and a half ago.

I'm sure it will feel like a typical Cold Steel: Well built, durable, with just a smidgen of the expected Mall Ninja Puffery that gives the brand its particular flavor. I am more hopeful that GSM can hold the medium priced stuff to a higher QC if it remains profitable. As a realist, I just don't see gigantic higher end fixed blades and deliciously weird mega-folders being part of the brand long term. That LT stuff. I respect the hell out of it and love all my CS knives for what they are. However, I think we will see a sliding toward more budget friendly knives with the occasional flagship. I'm hoping LTs line of spears and all the goofy stuff takes off. I probably have a dozen specialty items like tomahawks and spears and battle axes. THAT'S the CS that I like to buy 😀

I'm just hoping that folding models in the $50-120 range will stick around. While not what I generally purchase, these are solid knives that won't break the bank for users needing something better a gas station folder but nothing costing Zero Tolerance money. Good quality steel, easy to sharpen, tough to break, costs less than a steak dinner.
 
I just got a new stock new logo voyager drop point. its same as others I own. looks like same factory still making them in Taiwan.....for now anyways.

I expect we'll see cold steel/gsm start to shift more production to China or wherever they can shave nickels to save....I hope I'm wrong.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I've got a Counter Point 1 coming Wednesday. I'm going to assume it's new stock, but I won't know until it gets here.

This will be my first CS since the buy out. Now, I'm not expecting perfection for a knife under $70. However, I have plenty of older CS stuff dating back from 2002 until about a year and a half ago.

I'm sure it will feel like a typical Cold Steel: Well built, durable, with just a smidgen of the expected Mall Ninja Puffery that gives the brand its particular flavor. I am more hopeful that GSM can hold the medium priced stuff to a higher QC if it remains profitable. As a realist, I just don't see gigantic higher end fixed blades and deliciously weird mega-folders being part of the brand long term. That LT stuff. I respect the hell out of it and love all my CS knives for what they are. However, I think we will see a sliding toward more budget friendly knives with the occasional flagship. I'm hoping LTs line of spears and all the goofy stuff takes off. I probably have a dozen specialty items like tomahawks and spears and battle axes. THAT'S the CS that I like to buy 😀

I'm just hoping that folding models in the $50-120 range will stick around. While not what I generally purchase, these are solid knives that won't break the bank for users needing something better a gas station folder but nothing costing Zero Tolerance money. Good quality steel, easy to sharpen, tough to break, costs less than a steak dinner.
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I just purchased a CP1 a few weeks ago and it was pretty much flawless. Like jbmonkey jbmonkey said, it is probably from the same factory they have always used.
 
I totally agree that this is going to turn like a barge and not a speed boat. They have the materials, the tool/dies, and the infrastructure to churn out knives at a known profit margin.

It will take many, many months with the state of the world before new contracts can be struck to see if product can produced cheaper at (hopefully) the same/better quality.

For now, swap out the engraver and etch in an updated logo and don't upset the apple cart. I would expect to see this to be more of a 2023 issue. GSM seems to be in the carrot dangling phase. Get the old boss on video talking about the old product and how deadly/awesome it is, load up the website with lots of pictures of out of stock items, keep cranking what sells best (my guess, the triad folder lines with MSRP of sub $150). Keep the cash flowing until they can figure out what the best way it is to make the most money.

I would like to think status quo, but I rarely see a business purchased and things kept even remotely the same.
 
SeanODCS said:
View attachment 1737358


KenHash,

This is the new Trail Master San Mai III - AFAIK this is the new logo ?
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Thank you very much for the Photo. Yes that is the new logo. I was mistaken, I wasn't aware that they started to put that on the knives themselves.
Below is a San Mai III Trail Master purchased in October 2021 wth the new logo only on the box. It has the same marks as it has since at least 2007. Or possibly longer on the non-San Mai Japan models.
PRzgwa.jpg
 
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