Spartan v. Rajah

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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I have a couple of Cold Steel Rajah IIs and love their size and strength. I haven't yet tried the Spartan yet, though it looks to be a very good, strong knife.

Does anyone own both? What are the pros and cons of both knives? I'd think the Rajah would be the best overall tool because of its ability to both chop and cut; however, the Spartan looks to be a great outdoor knife -- one that's virtually as strong as a fixed blade.

I just wish the blades were polished....
 
The only Big CS folder I have is the Pocket Bushman. I would like to try the Spartan. The Rajah was a bit large for my taste. However I have only heard good things about it.
 
I work in a knife store and we have both of these. The Rajah is definitely much more of a chopper and, while you can choke up on the grip, it's not as well suited for precise work. It's also a bit on the large size for the average person to pocket carry.

The Spartan is still plenty big, but not nearly the chopper that the Rajah is (though it is still capable of light snapping chops and would do better at this than other knives its size). The grip is also quite nice as it prevents slippage in either direction. A bit more manageable for precise work as well.

Lockup and operation are rock solid in both models. Any other questions? :)
 
I'm thinking the Spartan might be my next knife. Big blade, interesting handle, nothing else looks like it, and a good lock .
 
Confederate said:
however, the Spartan looks to be a great outdoor knife -- one that's virtually as strong as a fixed blade.

I just wish the blades were polished....
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Remember it's a folding knife though and no folding knife will be as strong as a fixed blade. Treat a folder like a fixed blade and it will end up broken and or the user might end up missing some fingers.

They do look like nice blades though, I own a bunch of CS knives, but no huge folders, I tend to go to fixed blades for anything over 5".
 
Ankerson said:
Remember it's a folding knife though and no folding knife will be as strong as a fixed blade. Treat a folder like a fixed blade and it will end up broken and or the user might end up missing some fingers.

They do look like nice blades though, I own a bunch of CS knives, but no huge folders, I tend to go to fixed blades for anything over 5".
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Very true, though it is nice that the triad lock causes the stop pin to take the force of a blow rather than the lock bar. Not as strong as a fixed blade for sure, but it IS one of the better locks for chopping purposes. :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Very true, though it is nice that the triad lock causes the stop pin to take the force of a blow rather than the lock bar. Not as strong as a fixed blade for sure, but it IS one of the better locks for chopping purposes. :)
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Yeah it is stronger than the standard lockbacks.
 
I have the Rajah and like it, though to save $$$, Cold Steel did cut some corners. Still, I like the Rajah and believe that while it's not a fixed blade knife, it is as close as anyone's going to come in a folding knife. When anyone points out that a Rajah isn't as strong as a fixed blade, I always wonder in what way? Yes, I know they can't be in practical terms, but as I've handled the Rajah, I don't know in what way a knife like that would not measure up. In short, what could a fixed knife do that the Rajah couldn't?

This isn't a rhetorical question, BTW, it's just a question. I don't know what the answer would be, as the thing looks stronger than many fixed blade knives I've seen.

The Spartan is too large and too heavy to carry as an EDC, but it could be used for tough outdoor use and, if it's anything like the Rajah, I'm sure it would be far more rugged than any other folder on the market. The Rajah can be used as a mini-machete to cut through brush, it can be used as a knife and can even chop wood. It's pretty nice, if not...well...pretty.

Still don't know whether I'll buy a Spartan, but we'll see. I hope more people leave posts on it.
 
Confederate said:
...

In short, what could a fixed knife do that the Rajah couldn't?

This isn't a rhetorical question, BTW, it's just a question. I don't know what the answer would be, as the thing looks stronger than many fixed blade knives I've seen.

...
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It'll probably fail in a side loading - you know, like when they test a fixed blade to see how many degrees it'll bend to and spring back.

That, and eventually the blade stop pin will get loose after a lot of chopping.

I like the Rajah, but I do see it breaking if given enough hard use.

BTW - I cut down some 1-2 inch sapplings with mine and it stayed tight.
 
I suspect the Rajah will remain tight for some time. A knife is a lousy chopping tool, but in a camping situation, a Rajah would be a good tool to have for all around use. It won't replace a hatchet, but if you have a bugout bag, you could do a lot worse. The Rajah can be used as a knife, light machete, self defense, hunting and chopping. I'd love to have the polished version, but at more than twice the price it'll have to wait.

The Spartan, however, is of more dubious value. With the chopping ability gone, the strength is wasted. But just wait, I'll most likely have one by the end of the year.
 
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