Tatanka vs XL Voyager lock test by Cold Steel

Interesting video. Even by these tests I'd say either lock is stronger than anyone would ever really need.

I would like to see the power lock tested and compared to the triad by an unbiased party though. Not a shot against Demko's integrity, but he certainly has motivation to prove his lock is the best.
 
Interesting.
But in rather poor taste; more something I would expect from rival fans than a company itself.

Spyderco breaks the competition's knives in their machine during testing, but they don't go around posting the results to play up their product, even when theirs wins the comparison.

Minus a certain amount of points for Cold Steel as far as having class goes.
 
Oooh! Robotic spine whacker!

I suppose if that is the kinda stuff you do with your knife that vid is valuable. At least its "scientific."
 
I think the video was too long.

These type of locks aren't weak or strong by design but by execution - the thickness and strength of the materials. The Voyager appeared to have absorbed more weight in handle flex than the Spyderco which has a more rigid handle.


It looks like the Tatanka could use a lot more material on the back of the blade pivot hole. I don't understand the huge relief. That's where it broke.
 
Really surprised the blade broke before the lock did. Tatanka is still a cool knife, wow had no idea it weighs 9oz! Hey, if Spyderco wants to go chasing the overbuilt lock thing, they have to know they will be taken to task on their designs.
 
stabman said:
Interesting.
But in rather poor taste; more something I would expect from rival fans than a company itself.

Spyderco breaks the competition's knives in their machine during testing, but they don't go around posting the results to play up their product, even when theirs wins the comparison.

Minus a certain amount of points for Cold Steel as far as having class goes.
Click to expand...

I don't think anyone could ever accuse Cold Steel of having class ;)

Their target customer eats this stuff up. Lynn is a great at marketing his products...
 
It seemed like the only things that broke were the blades. I didn't see any broken pivots. Am I mistaken?
 
RX-79G said:
The Voyager appeared to have absorbed more weight in handle flex than the Spyderco which has a more rigid handle.
Click to expand...

For the overstrike "test", the blade on the Tatanka has far more mass as well.
More mass = more momentum.

The only somewhat valid part is the weight hanging test, but the Tatanka still held enough weight for my needs.

Hell, if the blade breaks before lock failure (overstrike test), then all I have to do is avoid being a gigantic enough idiot to break a rather stout blade.
If I can't manage that level of intelligence, then I'm probably doomed in my quest for a Master's degree as well. :D
 
stabman said:
Interesting.
But in rather poor taste; more something I would expect from rival fans than a company itself.

Spyderco breaks the competition's knives in their machine during testing, but they don't go around posting the results to play up their product, even when theirs wins the comparison.

Minus a certain amount of points for Cold Steel as far as having class goes.
Click to expand...

I have to agree here. Wasnt a fan of CS before, definitely not anymore so.

I think the who has the "strongest" lock pissing contest is pretty silly. We would all be just fine with slipjoints. Nobody is going to put their knives through that type of force, so "who has the strongest lock" arguement is a very moot point.

Lets see who has the better heat treats, more refinded designs, who has the larger selection of exotic blade steels across a wider platform of styles of knives?

Lets not forget the men behind the business either.... Sal is, simply put, a badass.
 
I don't get comments like this,

"Their target customer eats this stuff up. Lynn is a great at marketing his products..."

That is meant to demean. I buy CS products, pay hardly any attention to these videos, and have a modest collection of what some would call "high class" knives. I was completely unaware of the CS videos until I started coming here, but I had known of the knives since the 80's. So don't paint me with some tired old brush.
 
retzius said:
I don't think anyone could ever accuse Cold Steel of having class ;)

Their target customer eats this stuff up. Lynn is a great at marketing his products...
Click to expand...

The weird thing is, I probably have more of their product than much of their target group.
They should just sell the product on it's own merits...I must admit that this video doesn't make me want to run out and buy any more of their stuff. :thumbdn:
 
crom said:
I don't get comments like this,

"Their target customer eats this stuff up. Lynn is a great at marketing his products..."

That is meant to demean. I buy CS products, pay hardly any attention to these videos, and have a modest collection of what some would call "high class" knives. I was completely unaware of the CS videos until I started coming here, but I had known of the knives since the 80's. So don't paint me with some tired old brush.
Click to expand...

Just because you buy CS products doesn't make you their TARGET customer, just a customer

No offense intended, but you aren't their TARGET customer :)
 
Stabman, I'm just the opposite, I want the Tatanka AND I look forward to new CS offerings.
 
stabman said:
The weird thing is, I probably have more of their product than much of their target group.
They should just sell the product on it's own merits...I must admit that this video doesn't make me want to run out and buy any more of their stuff. :thumbdn:
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you! :thumbup:
 
If anything, the video makes me want to buy another Tatanka.
Perhaps I can show my wife this video and say "But honey, I need to buy another one right now...what if it breaks?" :D

Alas, she's too smart to be fooled by such charades. ;)

crom said:
Stabman, I'm just the opposite, I want the Tatanka AND I look forward to new CS offerings.
Click to expand...

Some of the Cold Steel stuff looked interesting, but this makes me put it way down on the priority list.
I have enough knives that emotionally driven buying habits are now a bigger thing.
 
This test demonstrates a number of things; [A] Blade steel is irrelevant to the integrity and utility of a knife, if I were Homer Simpson I'd say" In your face steel snobs"! Cold Steel had no need to turn to more expensive steels as the Triad lock alone puts their folders ahead of a much more expensive knife. [C] You really don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great knife. I spent $230 Canadian for my Tatanka [ no, even in light of the test I don't regret it because it's pretty cool] and about $85 Canadian each for my XL Tanto Voyager and my XL Vaguero Voyager. So I spent $60 less for TWO CS folders that ,taken to the extreme, will likely outlast my one Tatanka.
 
I would rather see side by side cutting tests myself.

How a knife cuts and ergononmics are more important to me. I have never broken a lock on a knife.
 
Like to add, if one is forever chasing new steels and enhancements, why does the lock mechanism somehow not fit this equation? I see it all the time, "lock strength is irrelevant, blah blah" but it obviously isn't irrelevant if Spyderco is putting out locks like the CBBL and this new Tatanka lock. I'd like to have a balanced combination of strength in my choices, and if one company does it better, that doesn't mean it's foolish to want the feature in question. An American Lawman in XHP for about $100 or so? Sign me up.
 
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