Thoughts on the ColdSteel 2010 recon 1?

S

SBaker34

Joined
Jun 16, 2010
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I was going to buy an endura 4 however I watched a test video by ankerson and I was very impressed by the coldsteel recon 1 It did better than griptilian I know the steel is softer but how do these knives compare in other aspects? Also does anyone have other 60-80 dollar folder suggestions? a lockback,axis or tri-ad lock is a must I like strong locks steel doesn't matter terribly much but I want a 3 inch minimum blade I already own a grip and buck 110.
 
I bought a Cold Steel Recon 1 just because of how much negative (very polarizing company/owner) play CS can get around here. I had to wonder...Are Cold Steel knives really just a big gimmick? So, I went into the purchase as a totally neutral party. The Recon 1 was a little bigger than I thought it would be. It's a step larger than the Grip. It came to me razor sharp. The triad lock is very solid. Handles are very grippy and perhaps a little too rough. I paid just over $60 and I am very pleased. I have not tried to destroy it yet.
 
I've handled an Endura4 and own a Spyderhawk, a CS Recon-1 and American Lawman. From my experiences both the Recon 1 and the American Lawman are better knives. I wish they came with better blade steels, though, and that may be the only thing the Endura has on them. I gotta admit I love my CS knives and I highly recommend them. I have big hands and the Recon with its longer handle fits better than the American Lawman. The Triad lock?........ I wish more knives, including other companies, had it!
 
I had my first issue today with the tri-ad lock on my RajahIII. I had it in my pocket, and there was a bit of sand in there from earlier in the day. It got in the lock, and the lock bar wouldn't close. Basically the bar was stuck up, and the blade wouldn't lock open or stay closed. I didn't want to take it apart as lock backs can be a bitch to get back together. I got it cleaned out with some compressed air and a bit of oil and a Q-tip, and it's fine now.
A strong lock is good, but it has to be reliable as well. This hasn't happened with my 2010 Recon 1, just the Rajah III.
 
My American Lawman has been very dirty and it never has failed to lock. Still, any lock on any folder can fail to lock if the conditions are right. If one doesn't want that chance then buy a f/b.
 
Hitzy said:
I had my first issue today with the tri-ad lock on my RajahIII. I had it in my pocket, and there was a bit of sand in there from earlier in the day. It got in the lock, and the lock bar wouldn't close. Basically the bar was stuck up, and the blade wouldn't lock open or stay closed. I didn't want to take it apart as lock backs can be a bitch to get back together. I got it cleaned out with some compressed air and a bit of oil and a Q-tip, and it's fine now.
A strong lock is good, but it has to be reliable as well. This hasn't happened with my 2010 Recon 1, just the Rajah III.
Click to expand...


i dont think the triad is executed as well on the rajah 3 as on the recon or lawman.

the lock tension when closed is not as strong as the other two, and when closed the blade can open just enough to expose the tip with very little effort.
 
I have a few CS products including the Recon 1 and they have held up to anything I've done with them at work and in the woods. I think they are a good product and at their price point can't be beat. IMO.
 
SBaker34 said:
I was going to buy an endura 4 however I watched a test video by ankerson and I was very impressed by the coldsteel recon 1 It did better than griptilian I know the steel is softer but how do these knives compare in other aspects? Also does anyone have other 60-80 dollar folder suggestions? a lockback,axis or tri-ad lock is a must I like strong locks steel doesn't matter terribly much but I want a 3 inch minimum blade I already own a grip and buck 110.
Click to expand...


I have both the Recon 1 and Endura 4 and I like them both.

However they are two totally different knives, one is a slicer (Endura) and the other is more HD (Recon 1).

The Recon 1 will slice extremely well (Hollow Ground) while still being very strong, the Steel is extremely tough. The blade isn't overly thick for a slicer while being thick enough to be very strong.

Another option would be the CS American Lawman, a little shorter blade and a it's a drop point. :thumbup:
 
The prior Recon 1 was my first "modern" folder, bought on the recommendation of a friend, years ago. Back then, it was offered in spearpoint, and I still love that knife today. The new version is more ergonomic, but both the old lock and the new Tri-Ad are excellent, rock solid designs. Sand can get in most locking mechanisms, even a framelock, if a grain or two gets in just the wrong place.

The Recon is a bit larger than some people expect, though, with a 4" blade, and the newer version has grippier, more ergonomic scales. No, they're not custom folders, but they are durable, functional, attractive users at a reasonable price.
 
depends on what you want it for

i have owned and sold a waved endura 4, and currently own a ffg g10 endura, as well as a recon 1 2010 in clip point

overall i would have to say the recon 1 is much sturdier, so if that is what you are looking for, go with the recon 1. also the g10 is grippier and the handle ergonomics are the best i have ever felt

endura has much better quality steel, and if you get the FFG version it is a much better slicer, more usable in light chores

so it depends on what you want the knife for
 
Hitzy said:
I had my first issue today with the tri-ad lock on my RajahIII. I had it in my pocket, and there was a bit of sand in there from earlier in the day. It got in the lock, and the lock bar wouldn't close. Basically the bar was stuck up, and the blade wouldn't lock open or stay closed. I didn't want to take it apart as lock backs can be a bitch to get back together. I got it cleaned out with some compressed air and a bit of oil and a Q-tip, and it's fine now.
A strong lock is good, but it has to be reliable as well. This hasn't happened with my 2010 Recon 1, just the Rajah III.
Click to expand...

How did you manage to get sand in your pocket, in Canada of all places?
 
Hitzy said:
I had my first issue today with the tri-ad lock on my RajahIII. I had it in my pocket, and there was a bit of sand in there from earlier in the day. It got in the lock, and the lock bar wouldn't close. Basically the bar was stuck up, and the blade wouldn't lock open or stay closed. I didn't want to take it apart as lock backs can be a bitch to get back together. I got it cleaned out with some compressed air and a bit of oil and a Q-tip, and it's fine now.
A strong lock is good, but it has to be reliable as well. This hasn't happened with my 2010 Recon 1, just the Rajah III.
Click to expand...

I had a similar issue with my Mini AK-47 right after bead blasting it where the rocker arm hung up a few times right after reassembly causing the blade to lose all back spring tension so it would not lock open or snap shut. I thought it was the grit and that may have contributed to it but the rocker arm can shift and I think I just put it back together wrong with the rocker arm seated wrong. Also, the pins appear to be location specific so mixing them up by putting the one in the stop position in the rocker arm can mess things up. I also did that the first time I put it back together but I did it on purpose to see how it behaved. Difference was noticed immediately and the blade had up and down play opened and locked up when I swapped the pins. I have not tried it on another model though. (yet)

Once the folder was reassembled and the rocker arm on the pin correctly and both pins in the correct spots it never happened again. I've tried to make it happen again by bead blasting it again and sticking it back together without cleaning it up at all to wipe off the grit, and by rolling it in sand and dirt dropping it on the ground, throwing dirt on it and opening it and closing it repeatedly with all that crap on it and in it but have not had luck making it do this again. In the end I'm convinced the lockbar moved forward and that this was the hang up not the grit.

STR
 
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If you're looking for a conveniently priced hard use folder, a Cold Steel Tri-Ad lock knife will probably be your best choice. I've never been a big fan of the brand, but I like to keep an open mind and let the knives speak for themselves. I've been using an American Lawman for a while and it's been great.

The lock is ridiculously strong, blade shape and size are good as well. The blade geometry is a good compromise between strength and cutting power. I've stripped mine (took like five minutes) and polished the edge. AUS 8 is fine for most of my daily needs.

I'd love an American Lawman with better blade steel and made in the US (or Japan).

This doesn't mean that the Endura doesn't have a lot going for it. It's a really good knife. Light weight and strong enough to handle almost anything. The sabre ground version has a strong tip, and the FFG version is a formidable slicer. VG-10 is a great steel.

I carry one of my Enduras a lot more often than my American Lawman because I usually prefer to sacrifice a bit of toughness for better cutting performance. There's usually a fixed blade and a multitool in my back pack so my pocket knife is never pushed too hard. I turn to the American Lawman when I can't carry my back pack and my knife might have to perform other tasks besides just regular cutting.
 
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