Time to fess up!

johnwaynesandw

johnwaynesandw

Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
2,753
I bought a CS voyager from a member here on the forum. Well it came in today. I have not had a Cold Steel voyager in my hands in maybe 12 or 13 years. As I got more into knives I liked BM more than any others. Then I learned about this wonderful forum. My love for knives deepened. I have read many post here about the dislike of CS knives and I read a few about the pros on their knives, but not many.

I mainly have been EDCing a Bradley Alias 1 in additon to a small pocket knife. Now I have started another semester in school, I wanted something light and small. I bought a Spyderco Native from the local wally world. The first one I bought, I noticed a good bit of play (I was in a hurry when I bought it and did not check the blade play). The next day I returned it to the store and got another. This time I checked the play and the first one was good to go, but the blade edge was not as nice as the first Spydie but I got it anyway. I got home and pulled out my spydie sharpmaker and went to town. After getting the edge like I wanted it, I noticed vertical blade play that was not there before I started.

Later that night I ran across a post selling a med. CS Voyager. I bought it thinking I would give them a go one more time. Well I now very much like the light weight and shape of this knife. I do not know much about the VG-1 steel, but so far it seems to be pretty good. I gave it a little test run through some cardboard and it is still shaving sharp. I know they have a bad rap for customer service, but every time I have delt with them they came through just fine (dealing with fixed blades).


I for one have chnaged my thought about Cold Steel. For the price, they are not bad knives at all.

How many of you guys EDC a voyager, or something along those lines?


Thanks,
John
 
I did for about 5 or 6 months... The only fault I had with the knife was there was so much tension in the pocket clip, and with the very sharp texturing it was hard to get into pocket. I took a little tension out of the clip and was good to go. The knife was smooth, locked up solid and with the fairly thin blade it was a cutter.. Mine was an older one it was AUS-8, Razor sharp and held an edge fairly well.... I actually really liked the knife, just retired it as I went back to my BM 705 and minigrip.. I would have no problems buying another one and just might in the near future.... Enjoy
 
I agree, the clip is pretty tight. I can live with it as it lets me know that the knife just want fall out. I think my clip is right there at the line between too tight and just right. I used it to cut up some chicken last night and it slices very well. I have even toyed with the idea of getting my wife one to carry.

Guess many people still do not care for Cold Steel, or they just don't want to fess up. I know I do not hesitate to use this knife for anything or carry anywhere. It is nice to get on a 4 wheeler and not have to worry if my nicer knives might fall out of my pocket. If I loose this voyager, I know I can replace it pretty easy and not be out much $$$.


John
 
johnwaynesandw said:
How many of you guys EDC a voyager, or something along those lines?
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I used to EDC a CS El Hombre, Vaquero Grande, El Lobo, or plain-edged Large or serrated-edged Medium Voyager (I think he who shan't be named has most of my Voyagers) and was as happy as could be. Then, I got a Benchmade Ares and the satin-finished 154CM seemed more substantial than the highly-buffed AUS-8A. I felt Cold Steel had betrayed me with their cheap and shiny knives and soon became a Benchmade addict. Frankly, the Axis Lock, ambidextrous clip, and sturdy handles are simply genius.

If Cold Steel's Zytel-scaled folders had ambidextrous pocketclips from day one (or at all! :grumpy: ), I'd probably never know about Benchmade, Spyderco, Kershaw, Busse, Himalayan Imports, or any of youse guys. While I can't get enough of my 13C26, INFI, ZDP-189, and carbon steels, linerless FRN lockbacks with a semi-tough stainless blade will always be great knives in my book.
 
I have a couple X2 Voyagers (serrated, AUS-8), and they cut extremely well and are very solid. Some don't like CS's serration pattern, but I find it very effective, though I wouldn't trust those tiny teeth for super heavy cutting. Still, they are very effective for day-to-day chores. In fact, though I now prefer plain edge blades, I read a thread we recently had about serrated vs. PE and decided a full serrated small folder might come in handy from time to time. I happened to look over at knifecenter.com and they have a few NOS AUS-8 El Lobos in stock (I prefer AUS-8 to VG-1), so I bought one: 3" fully serrated blade and a good solid lock, essentially an AUS-8 version of the Medium Vaquero. Of course, I've never been a Cold Steel "hater" anyway (though I do understand some folks' objections to them), so I guess I'm not really "fessin'" to anything. :D :thumbup:

Btw, in case you're curious, I have a Medium Voyager PE in AUS-8 and several of Chad Los Banos' knives from Boker in AUS-8. THey all take a grippy, downright scary edge with minimal work and hold said edge just fine. I also have a Large Voyager PE in VG-1 and I just can't seem to put the same type of edge on it, even with my belt grinder; hence, my AUS-8 preference.
 
Going off topic, but a knife designed by Chad Los Banos in any type of steel will take an impressive edge.
 
I am & always have been since I got my first CS blade (trail Guide carbon V)
Then my wife got me a CS ProLite , looks like a spyderco Wegner but the CS is much larger, has a thicker blade & a thicker line lock than the Spyderco :eek: so I traded my Spyderco Wegner:D Then I got a CS kukri Machete :thumbup: You can't get a better machete for $15.00. I had the Ontario 18" military machete & it was good but the CS holds an edge better & has better handle on it also. I gave the Ontario to my brother.
I think Cold Steel & Lynn T. has some good knives @ some good prices ;)
 
AlthoughnI have not EDCed many cold steel knives, I have bought or traded for a few folders in thre past, and I liekd many of them, the Ti-lite for example is a fun knife, but because of the blade profile I do not use it as often as my other knives..But it is still a cool knife for the money...(I am talking about the cheaper zytel version)
 
carried a med voyager clip point for a couple years, was my work knife in the oilfield
 
I have an old model Cold Steel Voyager tanto that is fully serrated. I have to admit that it is the only knife I have ever really abused. The serrations are getting dull now but it has always been a good user knife.
 
PE, worked just fine for me. no problems with corrosion, didn't chip out on me, lock held up for years after I quit and went back to school/joined the Guard. Traded it off a while back cause I never hang on to any blade for a long time.
 
I carry two plain edged XL Voyagers daily. One I've had for years and still has it's plastic pocket clip. The other is fairly new. If one ever breaks, I can just carry one until a new one can be purchased. I have better knives, but can't replace them as easily if something happens to them.
 
I have a dozen CS folders and to be honest, I wouldn't trade them for any other folders. Sharp and solid describes them well.
 
I EDC the Cold Steel Scimitar in my Avatar. Nice size, great for defense, cuts like a laser and opens in an eye blink and has a head bonker at the end of the handle...all for about 60 bucks.
 
Well now I do not feel like the lone man outcast. This Med. voyager has not left my pocket since it came in the mail, unless I am playing with it, or using it. I have been using it for cutting up an apple or two during the day, and have notice what looks like a slight patina in one area of the blade. It doe not bother me, but I do find it strange on a SS blade.

Just for the record, I just bought a spyderco and BM this morning. I still love my other knives, but the Cold Steel is one I do not mind using hard, or even abusing.


Thanks,
John
 
The large Voyager was my first knife and the one I will have in my pocket when I am dead and buried. :)
 
hardheart said:
PE, worked just fine for me. no problems with corrosion, didn't chip out on me, lock held up for years after I quit and went back to school/joined the Guard. Traded it off a while back cause I never hang on to any blade for a long time.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Good to hear. :thumbup:

Johnwaynesandw, no, you are not alone. :D:cool:
 
WHO is the fat guy in their ads? Oooo he is such a war machine with his sharp knife, cutting cardboard men-likes and looking o so powerful,(and all his friends in CS´s ads)

And having a piece of meat on a hook and stabbing it to show quality of the knife is to me so hilarious that I feel ashamed of my hobby when I see those ridiculous ads of theirs.
 
Man, it's good to see people coming out of the closet!

The AUS8A, I believe, will take a finer edge, but the VG-1 will maintain a stronger edge because of its increased carbon. The finer edge will slice through almost anything, including people, but the VG-1 has what is called a "working" edge. All in all, AUS8A has proven itself and I like both plain edge and serrated.

Cold Steel gives people the option of big knives, something that you just can't get from their competitors. I, too, have a Spyderco Native, and though I like it a great deal, I'm finding that it's not the be-all and end-all that some people think. In short, I'll carry the larger knife on a daily basis, and I like the Gunsite 5-inch and the XL Voyager. After being accosted by two large neighborhood dogs working in concert, I've carried a 6-inch serrated and will turn them into puppy chow should they want to cause trouble in the future.

Try dissuading a dog with a Native!

But I like Cold Steel knives for the most part. I wouldn't give spit for their San Mai, though. It's a gimmack.
 
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