Tri-Ads the New Direction for CS?

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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My thread on the Cold Steel Rajah was closed because of some deal spotting, but I had meant to spur some discussion of the Rajahs and the new course CS seems to be taking.

The Rajahs were incredible in a number of ways, and while greeted with enthusiasm by some knife fans, they were heavy and bulky and better suited for field use. I also don't know, but I suspect the Rajah was the strongest folding knife ever developed.

The recurved blade made it better for chopping and hacking, but its strength was in the Tri-Ad locking system, designed by Steve Demko. This system is now being incorporated in many of Cold Steel's new 2010 line of knives.

I bought a Spartan Tri-Ad a few months ago because I was so impressed with the Rajah, but it was difficult to open and close, and soon found its way into the back part of my drawer. I'm now concerned that the new line of CS knives will add weight and "klunkiness" to their designs, especially if the locking springs are too stiff.

The Recon-1s already have steel liners, but I'd hate to see the Gunsites and Voyagers go down that path.

I do think the Rajahs are great knives and was happy to get the Rajah 1 before its demise. I also like the Tri-Ad locks, but I don't know how well they'll be incorporated in the new line.

I do think it interesting that Lynn Thompson reminded people in his video on the Rajah that it was a folder and that if subjected to forces that were too great that it could result in serious injury. It made me wonder if some clown had already done it.
 
As a folding knife regardless of how strong the lock is, there will always be the risk of the lock failing, so I suspect CS is just covering their asses. As much as I love the Tri-Ad lock, I would always be a little weary of using a knife like the Rajah by holding it at the bottom of the handle and doing any type of serious chopping motions. If the lock fails, that thing looks like it'll come down on the fingers like a guillotine. So it's not so much my concern for he Tri-Ad lock, but for large folders in general.

Just a quick correction, the Tri-Ad lock was designed by Andrew Demko, not "Steve":p
 
The Spartan is a great buy and just feels tight and strong. Fits the hand really well, you can swing it hard and not worry about losing your grip.
But, I just let mine go, because I was never gonna carry it. It was just way too bulky and hard to carry. What I would have done is carry it in a belt sheath hiking and while it sure would have been excellent for many purposes, no belt sheath I have was wide enough. And, I have a few that fit some really large folders, such as the Benchmade Rukus and Skirmish. The Spartan was just way too wide. Weight didn't bother me, as it's not bad on a belt and about the same as many I carry hiking miles everyday.
 
The stiffeness of your knife was because you didn't open it enough. Open it and close it a few hundred times and I'll be silky smooth, you just have to give the pieces in the lock time to polish each other to a mirror finish through friction. My Rajah II was stiff for the first hundred or so openings, and now I can open it with a wrist snap. The Spartan just has a rougher finish, so it takes longer for the working parts to break in. Same with the lawman, you gotta work it till the paint rubs off.

It's a powerful knife, the best folding knife I have ever owned.
 
I can't wait for the Rajah III. Mini version of the full sized one.
 
I'm not worried about the 2010 Voyagers at all, more specifically, I think they'll be among the best knives produced by anyone all year.
Cold steel always made the big folders for us crazy folks that wanted them, but this year they didn't just change the looks, we're getting an upgrade in almost every area. Stronger lock, screw together construction, and a full flat grind on the blade. This is a full step up in class, the only thing they could do better is release a version with carbon fiber and Titanium scales with a ZDP-189 blade.
Then they would have one of the best folders of all time, not just for the year.
(IMO:D)
 
Joshua J. said:
I'm not worried about the 2010 Voyagers at all, more specifically, I think they'll be among the best knives produced by anyone all year.
Cold steel always made the big folders for us crazy folks that wanted them, but this year they didn't just change the looks, we're getting an upgrade in almost every area. Stronger lock, screw together construction, and a full flat grind on the blade. This is a full step up in class, the only thing they could do better is release a version with carbon fiber and Titanium scales with a ZDP-189 blade.
Then they would have one of the best folders of all time, not just for the year.
(IMO:D)
Click to expand...

They really did step up their game this year:thumbup:
 
I agree with most everything above, but still think the Tri-Ad lock design is such that while, yes, they could fail -- I have problems seeing it in real life (except in the catastrophic failure of a pin or other defective piece). I've seen such failures in handguns where the hardening process was defective in parts like hammers, but in the case of the Rajah, most uses would not involve the hands being between the blade and the sheath. Doing spine whacks with both hands would be an exception, but such is hardly a bonafide chore.

drudge said:
I can't wait for the Rajah III. Mini version of the full sized one.
Click to expand...
But what would you possibly use it for in that blade configuration? It's more for chopping and hacking in its current size, but won't the new one have a blade size of 3-inches?

I suppose it could be used for opening packages and other routine chores, but if so, what need would it have for the robust Tri-Ad lock?
 
My Spartan is a little rough but I haven't used it much. My 1st gen American Lawman was smooth out of the box. The spring is strong which I like.
I thought the new Recon I is liner-less like the current version of the American Lawman?
 
Confederate said:
I suppose it could be used for opening packages and other routine chores, but if so, what need would it have for the robust Tri-Ad lock?
Click to expand...

There's no real need for the Tri-Ad in small knives, but Cold Steel is putting it in everything apparently.
 
Confederate said:
The recurved blade made it better for chopping and hacking, but its strength was in the Tri-Ad locking system, designed by Steve Demko. This system is now being incorporated in many of Cold Steel's new 2010 line of knives.
Click to expand...

Actually, his name is Andrew Demko. I know not of this Steve person. :p
 
Nice to read some positive postings about Cold Steel. Hating CS almost seems to be a religion around here.
I have the large Espada, the Rajah 1 and the Spartan. I find that all three open amazingly well using the thumb plates. In fact I find they work better than my waved Emersons.
I'm looking forward to the new version voyaguers as well. I see that the extra large versions are now 5.5" rather than the older model 5" versions. Gives me another reason to buy one or two or...
Cold Steel is virtually the only company to make truly large folders as well as a lot of other ,over the top ,stuff that most companies won't touch.
Lynn Thompson might be a wacko, but he's my kind of wacko.
 
Larry Turko said:
I have the large Espada, the Rajah 1 and the Spartan. I find that all three open amazingly well using the thumb plates. In fact I find they work better than my waved Emersons.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more, I'm not the most coordinated person and this knife "waves" open without even thinking about it.
I've got it down to where I can control how fast it draws open or if I want it to just partially open.
I never had this much confidence in other knives with this type of opening feature.
 
I am loving these new designs. Particularly the Locking feature. Very solid and reliable, I doubt I will ever trust a liner lock to keep the blade solid on a work knife ever again.
 
Confederate said:
My thread on the Cold Steel Rajah was closed because of some deal spotting, but I had meant to spur some discussion of the Rajahs and the new course CS seems to be taking.

The Rajahs were incredible in a number of ways
Click to expand...

I think it's only the Rajah 1 that is being discontinued?
 
I'm really liking my Recon1 with the triad lock. Seems pretty smooth but takes force to open which I think is a good thing. The other thing is that this knife is by far the sharpest I have ever owned out of the box bar none and I don't say that lightly at all. This thing is the proverbial razor and I kid you not. keepem sharp
 
CS has some great offerings this year and they had the guts to do a re-design on just about their entire folder lineup. Hopefully people will experience the value that those knives offer.
 
Confederate said:
But what would you possibly use it for in that blade configuration? It's more for chopping and hacking in its current size, but won't the new one have a blade size of 3-inches?
Click to expand...

Im just a collector of unique looking knives. I also like them smaller just in case i want to conveniently and discreetly carry one. The Rajah III is a 3.5in blade and would suit my needs be it for cutting cigars or boxes :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Actually, his name is Andrew Demko. I know not of this Steve person. :p
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I guess I was thinking of the Marvel Comics artist Steve Ditko. Sorry, Andrew! Old age is a bitch!

94697-24608-steve-ditko_large(2).jpg
 
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