Triad lock failure ! Ouch!!

The Whip said:
OK, I'll answer your questions. No, the Tri-Ad advertising is not hyperbole in any way, shape, or form. The lock really does take all the abuse it's touted to take. Just search "Cold Steel lock test" in YouTube and you will see plenty of evidence. If other factors keep you from wanting to purchase a Cold Steel knife, that's fine. But there is no secret conspiracy to hush up all of the Tri-Ad failures. They simply aren't occurring.

And no, if you've successfully used a Sebenza in all manner of work for years, there is no way you're going to close a Tri-Ad lock on your fingers accidentally. It just won't happen.

If you'd like to buy a Tri-Ad-equipped knife but don't like the idea of Taiwanese manufacture, then get in line with all the rest of us and wait for the release of the 4-MAX. It will be less expensive than a Sebenza but will be stronger than any folding knife has a need to be.

If you came here to bash Andrew Demko, you're in the wrong subforum. He seems like an incredibly smart, fair-minded, talented knifemaker and designer and we think pretty highly of him around here.

If you came here to observe the bashing of Chris Reeve and his knives, you're also in the wrong subforum. We think pretty highly of him as a knifemaker and designer, too. In fact, unlike other comparison tests in which the competitor knife at least managed to get out of the gate, Cold Steel did not publicize this Sebenza test, either here or in its own forums. I wouldn't have known about it at all if it weren't for your thread. But I'm certainly glad I saw it, as it was the final nail in the coffin in my years-long inner debate about whether to purchase a Sebenza and/or an Umnumzaan. (For what it's worth, they've just never felt right in my hands, either, and always struck me as too little bang-for-the-buck, which is why I've been on the fence for so long.)

Frankly, I'm astonished and more than a little disconcerted by how poorly the Sebenza performed. Reeve invented the frame lock; you'd think he'd know how to get it right! Doesn't Chris Reeve Knives do any testing at all? With year after year after year of Blade magazine Manufacturer Quality Awards given to CRK (without even an acknowledgement of Cold Steel or the revolutionary folding-knife safety that is the Tri-Ad), it's irksome to see that a CRK folder can't even take hand pressure without the lock failing. As a lifelong knife user, the disingenuousness of that disparity is galling.

I hope you enjoy your Code 4, kidcongo. If the handles turn out to be too slick for you, try a Recon 1 or American Lawman.

-Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input Steve. I have a particular use in mind, which is why I went full serrated. I looking forward to checking it out.
 
kidcongo said:
I agree with what you are saying, totally. The thing is, I never really even considered cost when first looking into Tri-Ad reliability. I was just interested in whether it was all hype. Clearly there is a lot of value there with the Triad, keeping in mind it's overseas labour and production you are buying.
Click to expand...

The blades are made and heat treated in the US. The knives are assembled in Taiwan.

Think of RavenCrest tactical in reverse.
 
I own both Crk and Cold Steel products. Both are great blades that I would recommend to any of my friends looking to buy a folding knife. I don't fear using either companies knives for tough tasks. Frame locks are not only held in place by lockbar tension but my hand also secures it too. I can't see how it would fail under these circumstances. I don't recall ever seeing a rash of complaints on Bladeforums about Sebenza lock failure.

I take Cold Steels testing with a grain of salt. I have seen too many shining videos and reviews of folders yet these same knives fail in Cold Steel's tests in seconds. Why the disparity? Cold Steel's tests are not real world. With their wonderful blade geometry and new steels at an amazing price point, Cold Steel should spend more time marketing these positives.
 
Last edited:
I believe we will see another test of this, the sebbie just looks way too weak! It needs to be repeated on neutral ground. I’m not saying Demko faked the sebenza “failure”, but there has been so much discussion and jawdropping. Just needs to be confirmed by a truly objective third part.

Also, like someone said, Demko said this would be discussed furter..
 
353 said:
I believe we will see another test of this, the sebbie just looks way too weak! It needs to be repeated on neutral ground. I’m not saying Demko faked the sebenza “failure”, but there has been so much discussion and jawdropping. Just needs to be confirmed by a truly objective third part.

Also, like someone said, Demko said this would be discussed furter..
Click to expand...

I think that's why the video cut off short at the end. I think they were astonished by the poor performance and will revisit once they've done some research.
 
jazub said:
This is the 2nd troll thread in as many days that has been started in the Cold Steel subforum by the same person who has been panicking and flailing all over the rest of Bladeforums ever since the Youtube video demonstrating the very poor lock security test results of the CRK Sebenza when compared with a Cold Steel Code 4 knife.

I say this as an owner of 2 CRK knives: the video test result of the Sebenza was very bad, devastating even, irrespective of the $425+ price tag of the Sebenza.

The OP doesn't like it that he saw that video. He doesn't like it that other people have seen it and will always see it. He doesn't like it that people know now. He is worried about the perceived value of something that he really cares about.

So he is lashing out.

I think it is fine that he has his upset feelings about this bad turn of events for the brand of pocket knife that he is emotionally attached to. But should we be subjected to these flimsy, passive aggressive taunting threads?

The context in which this thread was conceived does not paint a picture of a mature OP. In my opinion, he is a very poor ambassador for the brand he loves so deeply.

I think this thread should be closed due to the childish context in which it was created.
Click to expand...
best post in a long time :D
 
Larcivs Lepidvs said:
best post in a long time :D
Click to expand...

Other than being wrong, it's nicely written and very imaginative. I'm not lashing out, and I really don't care so deeply about the things mentioned like I'm portrayed too. As stated ad-nausea, I was hoping for the straight goods on the Triad and was seizing a good opportunity to get the facts by stirring the pot a little. What I got was a few smart guys who understood and helped out with info, and some guys who assume I take pocket knives as seriously as they do, which I don't.

Anyways......Tri-ad rocks. CRK rocks....it's all good haters.
 
I'll be honest that video made me buy a triad and man I wish I wouldve sooner. The American lawman is awesome!! And I do have 4 CRKS. There so differant in everyway. Not in bad ways just totally differant. They rely can't be competing against each other. So really we can't compare them. Apples to oranges. IMO at least. Kid try one like I did and see for your self. I'm already looking to get a code 4 lol.
 
Stop lashing out at kidcongo guys... Dont make the fans of Cold Steel seem like a bad bunch of people. As for kidcongo, have fun with whichever CS knife you plan to get! I highly doubt at the price point, you would be able to get another knife that is as strong and i believe you wont be disappointed at the fit n finish of the knife:)
 
AntDog said:
Dude, I think the entire knife is created overseas. No USA produced or heat treated blades, etc. I don't think cold steel produces anything in the USA anymore. The 4max may be the exception.
Click to expand...
The blades are us made and heat treated. It was already released by CS as the case. The Taiwanese AUS8A blades were stamped out, the XHP blades are water jet cut.
 
Ohhhh, ok, so the aus8 blades were overseas, but all the carpenter steel blades are us produced and heat treated, then parts assembled in Taiwan?
 
AntDog said:
Ohhhh, ok, so the aus8 blades were overseas, but all the carpenter steel blades are us produced and heat treated, then parts assembled in Taiwan?
Click to expand...
From the CS rep

Cold Steel Knives said:
Hi
I've asked our guys to look into this.
I work in the office here at CS HQ. I see prototypes and production blades, I don't have much hands on experience with anything in between.

We design and develop our blades in-house, and produce our prototypes here in the USA. The mass production of those products is often a project between multiple facilities, often in several countries. We have several factories / forges that we work with in order to mass produce our designs. These facilities often have CS equipment, machinery etc. and they work with us to develop new techniques using different materials from different sources. It's a long standing partnership and a collaborative process.
For example, our Recon series of folding knives uses steel manufactured and heat treated here in the USA. They also use handle materials sourced right here. But the knife is assembled and finished at a facility in Taiwan.
The final step of the process is what is classed as the country as manufacture, so that's what you'll see stamped or etched on the products. It might say "Taiwan" on the blade, but I see them more like international hybrids :D

I hope that helps. Thanks and have a great day!
Click to expand...
 
You can only get XHP from carpenter, right? So I mean, I'd think that's pretty definitive. I can't wait to get a triad lock, too bad most of the ones that interest me are a fair but out of my folder-price-range (only folder over $40 is my para2), but I do like the look of the code 4 and recon 1. I had (lost due to size) a great little cs lockback that was maybe 1.25" blade max, kraton handle I loved, wish I still had it. And I love my trailmaster.

Sorry, this has been a bit off topic. Major props to CS for the triad lock, whatever anybody feels about the methods, the lock is awesome, and someday, someday I'll own one!
 
^^ Check out the CS medium Voyager. It's an awesome knife! I was able to get one for $28.00 shipped, well worth checking out for anyone who is thinking about trying a triad lock.
 
gastonian said:
^^ Check out the CS medium Voyager. It's an awesome knife! I was able to get one for $28.00 shipped, well worth checking out for anyone who is thinking about trying a triad lock.
Click to expand...

I'd say try to buy a few medium voyager if you really like it, they have been discontinued, that's why there is no BD1 version for that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top