I do like the steel. The only knife I had in it was my old Trail Master in San Mai III. I liked it, and used it for about 9 years or so?
I sold it because I had bigger better more expensive choppers.
The steel held a great edge, I thought. It is probably middle ground for edge retention these days (with all the uber steels out there).
The Trailmaster in san mai comes with a full height convex to zero edge. Very well done, and laser sharp.
I much prefer the look of the stacked leather on the Falkniven version (basically looks the same but with Vg10 laminated, and a stacked leather handle).
What knives were you looking at?
One thing to consider, when you are paying for a Cold Steel with the laminated steel, take a look at customs (honestly, in that price range, you can pick up full customs).
Also many manufacturers have a much much better warranty!
Busse, Scrapyard, Swamprat (all from the same "family" world class warranty, with above world class service. Cool, very uniquie designs across the board (use Infi (proprietary steel, uber tough, above average edge retention, and basically stainless), Sr101 (modified ball bearing steel), and Sr77 (modified jack hammer bit steel). All carry a lifetime warranty that follows the knife. They won't replace it if you intentionally break it (ie cut it in half with a band saw), but pretty much any thing else, even when the knife is 20 years old, and you are the 20th owner.
Esse cuttlery (best warranty out there). Use 1095, and have a great following for a reason. Basically an unconditional warranty. Broken for any reason, they will replace it.
Cold steel, "Warranty: We stand behind our knives and swords 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that our folding knives, fixed blade sheath knives, and swords are free from defects in workmanship and materials."
A close reading of that tells you one thing. Unless there is an obvious, clearly apparent manufacturing defect, and your knife fails, you are sol.
They make a lot of products I still buy. (hawks, folders, shovels etc are all great for the money).
