Voyager X2 experiences, comments?

ThePeacent · Jul 24, 2015

Hello everybody. I have recently traded an American Lawman for one of my grails, after two years of search.
This beauty has to be held to be appreciated. Really.

I'd just want to share a couple pics of it with you and ask for comments, experiences or things to know about this blade if you have it or have had.
I'd really want to know your thoughts on it. Do they still get used? How have they held up after so many years? Etc.

Thanks everybody!

pwnc · Jul 24, 2015

Got one when they first came out years ago-still razor sharp and in perfect condition. Love it.

The Whip · Jul 25, 2015

Nice photos, ThePeacent, and thanks for sharing them! I'm also glad that you managed to fulfill your quest for a long-sought knife. There's a tremendous feeling of satisfaction in that, which can only be understood truly by fellow knife lovers!

You're going to find that you've got lots of company as a fan of the X2--it's a favorite among older Cold Steel fans. What I like about it is the fact that it, along with the Vaquero Grande, set the stage for Cold Steel's excursions into truly large folders. For years, the Vaquero Grande and the X2 reigned supreme as the standard in massive folders. And they still hold their own, even though the Tri-Ad lock has given Cold Steel the leeway to create a plethora of 5.5-inch-plus folders since its introduction. Those pre-Tri-Ad Voyagers just had a graceful aesthetic about them, as evidenced in your pictures.

Congratulations on your find! Enjoy that X2!

-Steve

ThePeacent · Jul 26, 2015

Thank you for your detailed answer and opinion!

Yeah, even though I have most TriAd mega folders my favorite ones are the Vaquero Grande and my X2, and not only for the looks!

Awesome weight, feel and balance. Incredible performers and visually stunning...thEse two really are the kings of the oversized folder categories!

The Whip · Jul 26, 2015

Hmm, I'm glad that you posted those additional photos, ThePeacent, because they made me do a double-take! I noticed features that I couldn't see in your original pictures. I'm perplexed by your X2, as it's very different from my own. Take a look.

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Your knife has round thumb studs, while mine has conical. Your knife doesn't have the country of manufacture/steel type printed on the blade. And your blade's belly is much less pronounced than mine.

All of these details cause me to wonder if you've got a very early version of the X2. I had no idea that there were any variations--I thought all of the models looked like mine.

I learn something new on Blade Forums all the time! Anybody have any insights as to the differences in these models?

-Steve

Sosa · Jul 26, 2015

They make a milli look Micky mouse.

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ThePeacent · Jul 27, 2015

YOurs uses VG-1 steel while mine has an AUS-8 blade. I wanted a VG-1 (they were made for a couple of years in that steel) but could only find this one, and I wasn't going to dismiss it just for the steel. Mine is older than yours, I think, hence the different thumbstuds.

The Whip · Jul 30, 2015

ThePeacent said:
YOurs uses VG-1 steel while mine has an AUS-8 blade. I wanted a VG-1 (they were made for a couple of years in that steel) but could only find this one, and I wasn't going to dismiss it just for the steel. Mine is older than yours, I think, hence the different thumbstuds.

I think you were smart to jump on that X2. They're scarce, and I believe differences in most modern stainless steel alloys, particularly those selected and executed by Cold Steel, are negligible. What struck me about your knife was the different blade shape. Yours is the first I've seen with the less pronounced swedge and the parallel (or at least much closer to parallel) spine/edge symmetry. I'm guessing that your knife closes with less blade sticking out of the handle--a trait that I actually like in a pocket knife and one that Cold Steel has abandoned in most of its models over the last decade or so. (Though I understand that the physical characteristics of the superior Tri-Ad lock demand that more blade protrude from the handle, it's still a personal pet peeve as it causes the knife to take up a lot more room in the pocket.)

Anyway, I'm getting off topic. Very nice X2 and an interesting example of an earlier model that I didn't know existed. If you get a chance, would you please post a picture of it closed? I'm just curious too see how its blade seats. Thanks!

-Steve

ThePeacent · Jul 30, 2015

Yeah it definitely has a slimmer and easier to carry profile. I also prefer more discreet versions of the Cold Steel megafolders.

The Talwar and 2011 Voyagers stick out too much from the handle, so sometimes I have problems carrying the smartphone on the same pocket as the folder...

More comparison pics...

sticks waaay more. And the X2 is definitely prettier. True eye candy!

The Whip · Jul 30, 2015

Awesome! Thanks!

-Steve

The Whip · Jul 30, 2015

By the way, what are you doing with the zip ties? Do they give you more thumb purchase than the studs? I was especially surprised to see them on your Talwar as I've found the thumb plate to work pretty well.

-Steve

ursamajor · Jul 31, 2015

Makes the knife wave easier

ursamajor · Jul 31, 2015

ThePeacent said:
Hello everybody. I have recently traded an American Lawman for one of my grails, after two years of search.
This beauty has to be held to be appreciated. Really.

I'd just want to share a couple pics of it with you and ask for comments, experiences or things to know about this blade if you have it or have had.
I'd really want to know your thoughts on it. Do they still get used? How have they held up after so many years? Etc.

Thanks everybody!

The shape of that blade is larger, but otherwise identical to the Mackinac Hunter. Love that little knife

ThePeacent · Jul 31, 2015

The Whip said:
By the way, what are you doing with the zip ties? Do they give you more thumb purchase than the studs? I was especially surprised to see them on your Talwar as I've found the thumb plate to work pretty well.

-Steve

As "ursamajor" says, it allows me to wave open the knife with ease. Even though the Talwar has a waveable thumb plate, it doesn't work nearly as well as the thumbplate on my Rajah, so I had to add zip ties to ensure deployment 100% of the time.
If using only the plate, I found that with my usual carry pants it deployed 80% of the time aprox.
And that 20% could be the key difference in a dangerous situation.

The Whip · Jul 31, 2015

ThePeacent said:
If using only the plate, I found that with my usual carry pants it deployed 80% of the time aprox. And that 20% could be the key difference in a dangerous situation.

Definitely. Good call on improving the functionality.

-Steve

Sky Pilot · Aug 1, 2015

Nice pics. I have a Vaquero Grandé VG-1 SE
Japan made and has the "volcano" conical thumb studs.
No need to use zip ties for "ghetto" wave functionality as these blades deploy almost by looking at them.
At least not for me.
Always liked the X2 and might grab one someday.

Freman Bloodglaive · Aug 2, 2015

My experience was passing one NOS version in my local knife shop in order to get a Espada XL, and then kicking myself for not grabbing it at the time.