What do you guys think of the CS Recon 1 folders?

R

Rifter

Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
774
Well? does that lock thing really work well? or is it all just marketing crap. How is the steel in them? is it a good folder overall for the price?
 
Some things I've learned on these forums:

1) Give it time. It's Christmas Eve, and likely this place doesn't have the traffic it does on a "normal" work day.

2) People on BladeForums are (it appears) more geared toward the high end and custom side of knifeworks. Questions about $30-$100 knives can go unanswered for days even in the best of times.

3) Cold Steel makes very good knives for the money. The knife in question uses AUS8A steel, which is pretty good. 4" blade, mulitple styles, $72 at Wholesale Hunter.

4) I know nothing about this "new" lock mechanism, but if you search on BladeForums you're likely to find something. If you're uncomfortable with it, go with something else.

I believe the reason behind #2 above is that there are so _many_ knives out these in this price range that it really comes down to personal preference. CS or CRKT (or Gerber or Buck) aren't going to sell you a REAL piece of junk.

Good luck. I'm on a similar quest myself. (FWIW, I just bought a Cold Steel El Hombre from Ebay.)

-- PG
 
My only experience with these knives was handling at a gun show. On all of the examples I handled, the action felt gritty...I'm sure the lock is strong and quite reliable. It's looks a bit similar to the Axis lock.

Personally, I'm not interested in these knives but like you am curious to see what anyone who actually owns one has to say. IMO, a far better buy in this price range are the knives in the Benchmade Griptilian family.
Jim
 
I'm with James: I've checked them out at a gun show.

:barf:

The actions are gritty as hell given the price. The locks are probably sturdy enough. The handles were--for me--too slippery.

I guess Spyderco and Benchmade fit & finish for that price range has spoiled me, although my nod for consistent edge quality will always go to Spyderco.
 
For your own sake compare it to the BM551 before making a decision.I don't know about Cold Steel but BM is excellent to deal with if you have a problem.....higher resale as well.
Mike
 
Now fellas, give CS a chance....I know they aren't that pretty, but they work wonderfully.

I've had a Recon 1 Tanto since they were introduced. Yes, the action is a bit gritty to begin with, but they smooth out over time, and with enough "playing". A little Break Free or Tuff-Glide will do wonders.

The lock IMHO is much stronger than BM's, and I like it a hell of a lot better than SOG's. They say imitation is the best form of flattery, and Cold Steel has no doubt been influenced by the Axis lock. It is different in many ways though, and a search on the forums will show this. I posted the differences in detail about a month ago, can't remember where though?

My only gripe is that they are like the Model T, they only come in black! :barf:

I bought the tanto version because it has a false edge on the spine like the Gunsite series, and it is considerably smaller than a Gunsite I.
 
An officer that I work with ordered one from me. To be honest it is the only one I have sold. He loves it! He can't say enough good things about it. I personally prefer Benchmade, but Cold Steel does make a good product. I have no doubt that it would serve you well if you decide to get one.

Like I said before I prefer the Benchmade Griptilian but that is just my preference.
 
i go to the B&M knife store in my part of the world quite often and i have picked these knifes up more than once (not to buy but to feel), they feel ok, i prefer them to the voyagers, and the lock action seemed pretty good.

I feel that they are good knives, and are probably worth the 75 bucks.

But they are not for me because:

I look at it as a ripped off axis lock

they look black and clunky

They are on the pricy end for zytel handles (although probably one of the better examples)

go play with one, The guys on bladeforums have pretty expensive tastes, i know sometimes i feel like i cant keep up with these guys (financially)
 
It's always been my attempt that a Recon 1 is a poor imitation of an Emerson CQC7 or Buck Strider...

While the lock may be solid (and I don't KNOW this to be true), there's no denying that it's a blatant ripoff of the Axis and Rolling Locks, and as the saying goes... the copy is always fuzzier than the original.

Also let's just say that while AUS8A is a fine steel, it doesn't rock my boat in what's supposed to be a short-length "tactical" folder.
Save your money and buy a real tactical, like one of the many high quality Spydies, an Al Mar SERE, or one of the various Emerson models.
 
It's always been my opinion that a Recon 1 is a poor imitation of an Emerson CQC7 or Buck Strider...

While the lock may be solid (and I don't KNOW this to be true), there's no denying that it's a blatant ripoff of the Axis and Rolling Locks, and as the saying goes... the copy is always fuzzier than the original.

Also let's just say that while AUS8A is a fine steel, it doesn't rock my boat in what's supposed to be a short-length "tactical" folder.
Save your money and buy a real tactical, like one of the many high quality Spydies, an Al Mar SERE, or one of the various Emerson models.
 
So far I've handled a couple. The first time I saw one, the action was quite gritty, lockup was solid - no play. Several months later I fondled another at a gun show. That particular specimen was not gritty. Lockup was good and solid like the first one I saw. The looks of the folders don't do it for me, but then again, looks aren't everything (one of my fave production folder is the Buck Strider ;) ). I'm sure the CS folders will hold up well in use. CS makes great fixed blade users, and I'm sure that tradition will follow with the folders.
 
I don't mean to be overly negative, but I have never seen a CS product that I thought was worth buying. It all looks like garbage to me. I was hoping the Scimitar was going to be a cool knife but when I finally got to hold one it was so junky that I was terribly disappointed. My advice is if you want a good knife to save a little more money and buy Benchmade or even Spyderco.
 
Cold Steel's lock is not a ripoff of the Axis lock. IIRC, from reading threads here the lock works differently from the Axis, but Lynn Tompson from Cold Steel still talked to Sal Glesser and perhaps even paid some money to him. DO a search and you will find these threads. Just because the locks look similar on the outside doesn't mean they are the same thing.
 
I've looked at several Recon 1 folders myself, but I wasn't too impressed at first. I suppose it was because it appeared as just a variation of the Axis lock. The action on the model I looked at was not as smooth as the Axis lock or the Arc-Lock. I would buy this knife if it wasn't teflon coated. That's my biggest gripe about the knife. I really wish Cold Steel would offer some with satin finish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top