What do you think about Cold Steel?

msutherland

msutherland

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
75
I am interested in hearing what people's opinions are concerning Cold Steel products. I have a number of them, although I am now more active in collecting custom knives.

What's the thought on Cold Steel?
 
I like cold steel alot and unlike most people on these forums their marketing stratagy actually appeals to me. they are the sharpest knives i own, but then again i cant afford much better.
 
I'm sure that right before the holidays will still not prevent some from voicing off about the owner but hopefully the spirit of the season will hold this one down as far as emotions are concerned.

I have owned and used a number of Cold Steel knives over the years. Most of the fixed blades I bought from them were factory seconds and I would not hesitate to highly recommend doing that to anyone wanting a good user for a better price. The factory 2nd Recon Scout I had went to Iraq with my son for 14months and performed admirably there. The 2nd Bushman, and Recon Tanto both are still in use by my family members I gave them to and are thought highly of.

Mostly I've owned a lot of their folders. The Voyager series and Vaquero series folders are particularly tough beater uppers that have very strong locks, good blades and fairly strong handles and pin strength but for the money you can certainly find more at Spyderco both in blade steel, strength, lock strength and one thing Spyderco does better is the customer service. The Cold Steel warranty is one year on folders. Spyderco is for life and when the knife is discontinued they still try to work something out with you.

If you get a deal on a Cold Steel I'd grab it. Otherwise shop around checking pros and cons and you will see that most of the companies compare pretty well with each other. Cold Steel for some reason doesn't want to cover their so called super tough folder for very long. Even their fixed blade is only covered for 5 years. This is simply not keeping up in the industry. While it may be true that most problems show up in the first year of use its also true that a company is only as good as its guarantee. At least in my opinion.

STR
 
Here are the models I'd get from them, if I were to get anything from them:

Recon Tanto
SRK
Vaquero Series
Swords, Spears(maybe)
 
I've seen a lot of these CS threads. And while I agree that the marketing CD is pretty hokey, I do like some of their knives. At least some of the old ones, ala 1980's. I've got a couple of their folders (shinobu, early ultra-lock) and some of the Tanto series. I really like my Trailmaster.

I don't have any experience with their new knives except for the Trailmaster.
 
hmm, their catalog and video's always put a smile on my face, that's for sure :D

not really into most of their models, sure the Tai Pan and the Loveless subhilt are beautiful and the Spike and Peace-Keeper are cool, useable and affordable.

as for all the other models: they somehow don't really appeal to me, and i think some folders are way overpriced. they also use way too much Zytel and Kraton. too little G10 knives

currently the only CS i got is a Light Machete, but have no plans to buy another CS anywhere soon. Spyderco for me......

denn
 
I'm a fair bit of a cold steel fan from the few products I have from them and I plan on getting more. The only real complaint is their marketing is a little too slick. I really enjoy the bushman and the kukhri machete I have of them. I have a few of the non-edged weapons as well. The whole stabbing car doors and stuff, I can take or leave.
 
I own thre of them. A little Voyager, which is well balanced, fits my hand, and is really nice EXCEPT for the crappy AUS8A blade steel, that dulls from nothing more than a cold stare.

My fixed blades, Master Hunter and SRK are both Carbon V steel, and are two of the finest knives that I've ever owned. They certainly aren't up to the quality of my Bark River Knife and Tool "Fox River" knife, but OTOH, they didn't cost $200 either.

If you can get a good deal on a Cold Steel knife, that doesn't have a stainless blade, grab it. They are among the best dollar for dollar value knives on the market, IMHO.
 
As for their fixed blades, I would highly recomend just about everything in "Carbon V" - The master hunter, the SRK, the Trailmaster... They are all allot of bang for the $$ and for the most part, widely well regarded blades.

The voyager lock backs are decent. They made a carbon steel (trailguide?) folder too for awhile I got for some people as gifts one year & they are better than one might expect from the ~$25 I paid for them. The Scimitar folder is formidible & has a lock that is second to none IMO.

They lack the grace of something like the Blackjack Grunt - but that is a bit larger blade & then I prefer the carbon steel to stainless. Even for Florida - my MH is developing a nice natural patina from allot of kitchen use... And they are not in the same class as the Swamp Rat knife I own; SR has the best handle design & material on the market by far IMO (!). - Matter of fact, I'd love to eventually get my hands on one of SR's 4" - 5" blades sometime...

But until then, I prefer the CS Master Hunter (http://www.1sks.com/images/coldsteel/cs-36.jpg) to most other knives in its size range , including the TAK (http://www.1sks.com/images/ontario/on-tak.jpg) and even some far more expensive offerings like the Benchmade fixed griptillian (http://www.1sks.com/images/benchmade/2006/bm-151.jpg) & Falkniven hunter (http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=SWEDH1L) :eek: - that ought to create some discussion LOL...
 
I currently own a medium Voyager, a Lobo and a Twistmaster. The Voyager and Lobo are Japan made with AUS8A stainless and I think the Twistmaster is US made with Carbon V. I think they are well made knives and I have experienced no problems with quality or edge retention.

I have previously owned a large Voyager, Master Hunter (stainless), R1 Military and 2 Trailmasters (Carbon V). Never had a problem with any of them.
 
Lets see I've got 2 well used SRK's that are still in good shape, 3 of their machetes that are great for the price, a vaquero grande thats the biggest nastiest folder I own, an urban pal that I won in a bet, and 3 of the Bushman knives that get loaned out to people in camp when they didn't bring a knife and I don't trust them with something better
 
My favorite FB knife is my new-style* Cold Steel 6" stainless Tanto. My 2nd favorite FB knife is my Cold Steel stainless Trailmaster Bowie.

...That's what I think about Cold Steel knives...:).

*Stainless pommel, & stainless, "sculptured" hand-guard...Also, slightly "pointier" tip than older model.
 
I own 4 carbon v trail masters and 2 stainless, 4 stainless peace keepers, 3 stainless safemakers, 1 urban pal, 1 uwk, and they are all great. I really love the trail master bowies though.
 
What I think of them is that they are great, what I know of them is that they are worth every penny spent and can really take a beating for the price and have done everything I have asked of them. The higher end knives I own are pretty, tough and have major pucker power so one tends to keep them pristine to flick, admire and show off. Cold Steel will always get my user/beater vote is my thinkin' :).

Matador-
 
As STR mentioned, their warranty isn't anything to get excited about, although I've never had to use it. I have a voyager, ultimate hunter, and a carbon trailguide (never used it, still nib). I like them. The ultimate hunter is a tank of a folder, the only thing I wish it had was either micarta or g-10 scales.
but for its intended purpose, the kraton works good when wet or bloody...
Had some early san mai folders and early ultra locks, but traded those off.
 
I cant say one way or another on Cold Steel or any other upper-crust companies. I come from a family where a $10 beater is just as good, if not better, than a $60 quality knife.

But I've always had an eye out for the 3" plain clip voyager. Supposedly not quiet up there with Spydies or the like, but I like the look seems like it would fit well with my hand, and I liked the AUS8 blades (had a cheapie AUS8 and it did great!)... This new VG-1 has scared me off somewhat, with all the talk on how its not as good as the AUS-8 was. But then again, it might be worth finding out for ~$40. I even found one place online selling them for $35 plus shipping!

Of course, this is coming from somebody who EDC a Paraframe II (hey $20 for a 2-pack!)....
 
I have found that buying direct from CS mailer is hard to deal with (Cali attitude on phone of we don’t need you). So I started buying their knives from an EMT outfit and get better service. I have used the CS warranty on one large voyager took a little time but they replaced it no questions asked. In the fire department I use my CS voyager for things I would never try with my other knives. Once pried up a man hole covers ever since that the CS voyager has amazed me.
 
Yeah, I used a Voyager to pry the wooden jambs off an interior door once so I could then use it to open the locked door in a big hurry for a pregnant lady LOL (long story). I was working fast & wasn't as careful as I might have been otherwise. Anyway, people say that the tanto point isn't very useful but I found it just the opposite - it would do things I wouldn't even try with allot of more expensive blades without breaking a sweat.
 
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