What the Cold Steel Recon 1 should have looked like

00ChevyScott

00ChevyScott

Basic Member
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Dec 3, 2010
Messages
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I just received a Recon 1 tanto off the exchange today for a sweet price. I normally hate on Cold Steel quite a bit, but figured I'd try out their least "mall ninja" looking knife. Plus I'd heard good things about this knife, so I put my brand biases away for a minute and picked one up. As soon as I got it, I thought it was actually a pretty nice knife for the money. But after some work stripping the coating off, I realized that Cold Steel would probably sell more of these if they came uncoated to show off the surprisingly very nice looking stonewash underneath. Overall I'd say I'm pretty happy with the purchase (spent $45 on it BNIB). If you can grab one for a decent price, I'd highly recommend it for a good work knife :thumbup:

Now on to the pics!

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powernoodle said:
All the coolest dudes on Bladeforums have naked Recons.
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You were actually one of the members posting positive things about the Recon. Have you done anything else to the knife? I'm thinking the clip/clip area could use some work. It grabs on my pocket pretty tight. May do some bending/sanding and may even strip the coating off the clip, not sure.
 
I'd also like to add that the grind lines are fantastic! Very elegant for a cheaper folder IMO.
 
00ChevyScott said:
Have you done anything else to the knife?
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I can't recall specifically, but on many or most of my Cold Steel knives I sand lightly under the clip so it doesn't shred my pants. Cold Steel's G10 is pretty aggressive.

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You can see on each of these where I have smoothed the G10. Its not so obvious in person, especially when the knife is covered in drywall dust, goose entrails and biscuit gravy.
 
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I've sanded this Voyager's "Griv-Ex" (a.k.a. plastic) scale as well, to take the peaks off those sharp protrusions. You can see where the protrusions under the clip are flattened, and the ones at the other end of the knife are sharper.

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Score: grinder 1, Lawman 0. I bought it like this.
 
Cold steel knives usually have a cost-benefit, and are very strongs knives.
 
My Recon resides in the garage. I've used it many times to scrape caulking. It has stood up to a lot of pushing twisting and prying. No blade play and solid lock up. I can't complain about my only Cold Steel.
 
powernoodle said:
All of the coolest dudes on Bladeforums have naked Recons.
Click to expand...

+1

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00ChevyScott said:
You were actually one of the members posting positive things about the Recon. Have you done anything else to the knife? I'm thinking the clip/clip area could use some work. It grabs on my pocket pretty tight. May do some bending/sanding and may even strip the coating off the clip, not sure.
Click to expand...

Personally, I use a leatherman to pry the clip away from the handle enough that they aren't touching. I also sand the G10
 
Looks nice. I wouldn't expect a nice stonewashed finish like that just hiding under the coating. I believe that Cold Steel should feature the stonewashed (like the new Voyagers) finish on the Recon and Spartan from the factory. The black coating is just too tacticool for my taste.
 
powernoodle said:
All of the coolest dudes on Bladeforums have naked Recons.

recon_1_bare.jpg
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I wouldn't mess with him, I've seen what he can bench press!


whetrock said:
Looks nice. I wouldn't expect a nice stonewashed finish like that just hiding under the coating. I believe that Cold Steel should feature the stonewashed (like the new Voyagers) finish on the Recon and Spartan from the factory. The black coating is just too tacticool for my taste.
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Agreed. I got a new Voyager recently, and just love the finish on the blade.
 
Very nice! My recon 1 is still clothed. I have no complaint about the g10, it is down right smooth compared to my ZT 0200.
 
My son got me a Recon 1,about a year ago. It resides in the pocket of my uniform pants. I too like the coating personally,although the stripped ones look great also. I like the coated blade,because it develops what i feel is character (signs of use). It is too tight and abrasive in the clip area. I like the tightness and abrasiveness, for it's retention value. It isn't going to slip out and you will play hell doin a knife grab on me. One wicked,tough, reliable knife !I reiterate, the stripped ones look great also.Good work OOCHEVYSCOTT,RES1CUE,POWERNOODLE, regards Henry
 
What's the story on the older "axis" lock Recon 1's? I see one going on eBay for over $150 right now. Why?
 
I have an old axis lock tanto (plastic handles with liners), and one of the clip point triad locks.

Demko designed locks are pretty tough to beat.

I need to strip my blade. No real reason for the coating on a stainless steel.

The old axis lock was a good design. Mine is still going strong after 10+ years.
 
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