What's@ Happening to the Espada XL?

C

Confederate

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Sep 5, 2005
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I found some on eBay for well under $200, and bought four. These aren't the cheap G10 models, but the polished ones. Is Cold Steel planning on discontinuing them? The last time this happened was with their polished Rajahs a few years ago. I got three of those for a hundred bucks each, shipping included, and always wished I'd gotten more. Anyway, I don't see how they could make them for what they're going for, but many times Cold Steel just pulls production models with no warning.

Like others, I initially viewed these knives as little more than show pieces. But when I discovered how easily they can be carried, I changed my mind. I take everything out of my right front pocket and use it solely for carrying this thing. Is it practical? I'll have to let you know, but I live in a very violent state with repressive gun laws. But there's no limit to the length of a blade with a folder.

Thoughts? Very impressive knife!
 
Enjoy everything while you feel the muse. Steels and materials get discontinued, styles fall out of favor, new cars start to look look electric shaving razors. It might be common now, but it could be a relic some day!
 
Confederate said:
I found some on eBay for well under $200, and bought four. These aren't the cheap G10 models, but the polished ones. Is Cold Steel planning on discontinuing them? The last time this happened was with their polished Rajahs a few years ago. I got three of those for a hundred bucks each, shipping included, and always wished I'd gotten more. Anyway, I don't see how they could make them for what they're going for, but many times Cold Steel just pulls production models with no warning.

Like others, I initially viewed these knives as little more than show pieces. But when I discovered how easily they can be carried, I changed my mind. I take everything out of my right front pocket and use it solely for carrying this thing. Is it practical? I'll have to let you know, but I live in a very violent state with repressive gun laws. But there's no limit to the length of a blade with a folder.

Thoughts? Very impressive knife!
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You're probably finding the old AUS-8 steel models at this price point. Cold Steel discontinued making this knife in AUS-8 this year in favor of an upgrade to CTS-XHP. The old ones are probably selling out and bargain prices right now to make room for the new.
 
The Rajha I is a beautiful knife, but I never carried it because the Rajah II was inexpensive, so I carried that one and saved the milled aluminium ones as investments. But with the Espada XL aluminum model, it's now as cheap as the standard G10 model. So there's no reason not to carry in style. I really understand why the polished models didn't sell at the prices Cold Steel suggested. The people most likely to spend several hundred dollars on a folding knife would be more apt to spend it on an expensive smaller knife like a Sebenza. Two years ago, I really wanted a polished Espada; however, the price was prohibitive, so I put it aside as a luxury I'd have to forgo. Now, with no warning, the prices have dropped to levels I not only can afford, but couldn't pass up. But this time I'm going to carry one (judiciously) instead of socking them all away. Just looking at the workmanship, I can understand why they retailed for several hundred dollars. At the same time, it's not exactly an EDC. Like those miniature guns that look like their real counterparts and fire specially made ammo and cost more than a grand, there is little practicality in a finely made knife the size of the Espada. Yet in lone, dark places, such knives impart a modicum of security in an insecure world.

Clearly the giant Espada will spend more time in my safe than in my pocket, but it certainly makes a far greater impression on me than the little Sebenza, and not altogether because of its size. It's difficult to describe until you actually hold one in your hands.




The large but elegant Rajah I, milled from tough airframe quality aluminum. Well worth a couple of C-notes, these were a steal for $100 per!
 
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There are no plans to discontinue the Espadas. We recently changed steels. I have a feeling the knives you found at a reduced price are the older Japanese AUS8A versions that are closed out.
New Espadas in USA XHP steel are expected to hit the shelves in a few weeks
Thanks
 
MaxFisher said:
You're probably finding the old AUS-8 steel models at this price point. Cold Steel discontinued making this knife in AUS-8 this year in favor of an upgrade to CTS-XHP. The old ones are probably selling out and bargain prices right now to make room for the new.
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It's doubtful this is the case as making a massive polished blade of CTS-XHP would be very expensive. Also, this isn't a knife one cuts with a great deal, so there would seem to be a point of diminishing return in upgrading a decent grade of steel to an expensive super-steel. Are you sure they're doing that with this model?

Thanks for your comment!

Just saw the posts above. Seems I was wrong! I wonder what the new knives will go for street. I think I'll pick up a few more.

AUS8A is a fine steel for a knife that size. I wonder how much more it will cost Cold Steel to do the steel change?
 
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My new recon 1 only went up $20. Not bad for American made steel and real dlc coating.
 
Yes, but each time you go up in size, you're talking about substantially more steel. For people who use their knives for cutting, gutting deer and such, the new steel will be a substantial asset. But with the monster Espada XL, it's almost a novelty knife. To put a huge blade of an expensive steel in the Espada XL, you'd be talking about a street price of $425+ (which, when considering the price of a Sebenza, is still a deal). But AFAIC, I'd rather have the AUS8A model for $160 than have the super-steel model for hundreds of dollars more. And yes, I realize the only reason I'm getting the Espada Polished XL so cheap is because they're being discontinued. Plenty of places are still selling them for $325. I'm just amazed they aren't using the BD1 steel instead of the XHP.

Has anyone been unhappy with their Espadas of any size? And just how much better will the XHP steel be over AUS8A? Buck, when advertising its Alaskan series of knives, estimated its S30V steel to have about 45-50% more edge retention than its 420HC models, and I think that Cold Steel's AUS8A is a step up from Buck's 420HC. That would undercut the 50% increase to X amount. And this would be if the XHP steel is equal to S30V, and the jury seems to still be out on that. If the XHP can give users a 50% increase in edge retention over AUS8A, I'd say it's doing pretty well. Add to that the increased corrosion resistance of XHP and that will be another advantage.

Thoughts?

.
 
Tuco from Better Call Saul.
 
Stargater said:
Yes, but each time you go up in size, you're talking about substantially more steel. For people who use their knives for cutting, gutting deer and such, the new steel will be a substantial asset. But with the monster Espada XL, it's almost a novelty knife. To put a huge blade of an expensive steel in the Espada XL, you'd be talking about a street price of $425+ (which, when considering the price of a Sebenza, is still a deal). But AFAIC, I'd rather have the AUS8A model for $160 than have the super-steel model for hundreds of dollars more. And yes, I realize the only reason I'm getting the Espada Polished XL so cheap is because they're being discontinued. Plenty of places are still selling them for $325. I'm just amazed they aren't using the BD1 steel instead of the XHP.
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Polished Espada XL in XHP is $378 at Knifecenter. The G10 version is $264.
 
Thanks for the info. I'm floored that they can make a huge XL blade out of CTS-XHP and sell the knife for that price. Isn't the new supersteel supposed to be in the S30V class? I've seen very little about the new steel characteristics, but I'm glad Cold Steel is doing some upgrades. Sadly, they'll put many of their knives out of my affordability zone. I actually wish Thompson had gone with VG-1 for awhile. It's a decent steel and a good replacement for mid-range knives.
 
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