What's up with cold steel testing triad locks against cheap knives?

So Mr. Demko, again. Can you test against the adamas , manix two or Para mili month. These two would be great and are more of a competitor. It would be a hell of alot more interesting than what has been picked so far, and fair. The tatanka was my favorite so far. The crkt knives are very reliable knives but had no busines competing in abuse testing against your knife. Also the Para can use a quick break in first with some wrist flicking hard as possible . They usually come a little early but would still be fine.
 
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I see it like this. CS was making the claims about how strong their knives were for many years before hard use was a thing. They back up their claims. Othef companies make similar claims that ends up being just marketing. That's fine marketing sells products. I didn't think AD came across as smug at all, just the opposite really.
 
Guest5160 said:
The companies that fail to reply are only earning more of my business. Cold steel has a few gem designs in my book (tuff lite) but, the gimmicks get to be a bit much. Some of their videos read like bad infomercials. Impressive, maybe, not earning my business though.

It's a shame really. I commented back when the XHP and BD-1 upgrades were announced that I thought it would do wonders for their reputation. Then they go on this spree. I believe a companies product shouldn't have to be spoken for, let alone shouted about.
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Its not just Cold Steel testing these knives. A lot of people are testing them even harder. Some of Cold Steel's test videos are actually remakes of tests other people have done.
 
I fully expect liner locks to fail early based on personal experience of using knives hard on our farm. I do not buy them, often. I have a couple, but they serve a niche. I have used Cold Steel knives in some pretty rough ways and the locks have not failed. The handles on one bent pretty badly (not current production) but the lock held up. Some of Cold Steel knives are pretty weird and very mall ninjaish, but there is no denying this new generation can really take a lot of hard use. I am replacing my current hard use folder from another company (and much more expensive) with a Cold Steel American Lawman. (I already have the Recon 1 but like the AL better).
 
I took a 2 day defensive knife course with Lynn Thompson in the early 2000s. I have a lot of respect for him. He is opinionated and passionate about knives. But, that is what makes me respect him. I like people who are not wishy washy and have the courage to say what is on their mind.

These tests are just an extension of that quality.

I only own a Recon 1, Spartan, and Rajah II. plan to buy many more CS knives in the future because I trust them. They back up what they claim with proof.
 
The tests are just perfect for tactical knives. Folding knives are designed for slice and cutting chores, but when you rely on a tactical folder to save your life under stress, you better get the toughest knife available . Spydercos are great EDC knives, and there's no way in hell I would want to abuse them, but If I were a soldier or a police officer and I would be deployed on dangerous land, I would choose to have a reliable folder by my side so when the shit hits the fan I would feel more comfortable with a knife that would not let me down rather than a beautiful folder with a " military" name that would get me killed. For everything else I would carry a Vic Swiss champ tho.
 
Cold steel brings that sense of reliability and confidence that was much needed in the tactical folding knives world. Whether you like it or not ..

Be completely honest, if your son were going to be deployed, what knife would you send him with? I would issue him with either a fixed blade or a C.S. Folder. Indeed.

I love other knifes to do other types of cutting, but the point being discussed here is about the reliability of knife lock, not design or steel.
 
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Today, I would deploy with a couple of large clip point voyagers, and a medium voyager. They are strong, cheap (older Aus 8 version), easy to resharpen, and I would not be upset if they got lost or stolen. IMO when you are gloved, and loaded down with gear, "tactical folders" are not very practical. A Kabar fixed blade would make more sense for "tactical", and HARD use applications. I like this knife for the same exact reasons I like the Voyagers. Plus you can completely clean and oil a fixed blade in about 20 secs.
My folder would be secured in a cargo pocket. It's very, very easy to lose a knife in the field. I would also want to keep dust and dirt out of the pivot joint area.
I couldn't afford a Tanka or a ZT when I was in the military. If I had, they would have definitely stayed at home in my sock drawer. Expensive knives grow legs, and walk away in the field.
A user Voyager/Kabar would also make good barter material, or a nice farewell present for a host national friend.
 
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AntonioAhumada said:
Cold steel brings that sense of reliability and confidence that was much needed in the tactical folding knives world. Whether you like it or not ..

Be completely honest, if your son were going to be deployed, what knife would you send him with? I would issue him with either a fixed blade or a C.S. Folder. Indeed.

I love other knifes to do other types of cutting, but the point being discussed here is about the reliability of knife lock, not design or steel.
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When I bought 4" folder for my son, I gave him a Endura. Then, I read about all the lock failures. I immediately got him a Recon 1 and sold the Endura. I trust the Recon 1 lock.
 
mwhich50 said:
Today, I would deploy with a couple of large clip point voyagers, and a medium voyager. They are strong, cheap (older Aus 8 version), easy to resharpen, and I would not be upset if they got lost or stolen. IMO when you are gloved, and loaded down with gear, "tactical folders" are not very practical. A Kabar fixed blade would make more sense for "tactical", and HARD use applications. I like this knife for the same exact reasons I like the Voyagers. Plus you can completely clean and oil a fixed blade in about 20 secs.
My folder would be secured in a cargo pocket. It's very, very easy to lose a knife in the field. I would also want to keep dust and dirt out of the pivot joint area.
I couldn't afford a Tanka or a ZT when I was in the military. If I had, they would have definitely stayed at home in my sock drawer. Expensive knives grow legs, and walk away in the field.
A user Voyager/Kabar would also make good barter material, or a nice farewell present for a host national friend.
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I concur with every single word you have posted here!
 
Dave Hunnicutt said:
When I bought 4" folder for my son, I gave him a Endura. Then, I read about all the lock failures. I immediately got him a Recon 1 and sold the Endura. I trust the Recon 1 lock.
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I know where are you coming from, I have an Endura 4 and a Dragonfly 2 , both in Vg10 steel and I love them for EDC and their general performance, but I carry a C.S. Code 4 as a last ditch self defense blade. That knife is a dedicated Self defense tool. No cardboard cutting with it. I also pack an Urban pal, but I prefer the C4. Good choice of yours. Recon 1 is the blade to have if you're serving.
 
mwhich50 said:
Today, I would deploy with a couple of large clip point voyagers, and a medium voyager. They are strong, cheap (older Aus 8 version), easy to resharpen, and I would not be upset if they got lost or stolen. IMO when you are gloved, and loaded down with gear, "tactical folders" are not very practical. A Kabar fixed blade would make more sense for "tactical", and HARD use applications. I like this knife for the same exact reasons I like the Voyagers. Plus you can completely clean and oil a fixed blade in about 20 secs.
My folder would be secured in a cargo pocket. It's very, very easy to lose a knife in the field. I would also want to keep dust and dirt out of the pivot joint area.
I couldn't afford a Tanka or a ZT when I was in the military. If I had, they would have definitely stayed at home in my sock drawer. Expensive knives grow legs, and walk away in the field.
A user Voyager/Kabar would also make good barter material, or a nice farewell present for a host national friend.
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^ Completely agree. A fixed blade is the only real "hard use" knife I would trust completely for combat or hunting...everything else is a sacrifice. For me, its a 40 yo Kabar 1233.
 
I love the G10 Dragonfly. I have the Spyderco Police in G10 and the Tatanka. I trust both of them for self defense.
 
Thanks for the tests Demko, and Cold Steel.

Light, strong, sharp. It's a winning combo.


People need to try and not take them selves so seriously.

I have customs, and production, including some pricier fixed blades, like Busse and Swamprat.

But for folders, I have a hard time straying from Cold Steel.

Of course, I have dropped a lot on slipjoints. So I'm not just a strength only buyer.

Hopefully Cold Steel keeps pushing designs and testing.

I have heard straight from custom and high end fixed blade makers that Cold Steel was one of the major factors in pushing design and testing decades ago. That their publishing of tests pushed other makers and brands to up their game.
 
knife chop said:
Maybe not that cheap but it seems like they're testing knives that we already know going to fail against a triad lock.
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The Spyderco they tested against is not only not cheap, one of the big marketing things for it was how strong the lock is.
 
Poleaxe said:
It just seems like, in general, that a grown man constantly chiming in on threads with snarky remarks proclaiming to never buy a companies products again is a little silly. It serves no purpose other then to stir the pot and muddy the water on something you are no longer invested in.
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It is really marketing feedback, something a company needs.

Yesterday, when we went to the woods my dad used his Rajah 2 and Mini Tuff Lite for making the skewer he used to cook sausages (he won the skewer contest that day; his worked better then the ones my brother and I made).

He got both those knives from me.

The products are just fine; the company has been on the right track there.
They want to sell their products though, which is the whole reason for all the marketing they do.
They need to know what works and what doesn't.

I'm telling them that their new direction sure doesn't work with me, and it sure doesn't with some others.
What they choose to do with such info is up to them.
 
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