Where to find handle thickness measurement for Cold Steel Models?

K

kfcounts

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Sep 15, 2008
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I have a few Cold Steel models. I have to order online because there isn't a B&M retailer near to see them in person.

I have been surprised in the past by the varying thicknesses of these knives, and I want to know ahead of time how thick the knife is before it shows up on my door. The website gives dimensions for length, width, blade length and thickness, but not how thick the handle is.

Let me explain my reason for asking. 2 years ago I bought a Hold Out 3 and loved it. Its very thin. I wished it had a little longer blade though, so I ordered a Hold Out 2 (4" model). If you have fondled these two you know when I say that the duece is almost twice as thick as the HO3. The HO2 uses much thicker slabs of G10. So the HO2 is much different to carry.

I am considering another purchase (Mini Recon 1 Spear Point). I would like to know if there is a place to find how thick this knife (and comparisons of other CS models) are. Are all the G10 models the same thickness (Recon, mini Recon, American Lawman, AK47, etc)?

I hope someone can help me out.
 
Handle thickness varies from model to model.
Some knives (Hold Outs, The Lawman series, the Mini AK47) are also getting thinner scales for 2015
I don't have the specs to hand, but I'm happy to help if I can
Give me a small list of folders and I'll measure them for you on my lunch break and post the info.
 
How about these?

Mini Recon 1
American Lawman
Hold Out 2
Hold Out 3

I can't imagine that the '15 Hold Out 3 could get thinner, but the 2 would be better if it were thinner.

Thanks in advance
 
Hi CS,

Can you also help do Code 4 and normal Recon 1 to establish the baseline as well, so we know the thickness of the rest relative to Code 4 on the thin end and Recon 1 on the thick end. Thanks.
 
OK, I didn't have all of the knives in stock so here's the info I could gather based on measuring their thickest point on the handle:

Mini Recon I - 10mm
American Lawman (2015 Model) - 9mm
Mini Lawman (2015 Model) - 8mm
Hold Out III (2015 Model) - 8mm
Hold Out II (2014 Model) - 11mm
Recon I (2015 Model) - 13mm
Code 4 (2015 Model) - 9mm

I hope that helps
 
This is great info, Thanks

What year is the Mini Recon 1? Or the new ones the same thickness as the previous AUS8 models?
 
That was a 2014 model I believe
I am not sure if they are getting thinner this year. I'll have to check for you
I was under the impression that the Recons were remaining the same, but I've been wrong before ;)
 
I think that's the new Mini Recon 1. My old model measures about 12mm. Some dealers have the new Mini Recons in stock, and from the pictures, it looks like they have the smoother G-10. I'm going to get one eventually.
 
Oh wow! I didn't expect 2015 Lawman to have the same thickness as the Code 4! I own both but the Lawman looks and feels thicker. I guess that's probably because AL's G-10 handle is more flat and well rounder vs the sharper edge of Code 4's handle.
 
[table="width: 500, class: grid, align: center"]
[tr]
[td]Model[/td]
[td]2014 thk[/td]
[td]2015 thk[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Hold Out 3[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[td]8mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mini Lawman[/td]
[td]9mm?[/td]
[td]8mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]American Lawman[/td]
[td]10mm[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Code 4[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mini Recon 1[/td]
[td]12mm[/td]
[td]10mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Hold Out 2[/td]
[td]12mm[/td]
[td]11mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Recon 1[/td]
[td]14mm?[/td]
[td]13mm[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Table summarizing this thread. I measured my AUS8 Hold Out 3 and 2 at 9 mm & 12mm respectively. So I think the moderator may have a typo on his measurements for the HO2. Says 11mm, but that is probably the 2015 model. Chime in if you see an error.

Edit 5/7/2015: added 2 guesses for prior models - chime in if you can confirm my guesses
 
Last edited:
Kyle K said:
I think that's the new Mini Recon 1. My old model measures about 12mm. Some dealers have the new Mini Recons in stock, and from the pictures, it looks like they have the smoother G-10. I'm going to get one eventually.
Click to expand...

I hope you are correct and the Mini Recon 1 has shrunk from 12mm to 10mm. I think my Hold Out 2 at 12mm feels too thick to me for every day carry - just my opinion YMMV. The Mini Recon 1 at 10mm would make it great for me. They are just a little too pricey right now. On the other hand, the new releases are driving prices of the previous versions to bargain levels. You can get (3) AUS-8 Hold Out III's for less than one new Mini Recon 1.
 
kfcounts said:
[table="width: 500, class: grid, align: center"]
[tr]
[td]Model[/td]
[td]2014 thk[/td]
[td]2015 thk[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Hold Out 3[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[td]8mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mini Lawman[/td]
[td]9mm?[/td]
[td]8mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]American Lawman[/td]
[td]10mm[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Code 4[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[td]9mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mini Recon 1[/td]
[td]12mm[/td]
[td]10mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Hold Out 2[/td]
[td]12mm[/td]
[td]11mm[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Recon 1[/td]
[td]14mm?[/td]
[td]13mm[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Table summarizing this thread. I measured my AUS8 Hold Out 3 and 2 at 9 mm & 12mm respectively. So I think the moderator may have a typo on his measurements for the HO2. Says 11mm, but that is probably the 2015 model. Chime in if you see an error.

Edit 5/7/2015: added 2 guesses for prior models - chime in if you can confirm my guesses
Click to expand...

With the thickness of the mini recon 1 handle going from 12mm to 10mm, how much strength is lost? Could this still be classified as a hard use EDC? Anybody done any tests or have any experience with this?
 
I'm glad I just got back into Cold Steel when I did. What I really liked was the nice thick slabs of G10. Suddenly, they got thinner. Though I know they're still strong, the bit thicker ones are more comfy for hard cutting, make the knife easier to open, and are even tougher. The '14 and '15 American Lawmans are like night and day. I still like them both, but wow.

Those measurements seem off. My new A.L. Is 2/3 as thick as the older one.
 
The Special Edition Hold Out I (BTW; when the hell will these hit dealers. Been emailing and asking for a while now, no satisfactory responses yet. I really, really want to know since I live overseas and cannot be placing orders all day, shipping costs are prohibitively high, heck!) does also have a thinner handle?

If so, what's the weight difference between the standard Hold Out I? Thanks to everyone, and thanks for the answer!
 
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