Which knife is better?

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Doomsday347

Joined
Jan 31, 2009
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Hello I am about to purchase my first knife and I cannot decide between either the SOG Trident (straight edge) or the Cold Steel Recon I (clip point, straight edge). Which would you recommend?
 
If this is your absolute first knife, neither.
I always recommend starting with a slipjoint in order to learn safe cutting techniques so that you never depend on a lock to be safe.

If this is your "first expensive knife", I prefer the Cold Steel between those two knives. Cold Steel gets a lot of bad press from their over-the-top marketing, but some of their knives are actually a good deal. (If I opened the field a bit more, I'd say get a Spyderco Endura, but you asked about these two in particular.)
 
Tough call. The SOG uses AUS-8 which is a favorite steel of mine, easy to sharpen and good edge retention. The Cols Steel is using a high carbon steel that is similar American 1080. One thing I do dislike is blade coating so in that catagory the SOG would get my nod. I do like the Kraton handle on the Recon tho...it is very secure and non-slip will even providing some cushioning. Cold Steel gets the nod for that. Overall tho I think I would go with SOG.

Of course you could pick the SOG Gov-Tac or the SOG Tech Bowie and have the best of both worlds, great blade and handle material both.
 
Absintheur said:
Tough call. The SOG uses AUS-8 which is a favorite steel of mine, easy to sharpen and good edge retention. The Cols Steel is using a high carbon steel that is similar American 1080. One thing I do dislike is blade coating so in that catagory the SOG would get my nod. I do like the Kraton handle on the Recon tho...it is very secure and non-slip will even providing some cushioning. Cold Steel gets the nod for that. Overall tho I think I would go with SOG.

Of course you could pick the SOG Gov-Tac or the SOG Tech Bowie and have the best of both worlds, great blade and handle material both.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure your thinking of the wrong knife, the cold steel has G-10 and AUS-8.:)

As for the original question, I have never owned either but you can get a better quality knife for your money (or less) if you are willing to pick a different brand.

Take a look at;
Benchmade griptilian series
Spyderco delica, endura or native

Or, if you can add another $30 or so, you could get a military/paramilitary or 710.
 
I was assuming he was speaking of fixed blades...my mistake perhaps...

In a folder I would still give the nod to SOG over the Cold Steel.
 
The Cold Steel Recon 1 is a folding knife, available in clip, spear, and tanto-point configurations with a variety of edge configurations. It features, according to the latest ad literature, AUS-8A stainless, G10 scales, and Cold Steel's Ultra Lock (vaguely similar to the Axis and Ball Bearing locks of Benchmade and Spyderco fame). It is in fact a folder, as is the SOG Trident, which features the AUS-8A stainless for its blade and FRN handles, along with SOG's assisted opening technology.

Of the two, I would prefer the Cold Steel; I prefer the design of the lock and the Recon 1 series is a very, very solid-feeling knife. It can handle quite a lot of abuse.

At this price point, out of any design, however, a Benchmade Griptilian or Spyderco Endura would be my first choice.

Good luck. :)
 
If it must be one of those 2 then I would go with the sog because I can't stand black coated blades. They will always show wear and look like crap. Plus cold steels version of the axis lock blows. If it doesn't have to be those 2 and you want a great edc then the advise of many of the Benchmade griptilian is the way I would go. They are about the same price has a way better steel and a lock that's bomb proof. That's my .02
 
Welcome to BF. If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick the CS probably.

At that price point, I'd also consider a Benchmade Grip/mini grip, Spyderco Endura/Delica, and a handful of other knives.

I think Benchmade, Spyderco, and Kershaw are more bang for the buck without lacking any quality of SOG and CS.
 
I would certainly recommend against a slipjoint knife of any kind. Any knife that doesn't lock is essentially useless to me. Some here don't feel that way, but a slipjoint knife is like a 10-speed racing bike and a good locking knife (like the Recon 1) is like a slicked up mountain bike. The latter is much more versatile and comfortable to ride than the former. When I was a teenager, I was cutting some wood and the blade stuck in what I was cutting. I pulled it free and the damn thing snapped shut on my fingers. I haven't had much use for slip joints since.

The older Recon 1s (with Zytel grips) were very elegant knives and felt great in the hand. The newer one is a bit more abrasive but won't slip, plus it has better blade steel than the first one. I love the Recon 1 and I frequently carry the older Zytel one. I'd take either over the SOG any day. Cold Steel also has great locks and are much stronger than they need to be. Their Voyagers also are very fine knives, and I like the CRKT M21-04.

ColdSteelRecon1_BS_Sm.jpg


This is the earlier Recon 1. A joy to behold and to use.
 
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