Why Cold Steel not in the Manufacturers forum?

A

Albin

Joined
Aug 31, 2001
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With the (apparent) popularity of Cold Steel knives, why aren't they represented in the Manufacturers forums?

And did I just ask an embarrassing question??

Thanks,

Albin
 
They where at one time several months ago.

During that time they answered a few questions, then said it was too much work.

One thing they revelaed was the San-Mai steel was something like AUS-10 sandwiched between 420 Stainless, if I'm recalling correctly.
 
You didn´t ask an embarrasing question at all.I think so to that Cold Steel should have a place here at the Forums. I think that all knife manufacturers should be represented in the knife manufacturers forum. To claim that it´s to mouch work,that´s an bad appology for not wanting to answering questions.

Manowar
 
I honestly don't think Cold Steel looks at us as their primary customer base (or even a large chunk) with the exception of a few lines. Therefore, why have a forum?

While I am generally a fan of CS products, they do make a lot of stuff forum guys consider low end, but to the people buying $3 knock-offs CS products are high end.

Every company markets its product differently, and some choose to do it by not having a strong web presence while others rely on it heavily. It's just different strategies, and whether you want to believe it or not having a forum here is a marketing strategy.
 
It IS a shame that Cold Steel doesn't see the need to join our BladeForums community, as it does offer a great way for a "knife business" to be able to comunicate with their customers (and vice-versa), to introduce new products, and to receive instant feedback.
 
To be fair, when Cold Steel set up shop here, the poor representative was so immediately overrun with bewildering questions -- genuine, highly specialized, bizarre, and not a few hostile -- that he had no hope of addressing even half in a timely manner.

Still, Cold Steel's recent streamlining does suggest the co. is seeking to expand its appeal primarily to less "knife-obsessed" folks. :) While other co's are working really high-end materials into new performance-oriented designs, CS has reduced their range of steels to a few so-so alloys and the ever downgrading "Carbon V"; and with a few exceptions, their handle materials remain FRN, Kraton, and little Micarta. Also, CS's designs now appear mostly either tried-and-true OR oriented to mass market appeal in ways that make performance and utility secondary, at best.

Their overblown marketing hype aside, CS still does produce some quality knives. The Master Hunter remains a great knife at its price point, even after CS almost doubled its price a few years back. And besides, they aren't the only ones to "heed the call of the market." Even Spyderco, which is very loyal to knife knuts, pulled the Calypso Jr due to its poor sales in the "open sea" market, despite its near-classic status here in out "little pond."

Glen
 
I think cpirtle had it right. CS no longer tries to attract the true knife knuts, instead they are going after the low-end market. I wish they would try to function more like Buck or Spyderco and offer something for everyone, but such is life. They have very few knives that interest me anyway.
 
Originally posted by storyville
To be fair, when Cold Steel set up shop here, the poor representative was so immediately overrun with bewildering questions -- genuine, highly specialized, bizarre, and not a few hostile -- that he had no hope of addressing even half in a timely manner.
Click to expand...
Yes, I remember that...In-fact, I even volunteered to help-out with co-moderating their Forum, in-order to help take some of the heat off...(Dang...Maybe it was MY offer of help that caused 'em to pull-up their tent-stakes and leave?.:D.:eek:.:D.).
 
I don't think we're their main customer base by a long shot. Still, it'd be nice to be able to offer immediate feedback and wishlists to Lynn and his team.

If youse guys are reading:

Please make ambidextrous, reversible clips for your Vaquero, Voyager, and Trailguide series. Pretty please with Lameco/Mande Muda on top?
 
I sorta expected Cpirtle's response. Since coming here, I always thought CS almost high end. This forum has opened my eyes on what the definition of "high end" means.

This is, of course, both good and bad. Good that I will never buy another marginal knife again and I will always know that any knife I buy is the best in its price class. Bad in that now I can't use "low cost" or "on sale" as a reason to buy another knife and I have to save pennies/dollars/kilodollars to buy decent knives. For that I thank the BF.com crew.

Of course, there was always the chance of some great personality conflict between CS and someone on this board providing great gossip and/or entertainment and/or debate that I didn't know about.

Thanks,

Albin
 
Yeah, When I got my SRK I thought it was a pretty nice blade for the buck, but after getting my Greco MST IV, and seen how even though the Greco has a noticable thinner grind, it performs just the same as the SRK, I don't think of the SRK the same anymore.
And the Greco isn't really that high end either.
I suppose they still have some good stuff, but not enough to attract my bucks. Spyderco is getting the bulk of my attention because they actually make knives that really perform. I'm also looking into some of the Camillus Cuda stuff.
 
But Cold Steel has the TORPEDO, maaan. The TORPEDO!

That's . . . quite an interesting thingy. A pointy double ended metal spike-thingy. Not sure why, but it incites me to giggle hysterically whenever I contemplate it.

And I'm a thrower. Feh. :)

(No, I don't have one and it's not even on my to-buy list.)
 
Originally posted by cpirtle
I honestly don't think Cold Steel looks at us as their primary customer base (or even a large chunk) with the exception of a few lines. Therefore, why have a forum?

While I am generally a fan of CS products, they do make a lot of stuff forum guys consider low end, but to the people buying $3 knock-offs CS products are high end.

Every company markets its product differently, and some choose to do it by not having a strong web presence while others rely on it heavily. It's just different strategies, and whether you want to believe it or not having a forum here is a marketing strategy.
Click to expand...

he's got it right on the dot
 
For me i think that a knife companys place at the forum is a must! I will give you som good reasons why:
You can write directly to them about just about everything regarding warranty questions,complaints about products,get the latest news from them,ask about discontinued knives in their line and so on.

I hold those knifemanufacturers who appears on Blade Forums,and www.Knifeforums.com high. They have understand about how important it is to keep a good dialog with their customers.When i first stumbled over Blade forums and registred me,i was happy about how many types of forums there where. And i was especially pleased that there was something called "Makers and manufacturers forums".I have learned alot by regularly visit these forums,reading about the latest news and so on.

Manowar
 
I just bought a CS SRK for $50. It was supposed to be a 2nd but didn't have the "2" on the butt like its supposed to.

Oh well. I'd have brought it up in the CS forum, but since they don't think we're important enough for their business, I guess I'll have to let it pass.

Comments?

Thanks,

Albin
 
They still make great knives and we're all still happy to talk about them, but I guess we'll have to do it here instead of in the Makers&Manufacturers section.
 
Originally posted by DaveH
They where at one time several months ago.

During that time they answered a few questions, then said it was too much work.

One thing they revelaed was the San-Mai steel was something like AUS-10 sandwiched between 420 Stainless, if I'm recalling correctly.
Click to expand...


420? ARRRGH I just can't accept that the ix tanto i just bought has 420 in it.

Some one PLEASE tell me he's wrong :-( I knew it was AUS, but somehow i'd thought the rest was 440 of some sort.

(seething)
 
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