Why do I hate Cold Steel?

[jbmonkey]

Matter of fact, it’s like this. Imagine I raised a beautiful baby girl. I watched over, protected her and nurtured her for 30 years. Until one day I get tired and sell her to a pimp to get turned out and wrecked. That is what Lynn Thompson did.

while I'm disappointed on the changes, unless it turns out better than I think it will......I dont see it that way at all. Lynn's not a young man anymore. he's 67, I think I read. hes in good shape, far as I know, so he could keep at it until he's dead. he didn't want to. I dont blame him. he's worked hard most of his life to do what he's done. now he's going to do what he wants, after his contract with gsm is up, i assume.

that's why he built his own business. so he could have choices and he made one. nothing wrong with the choice he made. he owes us nothing. he owes that business nothing.

I see youre trying to make a point, but it's a business not a child.

 

[Mohave Aviator]

Honor and being a warrior and all that has nothing to do with selling a business. LT owes us nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Null. Goose egg. For 40 years he oversaw a company that was big on show and offered some really cool and solid products that were often at an affordable price.

When we think of Cold Steel, we think of LT. I get that, and I think the new CS is going to be a shell of what is has been for the last 4 decades.

However, Lynn deserves to ride off into the sunset and sit under his own fig tree. Whatever he built is his to do with as he sees fit. What he "owes" us was paid. I wanted a knife, he sold a knife. I have a knife, he has my $$. While I think selling to a big buying group isn't good for the brand, I dont blame him. The dollar figure i have in my head for my business is a hellova lot lower than what I'm sure he go

while I'm disappointed on the changes, unless it turns out better than I think it will......I dont see it that way at all. Lynn's not a young man anymore. he's 67, I think I read. hes in good shape, far as I know, so he could keep at it until he's dead, but that's why he built his own business. so he could have choices and he made one. nothing wornd with that. he owes us nothing. he owes that business nothing.

I see youre trying to make a point, but it's a business not a child.

while I'm disappointed on the changes, unless it turns out better than I think it will......I dont see it that way at all. Lynn's not a young man anymore. he's 67, I think I read. hes in good shape, far as I know, so he could keep at it until he's dead. he didn't want to. I dont blame him. he's worked hard most of his life to do what he's done. now he's going to do what he wants, after his contract with gsm is up, i assume.

that's why he built his own business. so he could have choices and he made one. nothing wrong with the choice he made. he owes us nothing. he owes that business nothing.

I see youre trying to make a point, but it's a business not a child.

I disagree friend. I see the merit in your reply and under normal circumstances I would tend to agree. In this particular case, I think he was simply being selfish. I think there were other ways to retire and be paid nicely. I think he sold his customers out and America has lost a great product.

 

[Mohave Aviator]

So now LT is a sex trafficker equivalent?

I’ll double down on “wow”.

I’m out. Enjoy the thread.

Why do you forget all the positive things I said? I wrote 3 damn paragraphs praising Cold Steel and you get bent over my thoughts on Lynn. ok

 

[Mohave Aviator]

Honor and being a warrior and all that has nothing to do with selling a business. LT owes us nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Null. Goose egg. For 40 years he oversaw a company that was big on show and offered some really cool and solid products that were often at an affordable price.

When we think of Cold Steel, we think of LT. I get that, and I think the new CS is going to be a shell of what is has been for the last 4 decades.

However, Lynn deserves to ride off into the sunset and sit under his own fig tree. Whatever he built is his to do with as he sees fit. What he "owes" us was paid. I wanted a knife, he sold a knife. I have a knife, he has my $$. While I think selling to a big buying group isn't good for the brand, I dont blame him. The dollar figure i have in my head for my business is a hellova lot lower than what I'm sure he got. I do wish it had been better for his workers, bit sometimes that's how big companies get sold.

What about all the employees who spent years working for Lynn? Do they deserve anything? Yeah...this is America and we are free to do what we please, but just because you are free to do something, doesn't make it right.
It was Lynn's choice and he did work hard, no doubt. But so did others and in this man's opinion, he did us wrong. For the record, i do take it very personal. As i said, I carried his product for many years and put my life on it. Yeah...I'm very upset.

 

[DocJD]

For 40 Years , Cold Steel has provided some my favorite gear at a bargain price and high value for great performance .

Many of these would never have been available without LT's martial interests and courage in marketing unusual products .

I already sorely miss his leadership of CS and I expect that will only grow worse .

 

[needler420]

I get Lynn Thompson can do whatever he wants. We're a capitalist free market.

I also feel like it's the end of the era for cold steel too though.

I always praised them and fought for them on this forum. I fought all the stereotypes about the stigma of cold steel being only for mall ninajs. I tried to at least.

Like many I now feel the quality in manufacturing is just going down from here.

I will remain optimistic and see their new products but I have a feeling ill be going back to spyderco or looking into other brands.

I mean look at the cold steel thread. Their most dedicated fans have started panic buying cold steel knives in anticipating a end of a era for them.

For me it's sad.

 

[SanLuisObispo]

Ok, so hate might be a bit strong, but I can’t figure out why I have not (to this point) even considered a CS product when knife shopping. They seem to use good materials, they have designs that I like, and arguably the best or at least strongest lock in the industry. The Storm Cloud they have coming out this year looks right up my alley. 20cv steel with g10/cf scales. Maybe it’s that Lynn comes off as a pompous a$$ or that the CS fanboys are annoying as hell if someone has a negative comment about one of their knives. (The Lynn comment isn’t fair, I have never met the man, but the fanboy part is true.) I guess I just need to get a couple to either confirm or get over whatever issue I have with them. Anyone else feel this way about a brand or company?

I think a strong personality like Lynn C. Thompson tends to breed fierce loyalty OR fierce opposition, depending on the individual. To me, LCT seems to be many things -- both negative and positive, but "pompous ass" isn't one of them.

When the sale of CS was announced and that little clip by LCT was released, he was ATTACKED by a number on these forums based on the above.

 

[farmer ted]

What about all the employees who spent years working for Lynn? Do they deserve anything? Yeah...this is America and we are free to do what we please, but just because you are free to do something, doesn't make it right.
It was Lynn's choice and he did work hard, no doubt. But so did others and in this man's opinion, he did us wrong. For the record, i do take it very personal. As i said, I carried his product for many years and put my life on it. Yeah...I'm very upset.

Holy smokes, was Cold Steel holding them captive as slaves? Man, this is information that should have been brought to our attention YESTERDAY!
As long as we focus on the important stuff, feelings, the minutiae of issues like individual liberty should be overlooked.

 

[Mohave Aviator]

I think a strong personality like Lynn C. Thompson tends to breed fierce loyalty OR fierce opposition, depending on the individual. To me, LCT seems to be many things -- both negative and positive, but "pompous ass" isn't one of them.

When the sale of CS was announced and that little clip by LCT was released, he was ATTACKED by a number on these forums based on the above.

You know, I speak harshly of Mr. Thompson, but people miss the fact that I do this because I loved his product and drive. I feel betrayed and am truly sad that my boys will deploy over seas and will NOT have the comfort of knowing they have a Cold Steel knife.

 

[MolokaiRider]

What Lynn did with his business is his business. He paid his employees, and when it sold, they were no longer needed. Pretty simple concept that happens regularly.

I see no reason to bash his decision.

However, there is a real concern that the products we know and love may either disappear or be produced with substandard materials and manufacturing by the new owners.

But we do not know yet for sure. Let’s see what happens. If the brand falls to the wayside, let the lamentation ensue.

 

[Mohave Aviator]

Holy smokes, was Cold Steel holding them captive as slaves? Man, this is information that should have been brought to our attention YESTERDAY!
As long as we focus on the important stuff, feelings, the minutiae of issues like individual liberty should be overlooked.

You've never been laid off, have you? No, you say these things because you have no vested interest in the product.

So, let me understand. We ( as some of the most loyal customers a company can have) spend 30yrs buying his products and advocating for him, and we don't deserve to call bulls#$t on him? He wouldn't be where he is without us and frankly, we deserved better.

 

[MBG]

At the end of the day, we are all on our own. I'm not going to get bent out of shape because someone at retirement age decided to maximize his returns on his life work. I'm sure there are some great people that worked for him and I do feel for anyone who loses their job, but I have to also assume that they have been compensated for their work. If they were instrumental in the success of CS, I hope they will be able to capitalize on their work experience going forward. If we are lucky one of them will start their own knife company and bring something new to the industry.

CS isn't some kind of vital national defense resource. Our Servicemen have plenty of choices for quality knives (CS might continue to be one of them). They can even choose products that are made by Americans in the United States.

 

[justjed]

As an employee who has worked for several companies that changed ownership during my employment, you either roll with the changes, or find something else to do. That's what employees do. As for management, Lynn built a business, and he sold it. That's what America is all about. He lived the dream, now he can relax. We should all be so lucky. But let us not mistake an astute businessman for a super hero, or a movie star, or sports figure. He's not even an elected official. Like it or not, HE OWES US NOTHING.

As for the company? Time will tell. Best idea is to get what you want in the near future, just in case...

 

[Mohave Aviator]

What Lynn did with his business is his business. He paid his employees, and when it sold, they were no longer needed. Pretty simple concept that happens regularly.




I see no reason to bash his decision.

However, there is a real concern that the products we know and love may either disappear or be produced with substandard materials and manufacturing by the new owners.

But we do not know yet for sure. Let’s see what happens. If the brand falls to the wayside, let the lamentation ensue.

Friend, I am not arguing that Lynn has the right to do what he wishes with his business. I am simply stating a well established fact. Cold Steel Enjoyed some of the most die hard, loyal customers a company can have. We have stood by Lynn, bought and advocated his products for 30 years. That said, for Lynn to go about doing what he did, was a huge slap in the mug to all of us who have stood by him and his products. There are many, many Cold Steel haters out there, and I’m sorry, but I feel his customers deserved better than what they got.

 

[Mohave Aviator]

At the end of the day, we are all on our own. I'm not going to get bent out of shape because someone at retirement age decided to maximize his returns on his life work. I'm sure there are some great people that worked for him and I do feel for anyone who loses their job, but I have to also assume that they have been compensated for their work. If they were instrumental in the success of CS, I hope they will be able to capitalize on their work experience going forward. If we are lucky one of them will start their own knife company and bring something new to the industry.

CS isn't some kind of vital national defense resource. Our Servicemen have plenty of choices for quality knives (CS might continue to be one of them). They can even choose products that are made by Americans in the United States.

Sigh...ok, obviously not a Cold Steel fan. Benchmade and Spyderco are also made overseas. The USA does not produce a lot of high quality knife steel so save the sly quip ok?

 

[Mohave Aviator]

As an employee who has worked for several companies that changed ownership during my employment, you either roll with the changes, or find something else to do. That's what employees do. As for management, Lynn built a business, and he sold it. That's what America is all about. He lived the dream, now he can relax. We should all be so lucky. But let us not mistake an astute businessman for a super hero, or a movie star, or sports figure. He's not even an elected official. Like it or not, HE OWES US NOTHING.

As for the company? Time will tell. Best idea is to get what you want in the near future, just in case...

Again, I don't argue with what you are saying. Yes, he was very astute and a good business man. That said, his decision was selfish and benefited very few people. Was it his right to do so? Yes. Does that make it right? No.

This is our problem btw. People only ever care about themselves and society applauds this behavior. We live in an instant gratification, go get your own, everybody for themselves society and people wonder why society is a hollow, moraly bankrupt dumpster fire.

 

[justjed]

INSTANT GRATIFICATION????

LT built a business and ran it for 40 years before he retired. He provided MILLIONS of quality blades to the world. And a few turkeys.

I don't take his retirement personally. I'm grateful for the time we had under his leadership, and the legacy of all those knives that are still doing the job.

BUT, and as much as it pains me to say so, times change. THINGS change, and not always for the better. Better get used to it...

 

[Mohave Aviator]

I get Lynn Thompson can do whatever he wants. We're a capitalist free market.

I also feel like it's the end of the era for cold steel too though.

I always praised them and fought for them on this forum. I fought all the stereotypes about the stigma of cold steel being only for mall ninajs. I tried to at least.

Like many I now feel the quality in manufacturing is just going down from here.

I will remain optimistic and see their new products but I have a feeling ill be going back to spyderco or looking into other brands.

I mean look at the cold steel thread. Their most dedicated fans have started panic buying cold steel knives in anticipating a end of a era for them.

For me it's sad.

Hold on friend. What do you mean about a dip in quality? I mean, I anticipate a drop in quality but the blades i bought in October were top notch. Can you give me some examples please, I'm really curious

 

[SteelPanther]

own over 300 knives and not a single one is a cold steel because I hate their products....never handled one I liked and some of the names etc are just too ridiculous imo.....if someone who built a company later sells that company who cares? happens every single day in America and why in the hell would anyone take that personally? a business owner is free to do as he/she wishes with their business and i dont think your feelings matter much in any decisions that were made. cold steel was sold so what. any knife company that I love could be sold tomorrow...so what. no ones "feelings" are relevant in any business decision...its business

 

[Mohave Aviator]

INSTANT GRATIFICATION????

LT built a business and ran it for 40 years before he retired. He provided MILLIONS of quality blades to the world. And a few turkeys.

I don't take his retirement personally. I'm grateful for the time we had under his leadership, and the legacy of all those knives that are still doing the job.

BUT, and as much as it pains me to say so, times change. THINGS change, and not always for the better. Better get used to it...

Friend, can you please take second to actually absorb what i said, instead of firing off a reply. "Instant gratification" is not about 40yrs of work. Its about a cultural mindset that rewards self centered and individualistic thinking. We as Americans are free ( well, atleast we used to be) and we have that right. However, just because I am able to make certain choices lawfully, doesn't mean we shouldn't pause and think about how this choice will affect others.

I can tell that most of you are indifferent to Cold Steel, and some even loath them. That said, I am willing to bet that if your favorite knife or gun manufacture sold itself to a major corporation who was going to rape and trash it, you'd be bent, and don't even pretend you wouldn't.