Why do knife snobs hate Cold Steel??

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cultivateitnow said:
I guess that is one of the many reasons I like Buck. They are a no nonsense company. They do play games with customers or take advantage of peoples ignorance.
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I'm guessing that's a typo.;)
 
I personally have no problem with many of Cold Steel's stuff. I like Andrew Demko's contributions in particular. That said, the title of this thread is heavily loaded. How often do you beat your wife? You presuppose that just because one hates Cold Steel, they're automatically a "knife snob." It's indicative that you really don't care what people's answers are, seeing as how you've already labeled them pejoratively.
 
Planterz said:
I'm fully aware of all that, which is why I qualified my statements as such. I don't care for their knives, so I don't own them. Same can be said for SOG, Emerson, Buck, and plenty of other companies. But I don't dislike those companies, I'm indifferent. But I dislike/hate Cold Steel as a company for those non-knife-related reasons. Otherwise I'd just be indifferent towards them like I am with those other ones.

Conversely, there's companies I like because of their business practices, like CRK, Busse/Swamp Rat, Kershaw, Protech, and I don't even own any of their knives (although I have owned Protechs and Kershaws).
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I understand that, but I just wanted to make sure we are on the same page.

I hope you realise that most of the politics in the knife industry is complete BS started to hurt other companies and gets blown out of proportion for that same reason. ;)
 
cultivateitnow said:
If you really want to get right down to it, all knives are over price. At least all of the custom and almost custom blades...
I think more times than not people get P.O'd at Cold Steel because they really like their products but won't give in to all the super steel nonsense. :)
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That's not fair. For the amount of work, skill and experience that goes into a good custom knife, they are a bargain. Really. Forging a blade from scratch and making something like a 52100 mastersmith knife by Wally Hayes or Ed Fowler is extraordinary. Overpriced? The Hayes, if you can find one, is a bargain; the Fowler, too much money for the likes of me, but probably worth it as an investment.
As far as CS not giving into the supersteel nonsense, not really true.
When i got my carbon V Trailmaster, Lynn was touting carbon V as the ultimate supersteel. He can't do that anymore because we all know what it is and it doesn't touch Infi, CPM 3V and the other more trendy ( and better performing) "supersteels".
I have nothing against Cold Steel's hype. That's part of the "charm", such as it is. But if they could still jump on the supersteel bandwagon, they'd be the loudest touters out there :) Nothing wrong with that, as long as they don't actually lie, I guess.
 
Kaizen1 said:
I personally have no problem with many of Cold Steel's stuff. I like Andrew Demko's contributions in particular. That said, the title of this thread is heavily loaded. How often do you beat your wife? You presuppose that just because one hates Cold Steel, they're automatically a "knife snob." It's indicative that you really don't care what people's answers are, seeing as how you've already labeled them pejoratively.
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Bingo! That's what I tried to say in my earlier post.

Well put, Kaizen! :thumbup:
 
ThePharce said:
Please tell me what my AUS8 lawman, which does get used almost daily, cannot do with it's 'sub par' steel? I've had to sharpen it TWICE since April and can still shave the hair off my arm with it. It gets and keeps a very sharp edge. AUS 8 is a good mid level steel. It isn't Strider or Sebenza level steel, which is why you can get a Lawman for $60 or so, and not $300. It's also very comfortable to use, very sturdy, and easy to use for delicate work as well as heavy chopping jobs.
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I didn't say it was worthless, I said it was sub-par, for the cost of the knife. For $60 you can get something in VG-10 from Spyderco, 440C from Benchmade, whatever flavor-of-the-month gibberish Kershaw is using this month from Kershaw, etc. Hell, you can get an S30V Native for about $60. AUS-8 is something I'd expect in a $40 knife. I'm not saying the Lawman is a bad knife either, but for $60 I'd expect better than AUS-8. And I'd certainly expect better than AUS-8 or VG5 as the core in a $300+ San Mai blade.
 
I don't like the title either, and that's because I like some of cold steels 2010 lineup. I've been carrying either an American Lawman, Recon 1 (2010) tanto 50/50, or a Recon 1 (2010) plain edge clip point on duty and they work phenominally. I suppose any other G-10 handled knife would do, but those knives have worked great for me and the cost is nice (non msrp of course) for a public servant. The lock strength is something to brag about with the guys too :D

Every company has their niche market. The CS folders listed above make a great duty knife, but I choose to carry a Benchmade 790 Subrosa off duty because I prefer the titanium framelock with S30V blade steel. Besides, if I break one of the CS knives (somehow) on duty I won't be as devestated as I would if I were to ruin my Subrosa.

Reasons people wouldn't like Cold Steel could be:

1. Lynn Thompson - politics
2. Stealing designs - politics/ethics
3. Questionable Quality Control - I have the two recon 1's and they have different sounding lock engagements :confused:
4. Sub-par blade steel - In todays market, if it's not 440C and up, somebody is trying to save money rather than trying to offer up a higher grade steel.
5. The Serrations - I've heard horror stories of peoples serrations falling off after their first cut, easy answer is to find a spydie edge knife :)
6. Maybe too aggressive G10 - some people don't like the extra rough G10, I fixed this on my recon's with a little sandpaper and elbow grease
7. The Price - paying for what you like/get is all up to the individual, I would never want to pay msrp for any knife, but especially not for Cold Steel's materials.

I can't think of anything else at this moment, but I suppose these would be a few reasons to not like Cold Steel. I'm not a knife snob, just a blade afficionado :o

ps. Titanium Frame locks are awesome....just saying






And S30V is better too :D
 
well....cold steel is all that bad. However, the owner is a bit much. if you try to post on his youtube vids ANYTHING negative, even if it is the absolute truth, he will block you. Many of the products are just not what they are hyped to be.
 
For me, they do have some good designs and while i don't HATE the company, there are just so many other options for my money. For example, Kershaw offers $50 knives made in the U.S. with excellent materials for the price point and very good quality control. You can get a $60 cold steel made in taiwan with "ok" materials and tolerances. not to mention their service isn't the best in the world. To me, there's just many other companies that impress me far more than cold steel so i take my money to them over CS. i also am not a fan of the way they market their products. they speak so highly of knives that could be beat out by the more "modest" companies they say their knives are better than.
 
I buy whatever knives I like or turn me on. I have nothing but good experiences with Cold Steel knives! :thumbup:
 
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Planterz said:
I didn't say it was worthless, I said it was sub-par, for the cost of the knife. For $60 you can get something in VG-10 from Spyderco, 440C from Benchmade, whatever flavor-of-the-month gibberish Kershaw is using this month from Kershaw, etc. Hell, you can get an S30V Native for about $60. AUS-8 is something I'd expect in a $40 knife. I'm not saying the Lawman is a bad knife either, but for $60 I'd expect better than AUS-8. And I'd certainly expect better than AUS-8 or VG5 as the core in a $300+ San Mai blade.
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CS uses AUS-8A for a few reasons and some good ones.

It's very tough and strong steel for one, you can really push it and that go along with their advertising for Strong blades.

It does hold an edge respectfully well so it's not a bad steel.

We are talking about CS's vers here though, they aren't treated the same.

I do agree I would like to see them use other steels in their knives also.

Try and get a Stainless steel that is that tough and strong and keep the prices inline with what their street prices are.

Not all S30V is treated the same either, depends on the Company doing the treatment.

They could however stand to do some refinements in some of their products.
 
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Planterz said:
I didn't say it was worthless, I said it was sub-par, for the cost of the knife. For $60 you can get something in VG-10 from Spyderco, 440C from Benchmade, whatever flavor-of-the-month gibberish Kershaw is using this month from Kershaw, etc. Hell, you can get an S30V Native for about $60. AUS-8 is something I'd expect in a $40 knife. I'm not saying the Lawman is a bad knife either, but for $60 I'd expect better than AUS-8. And I'd certainly expect better than AUS-8 or VG5 as the core in a $300+ San Mai blade.
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eventually you'll tire of :jerkit: about steels.
 
Wow people making great points on both sides, and in a nice adult manner.

CS is not my favorite brand(#3 maybe) but I do like them and never had a problem with any of them that Ive owned. I just wanted to know why they get so much heat and why they dont have a manufacturers sub forum here on BF.

Id like to get into high end knives. Im thinking of ordering a Busse FFBM, great steel and warranty but....

I think Busses website sucks, where the fock can I see the different models and specs?
And 8mm thick!? How come a CS trailmaster can out chop a busse FFBM? Im sure itll
stab better too, and I like the blade profile better also. I think a lot of steel would be tough as hell if it was 8mm think... Ive also never heard of anybody carrying a 2 pound
8mm thick combat blade around in theater..

I think I might just buy a ESEE 6 clip point and Junglas, and two 200 round battle packs
of German DAG 7.62x51mm, and Ill save a couple bucks to.
 
sharp lupo said:
And 8mm thick!? How come a CS trailmaster can out chop a busse FFBM? Im sure itll
stab better too, and I like the blade profile better also. I think a lot of steel would be tough as hell if it was 8mm think... Ive also never heard of anybody carrying a 2 pound
8mm thick combat blade around in theater..
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Huh?

It can't happen believe me, there ain't no way a Trailmaster is going to outchop a Busse FFBM. ;)

I own both and done the tests I can tell you that it won't happen, ever.
 
Just to be clear, I met "knife snob" as a term of endearment, Im also in that
category. I guess Im a handgun snob too cause Ill only buy high end HKs and Sigs,
rifles, Im into the best battle rifles around. AK 47, FN FAL, and M1A all the way baby!
 
johniac7078 said:
well....cold steel is all that bad. However, the owner is a bit much. if you try to post on his youtube vids ANYTHING negative, even if it is the absolute truth, he will block you. Many of the products are just not what they are hyped to be.
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Ive seen that and I think its bad form..
 
Ankerson said:
Huh?

It can't happen believe me, there ain't no way a Trailmaster is going to outchop a Busse FFBM. ;)

I own both and done the tests I can tell you that it won't happen, ever.
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You would think but Ive seen it, in other forums and on youtube.
Check it out
 
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