Why doesn't anyone make knives that compete with Cold Steel?

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Cynic2701 said:
But that's not what I asked. I compared a Sebenza's tip to a Cold Steel's tip, and asked if it would have ended up any differently when dropped off a roof tip first onto concrete.

I don't own a Manix 2--which is why I can't make a comparison.
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The Manix 2 is the topic at hand, it's tip is paper thin, go handle one and see for youself. It's utility is highly suspect...
 
Finarfin said:
The Manix 2 is the topic at hand, it's tip is paper thin, go handle one and see for youself. It's utility is highly suspect...
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Ridiculous statement. How do you define "utility"? Suspect by who? You? How about basing something in fact rather than opinion.
 
Finarfin said:
The Manix 2 is the topic at hand, it's tip is paper thin, go handle one and see for youself. It's utility is highly suspect...
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So's your grammar. But as for the thin tip, I find the even thinner tip on my Caly 3 makes it extremely utilitarian. Not everybody's looking for a folding prybar when buying a knife.
 
If you are really worried about you're lock closing on you and you need a knife for defending your life and prying open car doors daily buy the largest Busse (or fixed blade in your price range) you're allowed to carry, if you're not allowed to carry a Firearm, if you need a knife for actual cutting tasks get a slicer with decent steel like a "paper thin" manix 2 in M4 or S90V.
 
Finarfin said:
The Manix 2 is the topic at hand, it's tip is paper thin, go handle one and see for youself. It's utility is highly suspect...
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I'm comparing the tip on a high hollow ground blade in a supposedly "brittle" steel (that I have thinned out behind the bevel to be thinner than paper) with the "paper thin tip" (and probably factory bevels) on the Manix 2's lower hollow grind. I'd say it's a fair comparison, possibly even an unfair one. The Sebenza is also closer to the 4 inch benchmark that the OP asked for.

Here's what the tip on my Sebenza looks like today after a two story drop on concrete:

2012-01-08_15-39-31_62.jpg


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Do you think a Cold Steel's tip would have fair better?
 
I have owned a couple of cold steel's, and they have proven to be very durable knives. I have a previous gen AK-47 and had a mini lawman that was lost. Both very good knives for the small(relative) amount of money I had in them. I really love my AK even though it is way too big and bulky. It is an AXIS lock model which has seen a ton of use and yes, even abuse. But to say no one else can compete is a bit of an exaggeration. I now carry a tanto mini grip by benchmade and it is a thick blade, with a very solid lock. For hard use, yes, a cold steel folder is a great choice, but sometimes there is a better choice of tool than a hammer.
 
While I no longer am confident about the lock on the Manix 2, it certainly doesn't look even remotely paper thin. And as for utility, it's one heck of a good knife for any normal knife use. Cuts amazingly well, great edge geometry and edge holding, etc. Even though I did manage to break it with some good hard whacks, it served me fine for a year of normal EDC use. Cut zip ties, cardboard, even steel cable, and was still shaving sharp at the end. I guess it comes down to what you want from your knife.
 
Somebody somewhere once told me that Cold Steel makes some good knives. Somebody else told me that other companies make some good knives too... :confused:

Is it possible that completely different companies can each make good knives at the same time?? It's like a Star Trek paradox or something... :rolleyes:

Carry on... :p

(I feel bad for the OP... this thread has gone sideways... *sigh*)
 
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Comparing a Cold Steel (or any knife that claims to be "hard use") to a Spyderco is like comparing a Jeep with a Porsche. I don't understand why this conversation is even taking place.
 
michaelm466 said:
Didn't read where the OP specified a price point,
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Seeing as the title of the thread is "Why doesn't anyone make knives that compete with Cold Steel" price must be a factor, because the Recon 1 and the BM Rukus are no more competitors than Long John Silver and Bonefish grill are competitors

michaelm466 said:
however IMO, the step up in quality and materials is worth it
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I do to... but to many people this is not something they are able/willing to do. Hence the different niches.
 
timberweasel said:
Somebody somewhere once told me that Cold Steel makes some good knives. Somebody else told me that other companies make some good knives too... :confused:

Is it possible that completely different companies can each make good knives at the same time?? It's like a Star Trek paradox or something... :rolleyes:

Carry on... :p
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^This. Lots of great knives out there. What knife you personally decide to purchase and use will depend on the range of tasks you need to accomplish, your budget, and your personal preferences.
 
powernoodle said:
You are right that Cold Steel may be the leader of their particular market niche: moderately priced, medium to large beefy folders with a killer lock. But consider also the Spyderco Manix 2, Zero Tolerance 0550/0551 and a number of other "hard use" ~4" folders.

Btw, you can lose the black coating on that Recon-1 pretty easy.

recon_1_bare.jpg
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Do they come with the Blue "SHAM-WOW!" on the right too? Cool!:eek:
 
I dunno what's so "competitive" about Cold steel, it's what it is, they make few good, budget knives, using AUS-8A or SK5 steel or similar grade alloys.
San mai series are seriously overpriced, or if you will, can no longer be considered budget knives.
Tri-Ad lock is innovative, but other than that I don't recall too many inovations from CS lately. IMHO innovation is what makes a company competitive. Although, I guess it depends what one calls being competitive.
I'm very skeptical about tanto blades being hard use knives, at least for average joe who doesn't spend his day stabbing car doors and other hard surfaces. Other than that, they're not all that useful. Same goes for their unsharpenable serrations which are rather fragile for any "hard" use.
 
Cynic said:
Are you telling me you carry a machete or a Chef's knife around with you all the time?
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No, a Chefs knife would be silly. Too big. Though a nice 6" kitchen utitlity knife on the other hand is a different story.

wusthofclassicutilityknife6400.jpg


Forged one piece construction, full tang, distal taper, excellent heat treat, and shaving sharp out of the box. I don't see how you can beat such a gem in the SUB $100 price category. The sheath really blows though, so you will need to have a better one custom made. :D
 
Planterz said:
Next time I'm attacked by an angry car hood, I'll be sure not to reach for my Spydercos.
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That is a good point, I will reach for my Kershaw Skyline, wait I mean ........

I am not sure how much tip strength matters in a folding knife anyway. Not the ideal tool for prying stuff.

Whatever this thread is out of hand.
 
Finarfin said:
The Manix 2 is the topic at hand, it's tip is paper thin, go handle one and see for youself. It's utility is highly suspect...
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Hahaha you are too much. I am going to assume your arguments stem from irrational thoughts in your head and not real life experience?? Feel free to say otherwise.

If you knew the abuse my centofante 4 took doing landscape construction you might be amazed. To my knowledge it is as thin as spyderco makes them at 2mm, hollow ground, with a remarkably "dainty" wharncliffe tip. I have dug in hard soil to cut roots, notched hard wood, opened countless bags of cement, pried up staples and knives in a pinch, though I despise any sort of prying with knives.

Would I classify it as hard use? No. However it did see much hard use. Probably harder use than many cold steel fans ever see. I am not claiming one is better than the other, and will freely admit that Cold Steel makes knives with more technical ability to take a beating. What I have a problem with is people throwing out asinine definitions about what is dainty and not fit for hard work, based on how a knife looks or feels, and not how it performs.

I'm also amazed at how many people apparently try and chop through things with the spine of their knife, based off of the popularity of the ridiculous spine whack test.
 
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