You guys are scaring me

[Freak Show Scott]

What were the minor issues? The black will come off after some use & isn't as durable as other black coatings, but there's a really cool stonewashed finish hiding underneath.

To me this has always been a fairly MAJOR issue. I like some of the Cold Steel designs (for instance the AK-47) that have the Black Coating but I would not ever buy one except for SD (I have the SD thing covered with the Orininal Large Espada). As a utility blade the coating is completely unacceptable. The fact that it has a cool stonewashed finish underneath it is not a selling point. AFAICS that is a "Finish to Paint and Paint to Finish" that is done to produce the knife at less cost. It is sort of like saying "This medical treatment will make your hair fall out but you will be surprised how good your skull looks without it". If I wanted a stone washed finish I would like to buy a knife that way, not be forced into removing the black when it fails and voiding the Warranty in the Process.

Where dealing with warranty issues is concerned, I like to remember that there is a human being on the other end of the phone, that when treated politely, is more likely to go out of their way to help me.

Sometimes the Customer Service Reps at Cold Steel need to realize this too. The person on the other end of the line is not just a person whose money you already have, it is a possible future sales opportunity.

 

[flatface77]

I didn't mention it as a selling point. I was pointing it out to the OP on the outside chance that he didn't know & would find the info helpful. As a general rule black coatings come off with anything less than light use. If this is a problem, you should avoid coated blades. I've brought several black & stonewashed CS folders with to a mirror finish because I & my friend like the designs & I like to tinker with my knives. If I minded that much I wouldn't buy them.

 

[Reeek]

Three things keep me from ever buying a Cold Steel knife:

1) The warranty

2) The blade coatings (paint) on the models I want

3) The over the top marketing crap - I'm too old to be a mall ninja Hell, I'm too grounded to be a mall ninja!

I've always felt it was too bad that the only super quality Triad Lock knife you can get is a Demko, which is hard to get already.

I think CS is wasting an opportunity by not offering some of their models in a mid-tech version and make them right here in the United States. Uncoated blades, upgraded steel and built with care and quality beyond their current offerings.

Something in the middle between Andrews knives and their Taiwanese knives in price and quality. . .

 

[flatface77]

Most people who own their products aren't "mall ninjas". And yes, a mid-tech line is way overdue. And more satin finishes.

 

[philwar]

I've always felt it was too bad that the only super quality Triad Lock knife you can get is a Demko, which is hard to get already.

I think CS is wasting an opportunity by not offering some of their models in a mid-tech version and make them right here in the United States. Uncoated blades, upgraded steel and built with care and quality beyond their current offerings.

Something in the middle between Andrews knives and their Taiwanese knives in price and quality. . .

There is NOTHING wrong with the Taiwanese-made blades. The AL and the Recon 1 especially, with their high quality G10 and impeccable lockup have a build quality that does not take a backseat to most Spyderco's and BM's (which cost 2-3x as much).

I totally agree with you that Cold Steel would do very well to upgrade their offering in steel. Even if in practice AUS8A does everything you can reasonably want from any folder, the fact of the matter is that something like 154CM would hugely boost the stature of the Recon 1 and AL.

As for having them made in the US, that matters only to Americans, and not even to all of them. Most Europeans don't insist their knives be made over here, even if the Germans, Swedes, Italians and the rest of them also certainly know their way around a blade. Excellent blades are being produced in Taiwan, as evidenced by many exquisite Spyderco's. Cold Steel's Taiwan blades are just as well made.

 

[Freak Show Scott]

There is NOTHING wrong with the Taiwanese-made blades

I hate to disagree but I think there is something wrong with some of the Taiwanese-made blades. They have shown some inconsistencies in lock and release and the fit of some blades have not been at all what they should be. Stories about about the Tri aid lock that won't close easely and some gaps between the blade and the handle have been noted on some of the Espadas. Even the Pocked Bushman still has some issues. Not with the much published spring but with a tip that does not go all the way down into the channel when closed. There were also some gaps shown in the fit of the guard in the original SK-5 leathernecks. And other have complained that the texture on the new voyagers and G10 espadas handles it too aggrisive and need to be sanded down least it tear up your pockets. I will agree that most of these are not that serious but they are problems none the less. They are problems that many Cold Steel Fan Boys would never tolerate in any other knife other than a Cold Steel. IMHO.