Cold Steel

[ladybug93]

i own 5 cold steel products:

tuff lite
finn wolf
recon 1 xl (clip point)
two handed machete (heavy machete style)
trench hawk

the tuff lite is a great little utility blade that i carry sometimes at work and i like to carry the finn wolf in my backpack as a backup to a mora.

the recon 1 xl and two handed machete were both purchased as more of a joke than anything else. they are both completely ridiculous knives that i only pull out when i want a good laugh. i like to joke that the machete is my zombie apocalypse knife even though the one time i actually tried using it for anything was very short-lived because it's quite unwieldy and dangerous.

the trench hawk was a gift. i actually forgot i have it until i saw the picture above.

3/5 of the cold steel products i have, i don't take seriously. i know they make some good products, but many of their products are as gimmicky and cheesy as their propaganda. it's a silly company with a few hits. i wish i had been able to get an american lawman in od green before they switched away from xhp.

i know i'm necroposting, but i wanted to update my opinion since i accidentally found this old thread via a google search.

i now own 10 cold steel products.
tuff lite
finn wolf
4max scout
voyager tanto xl
recon 1 clip point xl
rajah ii
two handed heavy machete
gun stock war club
trench hawk
walkabout walking stick

i still feel the same way about my two handed machete being unwieldy, but it's not useless and it's not a bad product. i said i bought the recon 1 xl as a joke, which is true, but that knife is not a joke. it's a legit knife, as are the other larger folders i have from cold steel. just because i get a little chuckle when i open my xl knives or the rajah ii, doesn't mean they aren't serious tools. the voyager tanto xl lives in my glove box in case i need an urban survival knife. the rajah ii lives in the back of my car with a bag of other survival tools and products. the 4max scout is an amazing, beefy, beater knife that is about as large as i can actually carry without feeling like i've lost my mind and the proportions allow it to look enough like a regular edc to other people that it doesn't really seem to draw too much attention.

the 4max scout, voyager tanto xl, and rajah ii are all really great values. they're all made of sturdy materials and a steel that allows you to really use them without fear of failure, while still being easy enough to sharpen. the tri-ad lock is not gimmick either. i trust it over just about every other lock when it comes to hard use and/or in the outdoors.

say what you want about their silly marketing, but they make some really great, quality products. my only problem is that most people hate cold steel or are mall ninja dude bros that i wouldn't want to associate with ever. it's hard to find sensible people that just enjoy a well-designed and executed huge knife, but from the looks of this thread, there are at least a few of us.

[Manixguy@1994]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

[prndltech]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

Yes. The weight really isn’t bad once you realize what your getting. As soon as I got mine in hand, I realized I can accept it. Mine bounces back and forth at 10.15 - 10.2 oz on my scale.

[Manixguy@1994]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

Yes. The weight really isn’t bad once you realize what your getting. As soon as I got mine in hand, I realized I can accept it. Mine bounces back and forth at 10.15 - 10.2 oz on my scale.

Thank you 0006 0002

[ladybug93]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

yes. it's a beast. the weight feels right with the bulk, but you'll know it's in your pocket for sure.

sorry i missed your post. i just came back here to say the standard model is only $70 on amazon right now. that's less than a dragonfly, which is crazy.

[Manixguy@1994]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

yes. it's a beast. the weight feels right with the bulk, but you'll know it's in your pocket for sure.

sorry i missed your post. i just came back here to say the standard model is only $70 on amazon right now. that's less than a dragonfly, which is crazy.

No worries buddy. I just can’t wrap around my head how the folder is so heavy . Liners must be pretty thick ? Years ago I tried two different CS models , Lawman and Finnwolf . It must be me but had difficulty closing the lock backs and sent them back . I liked them , it was disappointing. If I would ever buy another CS it would have to be at a show where I could handle one before purchasing. Dan

[ladybug93]

the triad lock is more difficult to disengage than the spyderco backlock. part of that it due to what makes the triad lock stronger, which is the way it contacts the stop pin. there's always a feeling of a little catch. i can understand why people don't like it, but i don't mind because i know it's the price i pay for a stronger lock.

[Manixguy@1994]

the triad lock is more difficult to disengage than the spyderco backlock. part of that it due to what makes the triad lock stronger, which is the way it contacts the stop pin. there's always a feeling of a little catch. i can understand why people don't like it, but i don't mind because i know it's the price i pay for a stronger lock.

I think my problem was not finding the sweet spot , lack of patience on my part . MG2

[shunsui]

Picked up a Recon1 when Cold Steel changed hands. Can't believe what a great knife it is. Lock feels like a bank vault and the handle is big and comfortable. S35VN steel does the job, and it even came blacked out.

Price, just an added bonus.

[ladybug93]

[prndltech]

Hi ladybug93. I took a look at the 4Max Scout at DLT and looked at specs . Description had weight at 10.4 ounces, is that correct ? I was rather shocked being so heavy . I did like the steel used rarely see it used anymore which is of some interest . MG2

yes. it's a beast. the weight feels right with the bulk, but you'll know it's in your pocket for sure.

sorry i missed your post. i just came back here to say the standard model is only $70 on amazon right now. that's less than a dragonfly, which is crazy.

No worries buddy. I just can’t wrap around my head how the folder is so heavy . Liners must be pretty thick ? Years ago I tried two different CS models , Lawman and Finnwolf . It must be me but had difficulty closing the lock backs and sent them back . I liked them , it was disappointing. If I would ever buy another CS it would have to be at a show where I could handle one before purchasing. Dan

The 4 max scout I received from Amazon is one of the easiest CS lock bars to disengage I have come across. No more difficult than a native or any other back lock for me.
But I’ve also had some that took some CS triad locks that took serious thought and pressure to manipulate, so I totally understand where you’re coming from.

[vivi]

say what you want about their silly marketing, but they make some really great, quality products. my only problem is that most people hate cold steel or are mall ninja dude bros that i wouldn't want to associate with ever. it's hard to find sensible people that just enjoy a well-designed and executed huge knife, but from the looks of this thread, there are at least a few of us.

I'll always be a big fan of their machetes. Very cheap, hard working machetes that ship with functional sheaths and have a nice black finish to keep most rust at bay.

I have a few of their wharncliffe style machetes, the cutlass saber machete and a pair of kopis machetes. The kopis is my favorite machete. The handle makes so much more sense than regular machete handles, I waste so much less time repositioning my grip. The slight recurve gives it great cutting abilities, like a lightweight kuhkri.

The cutlass machete is fun to mess around with on my trails but it's a little blade heavy for prolonged use.

I'm also a big fan of their fixed blades. The SRK, SRK-C and Recon Tanto all impressed me enough with their price to performance ratio that I bought backups of all three for about the price of one Spyderco fixed blade. Paid $40-50 per knife and they've performed very well, zero complaints.

[James Y]

Cold Steel has a lot of great stuff. I own several CS products, especially folders. However, in spite of that, I’m not really into their stuff like I am Spyderco. Their clip knives are true pants shredders, and their designs overall feel blocky to me. And don’t one-hand close a Triad lock. I badly cut a finger at the knuckle when my Code 4’s blade slammed down like a Guillotine when I stupidly/absentmindedly tried to one-hand close it, giving me the worst knife injury of my life. Luckily, my finger recovered from it, after 4 months of missed work and physical therapy for it. Yes, it was user error on my part, but I learned a hard lesson that day not to treat a CS Triad lock like a Spyderco mid-back lock folder.

Some of their other stuff is fun. I have a couple of their older sjamboks that are fun to play with now and then. I have an Indian War Club that would destroy someone if you hit them with it, but IMO is too unwieldy to be practical. I also have a couple of their injection-molded walking sticks, but they’re too thick, heavy and unwieldy to actually use as walking sticks. And I have a kukri machete, which is OK, but in actual use, I much prefer my basic Tramontina machete.

If you find the Triad lock too stiff, you can leave the knife half-open overnight and test it out the next day (do it with TWO hands). If it’s still too stiff, leave it out half-open again, until you reach the desired looseness. Just be very careful; that’s how I suffered the Guillotine cut I mentioned above.

Jim

[vivi]

I hear everyone say that about tri-ad locks but I've never had any issues closing my voyagers and xl voyagers one handed. then again I don't exclusively close lockbacks by dropping the blade down on my index finger, so that helps.

glad you recovered either way.

[JRinFL]

That's part of why I think the "depress the lock, drop blade on finger" method is unsafe. Not every knife designer builds in the safety that Sal does, so it is much safer to use other methods to close lock backs. I usually control blade with my index finger for the first few MMs of movement using the hole or stud, then clear my fingers from the blades path and push it the rest of the way with my index finger. Sometimes I will press the lock and close the blade by pressing the back of the blade on my leg.

Those crazy big CS folders, however, really do need a two handed close. It's the only way to be sure that no fingers, legs, small animals, or low flying aircraft are in the blades path!

[nerdlock]

Those crazy big CS folders, however, really do need a two handed close. It's the only way to be sure that no fingers, legs, small animals, or low flying aircraft are in the blades path!

Never thought that a knife could become a small SAM, but here we are good one JR


On topic, I only have the CS AD-15 with me now left. Got it when it was on sale and it is one mean little tank. The Scorpion lock definitely is unique and once you get used to it, one handed closing is a pleasure. Never noticed how thick it was compared to my Spydies like the PM2 because the bevels are huge on this one. Definitely a keeper among the CS knives i've handled thru the years.

[ladybug93]

some of their knives are fine to drop on your index finger. you just have to be careful about it. they really do come down like a guillotine, but even my rajah ii can be closed like this. you better believe i triple checked very slowly that the blade wouldn't hit my finger before actually letting myself be comfortable with it.

jr... low flying aircraft...

[vivi]

yeah it really isn't difficult to safely close their tri-ad knives one handed, it just takes a different technique than a Spyderco.

[JRinFL]

Well, I found a great deal on a 3V Recon Scout that I absolutely did not need. It is one giant impressive hunk of 3V steel!
(Edited to add missing word)

[ladybug93]

i made a gif to show the rajah ii dropping on my index finger. still makes me nervous every time, but there's no way it will cut me using this method.