For My Fellow Cold Steel Knife Fans

S

Single Six

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I admit it. I'm a hopeless Cold Steel fan. Any company that makes video proof of the toughness of their wares while daring other companies to follow suit [so far, no takers] is okay with me. So here's what I'm wondering: Why is it that most knife articles in most gun magazines seem to ignore this particular manufacturer? American Handgunner and their sister publication Guns are prime examples. In fact, Lynn Thompson himself seems to be alluding to this unspoken collective prejudice in his most recent catalog. Anyone have any ideas?
 
Back in the old days,if a manufacture didn't advertise in the magazine, it was unlikely to get a product (positive) review in the magazine.
 
Bones: You raise an interesting point. Handgunner and Guns are still my two favorites, but now that you mention it...I don't recall seeing any Cold Steel ads in either one.
 
Bones nailed it right on the head. You gotta advertise in the magazine to get a review (generally good) whether you are a firearms manufacture or a knife manufacture. Springfield blanketed gun magazines with advertisments for the XD, which they paid a lot of money for. And maybe because of that, it won handgun of the year for several years. Im not saying thats the only reason it won, but it didnt hurt its chances either.
 
As a writer who couldn't make it in the gun mag business because I told the truth, I know, first hand, advertisers get the reviews. And they get good ones because that is what rings the cash register.
Truthful reviews of an inferior product loses the advertiser and gets the writer fired.
 
All good reasons I don't buy those publications anymore. Any idiot can rave for a page and a half about how a 20 year old pistol design with a new light mount is a benchmark in firearms technology and 'totally worth' the extra $100. Show me a writer who can give an honest review on a product, and I'll show you a receipt for my 3 year subscription.
 
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Don't put all the blame on the writers. It starts with the owners who give orders to the editors who tell the writers how to slant the articles. Do not expect objectivity in slick magazines, regardless of subject. e.g. guns, boats, cars, household, whatever.
 
Bones nailed it right on the head. You gotta advertise in the magazine to get a review (generally good) whether you are a firearms manufacture or a knife manufacture. Springfield blanketed gun magazines with advertisments for the XD, which they paid a lot of money for. And maybe because of that, it won handgun of the year for several years. Im not saying thats the only reason it won, but it didnt hurt its chances either.
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Not only advertise, but pay for the article.

It is noticeable that the articles in gun magazines are simply paid infomercials for the products mentioned in the article. At the end of each article in Guns magazine is a list of the products that the author wove into the story and where to get them.

Another reason may be spite. I met Lynn Thompson once, he is not a cuddly bear, infact he is a hard nosed business man and that will ruffle feathers, especially for writers and editors expecting to be treated as royalty.

So they have no reason to pump his products. No free bees, no ego stroking, no advertising.
 
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And look who has an ad on every other page in gun magazines now... Ruger. Guess who won handgun of the year the last 2 years...
 
OK, getting back To Cold Steel weapons...

I have a Blackthorn, (I broke my leg a few years ago) and I've always wanted an OSS knife, but I can't carry one while riding, Damn nice looking knife though.
 
Egor: We're on the same page. ;) I'm partial to the Voyager series, and here lately, the Rajah II. I also splurged a few years back for the Magnum Tanto II, an elegant [yet serious] fixed blade if ever there was one.
 
As a writer who couldn't make it in the gun mag business because I told the truth, I know, first hand, advertisers get the reviews. And they get good ones because that is what rings the cash register.
Truthful reviews of an inferior product loses the advertiser and gets the writer fired.
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Yup, but there is a business model where honesty still works and pays the bills. The Internet allows you to publish your honest reviews and generate revenue not from advertisements from manufacturers but instead from traffic.

I love the Internet. :)

I stopped buying Guns and Ammo years ago because they gave glowing reviews of low quality, poorly made, poorly designed products. Why? Because the company had a full page spread in the magazine.

I've since started doing my own reviews using YouTube as a venue and it's been growing steadily. It seems to me that the Internet will eventually put the pinch on traditional print publications one day... and that day can't come soon enough for me.

Thank you for being honest about your reviews though... I admire your resolve.
 
As another CS fan, I can honestly say I've never even seen a CS review in a gun or knife magazne. These explanations make perfect sense to me.
 
Chris: I hate to admit it, but it makes sense to me too. Any TFL moderators care to offer an opinion, since you guys are in the publishing biz?
 
Seriously who reads magazines anymore? I get the AR with my membership but I didn't join to get it. Magazines like newspapers are a dieing industry...

Tony
 
Geezerbiker: Obviously, yours truly still reads 'em. You will never see me with an "e-pad" or "i-pad" or whatever the heck it is those electronic thingies that contain books are called. :)
 
"I mostly just look at the pictures, and only read a little bit of the articles. "

......that's how I go through these threads:D
 
I discovered years ago that magazines give the best reviews to those that spend the most on advertising. Now with the internet, you can talk to people that have real experience with what you want to know about. I have a Cold Steel Tanto but I haven't had it long enough to comment on it anything more than it looks very strong...

Tony
 
Geezerbiker: If you haven't already seen it, you ought to check out Cold Steel's video "Absolute Proof". They will happily send it to you for free if you just ask; ditto for their catalog. When the day comes that SOG, CRKT, or Spyderco step up and make a video like that, I just MIGHT consider buying something from them! The web site is www.ltspecpro.com and the phone # is 1-800-255-4716.
 
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