For My Fellow Cold Steel Knife Fans
- Thread starter Single Six
- Start date
Single Six
New member
Bravo124, you and I would get along famously. 
Geezerbiker
New member
I bought my Cold Steel Tanto because I talked to a guy that used one in Africa to skin a rhino. He said it was the toughest knife he had ever used and wouldn't hunt without it. I found a used one cheap and snapped it up. It's going to be my hunting knife until I pass it on to one of my grandsons...
Tony
Tony
I've had cold steel tanto for years. been through a lost of use and abuse and is still going strong. I recently picked up a little urban pal push dagger that fits on my key chain. pretty neat little knife. I agree with all the folks above- you just don't see reviews bc cold steel won't buy the ad space. Based on what they make, guess they really don't have to.
I bought a roach belly about a year ago after looking for a cheap knife I could use for camping. I have used that knife for litterally everything and I have never sharpened the blade. I have never had such a good knife for so little of a price tag. I think thier video is all the advertising they need.
A very popular knife forum, lets call them “BadForums” allowed their forum members to create an atmosphere of hate towards Cold Steel. Cold Steel had a presence on that forum and then left. I suspect in revenge, BadForums encouraged the haters and noticeably eliminated Cold Steel fans. The haters actually codified a religion of hate, but upon examination it was just a litany of complaint based on the themes found in our 30 second news cycle.
There was such a hostile atmosphere on BadForums that when Cold Steel opened their own forum, thousands of posts were created over night by people who wanted to talk about Cold Steel knives without being attacked. Since eyeballs equal advertizing money, the loss in traffic must have been noticed by the management of Badforums and they must have clamped down on their Cold Steel Hate Club, particularly after these same haters shifted their attack to manufacturers who had a paid presence at Badforums.
I thought the whole thing very interesting as a social phenomena. It showed to me the internet is a very powerful medium, the power of discontent minorities to move majorities, and it showed me the herd nature of humans.
What does this have to do with firearms? Please don't get me wrong. I share the same respect and passion for knives as I do firearms (if not more.)
EDIT:
On to the topic at hand…
I have never noticed what brand of knife or knives are being advertised or discussed in gun magazines because I’m not reading them for a knife review. These are firearm magazines not knife magazines.
With that being said… I am not a fan of cold steel. That doesn’t mean that I think they make a bad knife by any means. Cold Steel knives just aren’t for me. I think they are a great value for the dollar and I have a lot of friends that love them and carry them daily. I do carry their pepper spray “Inferno” with me daily though.
EDIT:
On to the topic at hand…
I have never noticed what brand of knife or knives are being advertised or discussed in gun magazines because I’m not reading them for a knife review. These are firearm magazines not knife magazines.
With that being said… I am not a fan of cold steel. That doesn’t mean that I think they make a bad knife by any means. Cold Steel knives just aren’t for me. I think they are a great value for the dollar and I have a lot of friends that love them and carry them daily. I do carry their pepper spray “Inferno” with me daily though.
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Long time cold steel customer
GENTLEMEN: I WAS A LONG-TIME FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO A GUN-CHAT FORUM KNOW AS "THR" AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NO LONGER WELCOME AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT WEBSITE. I PUBLICALLY DECLARED MY PERSONAL SATISFACTION WITH EVERY CS PRODUCT I HAVE PURCHASED SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S AND WAS TRASHED BY THE STAFF & OTHER READERS FOR STATING MY OPINIONS. THEREFORE, I RESIGNED IN WRITING FROM THAT FORUM.
WE ALL HAVE PERSONAL OPINIONS & EXPERIENCES (GOOD OR BAD) WITH PRODUCTS RELATED TO THE OUTDOORS & SHOOTING SPORTS IN GENERAL. HOWEVER, WE ABSOLUTELY MUST RESPECT EACH OTHERS OPINION EVEN IF WE DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER. SO LONG AS WE DEBATE THE PROS & CONS OF THE PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR TECHNIQUE WITHOUT VERBALLY SLANDERING THE CONTRIBUTOR, THEN "THE FIRING LINE" WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST PRO-GUN FORUM ON THE INTERNET.
I HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN MANY ASPECTS OF THE SHOOTING SPORTS FOR 50 YEARS & HAVE A LIFETIME OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO SHARE WITH FELLOW READERS & CONTRIBUTORS. YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, BUT YOU MUST RESPECT MY RIGHT TO SAY IT !!!!! IF ANYONE DESERVES TO BE ATTACKED, IT IS THOSE CITIZENS, LEGISLATORS, JUDGES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, & ELECTED GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, WHO ATTEMPT TO DENY AMERICANS THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED TO CITIZENS BY THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS OF THE US CONSTITUTION.
I SUPPORT YOU & I EXPECT YOU TO SUPPORT ME, NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS MIGHT THINK. GOD BLESS THE USA-----OOOO-RAH.
PS: PLEASE FORGIVE THE LARGE CAPS. I HAVE SUFFERED MULTIPLE MINI-STROKES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS & MY VISION WAS DEALT A SEVERE BLOW. I AM DISABLED & NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT IN MY 32 YEAR CAREER AS A SAFETY & HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. THEREFORE, I AM HOME-BOUND AND HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME TO SIT AT MY PC & HELP MY FELLOW SHOOTERS TO SOLVE VARIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIFLES & HANDGUNS. THANKS FOR NOT BLASTING ME ON THIS FORUM BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT I WAS "YELLING" AT READERS. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION & PLEASE PRAY FOR A HEALING OF MY VISION--GOD BLESS.
MICHAEL S. WHITLOCK (aka: GURU1911)
PROUD AMERICAN & NATIVE BORN TEXAN
GENTLEMEN: I WAS A LONG-TIME FREQUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO A GUN-CHAT FORUM KNOW AS "THR" AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NO LONGER WELCOME AS A CONTRIBUTOR TO THAT WEBSITE. I PUBLICALLY DECLARED MY PERSONAL SATISFACTION WITH EVERY CS PRODUCT I HAVE PURCHASED SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S AND WAS TRASHED BY THE STAFF & OTHER READERS FOR STATING MY OPINIONS. THEREFORE, I RESIGNED IN WRITING FROM THAT FORUM.
WE ALL HAVE PERSONAL OPINIONS & EXPERIENCES (GOOD OR BAD) WITH PRODUCTS RELATED TO THE OUTDOORS & SHOOTING SPORTS IN GENERAL. HOWEVER, WE ABSOLUTELY MUST RESPECT EACH OTHERS OPINION EVEN IF WE DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER. SO LONG AS WE DEBATE THE PROS & CONS OF THE PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR TECHNIQUE WITHOUT VERBALLY SLANDERING THE CONTRIBUTOR, THEN "THE FIRING LINE" WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST PRO-GUN FORUM ON THE INTERNET.
I HAVE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN MANY ASPECTS OF THE SHOOTING SPORTS FOR 50 YEARS & HAVE A LIFETIME OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO SHARE WITH FELLOW READERS & CONTRIBUTORS. YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY, BUT YOU MUST RESPECT MY RIGHT TO SAY IT !!!!! IF ANYONE DESERVES TO BE ATTACKED, IT IS THOSE CITIZENS, LEGISLATORS, JUDGES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, & ELECTED GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS, WHO ATTEMPT TO DENY AMERICANS THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED TO CITIZENS BY THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS OF THE US CONSTITUTION.
I SUPPORT YOU & I EXPECT YOU TO SUPPORT ME, NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS MIGHT THINK. GOD BLESS THE USA-----OOOO-RAH.
PS: PLEASE FORGIVE THE LARGE CAPS. I HAVE SUFFERED MULTIPLE MINI-STROKES OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS & MY VISION WAS DEALT A SEVERE BLOW. I AM DISABLED & NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT IN MY 32 YEAR CAREER AS A SAFETY & HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. THEREFORE, I AM HOME-BOUND AND HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME TO SIT AT MY PC & HELP MY FELLOW SHOOTERS TO SOLVE VARIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIFLES & HANDGUNS. THANKS FOR NOT BLASTING ME ON THIS FORUM BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT I WAS "YELLING" AT READERS. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION & PLEASE PRAY FOR A HEALING OF MY VISION--GOD BLESS.
MICHAEL S. WHITLOCK (aka: GURU1911)
PROUD AMERICAN & NATIVE BORN TEXAN
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ohen cepel
New member
I have many of CS's items and like them for what they are, will be buying more in the future if I like their products. Really like their tomahawks.
I don't get the ton of hate/love that the company draws though. Lynn Thompson can be a bit annoying but that is a minor distraction.
They sell good knives at a good price point. Some are not to my taste but I'm not going to blast someone else if they choose to buy it.
The forums would all be a lot better off if people didn't get so emotional about what someone else wants to spend their money on.
I don't get the ton of hate/love that the company draws though. Lynn Thompson can be a bit annoying but that is a minor distraction.
They sell good knives at a good price point. Some are not to my taste but I'm not going to blast someone else if they choose to buy it.
The forums would all be a lot better off if people didn't get so emotional about what someone else wants to spend their money on.
RimfireChris
New member
I've been a fan since I was the age I wish I was now. 
I own both what was once their most expensive knife-the Black Sable-and their cheapest-the Kudu-along with several in between, right now a Finn bear and a 4" Ti-Lite. I used to have a full serrated Lg Voyager Tanto that I used daily for seven years when I worked at a newspaper, cutting cardboard and heavy duty plastic banding straps on bundles of inserts. I had to sharpen it maybe twice a year. I'm sold on their products and will be forever. I have some other knives, that I bought just because I liked the design, but for serious work or play I won't have any other. The "experts" who think they know better can stuff it, or else let me hang 250 lbs of weight from their folding knife of choice, and we'll see what happens. I think it's telling that in all the years they've been making their videos, to my knowledge NO OTHER knife company has made one of their own.
What I don't get about the hate is I've never heard Lynn Thompson, at least in any of the vids, trash talk about any other knife company specifically, so how come some people have gotten so butt-hurt about it?
I own both what was once their most expensive knife-the Black Sable-and their cheapest-the Kudu-along with several in between, right now a Finn bear and a 4" Ti-Lite. I used to have a full serrated Lg Voyager Tanto that I used daily for seven years when I worked at a newspaper, cutting cardboard and heavy duty plastic banding straps on bundles of inserts. I had to sharpen it maybe twice a year. I'm sold on their products and will be forever. I have some other knives, that I bought just because I liked the design, but for serious work or play I won't have any other. The "experts" who think they know better can stuff it, or else let me hang 250 lbs of weight from their folding knife of choice, and we'll see what happens. I think it's telling that in all the years they've been making their videos, to my knowledge NO OTHER knife company has made one of their own. What I don't get about the hate is I've never heard Lynn Thompson, at least in any of the vids, trash talk about any other knife company specifically, so how come some people have gotten so butt-hurt about it?
YO, RIMFIRE
In the early 1980's, lynn thompson offered a substantial amount of money ( $25,000 i think it was) to any factory or custom maker who would:
1. Test their knives using the same exact testing methods
2. Allow the testing to be video taped
3. Allow consumers unlimited access to the video results
4. Let the consumer decided for themselves which knife to purchase.
To the best of my knowledge, no custom maker nor factory has ever taken him up on this challenge.
For almost 30 years, i was a member of the inner circle of friends, to mr. Clyde e. Fischer of victoria, texas. He was one of the founding members of the knife makers guild. Before he died in 2002, i asked him, "who makes the best factory production folders or fixed blades available to the public ?" he replied "those boys at cold steel make one tough s.o. B of a knife. Other than the ones i forge in my own shop, cold steel makes the best"
there you go. From the mouth of one of the best custom knife makers the world has ever seen----r.i. P my old amigo.
Guru1911
In the early 1980's, lynn thompson offered a substantial amount of money ( $25,000 i think it was) to any factory or custom maker who would:
1. Test their knives using the same exact testing methods
2. Allow the testing to be video taped
3. Allow consumers unlimited access to the video results
4. Let the consumer decided for themselves which knife to purchase.
To the best of my knowledge, no custom maker nor factory has ever taken him up on this challenge.
For almost 30 years, i was a member of the inner circle of friends, to mr. Clyde e. Fischer of victoria, texas. He was one of the founding members of the knife makers guild. Before he died in 2002, i asked him, "who makes the best factory production folders or fixed blades available to the public ?" he replied "those boys at cold steel make one tough s.o. B of a knife. Other than the ones i forge in my own shop, cold steel makes the best"
there you go. From the mouth of one of the best custom knife makers the world has ever seen----r.i. P my old amigo.
Guru1911
Single Six
New member
I got even more confirmation on this today...at a bookstore, I looked through a softcover book of tactical gear. If I recall correctly it was published by Shooting Times magazine. In the knife section, the manufacturers were listed alphabetically. They had Boker, CRKT....and then skipped straight to Spyderco. Yet more proof of what most of you guys have been saying on this thread, I guess. Sad.
I like some of CS' stuff, and it does appear that they put some thought and effort into making a decent product. They do make stuff that seems like it's designed by someone who actually uses the products.
That said, their over-the-top advertising style (as seen in their videos) is kind of hard to swallow.
By the way, I have broken a CS product. Had the clip break on one of the old-style Voyagers with the pocket clip integral to the plastic handle. It caught on something and snapped right off. I see that their new Voyagers have a metal clip that looks like it can be replaced--progress.
Which brings up another thought. I have to say that I'm somewhat impressed that they seem to be always looking for ways to improve. Besides going to a replaceable metal clip on the Voyager series, another example is the new lock they're using on their folders. It looks like a real improvement over their older style lock which was already a pretty strong lock the way they implemented it.
The new handle profile on their big folders is also an improvement over the older handle style. After the clip broke on my Voyager, I reshaped the handle to a more natural feeling profile. When I looked at their new Voyagers, I was struck that my reprofiled handle looks a lot like the new handle shape they're using now.
That said, their over-the-top advertising style (as seen in their videos) is kind of hard to swallow.
By the way, I have broken a CS product. Had the clip break on one of the old-style Voyagers with the pocket clip integral to the plastic handle. It caught on something and snapped right off. I see that their new Voyagers have a metal clip that looks like it can be replaced--progress.
Which brings up another thought. I have to say that I'm somewhat impressed that they seem to be always looking for ways to improve. Besides going to a replaceable metal clip on the Voyager series, another example is the new lock they're using on their folders. It looks like a real improvement over their older style lock which was already a pretty strong lock the way they implemented it.
The new handle profile on their big folders is also an improvement over the older handle style. After the clip broke on my Voyager, I reshaped the handle to a more natural feeling profile. When I looked at their new Voyagers, I was struck that my reprofiled handle looks a lot like the new handle shape they're using now.
Single Six
New member
JohnKSa: I guess anything man-made can break, over-the-top videos notwithstanding. However, in those videos, I don't recall them ever testing the clips...just the blades and their locking mechanisms. What strikes me is how no other company will make such a video. What do you think of this apparent bias against CS in the magazines?
I've noticed the CS hate on several other forums as well. As a matter of fact, I'm new to the CS line of knives and recently picked up a Mini Lawman for a really good price (about 1/2 retail) and I was on my favorite forum asking if anyone had one and what they thought. I was met with several remarks of "we don't like CS around here, nor do we like Lynn Thompson". I inquired as to why they were not liked by my fellow forumites and the next thing you know, I was put on a 3 day ban. Go figure.
Whatever it is about CS, that company brings out the anger in some.
Whatever it is about CS, that company brings out the anger in some.
Me, too.
I've been a CS fan for probably 20 yrs or so. I use a carbonV master hunter (paid about 35 bucks for it) as my main hunting knife. It was used to gut and skin three aoudads before it needed to be touched up. Great "grippy" handle, just a great knife. I actually used a rock to pound on the backstrap of it to drive it through a breastbone, didn't even seriously scratch it.
I've got a factory second recon tanto, and have had numerous smaller folders and ready-edges. I love em.
The CS serration pattern is the best in the business, IMHO. I used one of the smaller ones (can't remember what it was called) as a work knife, and used it to cut rubber hose, cardboard, leather, even sawed through some plastic tubing with it. I guess I used it for about 6 years or so... I'd touch it up with a triangle shaped ceramic rod, and finally messed up the serrations enough to "retire" it.
It seems like a lot of the new CS stuff is more "off-shore" looking, but the old stand-bys are still GREAT.
edit: I've got the video from CS, about "proof" ... it's an amazing video. Doubters, step forward and learn...
You know, this stuff is why I left certain forums (to remain unnamed). Not just knife forums but martial arts forums as well. I'll keep buying Cold Steel as long as they continue to make quality products, and I'll continue to like and be amused by Lynn Thompson.
Good to see a bunch of CS fans together like this.
Good to see a bunch of CS fans together like this.