Cold Steel Blades

[Slamfire]

I could buy something from Ontario or Fallkniven for the same price as some of their medium grade/priced knives (Like the SRK) then that's when I think that they're WAY overpriced.

Cold Steel catalog prices are high for a reason. The catalog is advertizing, but they really don't want you to buy a knife direct. They want you to buy a knife from a Cold Steel Distributor. Like the ones on Ebay. It makes sense if you think of it, they sell more knives to distributors, are not in competition with their distributors, and the distributors take the risk if certain brand types don't sell well.

When I compared Ebay prices on knives, between SOG, Cold Steel, etc, prices are not that different. In fact, Fallkniven knives are pretty high everywhere I looked. Same with Hattori. Which makes sense, since I believe Fallkniven knives are made by Hattori.

 

[auschip]

Well, when you don't have to pay design fees ...

 

[Browning]

Cold Steel catalog prices are high for a reason. The catalog is advertizing, but they really don't want you to buy a knife direct. They want you to buy a knife from a Cold Steel Distributor. Like the ones on Ebay. It makes sense if you think of it, they sell more knives to distributors, are not in competition with their distributors, and the distributors take the risk if certain brand types don't sell well.

They're overpriced at the distributors too.

On their higher end knives, actually Fallkniven is less in price than CS on some of them.

Cold Steel Natchez Bowie Our Price $376.95
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=8965

Fallkniven Oden, 7.87" Blade Our Price $326.95
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2809

Usually though they're about the same price, given that choice I'd much rather buy and carry a Fallkniven than a CS if I'm paying the exact same price. Even if I had to pay more for a Fallkniven over a CS I'd do it.

To me CS is usually decent, but nothing special.

When I compared Ebay prices on knives, between SOG, Cold Steel, etc, prices are not that different. In fact, Fallkniven knives are pretty high everywhere I looked. Same with Hattori. Which makes sense, since I believe Fallkniven knives are made by Hattori.

I thought that they were manufactured in Germany by Linder-Solingen.

That's what I've read on their site and other places anyway.

 

[Slamfire]

I think a fairer price comparison would be between knives that are similar. The Natchez Bowie is huge, totally different knife than the Oden. A good comparison between Fallkniven, Hattori, and Cold Steel would be between the Trail master, and the copies/variants that Fallkniven and Hattori offer.

The Thor is advertized as a half inch longer, held side by side, the difference in blade grinds and length are insignificant. The Thor is the exact same width, height, grind as a stainless Trailmaster. Only the handles are different. The Hattori copy of is the exact blade dimensions and profile, but hollow ground and has the same leather handle as the Thor.

My Thor does not have a country of origin stamped on the knife, nor does the box. I could not find a statement of manufacturer on the Fallkniven web site. (Help Please!) I would think if it was Swedish or German made, that would be a attribute that would help sell the knife. It is my opinion that Fallkniven goes not stamp the knife, "Made in Japan" because that conflicts with thier Nordic/Viking image. (Imagine a burley Viking eating fish heads and rice with chop sticks!)

Cold Steel Trailmaster, San Mai, $269.95

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=429

Fallkniven Thor 10” Blade, $354.95

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2407

Hattori Big Bowie Hunter II $299.95

http://www.worldknives.com/products/hattori-special-huge-bowie-knife-hat1602-1627.html

Much better pictures: http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/Hattori160-2BigBowieHunterII.html

 

[Browning]

I think a fairer price comparison would be between knives that are similar. The Natchez Bowie is huge, totally different knife than the Oden.

It's one of the biggest Bowie type knives that Fallkniven makes.

It's the biggest Bowie type knife that CS makes.

 

[Browning]

Well that was lame, instead of going out into left field just stick to the topic.

Now the OP has two huge pics of boats on his thread.

 

[3 gun]

CS hits the mark pretty close to the point of diminishing return with their products. The hype is kinda funny and hard to take at times but the knives are a pretty solid tool. You can buy better knives but it will cost you.

 

[Master of Arms]

Don`t care `bout the pics. I like a little humor. Seems that this site could use a little more of the same. Too many grouches. LOLOL

 

[neviander]

That's a new one on me . Solid company ? perhaps do a search on Bladeforums on Cold Steal.

I hadn't read anything on there about Cold Steel..Steal, I'll take a look though.

 

[8830]

I like the Cold Steel Kobun and carry it everyday IWB. I've tried a few other fixed blades like the RAT3 but the Kobun just works better.

 

[Aka Zero]

Have a few cs knives. 4" ti-lite zytel used to be my edc knife. until I got addicted to lock backs.

Have a kukri machete. And I have to say, you can't spend $15 (or $20 now) on anything more useful. Good steel, thin edge that can get shaving sharp (with some work) pretty good sheath.

Have a 24" machete as well, just as good, but a little long for chopping use. Had a Kobun, got rid of it, I don't like hollow ground fixed blades. Have a couple Kudu's which is a great, cheap fairly hard use knife, if you can find them in stock. And I have a talon spike, which can be a very comfortable edc knife with some paracord or shoelace. And it gets crazy sharp. It was sharp enough to past a "hanging hair test" and only a few of my knifes can do that after about 30 mins work. This did it almost out of the box.

 

[Harlan]

Cold Steel hmmm... When it comes to that company its more of a moral grounds than a price issue. Stolen names, designs and mystery steels. I'll stick with the american companies to start with, and or companies that will advertise what steel they are using. And if i'm going to by some cheap junk for heavy abuse it will be from a local outdoor supplier that has a box full of machetes with no brand stamped on them. Bought one of those five years ago for 7.99 with nice orange ABS D guard (didn't need a better edge from the store) and has cleared mountain bike trails chopped down trees and no complaints it has lost about have and inch from sharpening.

 

[JTW Jr.]

well said Harlan.

 

[Master of Arms]

How do you steal the name bowie? Many type and shaped knives have names. I mean a straight razor is a straight razor just like a Bowie is a Bowie.
Point being, I couldn`t care less about the name. All I know is that my knives are great. I`ve had many others but nothing like these cold steel knives. They`re great blades and apparently they`re made from great steel. I don`t think that you could stab the hood of a car several times and then shave hair with an Old Timer or a Case. Of course I`ve never tried so my theory is just that....theory.

I would also guess to say that just as many other "American made" products, the materials are made in another country and brought to America to be Assembled so that they can slap the " American Made" tag on the product.

 

[JTW Jr.]

All I know is that my knives are great. I`ve had many others but nothing like these cold steel knives.

Cold Steel ? Great ? More like mediocre over hyped knives at best.

Curious to know what "others" you have had that you are comparing them to ?

the materials are made in another country and brought to America to be Assembled so that they can slap the " American Made" tag on the product

Wrong .
Cold Steel doesn't manufacture anything...they have them made elsewhere , all they do is market using crazy mall ninja like antics.
There is nothing "American" about Cold Steel Knives.

 

[Slamfire]

Cold Steel doesn't manufacture anything

Bogus argument. What about SOG, Fallkniven, do they make all their knives inhouse? How many are made inhouse? Which knife brands are totally made inhouse?

There are very few knife manufacturers left in the US, and those left don’t make many knives. Like Randall. When Camillus closed, I saw Case branded knives in the inventory. Even Case outsources. Buck outsources to China.

There are in fact, very few manufacturers of anything. Most of the brand name products purchased today, were made by the same manufacturer, or three manufacturers. Just the label on the can is different.

For pet foods, see how many brands “Menu Foods” makes, and how many labeled items had to be recalled.

http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

[SIZE="1"]Cat Food Recalls 
    Americas Choice, Preferred Pet
    Authority 
    Best Choice 
    Blue Buffalo Co (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Cats Choice 
    Co-Op Gold 
    Companion 
    Compliments 
    Demolulas Market Basket 
    Demoulas/Market Basket 
    Despar 
    Diamond Pet Food (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Doctors Foster & Smith 
    Doctors Foster & Smith (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Eight In One Inc (Salmonella) 
    Eukanuba Cat Cuts and Flaked 
    Eukanuba Morsels in Gravy 
    Evolve 
    Evolve 
    Fame 
    Feline Classic 
    Feline Cuisine 
    Fine Feline Cat 
    Food Lion 
    Foodtown 
    Giant Companion 
    Giant Eagle 
    Hannaford 
    Harmony Farms (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Hartz Mountain Corp (Salmonella) 
    Health Diet Cat Food 
    Hill Country Fare 
    Hill's Prescription Diet 
    Hy Vee 
    Hy-Vee 
    Iams Cat Slices and Flakes 
    Iams Select Bites 
    J.E. Mondou 
    La Griffe 
    Laura Lynn 
    Li'l Red 
    Lick Your Chops 
    Lick Your Chops (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Loving Meals 
    Master Choice 
    Medi-Cal 
    Meijer's Main Choice 
    Natural Balance (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Natural Ultramix 
    Nu Pet 
    Nutriplan 
    Nutro 
    Nutro Max Cat Gourmet Classics 
    Nutro Max Gourmet Classics 
    Nutro Natural Choice 
    Nutro Products 
    Paws 
    Performatrin Ultra 
    Pet Pride 
    Pet Pride / Good n Meaty 
    Pounce 
    Presidents Choice 
    Price Chopper 
    Priority Canada 
    Priority US 
    Publix 
    Roche Brothers 
    Roundy's 
    Royal Canin (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Royal Canin Veterinary Diet (RICE GLUTEN) 
    Save-A-Lot Special Blend 
    Schnucks 
    Science Diet Feline Cuts Adult 
    Science Diet Feline Cuts Kitten 
    Science Diet Feline Cuts Mature Adult 7+ 
    Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Can 
    Sophistacat 
    Special Kitty Canada 
    Special Kitty US 
    Springfield Prize 
    Sprout 
    Stop & Shop Companion 
    Stuzzy Gold 
    Triumph 
    Wegmans 
    Weis Total Pet 
    Western Family Canada 
    Western Family US 
    White Rose 
    Winn Dixie [/SIZE]

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Broad Brush

Even Case outsources. Buck outsources to China.

Some.

Case still makes their own stuff. Maybe not all of it, but certainly a lot.

Buck still makes their own stuff. I live across town from the factory. Yes, they outsource (offshore) some of their stuff. Not all. Not even most.

Kershaw makes many (possibly most) of its knives in the US. Some are made in Japan (and have been for decades) and some are made in Taiwan and/or China. But their flagship pieces are made here and Japan.

Cold Steel? I haven't been tracking them, so I don't know how much of their stuff is made Stateside. I'm aware that several items are imported.

Gerber has taken, I would imagine, most of their stuff to China/Taiwan. Early production runs were trash. I went off the Gerber brand quickly. Last year I picked up (for cheap) a Gerber/Harsey design, made in China. The quality is coming back. I'm still mad at them, but I kept the knife.

If the point is "well, everybody does it" then I would point out that, for those companies that do, not all imports are manufactured to the same standards. Whoever is making stuff for Buck is doing a darn fine job.

U.S. Classics and Rough Rider are surprisingly good. Kershaw's stuff holds their standard.

Some of the imported stuff? Real junk.

I would caution buyers that they need to pay attention to the quality demanded or imposed by the "client company" when they have their stuff made overseas. I no longer worry about the Buck and Kershaw imports. I'm not happy that they feel they need to outsource to compete, but I'm glad they ride herd on the factory to keep the quality up.

Nowadays I proceed on a case-by-case, brand-by-brand basis.

In the fifties and sixties, it was "common knowledge" that the stuff out of Japan was junk. We took that for granted. We laughed. We scoffed.

And they proceeded to kick our quality-control butts across a broad range of industries. "Japanese" became synonymous with "high quality."

Yes, I continue to support, where I can, the US makers.

I'm not, however, gonna laugh at China.

Once was enough.

 

[ashtxsniper]

I like Cold Steel especially the old Carbon V models. Here are some of mine.

 

[woodfiend]

Quote:
the materials are made in another country and brought to America to be Assembled so that they can slap the " American Made" tag on the product


I hate to tell you this but they don't claim to make their products in the USA. Except for their custom pieces (which are). And in addition, they are the only company that does show what their knives can do. Sure, other companies probably could do the same but you can't be sure. I own a Mini Bushman, Trail Guide, SRK, Ghurka Kukri, Finn Bear, Urban Pal, Norse Hawk and have owned a couple of their machetes.

 

[Slamfire]

Cold Steel? I haven't been tracking them, so I don't know how much of their stuff is made Stateside. I'm aware that several items are imported.

Camillus made all the knives with the "Carbon V" steel. They did just an outstanding job of heat treatment and their Carbon V knives are recognized as fine pieces. Camillus also made Bullet knives for Remington.

However when Camillus went bust, that was the last of the American made Cold Steel knives.

The costs of the same model of knives, but now built in China, halved or went down by a third.

As much as many want American made products, few are willing to pay double for them.

 

[Harlan]

In my earlier post the name stealing I was refering to was the American Tomahawk Company. That is not just the general term for a knife like "straight razor".

Thats the thing about cold steel you can have twice the collection you would have if you had purchased quality blades. Myself I would rather have three good reputable blades made with pride than fifty mediocre blades pumped out of some random factory with cost being main priority.

Another sad thing is this thought that no blades or very little are fully made in house or all american made.

First of all google custom knife makers hundreds will pop up some affordable some not so much. The first hardcore all american knife maker that pops in my head is Dozier knives for seriously heavy use that will last you a lifetime for decent prices. As for big companies being 100% in house a local one right here in Portland, OR is Kershaw. Some others that are mostly or all american made, A.G. Russell, Ontario Kinves (produces the Old Hickory and has wicked machetes), Gerber, Lonewolf, Bear and Son, and more supporting sad companies like cold steel only hurts these quality companies like Schrade who went out of business in 2004.

As most larger companies need to deliver to an ever cheapening american mentality they will have lines that are american made and other that are not. In addition to this being produced in China is a HUGE difference to being produced in Japan. Japan produces some quality steels and metal products, China and India not so much you never know what your going to get back from them doesn't matter if you told them what you want. I know this from working as an Industrail Designer and having products made over seas.

To some a blade is just a blade a chunk of steel, to me a knife is about soul, honor, pride, morals, workmanship, blood and sweat. The last knife I bought was from Kiko Matsuda steel was OU-31 and I don't care if it's the last knife I ever buy because it is timeless and will be passed down to my children.

 

[T.R.]

I bought 3 COLD STEEL knives and love 'em all:

- Master Hunter (Japan made) with carbon V steel

- Finn Bear (Taiwan made) great handle and impressive shape

- Classic 2 blade large folder (USA made) carbon V steel

I've been thinking about buying the roach belly and replacing the handle to stag or rosewood.

TR

 

[Master of Arms]

I wasn`t refering to Cold Steel when I made the statement about the materials being made in other countries and brought here to be assembled. I was speaking of most other knife products. I personally don`t care where the knife is made so long as the quality will at least match the quality of my Cold Steel Knives.

Just like with many other subjects here, many people think that if it`s not in the top 3 of most expensive it sux. Well, as with many other items as well,....wrong again. Cold Steel knives are of great quality and at a generally great price.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Cold Steel knives are of great quality

Remember veryone's standards for greatness are different. Passable quality at best in my eyes.

 

[MadMercS55]

I think most CS products are good for the price, if purchased at discount prices. I've found my voyager x2 and recon1 folders to be excellent values. I recently picked up a rajah 2 and again it is great for the $80 payed. There is a lot of politics with CS but in the end a lot of their stuff isn't all that bad.