There seems to be quite a fuss about Cold Steel products on another board. I thought I might get a less excitable grouping of opinions about the company and its wares in this realm of wisdom and good sense.

Anything they make under about 40$ is cool but anything over 40$ is not only crappy it is usually a blatant copy of someone else's work. Lynn Thompson is also very outspoken and a self promoter to the extreme. I don't like to support them because I don't like their business practices but they do or did make some decent stuff. Anything made of CarbonV and the Hawks,shovel and machete line and cheap knives like the bushman are good but then you have a piece of crap like the Natchez bowie where he wants 600$. That would get you a first rate custom.

Speaking of under $40, my Norse axe came in last Friday. No pics yet, but it's pretty straight forward. I can already stick it 9/10 from one full rotation out, but I'm having trouble finding the next sweet spot. I think I'll strip it this weekend.

I agree with Unsub when it comes to their products. Their San-Mai is way overpriced. In fact that is what led me to purchase the Fallkniven A1. Sure Lynn Thompson says alot of outrageous things. But I'm not buying the product based on his opinions and views. Kinda like Limp Bizkit, I don't like Fred Durst, but I do like some of their music. As for their products, I have been satisfied, with the exception that a Recon Tanto I purchased (at dealer cost) was a little less than sharp. But I do love the Bushman knives. Great price on a very useful knife. I picked up a couple for myself and my bro-in-law and they have seen some serious abuse and for the money, easily replaceable. After 4 years we still have them and they still perform. And the mini-bushman I have takes an edge like little else I own and gets scary sharp. Only one other knife of mine takes the same kind of edge and of course its my S6. And besides its fun to attach the Bushman to a stick and go native out in the middle of the woods <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

I have no personal experience with Cold Steel products, but from what I have read on other boards, you either love or hate them.

To add my 2 cent worth, It's certainly a love/hate relationship... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I have several Cold Steel products and most I really like, but I'm not really impressed with the company as a whole...especially of late... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Carbon V is pretty good stuff, but those days appear to be gone... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I have a Cold Steel Master Hunter and a Voyager, both are good knives for my purposes. I am not to interested in anything else they have because places like SY and Spyderco make what I need.

I don't really get too worked up about the CS drama played out in the knife community. I never liked soap opera's anyway. Having worked for the last 15 years in corporate America and directly with CEO, CFO types for the last 5, I have never been impressed with the ethics of most company's executives. Many put on a great game face, but behind the scenes, it's a different ball of wax.

Well said...I totally agree.

My disappointment with CS of late has more to do with designs, product origins, and pricing. But with all else that's availible I personally don't give CS much thought or consideration in my choices these days...

I own quite a few of their products in the early days CS was pretty good. There really was nothing close to the Trail master and the Tanto in performance for the price. I bought the then new first generation Trail master for $140 and the Tanto for I think $110. But like I said that was in the early days.

I've met LT several times and must say he is a bit of an arrogant REO who doesn't listen to the market. While the rest of the industry moved forward CS became stagnet in the eighties.

While his low end knives are not bad the high end stuff (like the bowies)are poorly designed and way over priced.

stabbyjoe,

I own almost 30 coldsteel products. machetes, corbon steel blades and a couple knives. I have a few stainless models and they are ok but the good stuff is their carbon V and carbon 1055 and 1050. I own a moro barong (made in japan)made of 1050 carbon steel. it is 30 oz, razor sharp and will out chop any knife I have other than my HI. the cheapo 1055 blades made in china are pretty sharp and very tough. I like em. I know others like the folders but I don't so much. I use to edc a voyager but it will not hold an edge well. this is an older voyager though that has been discontinued, the tip is serrated and the rest of the blade is plain edge.

the recon scout is one of my favorite knives vere. it has taken some serious abuse and has no problem with it. I like it alot, it is also alot cheaper than other performance knives. Lynn claims it is the stronges 7 1/2 fighting knife ever. that is a lie. we all own knives that are tougher. I still use it all the time. I used it this week to baton and chop.

i like laminated blades but prefer falkniven. I got a f1 and an a1. the a1 is about 11 to 11 1/2 inches nearly 1/4 thick and has a vg 10 blade laminated with 420.

so my two cents is the carbon stuff is good but the stainless is not only expensive but there is also better stuff available.