Cold Steel DVDs: Part Two

[hubert05]

The remainder of footage on the Cold Steel DVDs is pure eye candy. Profiled and tested under less strenuous conditions are fixed blades, neck knives, machetes, speciality items, and swords.

The Laredo Bowie and the LTC Kukri are superb weapons/camp tools. Each blade is able to chop through a stud and retain sharpness. The only suggestion I would make for these knives is to design a sling to accompany the sheath. In addition, the Recon Tanto and the Oyabun exhibit deadly cutting ability and the ability to stand up to severe useage.

I was, however, somewhat disappointed with the company's line of neck knives. While having an excellent cutting edge, the Hai Hocho's thinness (1/16") and excess of serrations appear to make it a poor choice for a neck knife. The blade's thinness would make it incapable of withstanding more than light useage, and the serrations probably make it a pain in the *** to sharpen. As for the other knives, I suspect they would make an excellent choice for stabbing someone at a card table, but perhaps ineffectual in a life-threatening situation.

Cold Steel has an excellent selection of machetes. As one who owns a Panga, I can attest to the company's commitment to quality.

The speciality items are composed of hatchets, a shovel, and an assorted line of blunt objects. After all these years Cold Steel has come with an alternative to the baseball bat: its war hammer. Brutally efficient in its trials, it is an excellent choice for the collector and the individual negotiating an alimony settlement (just kidding).

As for the swords, order the DVDs if for no other reason to see how effective they are as combat weapons. Each is outstanding in its own right.

[Jimmy_Dean]

It's funny this should be the place you chose for your review.
I used Cold Steel products before I came to spyderco. I carried a tanto voyager for some time and it served me well.
Then I got an Endura and everything changed. All things concidered, Spyderco has better steel, designs and ergos than CS, so there's no looking back for me. Not to mention that it's much nicer to deal withthe good people at Spyderco. The only thing Cold Steel has that is interesting is a very varied line-up. As you said, you can go from folders to machetes to shovels, all of a decent quality.

I still think they are an interesting company but for me, it's a good Puukko for the outdoors and Spyderco for everything else in the world.

Take care
-Dean

[JD Spydo]

The one area where Cold Steel really still shines in my book is their line up of big knives. I have 3 of their Gurkha Kukris and I have 2 of their bowie knives.
I also have a couple of fillet knives of theirs along with 3 of their tactical fixed blade knives. Their Gurkha Kukri knives are the best production knives of that caliber I have run across. Their Bowie knives are virtually indestructible. The one Bowie Trailmaster of theirs I have is the San Mai III Trailmaster. It is a forged, layered steel which has incredible tensile strength. I am willing to put my $$$ where my mouth is when it comes to Cold Steel's BIG BOYS because they truly are worth their $$$. Wouldn't be nice to see the Great :spyder: Factory come up with a Gurkha Kukri made from VG-10 and a Bowie made from S30V. Mr. Glesser all I can say is " hint, hint". Good things come from dreams sometimes. :D :spyder: :)

[Mr Blonde]

...As for the other knives, I suspect they would make an excellent choice for stabbing someone at a card table, but perhaps ineffectual in a life-threatening situation...

Wow, you should get new cardplaying buddies, or try Mahjong, the competition there is not so fierce! :D

Seriously though, I liked cold steel a lot before I turned to :spyder:

For the money they offer nice designs, but they should drop the Kraton for their fixed blades, it's too sticky for a 'boot knife' or comes off way too easily, and lose some of the attitude in their advertising.

wouter