Cold Steel

[Viper]

So lately I seem to find myself on the Cold Steel website a lot. I've never handled a knife (or any product) of theirs before, but a few models really intrigue me the more I look at them. It seems like they have some pretty tough knives for pretty cheap, and I've been looking at a few for potential outdoor beater knives. The Pocket Bushman intrigues me the most right now...
Though their demonstration videos wear me out sometimes (I get it, the knife can cut through leather... you can stop showing me now...) hahaha, but I still think they are pretty cool and would like to try one (or some!) out.

What I wanted to hear from you guys is, what do you think? I don't hear much about them on here (understandable because they don't produce any multitools- though it seems like they should) but I'm sure at least a few of you guys have experience with them, right? What are your opinions? Are they worth it? Are there better companies for the purposes I listed earlier? What are your favorite models?
I'm just really curious so any opinions or pictures or info you can give me would be great! 

[jekostas]

Not that I take Nutnfancy as some sort of supreme expert, you should see his video series on the Pocket Bushmen.  Enlightening, to say the least.

As for absolute outdoor beater knives, I'd stick with Ka-Bar.

[Benner]

Huge CS fan here.  Own a Triple action folder, Medium Tanto Voyager, 4" Zytel Ti-lite, Large Twistmaster, Medium Twistmaster, Master Hunter, Canadian Belt Knife, Bushman and once owned a Trailmaster.  All are great solid knives especially the Voyager series which are great value knives (the newer ones are different to mine though).

[Fisting_Chili]

I used to have one of their SRK bad boys and swear by it.  Top notch knife!
http://www.coldsteel.com/srk.html

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yep another CS fanatic here too

You really can't go wrong with there product's mate

[nuphoria]

I don't own any but I've fondled some of Ben's

They all seemed pretty solid and very high quality to me 

[Swiss Man]

I have a Pocket Bushman and I haven't had a lick of trouble out of it. (old style spring)
if you watched any youtube on the subject you know what that means. If not here is one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GN0tMXXGj8&feature=channel

[stack]

I have a trailmaster, a tonto, a master hunter and an arc angel and they are some of my favorite knives. They are all carbon-v and hold an edge well. I dont have any other folders and all mine are older.

[sardauker]

I own a CS walking stick. Does it count?
for me.

[Sean]

Of course the stick counts!  
I'm also a fan of Cold Steel knives and like you find myself on their site quite a bit looking at their new
2010 designs.  I probably wouldn't opt for the pocket bushman because of it's spring problems and it's
somewhat awkward design in opening and closing.  However if you like it buy it, it's certainly not priced
all that badly.  I'm thinking of getting an AK-47 in G10 (old style).
 
Some of their knives I like, some not.  Some of the things I don't care for ... the G10 while pretty much
the best grip in the business, with that tight clip, it makes for a very tight seal on jeans and will rip and
wear on pocket edges quickly.  I don't care much for the detent that's present in some of the folders.
As you open them 1/2 way you can feel it stop as it hits it then you give a bit of a push to complete
the opening.  A bit of a safety feature when closing it I guess.  I don't care for their serrations and I
love serrated knives.  They are pointy and snag big time of stuff.  Great on bread but not much else I've
found.  I cannot figure out how I will sharpen that style of serration yet.

However, I love the look of Cold Steel knives!   That AK '47 just has it going on much like the Rajah in it's
3 sizes, it's a pretty good seller for CS I imagine.  I have a Ti-lite and it holds a good edge and after a
couple of mod's it's carryable.  Most of the axis locks and liner locks I have lock up solid and are very
smooth opening much like Benchmade's.
Overall, good knives and my next trip into the big city will probably see me going to CS showcase and
buying one of their old style AK's before they are all replaced with the new one's. 
Hope this helps a bit, not fact perhaps just my observations. 

[fatcat55]

We have a Pocket Bushman, Canadian belt knife and regular  Bushman. All are surprisingly well made for the relatively low cost.

 The pocket bushman looks intimidating but if handled properly is not a problem.  The regular bushman is a really cool knife and can take a lot of abuse and still hold an edge. In addition, it is just plain fun.

 My 14 y/o son and I tried it as a spear on my hiking staff and it is pretty impressive! He used it to split fatwood for about an hour and it still had a good edge.

I see more CS products for us in the near future.

[WhichDawg]

they are and have been a big topic on knife forums, some love them and their designs and price and some really don't!

I have handled them and think they have a place in the market, and they know how to sell!

I don't care for their warranty or some of their business practices (I better not get into it lol) but if you like it/them try em out
the price is right even if it doesn't work out for you, you won't lose much

[jzmtl]

Overlook the insane amount of hype (i.e. their videos) they make decent low to mid range knives. The lower priced ones are pretty good for the money, but as you go up in price there are better options for what you pay.

[Woz]

I do NOT like Cold Steel.
I know, being a knife-nut, that some of their blades like the Vaquero or Voyager series are good (maybe not as good as FRN Spyderco, but still fine), and that there are some pretty cheap knives that are OK. The more expensive CS are inferior to other top notch brands, but maybe this is just my impression.

What REALLY turns me off CS is their marketing. All those videos and comments on the website and on exhibition stands show the knives being weapons. Every single piece of sharpened steel seems to be a weapon to CS guys. I really think of knives being tools, and I guess if a major manufacturer presents their products being weapons it might influence peoples thoughts on knives. We fight against bans on knife carry here in Europe, and it does not help out "knives are tools" argumentation if a politician just has to type "knife" into youtube to find CS stabbing massacres on porks and leather jackets.

One more thing: I SOLD the CS I had when I saw Mr Lynn Thompson hunting potentially endangered animals with a handgun. No bad feelings against hunters, but use a proper weapon, do not torture the creatures you hunt! What´s wrong with that guy???

[jekostas]

What REALLY turns me off CS is their marketing. All those videos and comments on the website and on exhibition stands show the knives being weapons. Every single piece of sharpened steel seems to be a weapon to CS guys. I really think of knives being tools, and I guess if a major manufacturer presents their products being weapons it might influence peoples thoughts on knives. We fight against bans on knife carry here in Europe, and it does not help out "knives are tools" argumentation if a politician just has to type "knife" into youtube to find CS stabbing massacres on porks and leather jackets.

Wait, you mean I shouldn't be trying to hunt deer with a sharpened throwing-weighted shovel?

[Viper]

Hmm
Thanks for all the input guys. As of right now I don't have any plans of buying anything from Cold Steel, but I'm not saying I never will. I mean, a lot of their stuff is really unique and interesting even though that their higher-priced knives are inferior to other companies'. I have been effectively turned off of the Pocket Bushman. But when I pay off some debts and get some moolah, I think I may check out the Kudu or Finn Bear, or maybe even a Bushman (the fixed blade model). But those would be just for fun. I'd probably end up giving the Kudu to my dad, because he's nuts about Africa. 

Thanks for all the input guys!

(and feel free to keep posting your opinions, of course, because I may not be the only person interested in Cold Steel)

[jzmtl]

Hmm
Thanks for all the input guys. As of right now I don't have any plans of buying anything from Cold Steel, but I'm not saying I never will. I mean, a lot of their stuff is really unique and interesting even though that their higher-priced knives are inferior to other companies'. I have been effectively turned off of the Pocket Bushman. But when I pay off some debts and get some moolah, I think I may check out the Kudu or Finn Bear, or maybe even a Bushman (the fixed blade model). But those would be just for fun. I'd probably end up giving the Kudu to my dad, because he's nuts about Africa. 

Thanks for all the input guys!

(and feel free to keep posting your opinions, of course, because I may not be the only person interested in Cold Steel)

If that's what you plan to do with it, get the real deal okapi, it's doesn't even cost more than the CS version.

[Viper]

Hmm maybe. It wouldn't just be for display though... I know my dad would actually use it. Would it still be better to get a 'genuine' Okapi?

[jzmtl]

Okapi use carbon steel, CS use stainless, so depends on which works for you. But if as you said your dad loves africa, I'd choose the one that's actually made there, not something designed and made in two other continents as far as you get from africa.

[Viper]

Good point. Thanks for the advice!