Cold Steel Double Safe- Double Unimpressed

[Grant Lamontagne]

As a caveat, I would like to say that I got this knife used last month as part of a trade deal for some stuff I actually wanted.  This was thrown in, and may not be functioning as originally intended.

But that actually is even more damning of the model, but I will get to that.

It its most basic, it is a one handed opening, lock back knife with a clip point blade in 8Cr14MoVsteel and, while it is available in a few colors, my particular example is orange.

The Double Safe name comes from a secondary lock that, when engaged, keeps the knife from opening or closing, depending on what position the blade is currently in.  This switch has to be engaged manually, which, in my opinion, kind of defeats the purpose of a one handed opening, tactical style knife.  The whole point of a one handed opening blade is that it can be deployed with a minimal amount of faffing about.  In this case you have the minimal amount of faffing about followed by additional steps of faffing about.

In my experience of using this knife for the past few weeks it goes like this:

Step 1- Draw the knife.
Step 2- Open the knife with a quick flip of the thumb.
Step 3- Realize the blade didn't open because the smurfing thing is locked shut.
Step 4- Curse myself for locking the darned thing, even though I am quite certain that I didn't and the tip up carry of the knife probably caused the switch to fall forward into the locked position.
Step 5- Unlock the secondary lock.
Step 6- Flick open the blade.
Step 7- Don't bother engaging the secondary lock that allegedly makes this knife "Double Safe."
Step 8- Use the knife for the task I was going to use it for, that should have been completed before Step 3.

Getting past that annoyance, what is the knife like to actually use?

Honestly, it isn't that bad.

I'm not a fan of the over-emphasized Bowie style blade, but I m quite certain that many people seem to like, and it does take many things that were previously one piece and make them into two, which is the basic requirement for any knife.  Sadly I have reviewed many knives in the past that failed on that account, and so I feel the need to quote Doug Marcaida in saying "It will cut."

The handle is quite comfortable, at least for right handed users and has an er the top type grip pattern on the handle, exactly what you would expect from Cold Steel.

It is weird to see the steel choice for Cold Steel- they have always gravitated towards AUS-8 and similar steels, but I guess this is just one of many changes that have been made since GSR bought Cold Steel a few years ago.

All in all, for a $30 knife it's not bad, but I think I'd rather have a SAK or an Opinel than this knife for the same money.  The secondary lock gimmick doesn't add any value or function to this knife (quite the opposite in fact) and it's knife duties are better served by a better knife.

But at least it looks cool in pictures, which is all I suppose knives need to be able to do these days!

Def

[Alan K.]

It does look cool in the pictures though.   

[powernoodle]

That was zactly what I was going to say.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Ideal Instagram fodder for sure.

I may try to see if I can disassemble and remove the secondary lock.  It might not be a bad knife without it.

Def

[JonesE]

I may try to see if I can disassemble and remove the secondary lock.

This was going to be my suggestion. If you need help with the reassembly try searching up how to disassemble and maintain a Spyderco Delica. It might help if you get stuck during reassembling your knife.

JonesE

[nate j]

The whole point of a one handed opening blade is that it can be deployed with a minimal amount of faffing about.

I’d also add that, if you’re doing things with a folding knife that make you feel that you need not just one but two locking mechanisms, you would probably be better served by a fixie than a folder.

[Grant Lamontagne]

This was going to be my suggestion. If you need help with the reassembly try searching up how to disassemble and maintain a Spyderco Delica. It might help if you get stuck during reassembling your knife.

JonesE

If I mess it up and can't get it back together then the components will go into my parts drawer for future experiments and repairs!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I’d also add that, if you’re doing things with a folding knife that make you feel that you need not just one but two locking mechanisms, you would probably be better served by a fixie than a folder.

Agreed.

It kind of reminds me of an old Mad TV but.  In those days, many disposable razors had one blade, premium ones had two and then came the Gillette Mach 3, which had, you guessed it, three blades.

Other companies followed up with razors that had four blades, then five.

MadTV (a short lived sketch comedy show similar to Saturday Night Live) did a spoof where they had a razor with a hundred blades on it that dis everything from a clean shave to reshaping your jawline.

These double lock folders are making me think we are almost at that level for tactical knives.   

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Second lock-ectomy has been successful, and as expected, it works perfectly fine without it.

There's also a very, remarkably short spring in there, so I'm guessing the secondary lock was supposed to engage automatically.  As my spring seems very short I can only assume it's broken.

So maybe the intact version isn't quite as pointless as mine, but it still seems a bit awkward to have to try and release it to open the blade and then release it and the back lock to fold it.

The oKnife screwdriver has proven itself yet again.  It's a handy little bugger.

Def