My first Cold Steel knives

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desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

My current Cold Steel family (minus a G.I. Tanto fixed blade and Pocket Bushman, absent from the photo).
Cold Steel knives.JPG
Horizontal knives from the top:
Espada G10 XL
Voyager Vaquero XL
Voyager L clip point
ProLite clip point
Recon 1 clip point
Recon 1 spear point
Recon 1 tanto
Outdoorsman Lite fixed blade
Vertical knives:
left: AD-10
right: 4 Max Scout
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by Quick Steel »

A very nice selection desmobob. I especially like and frequently carry the Voyager. If I ever get myself organized, I'll try for a group shot.
desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

Quick Steel wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:26 pm A very nice selection desmobob. I especially like and frequently carry the Voyager. If I ever get myself organized, I'll try for a group shot.
Thank you!

The Voyagers are light and strong!

I continue to be impressed with the value of the Cold Steel offerings. I think they are most suited for folks who don't mind tinkering with their knives... sometimes the locking springs, pocket clips and grip texturing come way too strong from the factory, but these kind of things can be easily adjusted to suit the user.
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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KLJ77
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Q...I really like the looks of that 'tuff lite' ::tu:: Researching it now.
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Quick Steel wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 3:39 am LJ, While it is not my first CS knife, I acquired a Raja I when it first came out. It is spectacular in looks and performance as I am sure your versions are as well.
Yes, Garry...both of mine came scary sharp, and they are easy to touch up with just a steel. I used to keep my Rajah II in my emergency backpack in my vehicle for years, but started to get concerned about getting 'searched' at a gate entrance to the shipyard and didn't want to lose it. So I switched it out with another one that would not have been such a big loss. ::paranoid:: I did carry the Rajah III for about a year...it was legal, even at the shipyard.
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Very impressive CS family, Bob. ::tu::
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

KLJ77 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 5:03 pm Very impressive CS family, Bob. ::tu::
Thank you, sir!
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

I take them apart and straighten the spring a tad to make the locking mechanism more manageable. I also polish up the lock bar/blade tang surfaces to make them super smooth.
Bob...if you could be so gracious as to explain a bit more on your process of 'straightening the spring a tad' to make the locking more manageable, I would truly appreciate it. Is it that hard to take apart? Looks like a couple of star screws to unscrew. I'm looking at the blue 'tuff lite', but if it comes as stiff and hard to unlock as you describe, I too would like to make your adjustment. There are numerous reviews discussing this very issue. I could probably get it apart, but would not know, or fully understand how much to straighten on the spring or how to do that. ::shrug::

Thanks in advance, if you desire to describe your technique. ::handshake::
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

KLJ77 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 5:43 pm
I take them apart and straighten the spring a tad to make the locking mechanism more manageable. I also polish up the lock bar/blade tang surfaces to make them super smooth.
Bob...if you could be so gracious as to explain a bit more on your process of 'straightening the spring a tad' to make the locking more manageable, I would truly appreciate it. Is it that hard to take apart? Looks like a couple of star screws to unscrew. I'm looking at the blue 'tuff lite', but if it comes as stiff and hard to unlock as you describe, I too would like to make your adjustment. There are numerous reviews discussing this very issue. I could probably get it apart, but would not know, or fully understand how much to straighten on the spring or how to do that. ::shrug::

Thanks in advance, if you desire to describe your technique. ::handshake::
I'm not sure how well I can describe it but if it's not clear I might be able to find a video showing the technique, or I can photograph a sequence of still photos for you. It might not be clear to read it, but if you have the knife in front of you I think it won't be difficult at all.

Most Cold Steel folding knives use a Torx 9 for the pivot screw and a Torx 6 for the handle screws. There may be other pins that pass through the handles that aren't threaded in. Removing the Torx fasteners will allow disassembly. It may take some depressing of the lock mechanism to take some pressure off the handle scales from the pins or some careful prying to get things apart.

Once apart, it will be easy to identify the lock spring. It is a leaf spring with a straight section that sits in a slot in the backspacer and a slightly bent section that contacts the lock bar. I hold the bent end in a pair of pliers or in the vice and carefully bend the the spring back toward straight just a tiny bit. I also polish the end of the spring where it contacts the lock bar. I use 800 and 1000 grit wet-and-dry SiC paper on a block for that. That spring tension also holds the blade in the closed position, so taking off too much pressure will make the knife a breeze to open but might not provide enough pressure to keep it fully closed when in your pocket, so be careful if you relieve the spring.

While the knife is apart, I also use that same SiC wet-and-dry paper to polish the bottom of the "foot" of the lock bar and the heel of it where it mates with the blade tang. When you're taking the knife apart, seeing it with just one side removed will make it clear exactly how the locking system works and what parts will benefit from polishing.

The blade has two washers on either side: a phosphor bronze washer (very thin) on the sides toward the handle and a Teflon washer (extremely thin) against each side the blade. I carefully clean these off to make sure there is no grit on them. Same goes for all the other internals. After everything is polished and adjusted, I lube it sparingly with Teflon/Boron Nitride lube and reassemble. I start with the pivot screw tight and then slowly back it off a tiny bit at a time until the blade just starts to drop closed when the knife is held horizontally and the lock bar is pressed. Then it can be closed the rest of the way one-handed, two-handed, or by pressing the back of the blade against something. (I put blue Loc-Tite on the pivot screw.)

It's not a difficult process at all and you can really smooth the action of the knife. If you have any trouble I will help you get through it, so fear not! ::tu::
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Bob,

Thank you so very much for taking the time to write these instructions out and describe the process. I truly appreciate it. ::handshake:: I have copied your narrative and will print it out to follow when I get my knife. I just ordered it, so it will be in possibly by Tuesday. From your description, it does seem to be a simple process. I'll just take my time with it...and I'll let you know whether I've succeeded or destroyed the knife by my own ignorance. ::facepalm::

LJ
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

KLJ77 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:37 pm Bob,

Thank you so very much for taking the time to write these instructions out and describe the process. I truly appreciate it. ::handshake:: I have copied your narrative and will print it out to follow when I get my knife. I just ordered it, so it will be in possibly by Tuesday. From your description, it does seem to be a simple process. I'll just take my time with it...and I'll let you know whether I've succeeded or destroyed the knife by my own ignorance. ::facepalm::

LJ
No problem LJ... happy to be able to help you out.

You won't destroy it! By straightening the spring a tiny bit at a time, you can hardly go wrong. If you happen to over do it, you can bend it back (been there; done that). And by hand-polishing the mating parts with 800 and 1000 grit paper, it would probably take you several nights of work to accidentally take off too much material vs. just smoothing up what's there.

I've done it to all my Cold Steel folders and haven't wrecked one yet! ::super_happy::
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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KLJ77
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Thanks, Bob...your words provide the confidence I need. ::tu::
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

Real nice CS collection bob. 👍😎👍
John ✌️
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desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

jmh58 wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:40 pm Real nice CS collection bob. 👍😎👍
John ✌️
Thanks John! Glad you like 'em. I realize I left another one out of the photo... a Kudu Lite (very inexpensive but tremendous value).
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

Bob, Garry...I got my little blue 6" Tuff Lite today. I love this knife. Very impressed...great snap, open & closing, smooth opening.

Now...I must be living right, or something. The lock release on my knife is super smooth to depress and unlock the open blade. No discomfort on the end of the thumb, not stiff, tight or hard to depress. I put a touch of pivot oil on the pivot joint and it's even better. ::shrug:: Maybe with all the negative reviews this knife was getting due to how hard it was to unlock the open blade, Cold Steel did some tweaking to alleviate the issue, or I'm just a fortunate type of guy. :roll:

Nevertheless Bob...I have your instructions saved for future reference just incase. ::tu::
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

KLJ77 wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:37 am Bob, Garry...I got my little blue 6" Tuff Lite today. I love this knife. Very impressed...great snap, open & closing, smooth opening.

Now...I must be living right, or something. The lock release on my knife is super smooth to depress and unlock the open blade. No discomfort on the end of the thumb, not stiff, tight or hard to depress. I put a touch of pivot oil on the pivot joint and it's even better. ::shrug:: Maybe with all the negative reviews this knife was getting due to how hard it was to unlock the open blade, Cold Steel did some tweaking to alleviate the issue, or I'm just a fortunate type of guy. :roll:

Nevertheless Bob...I have your instructions saved for future reference just incase. ::tu::
Congratulations! You are the winner of a small but nice prize in the Cold Steel lottery: a properly adjusted lock mechanism! :wink:

How's the sharpness? Every one of my Cold Steel knives has been shaving sharp out of the package. I mean really shaving sharp.
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by KLJ77 »

How's the sharpness? Every one of my Cold Steel knives has been shaving sharp out of the package. I mean really shaving sharp.
Bob...I can't say mine came 'shaving sharp', but it is sharp. It would not shave hair off my arm, but with a bit of touch up with my Buck Tri steel on the fine side, it wouldn't take much to get it there. Nevertheless, I'm very pleased with this little fellow. It will get some hard use.
LJ

"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are now outnumbered by those that vote for a living."
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
desmobob
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by desmobob »

jmh58 wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:58 pm Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
Congrats!

The Tuff Lite is one I always seem to have in a shopping cart but never seem to order. Time to change that!
Bob

Gold is for the mistress -- silver for the maid --
Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
"Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
"But Iron -- Cold Iron -- is master of them all."
~Rudyard Kipling
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

desmobob wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 2:00 am
jmh58 wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:58 pm Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
Congrats!

The Tuff Lite is one I always seem to have in a shopping cart but never seem to order. Time to change that!
Thanks Bob.. ::handshake:: I was the same way.. Just decided it was time.. ::facepalm:: :lol: Looking forward to trying this out.. ::hmm::
John :D
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

jmh58 wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:58 pm Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
On its way to "The Rocks" ... ::ds::
John :D
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

jmh58 wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 12:35 pm
jmh58 wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:58 pm Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
On its way to "The Rocks" ... ::ds::
John :D
::pace:: ::pace:: ::hmm::
John :D
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
jmh58
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

jmh58 wrote: Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:25 pm
jmh58 wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 12:35 pm
jmh58 wrote: Thu Jan 28, 2021 10:58 pm Yinz are BAD, BAD, BAD people.. ::facepalm:: Just ordered a Tuff-Lite in OD Green.. ::tu:: My first Cold Steel.. ::dang:: ::tu:: :lol:
John :D
On its way to "The Rocks" ... ::ds::
John :D
::pace:: ::pace:: ::hmm::
John :D
Not all who wander are lost!!

Of all the paths you take in life,
Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jmh58 »

Out for Delivery!!! ::fc:: ::clapping:: ::clapping:: ::fc::
John :D
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Make sure some of them are Dirt!!!
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Re: My first Cold Steel knives

Post by jerryd6818 »

The only ColdSteel I have are a Kudu (Okapi look alike) and a Twistmaster (Opinel look alike). The Twistmaster is a beast. It's huge.
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Cold Steel Kudu - Labeled.JPG
Cold Steel Twistmaster Labeled.JPG
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