Every video I see of Lynn... I fall more and more in love. He is awesome. A legend. Wow. Just wow. So awesome, I love the knives. Just wish they had cooler locking mechanisms. The axis lock for me... Always finds its way in my pocket. Still think cold steel is the best for the money.
I wouldn't be so quick to dis leatherman when it comes to life saving. My wave has saved 4 people. Witnessed a wreck on my way home, car flipped and a man and his daughter were stuck. Went in and cut the belts with the serrated knife. 2nd time was me and my old man. Got t boned and engine caught fire. Was able to use the same blade to cut loose my pops and myself. LOVE cold steel btw 😅
I don’t mind carrying big knives. Which do you consider the best big blade for an older lady to defend herself from young hooligans? We have had a spat of elderly being attacked or having purse snatching. I am mentally prepared to defend myself being Army veteran.
I found this video extremely enjoyable I so got a crocodile dundee feel from this but his points are 100% accurate if you wipped out the large blade certain decisions have to be made all in regards to your well being versus a smaller blade. I was very much before this no way would i get a big blade but now after seeing this I am actually really considering a big blade.
I have a 6" Ti-lite for my street clothes and a 5.5" Voyager Tanto for work. I consider cold steel XL knives to be ESSENTIAL to my life. My state is NOT gun friendly so I am already at a disadvantage in that regard. The Espada XL is a dream knife for sure. Thank you for making knives others are afraid to at a price i can afford.
I had an altercation about a year ago and I knew it was headed to violence. My XL Talwar came out my pocket open with a nasty clack. Homeboy ran away immediately.
lerch400block those DO “clack” open!! 😆 I love mine!! Probably my best defensive folder.... I also love my black talon 2... That makes even good friends piss themselves a tiny bit when deployed! 😂
Me too, but don’t dig the XL linerlocks, especially hate the small detentball and weak liner in the Luzon Large(already got cut cause it opened in pocket), well its my XL work knife now. Gonna stick to Tri-ad as it’s just perfect.
I carried my cold steel voyager tanto xl and my spartan throughout my time as a paramedic. Those knives never failed me or gave me any kind of buyers remorse!!!!!!
I carry an XL Voyager serrated-tanto. I use it to chip ice, as a chisel for wood work, cut rope, dig a water drainage trench, breakdown thick appliance boxes. The blade is heavy enough to swing open with a quick flick, the serration, and pistol grip provides firm grip, and guards against thrust-slips.
@@ramtrucks721 If you have a big knife, then you can put someone out of their misery. Sometimes people would prefer to die than to live as a paraplegic. Therefore, as a paramedic, it is your duty as a first responder to be able to kill someone if they want to die.
I hate to admit, but as ludicrous as he makes it all seem, you have to give it to him. He has a valid point. They are made for getting sh*t done. No frills, no BS. Just serious work knives. Good man, great company. Keep up the fantastic work!
I showed my friend my Luzon large one day and he was so impressed. (He’s not really a “knife guy”)....he’s looking at it, holding it asking me different things about it..... so then I tell him “what if I told you I’m carrying another knife that can make that one look small in comparison” his answer was “that’s impossible” CLACK! OUT CAME THE ESPADA XL 😃 I think to this day his jaw is still dropped on the sidewalk down the street 🤣 his reaction when seeing the espada xl was perfect! I mean shit when I first took it out the box I almost cried because it was so beautiful lol
Lol dude that's so wholesome. My brother and dad love my Espada XL. Whenever knives come up, my dad will go grab it to show everyone. My brother also loves that it can be deployed by flicking down then back up
I dont go out to Intentionally Abuse my Knives or Tools..However, Cold Steel's Locks have proven to Me on a Few Occasions that they Hold when needed and the Blades hold a decent edge..I know my Rajah II,III and Spartan are not what Folks call Super Steels( I have had them for 10 plus years), a few times when asked I have opened up a Can of Stew or Soup with them..No Real Damage to speak of and a couple of minutes on a Diamond Rod or Crock Stick they are back to newspaper cutting sharpness..I have a lot of different Knives from a lot of Manufactures I carry for the Most Part what I choose to for the Day, a Whim ,or what I anticipate I might need my Knife for during my Waking Hours..I consider my Cold Steel Folders my "HARD USE KNIVES"..Some of Cold Steels Designs might seem a bit Outlandish, but what Lynn Thompson says is True that there is a Reason behind it..and I cant fault a Man for putting something out there that appears a bit over the top to get it to Sell..Thats the Point of bieng in business.
@@petecwalina8789 , I agree with you Pal ,but Lynn is straight up keeping it real when other companies be faking the funk ,Lynn let's it be know that, yes it a knife and it can do knife stuff well but the truth is it's also a weapon even if you hope to never need it for that reason it's a life saving tool and he not afraid to say it. Other companies don't want to be real about that so they say it's tactical or tactically designed, and Lynn tells you it's a knife to cut stuff and if needed can save your life and that factor should be added in as well.
Lynn the CEO of Cold Steel and his team are today what Jim Bowie and his brother was in their day with knife designs. Cold Steel is the knife trail blazers.
When you " pop " open any large Cold Steel folder , your opponent will stand back for a second . I truly believe that most men fear being carved up alive , than being shot with a gun , PERIOD . I know on the occasions that I've had to deployed my knives , they've made my advisory take the " big step theory " to a new level . Your knives are ominous , the sword cane is great as well , and less than a hundred dollars . I got the " edge " and the " spike " and mount the " EDGE " on a chain rope necklace , and the " SPIKE " on a skull necklace people have no clue that I'm wearing them , until now . Your knives are like no other , THANK YOU , LYNN THOMPSON !!!!! AMEN !!!!!
If I saw someone whip out a coldsteel I'm running as fast as I can in the opposite direction. I honestly think the reason we fear blades more (than say a gun) is because it produces more of a primal fear response. Just like humans are programed to be scared of spiders and snakes.
I did that working at an airport years ago. I went to open a parts box, whipped out my 4" Tanto Voyager, a nearby passenger saw it. TSA said dude's eyes got bigger than dinner plates! I stopped carrying that one for work. Fortunately, CS came out with the Micro Recon about that time, and I got one of those to start carrying.
True story, a long time ago when my dad was a young man working in the mountains in Cuba, he would sometimes carry fruits and vegetables and other goods at night from the mountains to the city so he could sell them during the day. On one of those night treks 2 men riding bicycles came towards him and got down from them, and got into a fighting stance and told him to give them the bag. Luckily for my dad, he was carrying a 12 inch custom made camp knife that he was hiding by gripping it with the blade pointing towards his elbow, hiding it with his forearm. All he did was switch his grip to a saber grip and waved the knife in front of them in a fighting stance, without dropping the heavy sack he was carrying on his other shoulder. Without even saying a word, both men ran back to their bikes and peddled away as fast as possible. Big knives really are a great deterrent.
As a soldier I agree with this man. But in my country we don't have access to such companies products. We carry 12 inch fixed knives locally made by local high carbon steels. Large knives are tremendously practical.
I laughed at the very notion of spending more money on their knives for less blade size. I can understand if one is buying custom for unique design, craftsmanship, and materials - those justifies the price. Company manufactured blades ought to offer more for the money - Cold Steel consistently delivers on this basic premise.
@Stacy Robbins i own two folding knives under 3 inches both are cold steel tuff lites one a mini and the other just a regular tuff lite they make surprisingly good close quarters self defense knives the mini can't be seen when your thumb is on the spine of the blade. It can cut a phone book in half with two passes you can wear it inder your shirt on your belt loop if you want. The regurlar size one WELL i hope you get the picture lol. If your life is on the line and someone tries to wrestle you to the ground the tuff lite will not be seen and it cuts like a razor or light saber!!! Lol.
I always thought a folding sword would be a great invention, but I guess this crazy man had the same idea with the Espada. With both hands on that thing, you could actually torque-slash through their spine, at the mid-section, effectively cutting them in two, with just some back flesh connecting the two halves. This guy gets it.
Real life scenario about a week or two ago NRA instructor: Hey Nathan, you got a knife I can use really quick Me: slides Rajah II out of pocket NRA Instructor: *speechless*
Real live scenario: 3 years back me and some friends sat outside in the garden of a restsurant, when another friend just came back from Italy. He had a full block of original Provolone, and offered it to us. While the owner of the restsurant went for bread, everybody was asking for a knife. Two Swiss Army knifes, that I like a lot, were used to scrape around the block of cheese, when I slid my old Vaquero Grande out of the pocket. Lots of "uuuuh's" and "aaaaah's", and the cheese was eaten. Now I am the man that is carrying "this gigant cheese cutter" every time somebody needs a knife.
I've learned to really appreciate your knives Lynn...Everything from clearing trails, skinning white tails, to self defense....I really could careless of what people think of me carrying a Cold Steel...I use them when it's time to get serious work done...I have alot of the hipster 1,000$ knives that are awesome for Instagram, but I always go back to my CS when it's time to do real work. No bullshit here.
Hell yeah. I agree. I just don't care what idiots who likely don't carry a real knife anyway have to say. Keyboard warriors who likely don't have a job either.
I love your blades. If people don't like big blades I'm sure they are aware that you make blades for people who like small blades but there's a lot of us who like large blades keep up the great work
I own close to 28 Cold Steel, 8 Spyderco, 4 First Edge and 4 Tops knives. Out of all my knives I always have a CS knife on me. My CS knives never let me down unlike Spyderco and First Edge. My large Espada will always be with me on Hiking, Camping and fishing trips, my recon 1 and AK-47 are my work knives, My TL and Mini TL are my EDC knives, my Frenzy 3 is also my EDC normally worn IWB. Straight to the point I love my Cold Steel Knives and Trust them with my life and my Family's Life. Thank you Mr. Thompson and the Cold Steel crew.
I got an XL Espada last week and I started giggling like a little girl and said "WHAT THE F**K" out loud when I pulled it out of the packaging. That's the point!
I like the "What the F**K" that comes from the people asking for a knife when I pull out my XL Recon 1 from my pocket. Then I pull out my XL Espada, open and ready for business from the other pocket and tell them, no, this is "WHAT THE F**K!"
Cold Steel won me over ages ago with their 4"+ folders, while other companies were afraid to meet or breach the 4" limit - and these companies also charged ludicrous prices for less blade! I still carry my 6" serrated clip Voyager to this day.
I bought mt first this weekend. I bought the voyager XL tanto, unfortunately its illegal where i live so i had to take the L version which was cheaper so i asked if i could get the rest of my money back. He said ill give you the kudu and the kudu light free of charge which outweighs the original purchase price. Got them in today fantastic knives.
Yeah i hope he brings that folding kris to production!!!...i can hear those titanium dainty 3 inch flipper guys saying i cant sharpen it..Well the ancient peopke who carried them had no problem!
@@thechristiansamurai8459 There's so many good ways to sharpen a blade nowadays. There are no excuses for avoiding certain blade shapes. For a Kris blade, I'd use diamond/ceramic rods for hand sharpening for touch ups, and a 1" belt sander/sharpener for more removal/correction.
@@racerx1508 I agree 100% Racer X these so called laws only effects law bidding citizens who try to live by the rules criminals don't so i'll risk my chances going to prison and being alive then 6ft under never to see my family ever again. So like you i'll carry what the HELL i want peace brother.
I love Lynn's passion and intensity. This was an awesome video and I couldn't agree more. I'm a tanto guy and I love my Kobun, GI and Recon. I'm definitely in the market for a good fold and the Rasha 2 is calling my name haha!
I love all my cold steel blades, edc big blades all the time! I love my serrated talwar, voyagers, 4max and my colossus. Im sad they discontinued the talwar and colossus, those 2 blade are amazing and are highly useful
Agreed! Spartan is my edc, then serrated talwar or 50/50 edge large voyager tanto for dress pants. XL tanto voyager and large luzon for when I'm in unfriendly territory, Rajah 2 is next on the list! Always a Cold Steel, always a 4"+ blade!
I carry a Vaquero Grande as my EDC and have for 25 years. I can't tell you how many knife collectors get wide eyed when they see mine. You know how many people have become Cold Steel fans because of that blade? Many. Many that before never heard of Cold Steel. Cold Steel talks and sells itself.
great video, exceptional quality knives i personally carry the rajah 2, the large luzon, and my favorite the xl espada everyday. Even at its massive size its invisible in my pocket , and can be called up in a split second... it has saved me being mugged/attacked twice both times just the sheer sight of it changed the assailants mind ....keep these awesome knives coming !
I think the thing people don't like is that Cold Steel doesn't tip-toe around the purpose of their knives. A lot of knife guys these days are neurotic millennials who feel like they have to defend their hobby against stupid housewives with too much free time who lobby to ban autos and assisted openers. They see Cold Steel making unashamed tactical blades and think "Damn Cold Steel, they're giving knife enthusiasts a bad name by making and marketing weapons!"
Thank you for presenting the benefits of a large blade. By educating the public on blade designs and their uses, you are enherently advocating knife rights for everybody. Thank you Lynn Thompson. As a side note. It would be wonderful to have you present how to sharpen each of your blade models.
I LOVE ur big blades !!! Your company is the only one that makes the big long folders. I appreciate that very much. I have been carrying your knives for 30 yrs & Love em !!! I carry two of your knives every day w/me, broke the tip off the XL Tanto & still have the XL 6" Voyager that's been all over w/me. I plan to buy the 7.5" Espada in the next couple of weeks. Keep up the fantastic job....
I feel the same way i have never had a facebook account its just another way people sneak and do their dirt. And i know not all people do wrong on it but it's a avenue for it!!
All the greats taught this about blades. I’ve heard so many people talk about this guy but he is speaking truth. I’ve unfortunately had to defend myself with a knife when I couldn’t get to my sidearm. It was a cold steel Bowie and the guys eyes lit up when he saw I and and backed off. I was fortunate to have it with me.
I love big knives and could never discount the value of a large knife vs a small one, there's just too much fight stopping potential even just seeing a big knife, just like the deterance factor of a gun. My dad had went on a trip out of town and was confronted by a mugger with a knife, so what does he do? Flips out his 5 inch stilletto switchblade and made himself appear a less ideal victim, the guy ran. However though, while I'll always carry a big knife for defense or emergency, I'll always also carry at least one smaller knife for two reasons; discreteness and overall practicallity. Discrete because you may not want people to know you're carrying a big knife, like a gun, until an altercation quickly comes up. Exposing that you're armed, outside your own terms, is dangerous. You could be singled out first, they could go for the weapon themselves if they know of it. It may not print as easily as a gun sometimes depending on how you carry, but people can spot it. Practicallity because while yes, a big knife can handle much the same tasks as a small one, I don't find it universally true. Sometimes you need to get to a confined space where a big knife just gets in the way, you may risk cutting yourself or others with excessive length of blade. Sometimes it just pays to have that small palm sized blade for the edge control and manuverability, or sometimes you want a thinner blade, or the blade shape of your larger knife isn't quite appropriate for the task.
Дядя Лин Томпсон говорит чистую правду! Большой нож это нож! Я имею полностью такое же мнение. Большой нож может тоже, что и маленький, но еще в два раза лучше и два раза больше возможностей)
When I started collecting knives for EDC I wanted small "practical" knives. Boker Mermaid felt so cool and good I wanted a spartan. Now the Spartan feels small. Now I want the Espada XL!
Your videos are awesome I’ve enjoyed them for years.I was attacked by multiple assailants. I was able to withdraw my Cold steel neck knife. I showed some mercy and they ran away.. ( i have waited for years to possibly see the video on television because it occurred in the middle of a popular fast food restaurant . The police let me see the video and I swear to God a real fights just like a Jackie Chan movie against multiple attackers )i’ve always wanted to meet you and make a documentary about you. You’ve got charisma my friend.
Our guys are big fans of the cold steel XL series. We grapple, spar, and teach with edged weapon trainers all the time and a folding knife that has the reach of a large fixed blade had proven to give one hell of an advantage. Love the thought behind the designs Lynn
Political correctness has made it to the knife world! Well it is a cancerous blight so it kinda makes sense! The size is always better to have and not need than need and not have! Why else did the frontier men carry the Bowie because it did everything they needed! Keep on making em big Lynn!
This man is passionate about his knives and obviously tired of the comments that his knives are too big and are more of a gimmick. I agree with him. Bigger is better. Thank you for making your big folder knives.
It's like I've always said... 🤔 "You can't perform surgery with an axe. &.you can't cut down a tree with a scalpel." Know your tools. (Of course, Mr Thompson knows this.) God bless you, sir. 💯🤘
With all due respect, I can appreciate a big knife but for skinning anything including an elephant you really don't want a Long Blade. Because the leverage actually works against you trying to make cuts into the hide. The same principle applies when cutting anything including twine or sticks. I love the idea of owning a big knife just for s**** and giggles but when it comes to practicality it runs out at about 4 in. Unless we're talking about a fighting knife or something like that
I understand the idea but can you ger back into production the Espada Medium? My knife use scenarios don't usually include stabbing or slashing people.
I love Cold Steel, and I carry a Rajah 2 every day. I get a lot of, "now that's a knife!" jokes from friends. That being said it's basically a sword that can chop wood like an axe. Think about how much of an advantage that is in defensive situations or if you just get lost in the woods. It's certainly not for everyone, but it works great for me.
Our ancestors would laugh at us for the little wanna be knifes we carry. A big knife is always a better choice. And a lot more effective in a self defense situation than a small knife. All of Mr. Thompson points are excellent points.
Political correctness is a freedom stripping cancer. Thanks for making big knives like you always have. You keep making them big, and I’ll keep buying them lol. Btw just got your drop forged boot knife tonight, can’t stop playing with it haha!
Watch midwayusa for their Cold Steel sales you can pick up some really good deals if you are patient and watch the prices for a couple months and email deals. Oh and they always ship CS free.
I just like them. Do we need more of a reason than that? They are fun. I like about a 4-5 inch blade. I cannot carry what I want. It wouldn’t be a giant knife for EDC but there are lots of laws and the police will arrest you. I think we should be able to carry what we want as long as we do no harm. If we do harm, we should be prosecuted; not just for carrying one.
THOUGHTCRIME MUST BE STOPPED. That is the basic premise of anti-“weapon” laws though, assuming guilt prior to commission of a crime. Legislators are always highly paranoid people. I’m happy productive organizations like Knife Rights exist.
Wow I can't believe people would question this! One of my favorite knives is my voyager XL tanto, but i also love that mini tuff lite!! Cold steel makes great tools in all shapes and sizes.
I carried a rajah 2 for a few years then switched to the espada xl and have carried every day for 6 years. I've worn out a few pairs of pants in the pocket from the knife rubbing. i love my huge knife. I cut my thumb in half with my rajah 2 lol. its very impressive seeing a 7 inch blade flip open on the draw. especially when someone asks if you have a knife to cut something small.
You have to love this guy... A large part of not carrying a big blade is not because of a person being to PC, it's more about not going to jail when you run into the police while your in a State with stupid knife laws...
Развлечения
I LIKE BIG BLADES AND I CANNOT LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those other brothers can't deny.
That when your buddies walk in with those itty bitty blade you put that big knife in their hand they get sprung
Hey Brad oh my gawd look at that BLADE!!!...LOL
I LIKE BIG BLADES , BECAUSE THEY'RE " ALL " ABOUT TO DIE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree all my knives are big and have big blade
facebook: why are these knives so big?
cold steel: our elephant meat was spoiling.
😂
Hahaha ugh love cold steel, true hard use working mans folder
Why are these knives so big?
Yes.
Lol as soon as he says that, you can hear the cameraman laughing 😂 1:34
🤣
When I snap open my G-10 XL Espada, it puts a huge grin on my face. That's all the justification I need. 👍
Exactly! Thank you.
The HELL with political correctness!!!
Linn C. Thompson for president 2020!!!
He wouldn't need secret service 😂😂
@@pittriversavage
Yep. He would only need few secret blades behind his belt :D
@@pittriversavage Lmao.
Death DLer Lynn*
Already been done.
I love using my Raja to skin elk, deer, rabbits, cut wood, canvas, leather, whatever. I have had it for 11 years, and it’s still one of my favorites.
I love everything Cold Steel. Lynn Thompson is a badass.
Best ever. Refreshing honesty about carrying a blade for self defense.
I’ve had an Espada xl for years and love it
Every video I see of Lynn... I fall more and more in love. He is awesome. A legend. Wow. Just wow. So awesome, I love the knives. Just wish they had cooler locking mechanisms. The axis lock for me... Always finds its way in my pocket. Still think cold steel is the best for the money.
I wouldn't be so quick to dis leatherman when it comes to life saving. My wave has saved 4 people. Witnessed a wreck on my way home, car flipped and a man and his daughter were stuck. Went in and cut the belts with the serrated knife. 2nd time was me and my old man. Got t boned and engine caught fire. Was able to use the same blade to cut loose my pops and myself. LOVE cold steel btw 😅
It is the only knife i will buy.i am a machinist by trade.i know my steels.great engineering,and great steel.i trust these knives with my life.
I love your big knives. Thank you. I wish more had lanyard holes as I use a lanyard as an adaptive aid following hand tendon injury
Lynn Thompson will go down as a legend
He is absolutely right.
I don’t mind carrying big knives. Which do you consider the best big blade for an older lady to defend herself from young hooligans? We have had a spat of elderly being attacked or having purse snatching. I am mentally prepared to defend myself being Army veteran.
I never found myself in any situation whatsoever where I would either need to skin a mouse or an elephant. I doubt I ever will.
I found this video extremely enjoyable I so got a crocodile dundee feel from this but his points are 100% accurate if you wipped out the large blade certain decisions have to be made all in regards to your well being versus a smaller blade. I was very much before this no way would i get a big blade but now after seeing this I am actually really considering a big blade.
I love how he's defense motivated... anyone who doesn't get it, cold steel aint for you... its for big boys
This
I guess I’ll just be a little boy with my 2.7 ounce ZT 450 and a Glock 19...
Yes
@@erincook6007 Ill stick my g19, Halfface blades cardiac spike, and my waved pm2.
It really speaks to the quality of Cold Steel blades that people have to compare them to a gun in order to try to beat it
I have a 6" Ti-lite for my street clothes and a 5.5" Voyager Tanto for work. I consider cold steel XL knives to be ESSENTIAL to my life. My state is NOT gun friendly so I am already at a disadvantage in that regard. The Espada XL is a dream knife for sure. Thank you for making knives others are afraid to at a price i can afford.
ELIJAH WALLING Just received my XL Espada three days ago. Amazing knife. Very easy to EDC. Get one, you won’t regret it.
I had an altercation about a year ago and I knew it was headed to violence. My XL Talwar came out my pocket open with a nasty clack. Homeboy ran away immediately.
Glad you're safe.
@@csknives thanks fam
lerch400block those DO “clack” open!! 😆 I love mine!! Probably my best defensive folder.... I also love my black talon 2...
That makes even good friends piss themselves a tiny bit when deployed! 😂
That’s a big reason I carry my XL blades. There’s a definite “holy sh*t” factor that a smaller knife just doesn’t have.
@@csknives will you make some knife with fixed blade and fully serrated blade? I don't know why so few manufacturers make those knives.
*I own EVERY SINGLE XL FOLDER YALL HAVE EVER MADE!*
That's why we're friends!
Easy for you to do lol.
Cold Steel I’ve got the tylight love the thing
Me too, but don’t dig the XL linerlocks, especially hate the small detentball and weak liner in the Luzon Large(already got cut cause it opened in pocket), well its my XL work knife now. Gonna stick to Tri-ad as it’s just perfect.
you absolute lucky dog
I carried my cold steel voyager tanto xl and my spartan throughout my time as a paramedic. Those knives never failed me or gave me any kind of buyers remorse!!!!!!
Why????
my normal carry is the XL Voyager Vaquero
my routine carry is an XLVaquero, an Opinel 10 and a tinker
I carry an XL Voyager serrated-tanto. I use it to chip ice, as a chisel for wood work, cut rope, dig a water drainage trench, breakdown thick appliance boxes. The blade is heavy enough to swing open with a quick flick, the serration, and pistol grip provides firm grip, and guards against thrust-slips.
@@ramtrucks721
If you have a big knife, then you can put someone out of their misery. Sometimes people would prefer to die than to live as a paraplegic. Therefore, as a paramedic, it is your duty as a first responder to be able to kill someone if they want to die.
I hate to admit, but as ludicrous as he makes it all seem, you have to give it to him. He has a valid point. They are made for getting sh*t done. No frills, no BS. Just serious work knives. Good man, great company. Keep up the fantastic work!
This is why I love cold steel because they're the only ones that do quality XL folders. Awesome work guys and don't stop doing what you do 👌
Have you seen the Opinel 13?
@@whahala555 yes I have one. It's huge.
@@trevnutz how does it compare to the Cold Steel XLs? I've don't think I've ever seen a Cold Steel XL.
@@whahala555 it's basically the size of a cold steel espada XL but significantly less durable, much bulkier, and way slower to deploy.
I showed my friend my Luzon large one day and he was so impressed. (He’s not really a “knife guy”)....he’s looking at it, holding it asking me different things about it..... so then I tell him “what if I told you I’m carrying another knife that can make that one look small in comparison” his answer was “that’s impossible” CLACK! OUT CAME THE ESPADA XL 😃 I think to this day his jaw is still dropped on the sidewalk down the street 🤣 his reaction when seeing the espada xl was perfect! I mean shit when I first took it out the box I almost cried because it was so beautiful lol
Lol dude that's so wholesome. My brother and dad love my Espada XL. Whenever knives come up, my dad will go grab it to show everyone. My brother also loves that it can be deployed by flicking down then back up
You made me laugh hard bro 🤣🤣
was it the Espada XL G10 or the one with the shiney polished G10 & aluminium bolsters?
@@cyphersurf890 it was just the G10 version. Man his reaction would have been 10 times crazier if it was the “full dress” version lol
🎉😂🎉 Clack! Out came the Espada! 😮
Cold Steel knives are pound for pound the best bang for the buck period... I Love Cold Steel been carrying for 10 years plus. Hardcore knives proven.
No Joke Jack
YES SIR
I dont go out to Intentionally Abuse my Knives or Tools..However, Cold Steel's Locks have proven to Me on a Few Occasions that they Hold when needed and the Blades hold a decent edge..I know my Rajah II,III and Spartan are not what Folks call Super Steels( I have had them for 10 plus years), a few times when asked I have opened up a Can of Stew or Soup with them..No Real Damage to speak of and a couple of minutes on a Diamond Rod or Crock Stick they are back to newspaper cutting sharpness..I have a lot of different Knives from a lot of Manufactures I carry for the Most Part what I choose to for the Day, a Whim ,or what I anticipate I might need my Knife for during my Waking Hours..I consider my Cold Steel Folders my "HARD USE KNIVES"..Some of Cold Steels Designs might seem a bit Outlandish, but what Lynn Thompson says is True that there is a Reason behind it..and I cant fault a Man for putting something out there that appears a bit over the top to get it to Sell..Thats the Point of bieng in business.
@@petecwalina8789 , I agree with you Pal ,but Lynn is straight up keeping it real when other companies be faking the funk ,Lynn let's it be know that, yes it a knife and it can do knife stuff well but the truth is it's also a weapon even if you hope to never need it for that reason it's a life saving tool and he not afraid to say it. Other companies don't want to be real about that so they say it's tactical or tactically designed, and Lynn tells you it's a knife to cut stuff and if needed can save your life and that factor should be added in as well.
Lynn the CEO of Cold Steel and his team are today what Jim Bowie and his brother was in their day with knife designs. Cold Steel is the knife trail blazers.
He saved two horses and 4 people and carried them out on his back! I love this man! Run for office Lynn no more horsing around
Pun intended
When you can carry 2 grown men and 4 horses on your back.... You ARE Lynn Thompson. And that ain't punny....
American Icon and legend. Should have a publist.
When you " pop " open any large Cold Steel folder , your opponent will stand back for a second . I truly believe that most men fear being carved up alive , than being shot with a gun , PERIOD . I know on the occasions that I've had to deployed my knives , they've made my advisory take the " big step theory " to a new level . Your knives are ominous , the sword cane is great as well , and less than a hundred dollars . I got the " edge " and the " spike " and mount the " EDGE " on a chain rope necklace , and the " SPIKE " on a skull necklace people have no clue that I'm wearing them , until now . Your knives are like no other , THANK YOU , LYNN THOMPSON !!!!! AMEN !!!!!
That’s why I love cold steel and believe it’s the best knife company in the world
If I saw someone whip out a coldsteel I'm running as fast as I can in the opposite direction. I honestly think the reason we fear blades more (than say a gun) is because it produces more of a primal fear response. Just like humans are programed to be scared of spiders and snakes.
I did that working at an airport years ago. I went to open a parts box, whipped out my 4" Tanto Voyager, a nearby passenger saw it. TSA said dude's eyes got bigger than dinner plates!
I stopped carrying that one for work.
Fortunately, CS came out with the Micro Recon about that time, and I got one of those to start carrying.
Love the comment...it's right on!!!
True story, a long time ago when my dad was a young man working in the mountains in Cuba, he would sometimes carry fruits and vegetables and other goods at night from the mountains to the city so he could sell them during the day. On one of those night treks 2 men riding bicycles came towards him and got down from them, and got into a fighting stance and told him to give them the bag. Luckily for my dad, he was carrying a 12 inch custom made camp knife that he was hiding by gripping it with the blade pointing towards his elbow, hiding it with his forearm. All he did was switch his grip to a saber grip and waved the knife in front of them in a fighting stance, without dropping the heavy sack he was carrying on his other shoulder. Without even saying a word, both men ran back to their bikes and peddled away as fast as possible. Big knives really are a great deterrent.
As a soldier I agree with this man. But in my country we don't have access to such companies products.
We carry 12 inch fixed knives locally made by local high carbon steels. Large knives are tremendously practical.
Lynn is such a freaking legend. Saving people with a $45 knife he designed, so cool.
I EDC a 4"
But i tell my wife its a 7"
Only the inches after the first 2 inches matter -Lynn Thompson
Benchmade and Spyderco ask way too much for a FRN/FRP knife. Thanks Cold Steel for making great knives that don't cost you an arm and a leg.👍
I laughed at the very notion of spending more money on their knives for less blade size. I can understand if one is buying custom for unique design, craftsmanship, and materials - those justifies the price.
Company manufactured blades ought to offer more for the money - Cold Steel consistently delivers on this basic premise.
Bitchmade*
Cold Steel Espada XL = 452,62€
Spyderco Respect = 418,17€
The Espada XL does not have the same thickness of the blade as the Respect as it's thickest.
@Stacy Robbins i own two folding knives under 3 inches both are cold steel tuff lites one a mini and the other just a regular tuff lite they make surprisingly good close quarters self defense knives the mini can't be seen when your thumb is on the spine of the blade. It can cut a phone book in half with two passes you can wear it inder your shirt on your belt loop if you want. The regurlar size one WELL i hope you get the picture lol. If your life is on the line and someone tries to wrestle you to the ground the tuff lite will not be seen and it cuts like a razor or light saber!!! Lol.
"With Cold Steel, the only person charged an arm and a leg is the guy who fucks with you and your knife."
I always thought a folding sword would be a great invention, but I guess this crazy man had the same idea with the Espada. With both hands on that thing, you could actually torque-slash through their spine, at the mid-section, effectively cutting them in two, with just some back flesh connecting the two halves. This guy gets it.
Real life scenario about a week or two ago
NRA instructor: Hey Nathan, you got a knife I can use really quick
Me: slides Rajah II out of pocket
NRA Instructor: *speechless*
Real live scenario: 3 years back me and some friends sat outside in the garden of a restsurant, when another friend just came back from Italy. He had a full block of original Provolone, and offered it to us. While the owner of the restsurant went for bread, everybody was asking for a knife. Two Swiss Army knifes, that I like a lot, were used to scrape around the block of cheese, when I slid my old Vaquero Grande out of the pocket.
Lots of "uuuuh's" and "aaaaah's", and the cheese was eaten.
Now I am the man that is carrying "this gigant cheese cutter" every time somebody needs a knife.
@@kongandbasses8732 as long as you didn’t “cut the cheese” either 😂
I've learned to really appreciate your knives Lynn...Everything from clearing trails, skinning white tails, to self defense....I really could careless of what people think of me carrying a Cold Steel...I use them when it's time to get serious work done...I have alot of the hipster 1,000$ knives that are awesome for Instagram, but I always go back to my CS when it's time to do real work. No bullshit here.
Atta boy!
Hell yeah. I agree. I just don't care what idiots who likely don't carry a real knife anyway have to say. Keyboard warriors who likely don't have a job either.
@@lynncthompson9116 You are a badass sir, been rocking cold steel for awhile and falling more in love with them every time.
No other company makes the martial knives like Cold Steel! I've been buying your blades since you started and appreciate the large ones.
I love your blades. If people don't like big blades I'm sure they are aware that you make blades for people who like small blades but there's a lot of us who like large blades keep up the great work
Thank you!
I absolutely love my cold steel knives and Lynn is a damn national treasure
Cold Steel is all I carry. Thank you Lynn for all you do and peace of mind!
Would love a 10" version of the Rajah.. and Espada.. "Espada XXL" ..
I own close to 28 Cold Steel, 8 Spyderco, 4 First Edge and 4 Tops knives. Out of all my knives I always have a CS knife on me. My CS knives never let me down unlike Spyderco and First Edge. My large Espada will always be with me on Hiking, Camping and fishing trips, my recon 1 and AK-47 are my work knives, My TL and Mini TL are my EDC knives, my Frenzy 3 is also my EDC normally worn IWB. Straight to the point I love my Cold Steel Knives and Trust them with my life and my Family's Life. Thank you Mr. Thompson and the Cold Steel crew.
Thanks Shaun!
I got an XL Espada last week and I started giggling like a little girl and said "WHAT THE F**K" out loud when I pulled it out of the packaging. That's the point!
They're pretty good at that! It never gets old.
Just like Christmas... 😂
I like the "What the F**K" that comes from the people asking for a knife when I pull out my XL Recon 1 from my pocket.
Then I pull out my XL Espada, open and ready for business from the other pocket and tell them, no, this is "WHAT THE F**K!"
@@Adhmuz lol!
I love the big blade too, and feel very comfortable carrying the Raja2.
Cold Steel won me over ages ago with their 4"+ folders, while other companies were afraid to meet or breach the 4" limit - and these companies also charged ludicrous prices for less blade! I still carry my 6" serrated clip Voyager to this day.
I carry the espada xl every day. Had to get my pockets redone in all my Jeans to fit it. I love it and trust it with my life.💯
I actual just bought my first cold steel
Which one?
I bought mt first this weekend. I bought the voyager XL tanto, unfortunately its illegal where i live so i had to take the L version which was cheaper so i asked if i could get the rest of my money back. He said ill give you the kudu and the kudu light free of charge which outweighs the original purchase price. Got them in today fantastic knives.
I’ve been a proud owner for 4 years
Just got the large Espada and absolutely love it. I’m surprised I can actually carry this and be very comfortable.
hold up, wait a minute... that kris better be coming out soon! dont tease me like that
Yeah i hope he brings that folding kris to production!!!...i can hear those titanium dainty 3 inch flipper guys saying i cant sharpen it..Well the ancient peopke who carried them had no problem!
@@thechristiansamurai8459
There's so many good ways to sharpen a blade nowadays.
There are no excuses for avoiding certain blade shapes.
For a Kris blade, I'd use diamond/ceramic rods for hand sharpening for touch ups, and a 1" belt sander/sharpener for more removal/correction.
dnasplice agreed
I terrified some co-workers when I inertia-deployed my 4" RECON-1 Tanto to open a box...Imagine if I were carrying my XL. LT is the Man!
Problem is the law Lynn... lots of us are limited to 3.5" or shorter depending on the state.
that is true! very few states has no limit length on blades. Surprisingly cali is one of the states that allow big folders and fix blades
I carry what I want I'll never limit myself to what I carry because of a law the law is not going to help me when I need my big knife.
@@racerx1508 I like your reasoning haha
Buy a small knife if your worried about the law.
@@racerx1508 I agree 100% Racer X these so called laws only effects law bidding citizens who try to live by the rules criminals don't so i'll risk my chances going to prison and being alive then 6ft under never to see my family ever again. So like you i'll carry what the HELL i want peace brother.
I love Lynn's passion and intensity. This was an awesome video and I couldn't agree more. I'm a tanto guy and I love my Kobun, GI and Recon. I'm definitely in the market for a good fold and the Rasha 2 is calling my name haha!
@ninja Lynn would have me wanting to buy em all haha
I love all my cold steel blades, edc big blades all the time! I love my serrated talwar, voyagers, 4max and my colossus. Im sad they discontinued the talwar and colossus, those 2 blade are amazing and are highly useful
Agreed! Spartan is my edc, then serrated talwar or 50/50 edge large voyager tanto for dress pants. XL tanto voyager and large luzon for when I'm in unfriendly territory, Rajah 2 is next on the list! Always a Cold Steel, always a 4"+ blade!
I carry a Vaquero Grande as my EDC and have for 25 years. I can't tell you how many knife collectors get wide eyed when they see mine. You know how many people have become Cold Steel fans because of that blade? Many. Many that before never heard of Cold Steel. Cold Steel talks and sells itself.
great video, exceptional quality knives i personally carry the rajah 2, the large luzon, and my favorite the xl espada everyday. Even at its massive size its invisible in my pocket , and can be called up in a split second... it has saved me being mugged/attacked twice both times just the sheer sight of it changed the assailants mind ....keep these awesome knives coming !
"Find something else to do, in another zip code" That was FN funny!! Love this guy. He is passionate about knives, you can tell.
I think the thing people don't like is that Cold Steel doesn't tip-toe around the purpose of their knives. A lot of knife guys these days are neurotic millennials who feel like they have to defend their hobby against stupid housewives with too much free time who lobby to ban autos and assisted openers. They see Cold Steel making unashamed tactical blades and think "Damn Cold Steel, they're giving knife enthusiasts a bad name by making and marketing weapons!"
I carry a spartan and often wonder why... its because it makes my pants tight..
it feels so nice in the hand like the knife is hugging your hand just so right
*points at pants* THIS IS SPARTA
Thank you for presenting the benefits of a large blade. By educating the public on blade designs and their uses, you are enherently advocating knife rights for everybody. Thank you Lynn Thompson.
As a side note. It would be wonderful to have you present how to sharpen each of your blade models.
@Noah Vinkel Hansen no
You can not beat a Cold Steel. I am a huge fan.
I LOVE ur big blades !!! Your company is the only one that makes the big long folders. I appreciate that very much. I have been carrying your knives for 30 yrs & Love em !!! I carry two of your knives every day w/me, broke the tip off the XL Tanto & still have the XL 6" Voyager that's been all over w/me. I plan to buy the 7.5" Espada in the next couple of weeks. Keep up the fantastic job....
I consider myself a part of the Cold Steel Nation in principle, but I will never make a Facebook account. RUclips is not much better.
I feel the same way i have never had a facebook account its just another way people sneak and do their dirt. And i know not all people do wrong on it but it's a avenue for it!!
In a "tactical" context, big knives are for defense and small knives are for murder. So which one do you want?
What is the name of blade at 14:23? I haven’t seen that folder before and i cant find it on website
;)
@@csknives my wallet is ready
Take my money 😮
That knife looks amazing
XHP 🙏
I like big knives and I cannot lie
This is cold steel. They have complete products. From small blades to swords. I love big blades because they have cutting power to help my daily job
All the greats taught this about blades. I’ve heard so many people talk about this guy but he is speaking truth. I’ve unfortunately had to defend myself with a knife when I couldn’t get to my sidearm. It was a cold steel Bowie and the guys eyes lit up when he saw I and and backed off. I was fortunate to have it with me.
I love big knives and could never discount the value of a large knife vs a small one, there's just too much fight stopping potential even just seeing a big knife, just like the deterance factor of a gun. My dad had went on a trip out of town and was confronted by a mugger with a knife, so what does he do? Flips out his 5 inch stilletto switchblade and made himself appear a less ideal victim, the guy ran.
However though, while I'll always carry a big knife for defense or emergency, I'll always also carry at least one smaller knife for two reasons; discreteness and overall practicallity.
Discrete because you may not want people to know you're carrying a big knife, like a gun, until an altercation quickly comes up. Exposing that you're armed, outside your own terms, is dangerous. You could be singled out first, they could go for the weapon themselves if they know of it. It may not print as easily as a gun sometimes depending on how you carry, but people can spot it.
Practicallity because while yes, a big knife can handle much the same tasks as a small one, I don't find it universally true. Sometimes you need to get to a confined space where a big knife just gets in the way, you may risk cutting yourself or others with excessive length of blade. Sometimes it just pays to have that small palm sized blade for the edge control and manuverability, or sometimes you want a thinner blade, or the blade shape of your larger knife isn't quite appropriate for the task.
Well said
Дядя Лин Томпсон говорит чистую правду! Большой нож это нож! Я имею полностью такое же мнение. Большой нож может тоже, что и маленький, но еще в два раза лучше и два раза больше возможностей)
Your XL folders are the reason Cold Steel is my go to brand
I can say with utmost confidence Lynn, that if you only produced small knives, Cold Steel Nation's membership would decline into nothingness.
When I started collecting knives for EDC I wanted small "practical" knives. Boker Mermaid felt so cool and good I wanted a spartan. Now the Spartan feels small. Now I want the Espada XL!
Your videos are awesome I’ve enjoyed them for years.I was attacked by multiple assailants. I was able to withdraw my Cold steel neck knife. I showed some mercy and they ran away.. ( i have waited for years to possibly see the video on television because it occurred in the middle of a popular fast food restaurant . The police let me see the video and I swear to God a real fights just like a Jackie Chan movie against multiple attackers )i’ve always wanted to meet you and make a documentary about you. You’ve got charisma my friend.
Our guys are big fans of the cold steel XL series. We grapple, spar, and teach with edged weapon trainers all the time and a folding knife that has the reach of a large fixed blade had proven to give one hell of an advantage. Love the thought behind the designs Lynn
Political correctness has made it to the knife world! Well it is a cancerous blight so it kinda makes sense! The size is always better to have and not need than need and not have! Why else did the frontier men carry the Bowie because it did everything they needed! Keep on making em big Lynn!
I agree.
Thanks Donnie!
Exactly. Who cares what Liberal goons think.
💯 %Agree
Dear Mr.Thompson, I have many,many or your products. I have never , ever been disappointed. Keep up the good work.
This man is passionate about his knives and obviously tired of the comments that his knives are too big and are more of a gimmick. I agree with him. Bigger is better. Thank you for making your big folder knives.
It's like I've always said... 🤔
"You can't perform surgery with an axe. &.you can't cut down a tree with a scalpel."
Know your tools.
(Of course, Mr Thompson
knows this.)
God bless you, sir. 💯🤘
With all due respect, I can appreciate a big knife but for skinning anything including an elephant you really don't want a Long Blade. Because the leverage actually works against you trying to make cuts into the hide. The same principle applies when cutting anything including twine or sticks. I love the idea of owning a big knife just for s**** and giggles but when it comes to practicality it runs out at about 4 in. Unless we're talking about a fighting knife or something like that
I’d say it stops at 6”. Skinning is best with a 6” blade. 4 is too small.
@@msteright yeah, I've processed lots of deer and a six inch blade is optimal for 75% of the work.
I understand the idea but can you ger back into production the Espada Medium? My knife use scenarios don't usually include stabbing or slashing people.
I love Cold Steel, and I carry a Rajah 2 every day. I get a lot of, "now that's a knife!" jokes from friends. That being said it's basically a sword that can chop wood like an axe. Think about how much of an advantage that is in defensive situations or if you just get lost in the woods. It's certainly not for everyone, but it works great for me.
Our ancestors would laugh at us for the little wanna be knifes we carry. A big knife is always a better choice. And a lot more effective in a self defense situation than a small knife. All of Mr. Thompson points are excellent points.
Thanks for the big blades Lynn
Excuse me, are we just gonna ignore the Voyager with a Kris style blade? We all saw that Lynn, and I want it
I know what _I'm_ getting!
Political correctness is a freedom stripping cancer. Thanks for making big knives like you always have. You keep making them big, and I’ll keep buying them lol. Btw just got your drop forged boot knife tonight, can’t stop playing with it haha!
I love your knives I just wish I could afford more of them
Watch midwayusa for their Cold Steel sales you can pick up some really good deals if you are patient and watch the prices for a couple months and email deals. Oh and they always ship CS free.
that mouse and that elephant walking around my neighborhood like they own the place won’t know what hit them 🐭🐘🗡
I just like them. Do we need more of a reason than that? They are fun. I like about a 4-5 inch blade.
I cannot carry what I want. It wouldn’t be a giant knife for EDC but there are lots of laws and the police will arrest you. I think we should be able to carry what we want as long as we do no harm. If we do harm, we should be prosecuted; not just for carrying one.
THOUGHTCRIME MUST BE STOPPED. That is the basic premise of anti-“weapon” laws though, assuming guilt prior to commission of a crime. Legislators are always highly paranoid people. I’m happy productive organizations like Knife Rights exist.
Got my Rajah 2 I fucking love it I've had a 4'' to lite for 3 decades it's big brother will be next thank you LT
Wow I can't believe people would question this! One of my favorite knives is my voyager XL tanto, but i also love that mini tuff lite!! Cold steel makes great tools in all shapes and sizes.
love cold steel, love Lynn Thompson, love his logic and warrior mentality,love their products for many years
I carry my Spartan for more than show ☝️
The more I listen to lynn thompson the more I like him. Seriously.
Yeah he’s the man
I like your XL knives! Never stop making big folders. I often carry the Espada XL, or Rajah II.
When you go outdoors or in a battlefield a good strong knife is the best friend you can ever ask for
Carry Rajah 2 for 8 years. Use it everyday.
IN LYNN I TRUST!!!
Big knives are awesome I got rajah 2 wow
When i got my rajah 2 i thought it was ridiculously oversized. Pretty much used to it now
I carried a rajah 2 for a few years then switched to the espada xl and have carried every day for 6 years. I've worn out a few pairs of pants in the pocket from the knife rubbing. i love my huge knife. I cut my thumb in half with my rajah 2 lol. its very impressive seeing a 7 inch blade flip open on the draw. especially when someone asks if you have a knife to cut something small.
The man, the myth, the legend, the hero, thank you Lynn Thompson! You design the best knives in the world!
You have to love this guy... A large part of not carrying a big blade is not because of a person being to PC, it's more about not going to jail when you run into the police while your in a State with stupid knife laws...
Then you need to work on changing your laws
Too. You're