@@LXT43 they lose reputation because of things like, sorry, its impossible to transfer you to a supervisor. Not standing behind a product says a lot about that product. They expect failures.500 knives get thrown, 1 bends and morons like you says it bent because it was thrown. I guess the rest were made of different stuff
Where is this RR policy, how do you activate it...I reached out to seller and they sent me to a WordPress contact form on the RR site...nothing heard back.
It’s so sad. I had been a Cold Steel customer since 2004. In the past two years I’ve noticed a serious decline in their products and their customer support. The worse was when I had to wait an entire month to get a new extendable baton. They made me wait 2 weeks to report it lost even though the tracking said it was still waiting in their factory. And when I finally asked for my money back, they magically found it somewhere in shipping 🤦♂️
I been a fan for 6 years and also I have seen you tubers get brand new cold steel knifes and the handles start to get loose or the tip bents. 411 outdoors srk tanto recon l/Gideon tactical I know there was one more can't think of it.
Cold Steel would not have been a successful company if they started out with their _current_ standard of quality & customer service. They have definitely got worse. They used to be one of the best.
To any newer knife guys: if it looks like a gas station knife, it is. Price doesn’t matter. Knives are tools buy the tool you need in the price you want.
@@apex_alchemy_knivesDo you sharpen knives too? I have a quite carry waypoint with vanex superclean and that’s the only knife I have that I can’t get sharp, Don’t know why, Just curious, I have asked a couple of different channels that I watch about sharpening and I never get a reply back from them
I had the Kobun and Recon Tanto all through my time as a pre and post 9/11 Marine, both Carbon V. I’ve only had a small push dagger since and tossed it after the sheath kept failing. They’re junk and Tops has been my go to company since.
@@donjuanmckenzie4897 Joe isn't a knife guy. He simply tries to break knives, then foolish followers believe the crap they see. Tops has the single best differential heat treat in the business. Their knives will last 100 lifetimes if used as knives. If someone smashed an infants head with a mallet, people like you would say, that guy only has stupid kids.
They bought out SOG but it seems they must be using a different Taiwanese OEM as their quality has gone up. I recently got a chance to mess with a Terminus XR (one of the newer ones after they changed the pocket clip), Vision XR, and their altair XR (their bugout competitor) - they were very impressive. Their assisted knives are all crap though, but that’s been the case for years.
Ever since they sold out to GSN, I just gave up on them. I already had everything I would ever want out of the company. Considering that Andrew Demko created almost all of the knives that I had from Cold Steel, he is my new go to for new knives. Really can't wait for him to start shipping out his new AD10 with the enhanced Triad Lock.
Proper heat treatment is the most expensive part of making a mass produced knife, and the easiest to cheat on since you cant see the difference when buying it.
We all knew this was going to happen after the company sold. Lynn should have saved face by abandoning the company all together instead of sticking around to help the new owners sell products with his presence.
Their swords surprised me. I had the 1830 Napoleon sword and was gently testing its cutting capability on those bow and arrow targets the foam kind and the blade broke in half as soon as I did that! The sharp part of the sword that broke nearly hit me!
Dude, if they are that bad, how did you come about buying three of their knives ? After the first knife failed, I would not take another chance on them.
Because cold steel used to have a stellar reputation on all fronts. Indestructible knives, great prices, great customer service. They spent decades earning the benefit of the doubt. They always pulled through and made it right, quickly.
This really sucks. I've been holding off buying new CS knives for a while now since LT sold off the company. Not because I'm so smart, but because their pricing of their new big blades went through the roof. The Mayhem being one of them, not to mention the Jimi Slash Competition Chopper. I don't know who they are trying to appeal to, but it's definitely not their base.
Their prices on the knives I like sure did go thru the roof! That's when I backed off of them... And prices are one thing IF THE QUALITY AND SERVICE had remained good- but alas they haven't. I can't help but think that this review by DBAD is gonna hurt them cash flow-wise!
I do like the knives that I have from Cold Steel ... but I have heard multiple complaints about their CS. Thanks for the share of your experiences, DBAD. There is NO EXCUSE for poor/no heat treatment of the steel.
Oh man Donnie I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with the Cold Steel knife company. So far, the Cold Steel knives that my dad bought are holding up pretty good. One of my "I wish I had knives" was the Natchez bowie, but I am afraid of purchasing one of them now. If it breaks, they probably wouldn't replace it. Thanks for letting not only me but the rest of us knife guys know.
I tried to order a "securex" replacement sheath for an older carbon v srk and got ignored. Nice service huh? Been hearing a lot of bad reviews of late. One guy broke a brand new Republic fixed blade and they refused to honor the warranty
I'm definitely hearing you on the customer service. I ordered one of the limited edition titanium Ad10's from the Cold Steel website over two and a half weeks ago. It was in stock when I ordered it, and they took the payment from my bank account. Well, a week went by, and there was no update on shipping. So I called customer service and was told that they would have to get answers from higher management, and placed on hold. When she returned she said that no one was available and someone would contact me later that evening. Never happened. So I called again a couple days later. I was told that they were out of stock and would get more middle of July and someone would contact me to see if I wanted to wait or get a refund. Again no reply. I finally called back again today to confirm the date and was now told it would now be July 30. And from now on if I want to place an order to call them to confirm its in stock before I purchase it. I'm not going to say that I won't purchase another Cold Steel. But I guarantee it won't be from their site.
It probably doesn't apply, but my favorite line from "Van Halen" is, "The only thing that stays the same, is CHANGE"! I'm 74 & I'm ashamed to admit how many models of the original "Cold Steel" cutlery & other "Special Projects" items I own & have never had a problem with any of them. Lucky me!!! Wait, I've got another one, "It's an ever changing World in which we're living"!!!
Word gets out quick!!! They will definitely lose business over their CS BS!! Hate that happened to ya..Know you really liked the design!!! Positive side is you saved alot of people money!!! 👊🏻
A better way to straighten a bent knife is to put it in a bench vise with two screwdrivers on one side and one screwdriver on the other. In this way you can bend the knife anywhere along the blade by repositioning the screwdrivers.
I thought the Mayhem felt like one of those large friction folders on Forged In Fire… Just a g10 and steel sandwich. I can totally see why it’s $139 on Amazon
That's a real shame about Cold Steel. With all of the experiences you've had recently there's no doubt that big problems exist there now. There was a time when they had excellent customer service and fantastic quality, but it seems that time has passed. I bought a Cold steel 4'' Voyager around 1995 - 1998. I carried it a couple of years and snagged the plastic pocket clip (before they were steel) on a pallet at work while inspecting product and broke it. I called Cold Steel the following day to see if they could send me a new handle and they said send the knife back to us. I said just bill me and whatever the cost I'll pay for it. I had skinned game, filleted fish, and done camp duties with it and it became my go to knife. 2 weeks later a brand-new Voyager arrived with the then new, steel pocket clip and a note stating no charge and the steel pocket clip should be far more durable. I wish that type of service was still available from them.
So far I've only had one bad experience with Cold Steel. It was an SRK in SK5 with an edge that fell to pieces after one light/medium duty use. I put a new edge on it instead of sending it back and it has actually been good to go since.
So freaking true thank you my brother they used to be a good knife but production now is garbage I will never waste a cent on any cold steel products a company that can't stand behind it's own product isn't worth our hard earned cash ,
Wow what an experience to have when you can relate this information to How many people that respect your reviews and information. I’m glad you brought this to light as I don’t think I want to purchase from them now. Thanks
Unrealistic bro.The Mayhem is not a throwing blade.It’s a people slasher. I’m not gonna boycott just yet but I will say NEVER spend more than $200 on any cold steel regardless of metal type.I have a couple high end fixed blades that have bad grinds and uneven tips.$300 + blades should be flawless in build quality. Never overpay by buying direct from cold steel.Get them much cheaper from Midway.
@@DukeTolgo the Harbor Freight 10 dollar knife isn't a thrower either. No damage. Neither are any of the other folders Ive thrown with zero damage. Its not about what its not, its about what it is. Why should a slasher get a free pass on a bad heat treat?
@@DonnieBAllDay Is it a bad heat treat or throwing it into a tree is the problem.I love you Donnie but sometimes we gotta take the blame for our mistakes.If that blade got bent slashing or stabbing some meat I’d be right on board with you.
@@DukeTolgo Brother man, when have you seen me bend another the same way? Cheap, expensive, flat, saber or hollow. The rest survived. So did I simply get lucky on 500 other knives or is this just bad? Lynn made sales by taking knives just like this and stabbing them through car hoods to show how strong they are. A short toss into a soft tree is the limit?
Thank you for sharing this about CS. I've been looking at a few of their knives recently, but after seeing this, I'm out. For that kind of money and crapoy customer service. Hell no.
Thanks for the warning. I too, was lusting for the Mayhem & probably would have gotten one someday. Think I'll stick with Spartan Blades & Topps Knives as they have never let me down.
Damn it's sad! I was a huge cold steel guy but quality has gone down on many models. At first I thought gsm was doing right by us but as time passes I see increased pricing and decreased quality
This is a crying shame. I have been a fanboy since the 80's. You were generous to even give them a 2nd chance. Can't say I would buy from them again after hearing this.
The warranty clearly states: Don't be a "Donnie B". Donnie B will not be honored, we've seen his videos. 😂 Seriously, this is sad news as I have a large Cold Steel Collection. I just purchased another "Black Bear Classic" from them. That's an expensive knife. I won't be spending my money with Cold Steel any longer, after seeing this. There are plenty of really great knife brands that are no risk. Heck, even Rough Rider honors their knives.
I would say.. Carefully hammer out the tip straight. I had to do that with both my Bark River Edwin Forest bowies due to the tips coming through the box during shipping and getting bent. The tip on those is so pointy it can so easily happen. But, you have to go slow, and go easy when hammering out the tip lest you break it or weaken the steel. You could even fire harden the tip carefully as well with a torch.
I dont see how so many people are having problems with their cold steel knives, but then again all my cold steel were bought before the "walmart sellout" when glenn was running the show, so i know those are quality, i cant defend the current cold steel market as i havent purchased a new cold steel in several years, but my recon tanto (SK-5 model) has been an absolute beast and is still one of my favorite blades to this day, all i can say is whenever a company decides to put their procuct in walmart, its basically the death of quality assurance and customer care, which is sad because id LOVE to get my hands on cold steels warcraft tanto (cmp 3v)
@@DonnieBAllDay ooh tell me about it, other then needed a good sharpening, and the anti glare coating completely gone, its in perfect shape still lol i mostly carry a mini tac tanto now a days, or one of my Khan folders
I had a similar issue when I purchased a Set of XL Talwars when GSM, Cold Steel, first brought them back. They would go into, what I call, Fixed Blade Mode. It was almost impossible to unlock the Blade when opened. GSM, Cold Steel wouldn't let me send them in for repair or replacement. This was a Factory Defect. They should of handled it. I ended up figuring out how to fix them, after giving up on GSM, Cold Steel's Customer Service. The problem was the Stop Pin. It was too small. It was 5.97mm thick and needed to be 6.22mm thick. I swapped the Stop Pin from one of my Original AUS-8A Talwar's; it had the 6.22mm thick Stop Pin in it... So, they didn't make them exactly like the Original XL Talwar. The way GSM, Cold Steel's, New Customer Service treated me, well, it turned me off. The Original Cold Steel Customer Service in Ventura, CA always took care of any problems I had. Their Customer Service used to be Top-Notch. GSM, needs to back their Products. My experience turned me off and I started trying other products from other Companies. Sorry to hear about what happened to you, Bro. :-( Myself, I still like to use and carry my Cold Steel Blades. But, I don't have a lot of luv for their Customer Service. I hope my Mayhems are okay. I modded one and use it. When I recieved my first one, I noticed that it didn't have a reinforced Blade Tip and that the tip looked fragile to me. So, I don't stress the Blade Tip. Also, the one I modded wasn't a easy one to polish. So, I know it was heat treated... The Steel is hard. And, m8ne is holding it's edge and is razor sharp. Like you, I think the design of this one is a lot of fun. I have three Mayhems, the Limited and two AUS-10A Models. I absolutely luv mine. It's like a Pirate's Pocket Knife... :-) I bought my AUS-10A Mayhems from MidwayUSA.com; they were only $135 a piece. The Mayhem is a very Heavy Folder with a weak, unreinforced Blade Tip, that's why I think yours bent. Actually, I am sort of surprised it didn't snap the tip of the Blade off... A Blade Tip, like what's on the Mayhem, can not handle lateral stress. It would be stronger vertically. That's why I always pay attention to how the Blade is ground. Not all Knives are made to withstand throwing. Especially, heavy Knives without reinforced Blade Tips. But, regardless, GSM, Cold Steel needs to back their products, especially, against Factory Defects. :-( Peace, Stiletto :-)
@@DonnieBAllDay I totally believe you Bro! The Kudu doesn't weigh anything so it would most likely not stress out the Blade Tip... I know Japanese AUS-10A Stainless Steel is more brittle than Japanese AUS-8A Stainless Steel. That's the reason why it holds a better edge than Japanese AUS-10A Stainless Steel. Myself, if I would've designed the Mayhem, I would've given it a reinforced Blade Tip like Cold Steel used to always do... And, I would've used CPM-3V for one of it's Blade Steel options. Japanese AUS-10A can be brittle like Japanese VG-10 Stainless Steel. That's why I find it kind of surprising that your Tip bent and you were able to almost bend it back without snapping the Blade Tip... Perhaps, yours wasn't correctly tempered... When Joe X did a destruction Video on th e Mayhem, his Japanese AUS-10A Mayhem snapped the Tip and Blade Edge and finally the Blade. It looked like it was too highly tempered to the point of brittleness... The part I liked in his Video was how well the Atlas-Lock held up. That's what made me want the Mayhem! I still absolutely luv my Mayhem. I just won't be abusive with the Blade Tip. It is one very fun Blade to own! :-) The Mayhem, in my opinion, is a very Intimidating and Sinister and Sexy looking Folder; I absolutely luv it! But, it's not a Woodcrafter or Camp Folder or Survival Folder or Utility Folder, no, to me; it's a Folding Fighter! :-) For that, the Mayhem is a Beast, even with an "Unreinforced" Blade Tip. GSM, Cold Steel, should redesign the Blade Tip and make it strong enough to handle the weight of the Mayhem, if thrown or stabbed into something hard... Personally, I hope Cold Steel makes more, lighter, Atlas-Lock, Mega Folders. Right on, Bro! Keep up the great Videos you make. I always enjoy watching your Videos. I, too, was very upset with GSM Customer Service. I made several Videos on my funky experience with GSM Customer Service. I still buy and use Cold Steel Knives. But, I do so cautiously. And, I never expect GSM to be a "Good" Customer Service. To me, the quality is about the same. And, some of the New GSM, Cold Steel Knives have been better functioning than the Old Models, that's been my experience. But, it's so sad what GSM did to the Cold Steel Customer Service... I feel your pain Brother! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
GSM bought SOG last year or so and same bad customer service.Not fond of SOG knives they have come out with.Needless to say I’ve only bought one SOG and that was from ACE hardware when I was in there.Im done with SOG because of GSM🔪👍
I have had good luck with my Coldsteel knives. My Counter Point 1 has gone through abuse and still does. It is good to know that they have bad customer service. I was thinking about getting the Leatherneck Bowie, but not now. I have the bird and truot from them, and I bent the tip on it. It was a gift. My friend has some Coldsteels that dull fast, and they are older ones. They axes aren't that great from my experience. Coldsteel is hit or miss, unfortunately. Great video
yes it does. Cold Steel never told him it's ok to throw this folder into the tree but he does it, damages the tip of the blade and goes on you tube to badmouth the company. More on.
its not about them not standing by their product as much as it was about them saying its impossible to be transferred to a supervisor and at that point, that had no knowledge of how it bent, just that it bent. Defend that...
Maybe they saw the video of you throwing it? They definitely have now. The point is that YOU knew that you caused the damage by throwing it and that it was outside of what it covered by the warranty. No folder is designed for throwing. If you throw a $300 folder at a tree and bend it, that’s kinda on you. Also, you’re damn lucky that the point only bent and didn’t snap off. AND you were able to bend it back. Heat treat might be better than you think if the knife survived your abuse.
@@jtr109 the vid went up after they made the claim that its impossible to be transferred and after they claimed credit card records aren't proof of purchase. Really sad that, that kind of business is being defended more than the American buyer
My last 2 CS were dull as fuck. I mean it took me 5 mins to sharpen but.. Fart! Also broke 2 of my Sure flight sports knives in half. If only TOPS made some of the ColdSteel models we'd be in business
Love my Tops blades, I've never had issues with their heat treat. I always reprofile them, though, cause they are a bit too thick for woodwork. That's how I know the steel is good , I freaking love my Tanimboca Puukko , keeps a wicked edge .
I’ve ordered 2 frontier bowies,Wild West Bowie,riflemans Bowie,code 4 tanto,and a Kyoto tanto from cold steel. Some of the edges were uneven,there were some flaws but overall they are well made knives. 🔪 I’m sure that when GSM took ownership they planned to cut quality and go for quantity since it will make them money. Lynn Thompson doesn’t care how it’s run anymore since he sold it. I’m going to order several more Coldsteel knives and that will be all for me. There are other companies out there that have far superior products but the price is also much greater. Also knives,swords and other cutlery has taken a massive decline because of firearms so they are only used occasionally. Now people can’t justify spending $100 or more on a blade unless it’s for their job.
I've been buying and using Cold Steel since the 80s. Carried a Carbon V SRK during my 12 years in the Army. Never had an issue with them in all that time. Granted most are old ones when they were bullet proof. I have axes, spears, knives, swords and many others. Haven't bought many in a few years but mine get used hard and no issues. Can't confirm their quality nowadays. Pity you're having those issues. I'll stick with my old ones.
Hi Donnie, i really enjoy your channel. Also as you, i have a great love and respect, for the Musso Bowie. It is my understanding that this knife was supposedly located by a antique dealer in Texas, last name Musso, in the purchase of possibly a chest of drawers in the 1950's. Unknown if it was supposedly owned by Jim Bowie and handed down. Also, I believe the small hump located in the center of the wooden handle was designed with special purpose in mind. When holding the knife edge up, the hump can fit in the palm of the hand perhaps to assist with knife control and retention, when used for combat purposes. Stay safe.
@@dougboal7620 the name Musso is a knife maker who was said to have made it. Conflicting reports. The Musso never made it to the Alamo as Jim gifted it to a senator after getting his orders to go to Texas
@@DonnieBAllDay Thanks for the info. So many ideas and opinions which makes the legend of Bowie and his knife continue to grow.. I also believe he carried a different knife at the Alamo. That Bowie that you created is first class. Stay Safe.
That sucks, Donnie. Sorry….When I saw the Mayhem, I fell in love. I foolishly told my nephew about it and he bought me the Limited Edition Mayhem for Christmas a couple years ago. My blade if fine. Everything about it is perfect. But….that certainly doesn’t invalidate what happened to you. I’ve heard these stories, quite literally, for decades. I never disbelieved them but always took the advice about caution with them as good advice. It’s a big company and when moneys on the line, shady shit happens. And when Cold Steel got bought out, the first thing I thought was, “Oh….this is gonna be bad.” And it seems I, and many others, were right. In many cases, it’s because we’re spoiled, I think. I mean, all of us has the knife that we got from a small independent blade smith and it’s perfect. A brilliant design, quality materials and an artist who cares….he sees something flawed and rather than letting it skate by, he fixes it. Corporate America doesn’t quite deal with things like that these days. Anyway….again, sorry you had a shitty experience with them. I’ll probably back off on them as well even while I love my Mayhem…..
@@DonnieBAllDay Yeah…..life in the big knife production game, I guess. I’m thinking my next purchase will be that beauty you designed. That magnificent Trench Knife! Saw that thing and my balls tingled…..lol
The "s" curve on the tip of your folder shows up best when the reflection from the light hits the side of the blade. You can really see how bad it bent on you. Am sorry to hear about the lack of heat treating and especially the lack 9f cooperation from customer service. Have been a fan of Cold Steel for years, but haven't bought anything from them since a "cutting sword" from them. The entire blade is rippled from not being worked correctly. I would've sent it back except I bought it from another company that handles Cold Steel products and sells them cheaper.
I am not happy with their s35vn. I do like my older cold steel throwers. I wouldn't buy another folder from them. The reason I got my last one(tiger claw folding karambit) was because Andrew Demko supposedly worked on the knife design and the triad lock.
I own several cold steel products. The recon 1 tanto (was a Christmas gift when i was 16, in 2011) the special forces shovel (bought 2010) the viking battle axe (got 2 or 3 years ago) the sjambok (bought about 7 years ago) many pocket sharks (damn must have got my first in 2009) and in the past i owned the kudu too. For ages ive been wanting to pick up a SRK in sk-5 and a gladius machete. Ive never had any truly awful experiences, but some problems have surfaced. I've used every product heavily other than the viking battle axe, which just will not bloody sharpen, not even with files. Which is a shame because its an awesome product and it is durable. The customer service has always been pretty bad, as is the UK distributor, the products are awfully expensive (this is only a problem with their main distrbutor, not other shops which sell their products) and they never have stock in (been waiting years to get a gladius machete, wanted to compare it to my OKC, Tramontina and my Martindale.) If cold steel has a heat treat problem, then thats a surefire sign their quality is slipping. I wasnt aware lynn sold cold steel. I know they have been hit or miss with some products being rough around the edges, bad fitting, rough edges, weak coatings, but their products have always been durable and properly heat treated, if they lose that, then no one has any reason to buy cold steel.
This is why I go through Amazon when it comes to buying cold steel. At least through Amazon theres a a slightly better chance at getting your money back. I had my issues with cold steel hatchet right before Lynn sold the company. Had even more issues since GSM took over. Quality Control is trash.
I’ve never bought from Cold Steel. Honestly for knives of that grade I prefer CRKT. Love their SPEW, great little EDC knife. Love their Chogan tomahawk as well, great design for working but I’ve also trained a bit with fighting with those and they’re great for it
When I first got a Natchez Bowie many years before CS was bought by GSM it came with the tip folded back on itself 180 degrees. Sent it back and they sent me a new one. Years later I bought a 1917 Bowie and it came dull. But all my other CS knives have been good.
The guy above said it best. Decades to build a reputation and seconds to wreck it!!! The only knife company I would 75% trust is ESEE. The reason I say 75 percent is because of folders and knives they sub out.
That's too bad, really. I bought 4 cold steel knives in the last 2 years and the quality was very good. I've been buying their knives since the 80's. I had to get washers for a spectre that I bought 10 years ago. It was out of warranty but stick got back to me and sent new ones. Without charge. Maybe they're too successful and can't keep up? Who knows?
Cold Steel used to be king in toughness and durability. I have a bunch from many years ago; they are amazing knives. I haven’t been following them in recent years, and I didn’t know that Lynn Thompson sold the company. That’s very unfortunate. Knowing that they no longer honor the same quality and standards as they did under Lynn, I doubt that I will purchase products from them now.
@@DonnieBAllDay yeah, because the dirtbags who bought it from Lynn Thompson assumed that people would blindly stick with them, despite them making big changes in key things like quality, standards and customer service.
Thanks for the video. I used to be a big fan of Cold Steel. As you said, they make some good products. I was very happy with some of those products. Then, I tried to ask questions on one of their videos, and the guy running their RUclips was a jerk. I wanted to better understand something that they claimed, and he just became defensive and refused to try to explain. I suspect that he just had no clue. Instead of saying that he didn't understand, he tried to be insulting. I think that kind of arrogance permeates the culture there. They do some things well, but the arrogance makes me avoid them. That's too bad. I bought quite a bit of Cold Steel stuff back in the day, but I don't buy their knives any longer.
haven't bought from them since the new ownership, heard too many bad things. sorry about your bad dealings with them but much thanks to you for letting others learn first hand how bad they've gotten.
Sad to hear that about Cold Steel. I had bought several of their knives years ago and had no problems with them. But I am going to have to take your word for their more recent quality control and customer service issues. So I won't be adding any more of them to my collection. Besides which after watching your videos the last few knives I bought were from the Khukuri House and they are excellent.
Holy crap, thanks for the PSA! I have owned several Cold Steel knives over the last 25 years and bought them as presents/recommended them to others. Not anymore tough, at least not until CS gets their sh*t together as a knife-making company! For funzies, where is this $380 knife made? China?
@@DonnieBAllDay That's the last nail in the Cold Steel coffin for me. I still have a Cold Steel Kobun that was made in Japan and cost like $40, from the late 1990's. Awesome quality on those old CS knives. Thank you again for the heads up!
That's terrible DBAD...I've been collecting them for about 14 months and I have a little over a hundred of them...Some from before the buyout, most from after, but I haven't had any problems yet...which is no doubt why I haven't experienced what you've been going through...I hope CS pulls their head out and treats you right!
I am partial to a Cold Steel, but from what I've heard about the poor quality of their products in recent years, especially after Lynn sold it to GSN, I wouldn't touch one, 😎👍👍
New subscriber here. Hi from Europe. I always loved Cold Steel and all of my knives for last 5 years are Cold Steel. Sadly that today CS is not what we loved it for.
Hi i have never owned a cold steel knife but from i hear from people who have i don't want to own one. I think i will stick to my Down Under Outback Bowie i have had for 11 years. The next knife i will be buy will be one of your Dbads The Gator Tail is one awesome looking Bowie with the Dundee look as well and your Rambo Knives look awesome too. I can see the Gator Tail and a Rambo in my collection very soon love your videos man.
That's a shame 😢 I'm working on my second lone star hunter. I flipped the blade out on my first one, and it cracked and fell off right behind the thumb stud. I had to pay for shipping to get it replaced. The only other knife I've had do that is a spyderco endura. I slashed a water bottle with it and hit the cap. It was that zdp189 steel when they first came out with it. The new one they replaced it with was vg10.
I tell ya also the hobo freight gordon 6in buck 119 replica knife also has been use and abuse tested and hardness tested and it’s better than the actual buck for $25. Many of these large companies have built a good reputation through hard work then rest on their laurels and start cheating out on material and construction. Benchmade, buck, and several others and I’m tired of it.
Man o man I feared this was gonna happen. Back in the day when Lynn would star in all the magazine ad's, like the classic "Bring your 1911 for backup", I bought one of the early master tantos, broke it, called CS and got a new one, for free, in the mail a week later. Them days are long gone.
I bought a G.I. Tanto a few months back. I know it's a $30 knife, but the grind isn't even at all. If you lay the edge on the table it looks like a very low frequency serration... I like it well enough, and I'm a big fan of my 26" CS Baton; but I wanted that Bowie you replaced the handle on and to be frank I'm a bit worried about spending even that much on one of their blades after this and the recent JoeX vid.
@@DonnieBAllDay Yeah, that's kinda where I'm at. I'm fine with getting a bad product once in a while, as long as the company is willing to make it right. I'm not the type of guy that takes it personal when I buy something defective, but if they refuse to help me after the fact it's hard not to.
I have one cold steel knife, it’s the counter tac 1, and it thankfully is great, but that’s because it’s a dagger and only has 1 use that’s for poking into things/people but I won’t be buying anything from cold steel again. (But it’s pretty hard to mess up a dagger)
Im just curious is that knife meant for throwing some of these high end knives only have certain applications they can be effectively used for im not saying ur wrong i was just wondering myself
it takes years and years to build your reputation and only 5 seconds to lose it.
@@CalvinMorris-cf8jk facts
How do they loose reputation because some idiot threw their folding knife into a tree and the tip bend. Try harder DonnieB fanboy.
@@LXT43 kiss my butt CUPCAKE and go play with your junk knives don't hurt yourself man.
@@LXT43 they gained popularity from some round guy showing you they can stab through car hoods
@@LXT43 they lose reputation because of things like, sorry, its impossible to transfer you to a supervisor. Not standing behind a product says a lot about that product. They expect failures.500 knives get thrown, 1 bends and morons like you says it bent because it was thrown. I guess the rest were made of different stuff
Even Chinese made Rough Rider has a no questions asked return policy. Cold Sterl needs to step up.
@@deniskozlowski9370 imagine that
They need to change their name- or maybe WE should change it for them- from "Cold Steel" to- "cold stool".. 🤣
@@DonnieBAllDay
My 15 year old ti lite is great ....
Rough riders rock
Where is this RR policy, how do you activate it...I reached out to seller and they sent me to a WordPress contact form on the RR site...nothing heard back.
Company trend
-Lets get rich by making a great product.
Later
-Lets get richer by cuttering corners but charge the same.
Down fall 👎
Part of it was the selling of Cold Steel to GSM Outdoors. They also bought SOG Knives.
@@stonefox9124 sadder, they made them worse and raised the prices
@MetalMelee the buyout doesn't matter if the company backs the product
That is almost every single company. I've only come across a handful who've gotten better as their reputation grew.
Unfortunately this is becoming atrue reality, pay more get less corporate greed syndrome
It’s so sad. I had been a Cold Steel customer since 2004. In the past two years I’ve noticed a serious decline in their products and their customer support. The worse was when I had to wait an entire month to get a new extendable baton. They made me wait 2 weeks to report it lost even though the tracking said it was still waiting in their factory. And when I finally asked for my money back, they magically found it somewhere in shipping 🤦♂️
@@mrblaque215 imagine that
I been a fan for 6 years and also I have seen you tubers get brand new cold steel knifes and the handles start to get loose or the tip bents. 411 outdoors srk tanto recon l/Gideon tactical I know there was one more can't think of it.
GSM is garbage,no Lynn-no quality control.
@@igoryurkin9038 I had some poor quality then too, but worse now
Old ones was much better. Got only one shit quality back then and it was recon tanto, blade was super soft.
Cold Steel would not have been a successful company if they started out with their _current_ standard of quality & customer service.
They have definitely got worse.
They used to be one of the best.
Same factory, specs and build but no QC from GSM. @@adamkane7513
when i found out he sold the company i bought all my favorite CS knives cuz i knew the company would go to shit and for the most part it has :(
@@RHACOREBERS down the drain
To any newer knife guys: if it looks like a gas station knife, it is.
Price doesn’t matter.
Knives are tools buy the tool you need in the price you want.
I brought the XL Espada to Afghanistan. Used it and it was good. This was not
@@DonnieBAllDay I carried a proguard that I got at a going-out-of-business sale on my plate carrier. They used to make great stuff.
That is SO disapointing. They shoot themselves in the foot with that foolish attitude.
@@tonnywildweasel8138 100%
If your wanting to verify those heat treat concerns ...send em to your boy. I'll test em for free. 😎
I think I'm going to put it in my forge
@@DonnieBAllDay okay, but offer stands. I have a rockwell tester. You could put it in the forge afterwards lol.
@DonnieBAllDay you should get it tested though because if Cold Steel has a manufacturing problem with heat treating it should be known
@@donjuanmckenzie4897 I already sent it to him
@@apex_alchemy_knivesDo you sharpen knives too? I have a quite carry waypoint with vanex superclean and that’s the only knife I have that I can’t get sharp, Don’t know why, Just curious, I have asked a couple of different channels that I watch about sharpening and I never get a reply back from them
This happens when the 'Bean Counters' take over.
facts
Well then send me some beans.
To tell the truth, I have noticed the quality of Cold Steel going down every since they discontinued the "Carbon V5" steel.
@@ragin2490 fact
My only Cold Steel is a gen1 SRK. That is a decent knife. Since then: No thanks, i have enough garbage in the bin already!
I had the Kobun and Recon Tanto all through my time as a pre and post 9/11 Marine, both Carbon V. I’ve only had a small push dagger since and tossed it after the sheath kept failing. They’re junk and Tops has been my go to company since.
@Teufel_Resen lolololol Tops??? One of the worst companies around. Every Tops knife has failed spectacularly on JoeX's channel
@@donjuanmckenzie4897 Joe isn't a knife guy. He simply tries to break knives, then foolish followers believe the crap they see. Tops has the single best differential heat treat in the business. Their knives will last 100 lifetimes if used as knives. If someone smashed an infants head with a mallet, people like you would say, that guy only has stupid kids.
Public announcement, gsm also owns SOG knives.. soon both sog and cold steel will be synonymous with Smith & Weston...
@@meanwileinthedesert..2320 Smith at least shoots straight
lol
Exactly
They bought out SOG but it seems they must be using a different Taiwanese OEM as their quality has gone up. I recently got a chance to mess with a Terminus XR (one of the newer ones after they changed the pocket clip), Vision XR, and their altair XR (their bugout competitor) - they were very impressive.
Their assisted knives are all crap though, but that’s been the case for years.
@@just9911 I got a good SOG recently. The good folder with micarts scales. I hate the feel of the GRN
Ever since they sold out to GSN, I just gave up on them. I already had everything I would ever want out of the company. Considering that Andrew Demko created almost all of the knives that I had from Cold Steel, he is my new go to for new knives. Really can't wait for him to start shipping out his new AD10 with the enhanced Triad Lock.
@@danzigrulze5211 Demko is awesome
me too
AD10 is a Tank ! 😁👍🇦🇺
Proper heat treatment is the most expensive part of making a mass produced knife, and the easiest to cheat on since you cant see the difference when buying it.
@@hendrikvanleeuwen9110 thats true
We all knew this was going to happen after the company sold.
Lynn should have saved face by abandoning the company all together instead of sticking around to help the new owners sell products with his presence.
facts
This is exactly what I feared would happen when he sold the company.
@@kevinbojan1811 going downhill fast
Their swords surprised me. I had the 1830 Napoleon sword and was gently testing its cutting capability on those bow and arrow targets the foam kind and the blade broke in half as soon as I did that! The sharp part of the sword that broke nearly hit me!
Wow! THats nuts
Dude, if they are that bad, how did you come about buying three of their knives ? After the first knife failed, I would not take another chance on them.
Because cold steel used to have a stellar reputation on all fronts. Indestructible knives, great prices, great customer service. They spent decades earning the benefit of the doubt. They always pulled through and made it right, quickly.
@@eatonknass247 O.K. I guess legacy does deserve a second chance. But only one Mulligan.
I get paid to review knives. Not just some knives
Guess all the older knives are going to shoot even more up in price now.
already seeing it
Damn
They really went downhill
@@jnzupka yup
@@DonnieBAllDay it sucks because I had some good experiences with their customer service a couple of years ago
This really sucks. I've been holding off buying new CS knives for a while now since LT sold off the company. Not because I'm so smart, but because their pricing of their new big blades went through the roof. The Mayhem being one of them, not to mention the Jimi Slash Competition Chopper. I don't know who they are trying to appeal to, but it's definitely not their base.
@@onesky8647 exactly!
Their prices on the knives I like sure did go thru the roof! That's when I backed off of them... And prices are one thing IF THE QUALITY AND SERVICE had remained good- but alas they haven't. I can't help but think that this review by DBAD is gonna hurt them cash flow-wise!
@@ronalddunne3413 lessons learned
glad you finally did a video on it! Hopefully someone there sees it.
@@pistolpete4991 they dont care
I've been done with them since they switched out the 01 tool steel for 4034 budget steel and put a premium sticker on it.
@@jimbusmaximus4624 facts
I do like the knives that I have from Cold Steel ... but I have heard multiple complaints about their CS. Thanks for the share of your experiences, DBAD. There is NO EXCUSE for poor/no heat treatment of the steel.
@@byronkennedy7912 exactly
Oh man Donnie I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with the Cold Steel knife company. So far, the Cold Steel knives that my dad bought are holding up pretty good. One of my "I wish I had knives" was the Natchez bowie, but I am afraid of purchasing one of them now. If it breaks, they probably wouldn't replace it. Thanks for letting not only me but the rest of us knife guys know.
@@TinmansCorner the Natchez has been a problem with them
@@DonnieBAllDay It's really that bad, well I might as well not get one now. Imagine if there walking sticks are bad as well.
I tried to order a "securex" replacement sheath for an older carbon v srk and got ignored. Nice service huh? Been hearing a lot of bad reviews of late. One guy broke a brand new Republic fixed blade and they refused to honor the warranty
@@larryroberts3598 they're terrible
I'm definitely hearing you on the customer service. I ordered one of the limited edition titanium Ad10's from the Cold Steel website over two and a half weeks ago. It was in stock when I ordered it, and they took the payment from my bank account. Well, a week went by, and there was no update on shipping. So I called customer service and was told that they would have to get answers from higher management, and placed on hold. When she returned she said that no one was available and someone would contact me later that evening. Never happened. So I called again a couple days later. I was told that they were out of stock and would get more middle of July and someone would contact me to see if I wanted to wait or get a refund. Again no reply. I finally called back again today to confirm the date and was now told it would now be July 30. And from now on if I want to place an order to call them to confirm its in stock before I purchase it. I'm not going to say that I won't purchase another Cold Steel. But I guarantee it won't be from their site.
Thats exactly them
It probably doesn't apply, but my favorite line from "Van Halen" is, "The only thing that stays the same, is CHANGE"! I'm 74 & I'm ashamed to admit how many models of the original "Cold Steel" cutlery & other "Special Projects" items I own & have never had a problem with any of them. Lucky me!!! Wait, I've got another one, "It's an ever changing World in which we're living"!!!
@@barrybaldwin5535 makes me give it a cry.... live and let die
If you want Cold Steel, "You've got to bleed for it baby". Ain't talking bout love. 33 different models and still going strong.
Word gets out quick!!! They will definitely lose business over their CS BS!! Hate that happened to ya..Know you really liked the design!!! Positive side is you saved alot of people money!!! 👊🏻
@@David_DY 100%
A better way to straighten a bent knife is to put it in a bench vise with two screwdrivers on one side and one screwdriver on the other. In this way you can bend the knife anywhere along the blade by repositioning the screwdrivers.
@@3vil3lvis still would need a new heat treat. I was just hoping theyd honor their product... nope
@@DonnieBAllDay Fun Fact: This straightening trick was from a video in which the blade warped during heat treatment.
I thought the Mayhem felt like one of those large friction folders on Forged In Fire… Just a g10 and steel sandwich. I can totally see why it’s $139 on Amazon
its a fun toy
That's a real shame about Cold Steel. With all of the experiences you've had recently there's no doubt that big problems exist there now. There was a time when they had excellent customer service and fantastic quality, but it seems that time has passed.
I bought a Cold steel 4'' Voyager around 1995 - 1998. I carried it a couple of years and snagged the plastic pocket clip (before they were steel) on a pallet at work while inspecting product and broke it. I called Cold Steel the following day to see if they could send me a new handle and they said send the knife back to us. I said just bill me and whatever the cost I'll pay for it. I had skinned game, filleted fish, and done camp duties with it and it became my go to knife. 2 weeks later a brand-new Voyager arrived with the then new, steel pocket clip and a note stating no charge and the steel pocket clip should be far more durable. I wish that type of service was still available from them.
we all wish they still had those morals
So far I've only had one bad experience with Cold Steel. It was an SRK in SK5 with an edge that fell to pieces after one light/medium duty use. I put a new edge on it instead of sending it back and it has actually been good to go since.
dealing with them sucks
So freaking true thank you my brother they used to be a good knife but production now is garbage I will never waste a cent on any cold steel products a company that can't stand behind it's own product isn't worth our hard earned cash ,
@@ChuRock-kb5mf exactly
Wow what an experience to have when you can relate this information to How many people that respect your reviews and information. I’m glad you brought this to light as I don’t think I want to purchase from them now. Thanks
@@chrishall9208 im done with them
Unrealistic bro.The Mayhem is not a throwing blade.It’s a people slasher.
I’m not gonna boycott just yet but I will say NEVER spend more than $200 on any cold steel regardless of metal type.I have a couple high end fixed blades that have bad grinds and uneven tips.$300 + blades should be flawless in build quality.
Never overpay by buying direct from cold steel.Get them much cheaper from Midway.
Midway is an awful company too
@@DukeTolgo the Harbor Freight 10 dollar knife isn't a thrower either. No damage. Neither are any of the other folders Ive thrown with zero damage. Its not about what its not, its about what it is. Why should a slasher get a free pass on a bad heat treat?
I bought 3 Cold Steel knives from Amazon last year and they were all 🔥with awesome heat treats. I got the Code 4, Recon 1, & 4-Max Scout.
@@DonnieBAllDay Is it a bad heat treat or throwing it into a tree is the problem.I love you Donnie but sometimes we gotta take the blame for our mistakes.If that blade got bent slashing or stabbing some meat I’d be right on board with you.
@@DukeTolgo Brother man, when have you seen me bend another the same way? Cheap, expensive, flat, saber or hollow. The rest survived. So did I simply get lucky on 500 other knives or is this just bad? Lynn made sales by taking knives just like this and stabbing them through car hoods to show how strong they are. A short toss into a soft tree is the limit?
Thank you for sharing this about CS.
I've been looking at a few of their knives recently, but after seeing this, I'm out. For that kind of money and crapoy customer service. Hell no.
its sad
So where to go now for outrageously large wall ornaments?
@@monomarino5349 haha! Good question
Midgard messer
Thanks for the warning. I too, was lusting for the Mayhem & probably would have gotten one someday. Think I'll stick with Spartan Blades & Topps Knives as they have never let me down.
smart
I was never interested in the Mayhem design, but it is still disappointing to hear that GSM is making things worse. They also own SOG knives.
@@omarcorrea1996 ruining one company at a time
Its better to replace/refund a customer, than ruin reputation. Business basics.
100%
CRKT is better. Agree with you for sure!
CRKT don’t make knives this size.
My edc is the crkt M16 fixed blade. Great knife for protection. A pocket folder does the normal tasks.
@@kenpoorman5945 M16 its a legend! 😀 Jealous, but in positive view point 👍😉
@@siegfriedwashburn3484 I have a CRKT chopper tha is amazing
CRKT Hissatsu fixed blade.
Killer in no disguise.
Damn it's sad! I was a huge cold steel guy but quality has gone down on many models. At first I thought gsm was doing right by us but as time passes I see increased pricing and decreased quality
facts
That's a shame! That blade shape on that folder is cool damn shame!
@@coleenmccrory9018 fo sho
Thanks for the video brother, was going to purchase one, not anymore.
Any opinions on the 4 Max Scout?
@@bigradz8246 i have an Italian made regular 4 Max thats awesome. The Scout I hear is good. Just get get an older one
This is a crying shame. I have been a fanboy since the 80's. You were generous to even give them a 2nd chance. Can't say I would buy from them again after hearing this.
downhill fast
Thank You! Joe X just broke their leatherneck like it was nothing. It shattered at the tip test.
people are waking up
The warranty clearly states:
Don't be a "Donnie B".
Donnie B will not be honored, we've seen his videos. 😂
Seriously, this is sad news as I have a large Cold Steel Collection.
I just purchased another "Black Bear Classic" from them. That's an expensive knife.
I won't be spending my money with Cold Steel any longer, after seeing this.
There are plenty of really great knife brands that are no risk.
Heck, even Rough Rider honors their knives.
@@harolddavis4138 oh snap! I didnt read the fine print! Haha
I would say..
Carefully hammer out the tip straight.
I had to do that with both my Bark River Edwin Forest bowies due to the tips coming through the box during shipping and getting bent.
The tip on those is so pointy it can so easily happen.
But, you have to go slow, and go easy when hammering out the tip lest you break it or weaken the steel. You could even fire harden the tip carefully as well with a torch.
@@B-leafer i might give it a full HT in my forge
Never abuse your Tools! 😂
If they can start making them as good as Harbor Freight....
I dont see how so many people are having problems with their cold steel knives, but then again all my cold steel were bought before the "walmart sellout" when glenn was running the show, so i know those are quality, i cant defend the current cold steel market as i havent purchased a new cold steel in several years, but my recon tanto (SK-5 model) has been an absolute beast and is still one of my favorite blades to this day, all i can say is whenever a company decides to put their procuct in walmart, its basically the death of quality assurance and customer care, which is sad because id LOVE to get my hands on cold steels warcraft tanto (cmp 3v)
those sk5 models rocked
@@DonnieBAllDay ooh tell me about it, other then needed a good sharpening, and the anti glare coating completely gone, its in perfect shape still lol i mostly carry a mini tac tanto now a days, or one of my Khan folders
I had a similar issue when I purchased a Set of XL Talwars when GSM, Cold Steel, first brought them back. They would go into, what I call, Fixed Blade Mode. It was almost impossible to unlock the Blade when opened. GSM, Cold Steel wouldn't let me send them in for repair or replacement. This was a Factory Defect. They should of handled it. I ended up figuring out how to fix them, after giving up on GSM, Cold Steel's Customer Service. The problem was the Stop Pin. It was too small. It was 5.97mm thick and needed to be 6.22mm thick. I swapped the Stop Pin from one of my Original AUS-8A Talwar's; it had the 6.22mm thick Stop Pin in it...
So, they didn't make them exactly like the Original XL Talwar. The way GSM, Cold Steel's, New Customer Service treated me, well, it turned me off. The Original Cold Steel Customer Service in Ventura, CA always took care of any problems I had. Their Customer Service used to be Top-Notch.
GSM, needs to back their Products. My experience turned me off and I started trying other products from other Companies.
Sorry to hear about what happened to you, Bro. :-(
Myself, I still like to use and carry my Cold Steel Blades. But, I don't have a lot of luv for their Customer Service. I hope my Mayhems are okay. I modded one and use it. When I recieved my first one, I noticed that it didn't have a reinforced Blade Tip and that the tip looked fragile to me. So, I don't stress the Blade Tip. Also, the one I modded wasn't a easy one to polish. So, I know it was heat treated... The Steel is hard. And, m8ne is holding it's edge and is razor sharp.
Like you, I think the design of this one is a lot of fun. I have three Mayhems, the Limited and two AUS-10A Models. I absolutely luv mine. It's like a Pirate's Pocket Knife... :-) I bought my AUS-10A Mayhems from MidwayUSA.com; they were only $135 a piece.
The Mayhem is a very Heavy Folder with a weak, unreinforced Blade Tip, that's why I think yours bent. Actually, I am sort of surprised it didn't snap the tip of the Blade off... A Blade Tip, like what's on the Mayhem, can not handle lateral stress. It would be stronger vertically.
That's why I always pay attention to how the Blade is ground. Not all Knives are made to withstand throwing. Especially, heavy Knives without reinforced Blade Tips.
But, regardless, GSM, Cold Steel needs to back their products, especially, against Factory Defects. :-( Peace, Stiletto :-)
I threw that cheap ass Kudu. No bending. Just sad
@@DonnieBAllDay I totally believe you Bro! The Kudu doesn't weigh anything so it would most likely not stress out the Blade Tip... I know Japanese AUS-10A Stainless Steel is more brittle than Japanese AUS-8A Stainless Steel. That's the reason why it holds a better edge than Japanese AUS-10A Stainless Steel. Myself, if I would've designed the Mayhem, I would've given it a reinforced Blade Tip like Cold Steel used to always do... And, I would've used CPM-3V for one of it's Blade Steel options. Japanese AUS-10A can be brittle like Japanese VG-10 Stainless Steel. That's why I find it kind of surprising that your Tip bent and you were able to almost bend it back without snapping the Blade Tip... Perhaps, yours wasn't correctly tempered... When Joe X did a destruction Video on th e Mayhem, his Japanese AUS-10A Mayhem snapped the Tip and Blade Edge and finally the Blade. It looked like it was too highly tempered to the point of brittleness...
The part I liked in his Video was how well the Atlas-Lock held up. That's what made me want the Mayhem! I still absolutely luv my Mayhem. I just won't be abusive with the Blade Tip. It is one very fun Blade to own! :-)
The Mayhem, in my opinion, is a very Intimidating and Sinister and Sexy looking Folder; I absolutely luv it! But, it's not a Woodcrafter or Camp Folder or Survival Folder or Utility Folder, no, to me; it's a Folding Fighter! :-) For that, the Mayhem is a Beast, even with an "Unreinforced" Blade Tip. GSM, Cold Steel, should redesign the Blade Tip and make it strong enough to handle the weight of the Mayhem, if thrown or stabbed into something hard...
Personally, I hope Cold Steel makes more, lighter, Atlas-Lock, Mega Folders. Right on, Bro! Keep up the great Videos you make. I always enjoy watching your Videos.
I, too, was very upset with GSM Customer Service. I made several Videos on my funky experience with GSM Customer Service. I still buy and use Cold Steel Knives. But, I do so cautiously. And, I never expect GSM to be a "Good" Customer Service. To me, the quality is about the same. And, some of the New GSM, Cold Steel Knives have been better functioning than the Old Models, that's been my experience. But, it's so sad what GSM did to the Cold Steel Customer Service... I feel your pain Brother! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
GSM bought SOG last year or so and same bad customer service.Not fond of SOG knives they have come out with.Needless to say I’ve only bought one SOG and that was from ACE hardware when I was in there.Im done with SOG because of GSM🔪👍
@@TheSogGrunt I only bought 1 as well
They bought Camillus too :/
They were originally a gas station knife company before they made swords. They went from crap to Okay and then back to crap apparently.
fact
I gave up on Cold steel when they sold to GSM. Will never buy another
@@hillbillyfromtheswamp6223 Im with you
But wich knife company would still be the best atm then if it goes about quality controle and service? @@DonnieBAllDay
I have had good luck with my Coldsteel knives. My Counter Point 1 has gone through abuse and still does. It is good to know that they have bad customer service. I was thinking about getting the Leatherneck Bowie, but not now. I have the bird and truot from them, and I bent the tip on it. It was a gift. My friend has some Coldsteels that dull fast, and they are older ones. They axes aren't that great from my experience. Coldsteel is hit or miss, unfortunately. Great video
its sad when its a 50/50
Throwing it likely voids the warranty.
Well done sir. You can read between the lines. Most people just parrot nonsense!
#Cheerleaders
yes it does. Cold Steel never told him it's ok to throw this folder into the tree but he does it, damages the tip of the blade and goes on you tube to badmouth the company. More on.
its not about them not standing by their product as much as it was about them saying its impossible to be transferred to a supervisor and at that point, that had no knowledge of how it bent, just that it bent. Defend that...
Maybe they saw the video of you throwing it? They definitely have now. The point is that YOU knew that you caused the damage by throwing it and that it was outside of what it covered by the warranty. No folder is designed for throwing. If you throw a $300 folder at a tree and bend it, that’s kinda on you. Also, you’re damn lucky that the point only bent and didn’t snap off. AND you were able to bend it back. Heat treat might be better than you think if the knife survived your abuse.
@@jtr109 the vid went up after they made the claim that its impossible to be transferred and after they claimed credit card records aren't proof of purchase. Really sad that, that kind of business is being defended more than the American buyer
Sad to hear. I grew up loving cold steel blades and whatnot. Shame to hear they sold
terrible
My last 2 CS were dull as fuck. I mean it took me 5 mins to sharpen but.. Fart! Also broke 2 of my Sure flight sports knives in half. If only TOPS made some of the ColdSteel models we'd be in business
@@Jimmy-gd5ho exactly!
Love my Tops blades, I've never had issues with their heat treat. I always reprofile them, though, cause they are a bit too thick for woodwork.
That's how I know the steel is good , I freaking love my Tanimboca Puukko , keeps a wicked edge .
@@airiksknifereviews9548 best dif heat treat in the business
I’ve ordered 2 frontier bowies,Wild West Bowie,riflemans Bowie,code 4 tanto,and a Kyoto tanto from cold steel. Some of the edges were uneven,there were some flaws but overall they are well made knives. 🔪 I’m sure that when GSM took ownership they planned to cut quality and go for quantity since it will make them money. Lynn Thompson doesn’t care how it’s run anymore since he sold it. I’m going to order several more Coldsteel knives and that will be all for me. There are other companies out there that have far superior products but the price is also much greater. Also knives,swords and other cutlery has taken a massive decline because of firearms so they are only used occasionally. Now people can’t justify spending $100 or more on a blade unless it’s for their job.
so many better choices
@@DonnieBAllDay there is but for the working class, coldsteel dominates that market.
oh my god, dude... what happened to you - you've lost so much weight
@@cafeqc3793 and Im sure as hell not looking for it
I've been buying and using Cold Steel since the 80s. Carried a Carbon V SRK during my 12 years in the Army. Never had an issue with them in all that time. Granted most are old ones when they were bullet proof. I have axes, spears, knives, swords and many others. Haven't bought many in a few years but mine get used hard and no issues. Can't confirm their quality nowadays. Pity you're having those issues. I'll stick with my old ones.
@@Biomass1 older the better
That's what hapoend to my srk no heat treat never held an edge kabar is pretty bad too
@@tomritter493 I agree
I love my SRK 3v. Haven’t had to deal with the customer service, and hopefully I don’t need to. Didn’t know they were that bad!
Never had a problem with the SRK
Seems you’d stop giving them money after two bent knives. Who cares what a knife looks like if you keep having issues, just saying
@@JasonIsaac-wh9km I review knives. Done with theirs though
Hi Donnie, i really enjoy your channel. Also as you, i have a great love and respect, for the Musso Bowie. It is my understanding that this knife was supposedly located by a antique dealer in Texas, last name Musso, in the purchase of possibly a chest of drawers in the 1950's. Unknown if it was supposedly owned by Jim Bowie and handed down. Also, I believe the small hump located in the center of the wooden handle was designed with special purpose in mind. When holding the knife edge up, the hump can fit in the palm of the hand perhaps to assist with knife control and retention, when used for combat purposes. Stay safe.
@@dougboal7620 the name Musso is a knife maker who was said to have made it. Conflicting reports. The Musso never made it to the Alamo as Jim gifted it to a senator after getting his orders to go to Texas
@@DonnieBAllDay Thanks for the info. So many ideas and opinions which makes the legend of Bowie and his knife continue to grow.. I also believe he carried a different knife at the Alamo. That Bowie that you created is first class. Stay Safe.
@@dougboal7620 thanks!
That sucks, Donnie. Sorry….When I saw the Mayhem, I fell in love. I foolishly told my nephew about it and he bought me the Limited Edition Mayhem for Christmas a couple years ago. My blade if fine. Everything about it is perfect. But….that certainly doesn’t invalidate what happened to you. I’ve heard these stories, quite literally, for decades. I never disbelieved them but always took the advice about caution with them as good advice. It’s a big company and when moneys on the line, shady shit happens. And when Cold Steel got bought out, the first thing I thought was, “Oh….this is gonna be bad.” And it seems I, and many others, were right. In many cases, it’s because we’re spoiled, I think. I mean, all of us has the knife that we got from a small independent blade smith and it’s perfect. A brilliant design, quality materials and an artist who cares….he sees something flawed and rather than letting it skate by, he fixes it. Corporate America doesn’t quite deal with things like that these days. Anyway….again, sorry you had a shitty experience with them. I’ll probably back off on them as well even while I love my Mayhem…..
@@mikewalsh5872 I wanted to be able to love mine
@@DonnieBAllDay Yeah…..life in the big knife production game, I guess. I’m thinking my next purchase will be that beauty you designed. That magnificent Trench Knife! Saw that thing and my balls tingled…..lol
@@mikewalsh5872 that things a killer
The "s" curve on the tip of your folder shows up best when the reflection from the light hits the side of the blade. You can really see how bad it bent on you. Am sorry to hear about the lack of heat treating and especially the lack 9f cooperation from customer service. Have been a fan of Cold Steel for years, but haven't bought anything from them since a "cutting sword" from them. The entire blade is rippled from not being worked correctly. I would've sent it back except I bought it from another company that handles Cold Steel products and sells them cheaper.
that sucks
Folding knives are already broken! Fine for opening cute little Amazon packages. 😂😂😂
Hahaha!
I am not happy with their s35vn. I do like my older cold steel throwers. I wouldn't buy another folder from them. The reason I got my last one(tiger claw folding karambit) was because Andrew Demko supposedly worked on the knife design and the triad lock.
Demko went solo. Killer stuff
@@DonnieBAllDay yeah, love my shark lock on my sharks foot.
Agree
@@augustus63 smart. Haba
I own several cold steel products.
The recon 1 tanto (was a Christmas gift when i was 16, in 2011) the special forces shovel (bought 2010) the viking battle axe (got 2 or 3 years ago) the sjambok (bought about 7 years ago) many pocket sharks (damn must have got my first in 2009) and in the past i owned the kudu too. For ages ive been wanting to pick up a SRK in sk-5 and a gladius machete.
Ive never had any truly awful experiences, but some problems have surfaced. I've used every product heavily other than the viking battle axe, which just will not bloody sharpen, not even with files. Which is a shame because its an awesome product and it is durable.
The customer service has always been pretty bad, as is the UK distributor, the products are awfully expensive (this is only a problem with their main distrbutor, not other shops which sell their products) and they never have stock in (been waiting years to get a gladius machete, wanted to compare it to my OKC, Tramontina and my Martindale.)
If cold steel has a heat treat problem, then thats a surefire sign their quality is slipping. I wasnt aware lynn sold cold steel.
I know they have been hit or miss with some products being rough around the edges, bad fitting, rough edges, weak coatings, but their products have always been durable and properly heat treated, if they lose that, then no one has any reason to buy cold steel.
Shit, that comment didn't look that big when I was typing it out 😂
Haha! I read the whole thing.... I need a nap now
This is why I go through Amazon when it comes to buying cold steel. At least through Amazon theres a a slightly better chance at getting your money back.
I had my issues with cold steel hatchet right before Lynn sold the company. Had even more issues since GSM took over. Quality Control is trash.
You aren't lying
I’ve never bought from Cold Steel. Honestly for knives of that grade I prefer CRKT. Love their SPEW, great little EDC knife. Love their Chogan tomahawk as well, great design for working but I’ve also trained a bit with fighting with those and they’re great for it
My CKRT Kangee T-Hawk is my favorite hawk on the planet
@@DonnieBAllDay
I bet, that’s one hell of an axe. I like the pole hammer myself, better for camping. Definitely not as fun as the Kangee though
When I first got a Natchez Bowie many years before CS was bought by GSM it came with the tip folded back on itself 180 degrees. Sent it back and they sent me a new one. Years later I bought a 1917 Bowie and it came dull. But all my other CS knives have been good.
@@117rebel a lot of soft tips
The guy above said it best. Decades to build a reputation and seconds to wreck it!!! The only knife company I would 75% trust is ESEE. The reason I say 75 percent is because of folders and knives they sub out.
@@jamesaustin9848 Esee subs out folders, but tbey keep the same no questions asked warranty.
That's too bad, really. I bought 4 cold steel knives in the last 2 years and the quality was very good. I've been buying their knives since the 80's. I had to get washers for a spectre that I bought 10 years ago. It was out of warranty but stick got back to me and sent new ones. Without charge. Maybe they're too successful and can't keep up? Who knows?
@@luigisavoia2401 No. Began mass producing in asia and quality went hell
Cold Steel used to be king in toughness and durability. I have a bunch from many years ago; they are amazing knives. I haven’t been following them in recent years, and I didn’t know that Lynn Thompson sold the company. That’s very unfortunate. Knowing that they no longer honor the same quality and standards as they did under Lynn, I doubt that I will purchase products from them now.
looks like its about to sell again
@@DonnieBAllDay yeah, because the dirtbags who bought it from Lynn Thompson assumed that people would blindly stick with them, despite them making big changes in key things like quality, standards and customer service.
Thanks for the video.
I used to be a big fan of Cold Steel. As you said, they make some good products. I was very happy with some of those products. Then, I tried to ask questions on one of their videos, and the guy running their RUclips was a jerk. I wanted to better understand something that they claimed, and he just became defensive and refused to try to explain. I suspect that he just had no clue. Instead of saying that he didn't understand, he tried to be insulting. I think that kind of arrogance permeates the culture there. They do some things well, but the arrogance makes me avoid them. That's too bad. I bought quite a bit of Cold Steel stuff back in the day, but I don't buy their knives any longer.
I believe it
haven't bought from them since the new ownership, heard too many bad things. sorry about your bad dealings with them but much thanks to you for letting others learn first hand how bad they've gotten.
its sad
Sad to hear that about Cold Steel. I had bought several of their knives years ago and had no problems with them. But I am going to have to take your word for their more recent quality control and customer service issues. So I won't be adding any more of them to my collection. Besides which after watching your videos the last few knives I bought were from the Khukuri House and they are excellent.
@@minarchist1776 my Gladiator is coming next. Crazy cool
Holy crap, thanks for the PSA! I have owned several Cold Steel knives over the last 25 years and bought them as presents/recommended them to others. Not anymore tough, at least not until CS gets their sh*t together as a knife-making company! For funzies, where is this $380 knife made? China?
made in China
@@DonnieBAllDay That's the last nail in the Cold Steel coffin for me. I still have a Cold Steel Kobun that was made in Japan and cost like $40, from the late 1990's. Awesome quality on those old CS knives. Thank you again for the heads up!
@@SevenSixTwo2012 that Japanese Kobun is a keeper
They are slipping big time ‼️
I've been hearing about all types of problems with GSM Outdoors.
terrible
That's terrible DBAD...I've been collecting them for about 14 months and I have a little over a hundred of them...Some from before the buyout, most from after, but I haven't had any problems yet...which is no doubt why I haven't experienced what you've been going through...I hope CS pulls their head out and treats you right!
How often are you using that many to really get an idea on build quality?
No friggin' way this would have happened on Lynn's watch. Are they going to destroy this great company?
well... they screwed me over on my Natchez Bowie when he owned the company. Its just even worse now
That's a shame that their customer service sucks now. All I can say is that I'm glad that I can't and don't throw knives worth a shit
@@BladeObssession hahaha! Theres that
@@DonnieBAllDay I am glad that most all of my CS knives were purchased before Lynn left
I just bought the 4 Max Scout and it's pretty solid. I don't think it would be that easy to bend the tip on it@@DonnieBAllDay
Well hell. Waited forever to get my serrated and plain edge voyager vaqueros, now I'm actually worried....
you still have a 50/50 chance at a god knife
The factory in Taiwan is the same, good qualiry in my limited experience. No customer service now.
@@radusnyder4341 fact
I am partial to a Cold Steel, but from what I've heard about the poor quality of their products in recent years, especially after Lynn sold it to GSN, I wouldn't touch one, 😎👍👍
older ones are better
New subscriber here. Hi from Europe. I always loved Cold Steel and all of my knives for last 5 years are Cold Steel. Sadly that today CS is not what we loved it for.
@@RevoltAMW 10 years ago they were great
Hi i have never owned a cold steel knife but from i hear from people who have i don't want to own one. I think i will stick to my Down Under Outback Bowie i have had for 11 years. The next knife i will be buy will be one of your Dbads The Gator Tail is one awesome looking Bowie with the Dundee look as well and your Rambo Knives look awesome too. I can see the Gator Tail and a Rambo in my collection very soon love your videos man.
smart move
That's a shame 😢
I'm working on my second lone star hunter. I flipped the blade out on my first one, and it cracked and fell off right behind the thumb stud.
I had to pay for shipping to get it replaced. The only other knife I've had do that is a spyderco endura. I slashed a water bottle with it and hit the cap. It was that zdp189 steel when they first came out with it. The new one they replaced it with was vg10.
thats nuts
I tell ya also the hobo freight gordon 6in buck 119 replica knife also has been use and abuse tested and hardness tested and it’s better than the actual buck for $25. Many of these large companies have built a good reputation through hard work then rest on their laurels and start cheating out on material and construction. Benchmade, buck, and several others and I’m tired of it.
you aren't lying
I have a lot of their older knives. I like most of them. The spartan is good.
That is a bummer and they do have some gems but what good is a gem if it is not backed up....Nice share....Good stuff.....
@@scottf.3808 exactly!
Man o man I feared this was gonna happen. Back in the day when Lynn would star in all the magazine ad's, like the classic "Bring your 1911 for backup", I bought one of the early master tantos, broke it, called CS and got a new one, for free, in the mail a week later. Them days are long gone.
@@RoyalWulffDry looooonnnng gone
Thanks for sharing. I used to think they were a decent knife company now knowing how they are I definitely won’t buy anymore
they fell apart
I bought a G.I. Tanto a few months back. I know it's a $30 knife, but the grind isn't even at all. If you lay the edge on the table it looks like a very low frequency serration... I like it well enough, and I'm a big fan of my 26" CS Baton; but I wanted that Bowie you replaced the handle on and to be frank I'm a bit worried about spending even that much on one of their blades after this and the recent JoeX vid.
@@danielleclark-zack864 The biggest problem isn't that they aren't very consistent, the bigger issue is when the consistencies need to be resolved
@@DonnieBAllDay Yeah, that's kinda where I'm at. I'm fine with getting a bad product once in a while, as long as the company is willing to make it right. I'm not the type of guy that takes it personal when I buy something defective, but if they refuse to help me after the fact it's hard not to.
@@danielleclark-zack864 exactly
I have one cold steel knife, it’s the counter tac 1, and it thankfully is great, but that’s because it’s a dagger and only has 1 use that’s for poking into things/people but I won’t be buying anything from cold steel again. (But it’s pretty hard to mess up a dagger)
facts! Haha
Im just curious is that knife meant for throwing some of these high end knives only have certain applications they can be effectively used for im not saying ur wrong i was just wondering myself
90% of the knives I throw aren't made for throwing. This is the one that bent