Cold Steel Range Boss

/ spartanjohns - Donate to support my channel and I promise to keep the NONSENSE coming
A talk about the Range Boss and a small comparison with it's "finer" cousin the Cold Steel Broken Skull

[@herberar]

Best review on this knife on KZbin . Really clear, with important information about the steel and with measurements in grams and millimeters. Great!!! Thanks a lot!!!

[@SpartanJohns]

Thank you! I appreciate you saying this! I am very happy when I can make a video from which people can tell more about the knife than from a simple table top. Those are also nice. I like "first impressions" videos...but I also prefer to hear personal opinions after use. This is what I am trying to offer and I am really happy when someone else sees this

[@MarcelsEDCblog]

Same !

[@randymizers]

Enjoyed as always! Thank you!

[@SpartanJohns]

Glad you liked it!

[@leadengineer4105]

I was on the fence trying to decide whether or not to pull the trigger on the range boss. After seeing your video 📹 I went ahead and clicked the buy now button. I really wanted the OD green but found a black one on Amazon for just about $10 cheaper. --thanks 👍

[@SpartanJohns]

I hope you'll like it. I found myself taking it with me a lot. I dropped the edge angle to about 15 dps...a heck of a folder for a lot of tasks

[@Emmitt1800-cf8nh]

Fantastic review. I was looking for a knife like this to use as a skinning knife. 4034 steel doesn't bother me (Krupp does well with extremely budget steels), but my opinion is that this doesn't come close to Kershaw's 8Cr13MoV. What Krupp has done is to create a knife that is more along the average 420HC...and that's not Buck's 420HC, which really does match 8Cr13MoV. Great for out in the field though, because you can sharpen it on just about anything.

[@SpartanJohns]

Thank you! Glad you liked it! The Range Boss is inexpensive, light weight, slim, has a lot of edge and is pretty stable. Tbh i started looking at steel a bit different in the last years. I enjoy “super steels” but i do see the benefits that “budget” steels offer. Depending on what you need, set your edge angle, and as you said, you can sharpen it “as you go” and on anything. I think this is one of the most important features of a knife for an actual knife user because no matter what steel you have in pocket, a few cuts thru wild boar hair will dull it. Then what? Glad to see there are others out there who know how to use/maintain their tools!

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Great review! I'm going to like this knife...

[@SpartanJohns]

glad you liked the video!

[@BladeObssession]

I really appreciate your very in depth reviews and what all you do with your knives as far as work use. I was just wondering if you ever take in to consideration of the knife from a self defense view before you purchase one?

[@SpartanJohns]

I am glad you liked it. As for looking at knives from a self defense point of view...I don't! I know some, especially CS knives, are made with this purpose in mind, however I think of them as tools. I have the Voyager XL and the Counter Point 1. The intention behind them might be self defense however I am more curious how they perform as tools for every day tasks or camp chores. The Voyager XL is a great knife for all sorts of things. I used it to clean up a backyard, to chop and even split wood. And the Counter Point has a thick handle which makes it great for shaving wood or cutting thick cardboard. I like some of the shapes such knives have. They look cool and "tactical". I don't consider myself a cool or a tactical person.

[@BladeObssession]

@@SpartanJohns lol I'm too old to be tacticool. I do own many Cold Steel knives and machetes and have been collecting for a long time. I always carry a knife though with self defense in mind because the world is getting so crazy especially here in the US. You are always hearing about some stabbing or shooting daily. I'm glad that I don't live in a big city though like Chicago or New York. I hope there isn't much crime where you live. God bless and take care

[@ataleph1]

Very good review!

[@SpartanJohns]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@crispysocksss]

You can bend the spring inside to adjust the lock tension

[@SpartanJohns]

i try not to fidget with backlocks as much as possible...i did this and had some bad results

[@Jason-oo4jg]

7:15 - Freakin Cool 😎

[@SpartanJohns]

Yeah...i like that too. Especially with CS knives...

[@MrFroggy29]

Great :) 👍 What is the color of the Cs Range boss? Green? Very clear on video

[@SpartanJohns]

whan I bought it it was not listed...i would say "desert" "light brown-ish" definitely not green, od, or dark earth.

[@danielsmit3524]

Now you have me curious. Should probably get one. I have been avoiding it, since i thought it didn't have any liners and would bend. Also had reservations about the steel. Now it actually seems like a great option. I love the more pocket friendly cold steels, like American Lawman, Code 4 etc. They have quite a few 'reasonable knives' now days. (Once in a while I do like their beefy models though).

[@SpartanJohns]

I like their beefy models too. I got the Counter Point 1 out of shear curiosity and even though it was not thought out to be a "working knife", due to it's thicker handle it does really well! As for the Range Boss/Broken Skull....i think they are amazing. Honestly if I had to choose between the Endura and the Broken Skull I would chose the later. simply because it has a tri-ad lock and the extra cutting edge length

[@danielsmit3524]

@@SpartanJohns I think you would perhaps enjoy the Voyager which nou also comes in a drop point. (Although I would go clip point). Like an Endura on steroids. Also these days the Recon 1 has smoother scales! No need to sand under the clip. Only thing is, it is difficult to know whether an online retailer has the new ones or old ones. I was lucky to get a smoother one. I think it is only the clip point that has the smoother scales. It is now about as smooth as the new American Lawman. Perfect texture, not too smooth either.

[@SpartanJohns]

@@danielsmit3524 Your comment was flagged as spam by youtube. No idea why. Took me a while to notice. I have a Voyager XL. I did and still consider getting the regular Voyager....just very curios. I also have a Recon 1 in S35VN...those are newer and have smoother scales. I never modified my older Recon 1. It has very aggresive scales but I kinda like them

[@supermamasntapas]

great video! =). I used to own the broken skull, and used it as an edc. But one of the reasons i got rid of it was that the spine is so sharp (for a folder) that it started to rip my pants/my wallet that i used to have in the same pocket. So my question is; is the spine as sharp on the rangeboss as it is on the broken skull? With best regards :)

[@SpartanJohns]

they are very similar. 95% the same...Mine is! But with some sandpaper you can round the spine, the handle....takes only 5 minutes

[@Traderjoe]

I love a slim knife like this

[@SpartanJohns]

i was surprised by it in a few aspects. Honestly I did not expect to like it as much as I do. The CS Broken Skull is definitely better than this one but at its price, for me, it's really good

[@m.j.morshead]

I have the Lonestar hunter,another similar variant.

[@SpartanJohns]

I have seen the LoneStar Hunter...this was the old version. Much sturdier. Looked much classier. More like a high end knife than the Broken skull or Range boss

[@kHRIStu4]

Great review! Is that the dark flat earth one you have? Looks more grayish

[@SpartanJohns]

The sie I bought it from didn't have a color description...it is lighter than the Dark earth on the Tuff. CS20KR9 is the code! you can google it...but mine is a bit brighter in real life than it shows up on the pictures

[@rickrobinson8417]

What's your favorite cold steel folder you have?

[@SpartanJohns]

The Ultimate Hunter. I wish I would have gotten version with a hollow ground balde... I sanded the handle down. got rid of all the sharp edges....it is my favorite because it is really comfortable and stable in hand.

[@mwillblade]

I sanded the scales and bent the clip a little bit so to save my pocket.

[@SpartanJohns]

I also sanded the scales but gently. I kept some of the initial texture because I do like the way it feels.

[@dalecarpenter8828]

I hate the pregnant handle ! A lot of people say they hate the shape of pocket clips faulic shape ! I costumize the pregnant recon 1 handles by take out the second finger choil and bring the shape paralel to the curve of the back of the handle ! much better looking and usful , the second chiol is sometimes mistaken for the first and then theres blood with the one hand closing , there's only one no mistakes ! I also tune the lock bar spring ( so humans can push the lock button )and pocket clip ( 1/16 " away from the scale and slightly sand the scale under the clip , not very much just the tips of the points that stick up ) Always like your vids !

[@SpartanJohns]

The only one I considered modifying was the AirLite....but decided against it. I fear that if I modify the Recon 1 scales it will be too narrow. That said...there's hardly anything better than a knife adjusted to your own needs/likes! For the American Lawman I thought about thinning out the spring but decided against it. Since I am the only one using the knife and now I have lowered the edge angle to 12 dps...i figured that it would be a good reminder that "it's not a toy"

[@Piersic1]

Până la urmă mi-am luat și eu. Prea frumos ai vorbit de el, ca să nu îl iau. O să îl car în rucsac vara asta, să vadă ceva actiune pe la pescuit și alte nebunii.

[@SpartanJohns]

Si eu il tin in rucsac. E superb. I-am scazut unghiul de taiere si acolo sta....daca e ceva de taiat are destul tais sa taie si daca va fi sa se rupa/piarda....nu plange nimeni dupa el. E un briceag foarte bun dpmdv

[@joelybob2]

At one point didn’t they make the range boss in 4116 steel or am I mistaken?

[@rickrobinson8417]

the range boss I ordered a few weeks ago was 4116

[@SpartanJohns]

not sure....maybe....

[@steellovingyou8673]

Hi SpartanJohns. For quite some time I had mostly edc'd the CS Code 4 clip point rotating with the CS Bushranger but last winter I switched to the CS Pro lite clip , then last spring I switched to the CS Range Boss and have mostly been edc'ing the Range Boss ever since . I have owned the Broken Skull for several years but haven't carried it as much. I have about 50 CS products and last fall I gave away the Code 4 and Bushranger not because I didn't love them but because I did love them . I have been Edc'ing the Range Boss for about a year and I love it . Thanks for the review . Thanks

[@SpartanJohns]

The Bushranger, from what I have seen is pretty cool! Not sure if I am willing to spend so much money on it just yet...but it is on one of my lists. As for the Code4....yeah...another nice one. I like the American Lawman and I think, maybe for EDC the Code 4 might be a welcome addition. I like the Broken Skull! More than the Range Boss...but, in all honesty, I have carried the Range Boss more! I don't know exactly what it is...maybe the smoother back lock, maybe the fact that if I lose/break it I won't mind so much.... Very cool to hear that you have been carrying it for so long and love it. Glad you liked the video!

[@steellovingyou8673]

@@SpartanJohns hi again I loved the Bushranger and Code4 but since I have got them I have gotten the AD10 and AD15 and I already had the recon one so I gifted the code4 and Bushranger to a friend who would continue to show them the love . I love how the Range Boss carries and the action is so smooth , love it. On Jimi Slash he mentioned Midway USA has cold steels on sale I think the Bushranger is $111 with free delivery , check them out they had some great deals , I'm waiting for the CS Drifter. I used to be subscribed back in the early Ganzo days not sure what happened but I'm glad to have subscribed again , missed your videos , . Thanks

[@SpartanJohns]

I live in Romania. So no matter how good the prices on sales may be in the US by the time they get here with customs and all...it all becomes pretty tragic. The drifter sounds nice...As soon as they get here I will do my best to try that new locking system. Glad you found the channel again. That happened to me as well...some channels I used to be subscribed to I just wasn't anymore and for some I never received notifications. Glad you're enjoying the content. Got a "first Impressions" on the 727s from Ganzo, just because you mentioned it. Haven't made a Ganzo video for a while. That is the design copy of the RAT2...can't wait to test that little guy outside a bit

[@John-oz1do]

Very logical and educational. Thanks

[@SpartanJohns]

Thank you for saying so. I appreciate you taking the time

[@brunovrancic8330]

I was choosing between Endura, Cara cara 2 and Range boss. I chose Cara cara 2. Cara cara has thiner blade than Endura, has rougher finish, but I don't see the difference between vg10 and 8cr13mov. Byrd is for me more ergonomic than Cold steel.

[@SpartanJohns]

that is one aspect i mentioned. The thinner stock of the Cara cara. IT makes all the difference

[@herberar]

After carrying my Cara Cara 2 for 7 years, I like the finger choir very much. The steel is good and the knife is really lightweight!

[@SpartanJohns]

@@herberar I like the Cara Cara 2 very much. It feels a bit "less stable" than my endura however the thinner grind makes up for that very well. I have no issues with 8Cr13MoV for the price it comes at. It is easy to resharpen/maintain

[@hawintherknives4386]

Love my broken skull

[@SpartanJohns]

A great knife! I am currently dropping the edge angle at 12 DPS. see how it holds out. It is already at 15...and it does very well.

[@hawintherknives4386]

Getting my ranger boss tomorrow I very excited to see how it compares to the broken skull

[@richardhenry1969]

I personally love the broken skull. I'm not really a fan of 4034. I wonder do you see a difference in the edge holding. I mean for like $10 more you can get a voyager with aus10 My basic problem with this knife is the steel is very cheap. It should be a $20 not $40. It has a step down from the old pro lite in 4116 yet the range boss cost more. So far I'm not a fan of GSM prices. Shame I was a big coldsteel fan. The new stuff not so much.

[@SpartanJohns]

In testing, in controlled environments, you will see a big difference between 4034SS(Range Boss) and (my CS Broken Skull which is) CTS-XHP. In practice where you just cut stuff, the difference will be much smaller. I have a Voyager XL in AUS10A. It is more difficult to sharpen than 4034SS but yes...also (at least mine) much harder. I used it to do some garden cleaning. And if i hadn't hit a metal wire in some brush it would have not have chipped. But any steel will chip if you hit metal or rocks. So the question here is: what do you want to use it for? How much do you like to sharpen it? One thing I can tell you is: the old CS folders I got came to me much sharper than the newer GSM models. Other than that...i can't really complain. Here, where I live, CS has always been way more expensive then in the US. I think I said this in the video...I like the Range Boss....but if they would give it tha G10 handle scales and use AUS10A for the blade steel I would get that!

[@richardhenry1969]

I was rereading your comment. I can say I agree with everything you said. Basically you described something many don’t understand or possibly don’t care. What is more important a super hard steel that holds a edge a long time, but is very brittle? Yet a budget steel is softer but easy to sharpen. So do a few more cuts matter? Especially if it takes hours to sharpen and even more to fix chips and breakouts. I personally believe marketing has many blind. They want to have the name brand. Knives have become pocket jewelry. I can see the knife market staying this expensive. Notice many designs have been stopped. Knives now are designed to look good and open and close fast. Yet they stopped carrying and comfort. That makes me believe most knives aren’t being used. Just throwing a few observations out. Wondering what’s your take especially being form another country so your paying even more (usually is what I’ve been told). America doesn’t have the large amount of blue collar working with their hands people it used to have. So many only open boxes. Why do you need a $300 knife for a job that pays $12 hr. ? You know what I mean. I’m a diesel mechanic I don’t buy expensive knives, one because it’s a ripoff but mostly because I lose them. ( I hope it’s lost and not stolen) but still loss. Secondly all expensive knives have the same stupid frame locks. That is not hard use! that is just cheap to make and fanboys believe everything . Sorry for the long rant I got on a roll.😊

[@kylechapman9299]

Yes they still do make the broke skull but no more xhp steel

[@SpartanJohns]

I have not seen any Broken Skulls in S35VN. It is a shame they stopped using XHP and that they also stoped making hollow ground blades for some models...

[@SouthernPatriot1]

Dang it…lol second! 😉😂

[@SpartanJohns]

Second place pays for the first round!

[@nicksweeney5176]

Ahem. You read the man...🍺

[@SouthernPatriot1]

@@nicksweeney5176 start a tab 😉😂

[@nicksweeney5176]

Firrrrst...!!!

[@SpartanJohns]

Hope you liked the video! I honestly thought that since I already talked about the Broken Skull this one was going to be maybe a 6 minute video

[@nicksweeney5176]

@@SpartanJohns They're unacknowledged siblings.😉 The partial liners give some needed rigidity to the Range Boss's longer handle. I think the Carpenter steel is the superior formula; though, Cold Steel does do very well, bringing out the best of their steel selections.

[@SpartanJohns]

i am pretty happy with this one. No chips or dents...easy to keep sharp. And their AUS10A is also pretty cool with me. My AirLite did a great job so far I have noticed one thing. Spyderco's heat treated CTS XHP is a bit better than that of Cold Steel. But that one is not that bad either

[@bobdoby1810]

I Really Like Ur Down Home Approach To Ur “ Reviews “ It’s Very Refreshing And Very Palatable Delivery And Lots Of Common Insight About The Review Matter And Good Hard Information About The Product At Large . It’s Very Cliche ish But It’s Like We Are There With U !!! VERY COOL!! 😎Much Respects!! B!!😉😁😎🍀💯☘️🤘🏻👍🏻🤟🏻🫵🏻👊🏻🇺🇸🇵🇱🇺🇦💯

[@SpartanJohns]

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to write this comment. It does mean a lot. I always try to present a product to my viewers in a conversation that is why I always ask if people have questions or suggestions. Unfortunately I cannot always go out these days but I am trying to do the same tests and also relay information I think is pertinent. I do that more on my patreon page and about 30% also here. I really appreciate your feedback and I am glad you like my videos.