Cold Steel Recon 1 Review: Absolute Beast of a Folder

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE DON'T BATON OR HANG FROM YOUR FOLDING KNIVES! No lock is going to make a folding knife ignore physics. Pivots and locks will always be a weak point. This test is performed for entertainment and to put the knife way past its recommended limits.
------------------------------------------------------- OPEN DESCRIPTION -------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for watching! Please let me know what you thought of the video in the comments. Give me your honest feedback. Music by me. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok below.
Instagram: / cuttingedgeaction
TikTok: / cuttingedgeaction
My trusted retailers (they don't pay me):
bladehq.com
smkw.com
knifecenter.com

[@jorgefernandez6407]

One of my favorite EDC's! Great review too. Just a little warning though... Cold Steel folders are definitely "addictive"!!!

[@darkframepictures]

Lol no kidding I have the SR1 Lite, 4Max Scout, Tuff Lite, Lawman, and 3 different Verdicts. I’m likely to get the Recon 1 Clip Point later this year… and then… 😂

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

There's a Magnacut Recon 1 coming in April!

[@darkframepictures]

Niiiice!

[@AD-yt8ik]

Pound for pound best tactical folder on earth.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

For the weight it's pretty incredible how capable and versatile it is.

[@jorgefernandez6407]

100% agreed!

[@carlostovar8585]

Clip point or spear point?

[@jorgefernandez6407]

@@carlostovar8585 I have both so, both although the drop point (spear) has a more reenforced tip, more suited for utility work... But either one, will do the job "superbly"!!!

[@AD-yt8ik]

@@carlostovar8585 I have all variants. I think the tanto is a masterpiece. Hollow grind with a nice pointy but strong tip. Cuts for days.

[@coreyyoung68]

Love this guy every video is quality and very well informative!

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

i like the s35vn too, but a version in cruwear would transform this knife into the ultimate beast!😍

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Cold Steel is under new ownership (GSM Outdoors) so I don't see that happening any time soon, unfortunately.

[@Youtube-Censorship-Police]

@@CuttingEdgeAction yeah, can't stand that stickman edge lord, also their new designs and the atlas lock kinda suck.

[@weedmaster9314]

@@CuttingEdgeAction The Recon 1 is getting a magnacut version soon

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thanks for the info. From what I read we're looking at an April release and a price around $270.

[@weedmaster9314]

@@CuttingEdgeAction270 is unrealistic, im guessing americans get it for about 120-180 from actual stores, eu price might be closer to that diabolical number

[@sir_i.p.freely3757]

Just stress the pocket clip slightly to tweak it and it’ll open up enough for it to secure your blade on any pants you choose just don’t overdo it or you’ll need to remove it and tweak it in a vice or vice grips to correct your mistake

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thank you!

[@krefcenz]

The Verdict in AUS 10 is a good smaller choice in a similar profile. Good review

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Seeing you "baton" with it sold me !

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

The Tri-Ad lock is one of the few locks that can handle this type of abuse at the pivot. You can also do this with bar locks like the Benchmade Axis lock. Please be aware that any batoning with a folder will void your warranty and I only recommend it when absolutely necessary.

[@edwardbelcher8612]

I bought the tanto version in CTS XHP steel a few years ago and it has been a real tank of a knife.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

The tanto version looks awesome. How does the CTS XHP hold up?

[@edwardbelcher8612]

@@CuttingEdgeAction It has performed really well I think. Keeps an edge forever as long as you use common sense, and the DLC coating on it still looks almost new so, I got not complaints with it. I have used it for hunting/fishing duties and for food prep but have never torture tested it of course.

[@paynekiller75]

Cool vid, but dude, that hanging from the tree (with the blade pointed at your chest if you fell, of all places) at 3 mins in? That's INCREDIBLY dangerous and not smart, like at all. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just an EMT/combat medic and I've seen my fair share of horrendous injuries in my military career (I did 3 combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq). Please, do not EVER hang like that with a 4inch knife blade - particularly on video. Especially where kids could see. And most importantly for your own safety! Good vid otherwise, but PLEASE rethink your demonstration methods lol

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

My videos are for entertainment. It's specifically marked, "Not for kids" when uploaded. Thanks for your concern. Edit: I added a section about not hanging from knives to the description.

[@paynekiller75]

@@CuttingEdgeAction Regardless, it's incredibly dangerous and you're risking your own life. Seriously. That was at best a 2 inch tree branch? The knife most likely won't fail - but the branch? In any case I think you know what I mean. Aside from how bad it looks it's just a good way to impale yourself at best and potentially kill yourself at worst

[@BladeWalker77]

75 $ is a very good price, in Europe it costs 140€! For 75$ you can maybe buy a voyager large.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Wow that's quite the markup. Any idea why it's so expensive considering production is physically closer to you?

[@ollie-kc6nj]

@@CuttingEdgeAction possibly tax and maybe the effort it takes to sell I would imagine alot harder to sell knives in Europe due to laws and regulatons

[@bladesandmore8833]

That is a heavy hitter! Thanks for showing it.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Certainly. What else would you like to see me review?

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I can see your reply in my email but it's not showing up on the video for some reason... Anyway, I'm happy to trade comments. I'm also game to trade knives for review or EDC if that interests you.

[@mutlee299]

If you think the Recon is massive, look at the large Espada and the XL.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I want an Espada XL purely because it's so ridiculous.

[@davidsachs4883]

You commented the clip was too tight to use on any pocket. I bought a cheaper knife from a different company with the same problem. A little time with a set of needle nose pliers bent the clip enough to dive the problem

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I've done the same on some other knives. I'm gonna try to find a deep carry clip that will fit.

[@slvrnblu]

I see why you thought that, but that's not how the thumbstuds work, those are just grooves, not threads. The flathead allows to to remove it and reverse it, but you can't adjust how much it sticks out.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thanks for the info. I suppose I should've tested it myself before making that claim. I'll put a note in the description.

[@HWGAFoundation]

Good review!, Thanks!!

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Thanks for watching!

[@sengan2475]

A ton of the 1 star reviews say its way lower quality than it used to be, why is that?

[@niels2958]

As far as I know the company was sold and the new owners probably do only care about money and not so much about quality.

[@eddielittleii8919]

Great review. I wish they would bring back CTS-XHP.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I'm not familiar with CTS-XHP. How does it compare to S35VN in your experience?

[@eddielittleii8919]

@@CuttingEdgeAction The knife industry steel preformance charts have it with better edge retention, equal toughness, and a little behind in corrosion resistance than CPM-S35VN that I consider to be a good knife blade steel . CTS-XHP is not as commonly available by a long shot. Comparing the test results charts is a great way to spend more money for marginal improvements. Elmax steel is the next step up from CTS-XHP in all three areas, and that was where premium knife steel rested for me in all three ranges until Dr. Loran Thomas recently developed CPM Magnacut. My comment was driven by the discontinued availability in the Recon in CTS-XHP.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I'll have to see if I can find a CTS-XHP variant to compare against all my S35VN blades. Magnacut is pretty incredible. I was astounded by it in my own review of the new Hogue Deka. I had never had a knife that could be used hard for weeks and then cut phone book paper like it just came out of the box.

[@danielsmit3524]

Have you tried the Code4? My absolute favorite Cold Steel!

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

I haven't tried it but it looks awesome. I'm gonna order one now.

[@danielsmit3524]

@@CuttingEdgeAction you won't regret it. It is like the office friendly version of a recon. Scales are smoother, but that does not bother me. Go for the clip point version. I have that and the tanto, but prefer the clip point.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Just got the clip point. Wow! It looks and feels like something that costs double. The fit and finish are superb. Thanks for the recommendation! Edit: I really wish the right-handed pocket clip had the small logo from the left-handed pocket clip. The curved Cold Steel text is so ugly.

[@danielsmit3524]

@@CuttingEdgeAction I am sure someone will have an aftermarket clip for deep carry. I believe with some minor adjustments the Code 4 could be one of the best edc's in the market. Imagine 1mm thicker scales with a frag pattern and a milled pocket clip. It would look so high end.

[@капитанБлэйд-п1р]

triad lock don't work if mud (dirt?) or send hits in. Frame lock is best lock for folders.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

A frame lock won't give you this level of rigidity, and you don't have to cross up the blade with your fingers when closing the triad lock. If you like frame locks by all means keep buying them.

[@susasl5989]

Let me know how to sharpen this knife plz

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Check out my Lansky sharpening tutorial.

[@sebastianniqvist3144]

how about this knife vs the AK-47? Which one would u recommend? Anyone?

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

The deciding factor would be the blade shape and the thumb/pocket catch plate on the AK47. Performance between the two would be very similar.

[@carlostovar8585]

$75… where at?

[@FYLbingbong]

cold steel makes some awesome knives there really OP. great buy.

[@WColdblooded357W]

Personally I find the clip on the recon one damn near perfect. I don't notice it and that's exactly what a clip should be. Something that holds it where you want it and then disappears during use. Personally I am not a fan of deep carry clips. It's designed to keep the sheeple happy and I couldn't care less what they think. As long as I'm abiding by the law they have no say in what I carry. So I'm not gonna make my knife harder to deploy for someone else's nosiness. Plus if I did want to hide the knife id clip it in my waistband.

[@DiehlGames]

Fair enough. The one thing objectively negative I can say about the clip is that it tears pocket stitching to shreds. Maybe I just need higher quality pants!

[@Skyfall-sv8df]

No offense because overall, i liked your video. But i just got to ask what kind of girl jeans do some of you guys wear? I read from time to time that these cold steel blades damage people's pants with their coarse scales and tight pocket clips. I own six different Recon 1's and some other similar Cold steel models. I've been carrying them for more than ten years. I wear jeans and other pants just like everyone else. And I do not ever experience this pocket wear that you and some others complain about. I'm not trying to be a dick. I just finally gotta ask what kind of pants you guys wear that just can't handle this blade? Because these knives are doing nothing to my pants, and I carry at least one daily for more than a decade.

[@CuttingEdgeAction]

Levi's, American Eagle, GAP, Denizen, etc... Pretty well-known brands.

[@Skyfall-sv8df]

@CuttingEdgeAction sounds like the same brands I wear.