Pre vs Post GSM Cold Steel 4 Max Scout Comparison Review; It's different, but is it better?

[@2lbsTrigrPull]

I don't think the differences in blade shapes have something do to with Cold Steel being bought by GSM but just simply the fact they changed tooling or whatever in Taiwan. You don't have 100% control over such things when you outsource stuff. Same for the stonewash finish. Slight change in manufactureing and you get this result. No blade is exactly the same and if you compare blades from different years, you will see differences, always.

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

I’m a huge traditional knife guy and I love coldsteel knives and I have a huge collection of them!!!!! Thanks 😊

[@KnifeThoughts]

Nice! Thanks for watching

[@dragonram7]

I'll miss Lynn. Always an inspiration. I just picked up a 4max Scout and SR1 lite. I was comparing the 4max to my xl Voyager and Spartan. Both are big as well. The SR1 lite gets in Monday. My hands are XXL, I like ergonomics. I might bur a pouch for when I go up in the mountains. Thanks for the video.

[@jfk8469]

Always good to see content that is actually helpful, so thanks for making this video!!

[@KnifeThoughts]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@squick1842]

But how is the heat treatment? 😩

[@MadBison66]

Post. Love mine. Got mine for $50.00; they're out there. It's the best $50 I've ever spent on a knife, and I'm old. Value is through the roof.

[@umbertomasoero367]

Thanks for the video man, very interesting. Summing this up the old one seems to have a tougher tip, and different grind near the ricasso...does that mean that the old one also has a smidge more cutting edge?

[@KnifeThoughts]

I’m not sure now, I only kept the newer one as I preferred the grind on the newer one. Thanks for watching!

[@captcarl2]

Such a great knife. I have several both old and new logo and the plunge is the same. Makes me think it was a rolling change pre gsm. Do you have a recon 1 yet? Gotta check that out if not, would like to see a video on that one. Im partial to the spear point

[@KnifeThoughts]

I thinki had a recon once and didn't keep it but I'm not sure

[@thui7889]

How is the back lock pressure? I’ve only ever owned pre gsm cold steel folders and they were all thumb killers for me

[@multimargejta123]

How to know if it is a gsm or cold steel knife? Did they change logo or something?

[@KnifeThoughts]

Yep

[@carlostovar8585]

Just wondering, where did you buy your post GSM?

[@KnifeThoughts]

Midway USA. The pre GSM was White Mountain Knives.

[@danielsmit3524]

The swedge seems to be different lengths, or is it an optical illusion?

[@randomescu]

ive seen the new Mayhem on KZbin. seems like they are on the good track.

[@KnifeThoughts]

I don't think it's for me but hopefully they are!

[@just9911]

This might be blasphemy, but I think the new example of a clip point code 4 in s35vn is better than the old xhp version I’ve seen. They’re both excellent, but the new production code 4 was PERFECT. However, I actually prefer xhp as a blade steel. Edit - though I think any changes are just the result of OEM iteration on the same design as I was of the understanding that they’re still being made by the same people in Taiwan.

[@2lbsTrigrPull]

I had a CS American Lawman from 2017ish... with the CTS XHP steel which had a pretty "deformed" blade shape. The geometry was way off when you compared the left side to the right side. This really bothered me. I bought an AD-10 a few days back under GSM and the blade shape is perfect. A lot of people say an uneven grind is "quality drop" but that bogus. Grinds on each knife differes and if one is not 100% even it's not a bad knife. My Military 2 has a crooked grind but that doesn't bother me and I guess nobody would say the QC on Spyderco knives is going down because one off grind...

[@derickrichards1105]

Beavis and butthead thought Lynn Thompson was super cool

[@coldsteelcollector808]

There has been zero negative quality change since gsm buy out. I’ve been collecting cold steel for over 20 years now and have tons and tons of post gsm stuff already. My only “gripe” is that knives like the 3V AK fixed blade is made is Taiwan now and not Italy same for the 3V SRK but other than that quality remained cold steel tuff 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@KnifeThoughts]

Glad you've had good experiences!

[@kenmastersmaster]

I bought the old and new one this week and can confirm the blade is completely different and the new ones come in crappy packaging... No more box But not sure if the different blade really matters

[@KnifeThoughts]

I think there are hang packaging ones but I believe they still do boxes also

[@kenmastersmaster]

@@KnifeThoughts lite models/scout and anything cheap gets the blister pack

[@carlostovar8585]

Where did you purchase?

[@kenmastersmaster]

@@carlostovar8585 Midway

[@jared8530]

As long as Lynn is still apart of Cold Steel GSM will make robust quality knives....once he goes to Valhalla tho Cold steel quality will fall harshly

[@2lbsTrigrPull]

internet lore.

[@gizmocarr3093]

I have only bought a few Cold Steel knives since the sale. I believe Lynn Thompson still has influence on the quality of Cold Steel knives. It wasn’t uncommon seeing new improved models come out even when he still controlled the company.

[@KnifeThoughts]

Yes I just saw a post from Luke LaFontaine that said they're (he and Lynn C) still in contact with GSM.

[@bdwillis8284]

Currently $68, great price for a great knife.