Top 5 Cold Steel Knives - One Brand Collection Challenge

[@bitumen83]

I was waiting for this. Me as a guy who lives in Eastern Europe, Cold Steel was my first love regarding to knives. Unfortunately in my country I dont have too much brands like you guys in USA, so I bought few Cold Steel EDC knifes. They are expensive here, but very good quality knifes.

[@Beamer199]

Damn, yea man. Im also from Europe and i can 100% agree. They are really much more expensive, then the prices that we're named in the Video. Well, i buy them anyway coz i Love their qualitiy. The strong Lock in the XL folders No one Else hast or also their fixes Blades. Just bought my Long awaited dream knive, Lynn thompsons Last masterpiece, which was perfectionized over 20 or more years now: the gurkha kukri plus in 3v. That one Just Blow me away. Got it for 550€, so still really expensive but much cheaper than CS lists it in their Site.

[@ericblase4873]

Great new series but it would be sweet if you turned these into Seth vs DCA formats where you each show your 5 picks

[@mitch_edc]

And if each just kept it to five!

[@claptree3217]

Agreed, that would be great! Always enjoy the vs content.

[@DampActionRC]

they've done that, it was great, they picked some of the same

[@rtz549]

Do this type of coverage with more brands.

[@Monsoonpain]

I think they did that, and they were even able to predict each other's pick. .if I recall correctly

[@sea-2366]

Cold steel knives rock. I wish other manufactures would make knives like cold steel.

[@TMthumper]

The AK47 folder is highly underrated. S35VN DLC blade & an aluminum pommel. Andrew Demko design. So good

[@armemshi]

dude, i had no idea my ak47 had an aluminum pommel. wasn't the old version's made of some hard plastic?

[@isthebeeflol]

Make it in better 3v also

[@chiefslief1886]

Indeed!

[@Mr_Obvious]

The Ultimate Hunter does not get the love it deserves. It's an outstanding knife, especially if you do a choil mod on it.

[@jeremyb0793]

I've been carrying Cold Steel blades for 20 years. Some of the best knives I have in my collection. My favorite is my Recon1 in CTS XHP. Holds an incredible edge and super durable

[@realbroggo]

With you. Although I started collecting knives about 35 years ago, my first serious brand purchases were Cold Steel & Spyderco. Both offer very functional and user focused knives and are good value (yes cost more $$$ these days but so does everything!). Have a great day.

[@jeremyb0793]

@@realbroggo thanks you too. Yeah Spyderco is great as well. Love their blades as well. But when the word robust comes up Cold Steel definitely comes to mind 1st

[@user-pk2fg8im4u]

I picked every one that you did except the Lucky Two, of course as an old farmer, my formal events are things like machinery auctions. Great presentation, thank you!

[@scootertribeg1708]

Could add a budget amount for the 5 total as well. How far does $500 dollars go on one brand compared to another, for example.

[@franka9760]

The Cold Steel AD10 with its Tri-Ad lock is an absolute beast. Huge chunk of S35VN blade steel, held rock solid by the Tri-Ad--best lock on the market today. Its only rival is the Spyderco Manix 2 XL in Cruwear, also massive, and with a ton of good looks.

[@deceptivepanther]

Great idea for a series. It might be interesting to see SOG next

[@MM-hl7dw]

The value you get from Cold Steel knives is just incredable. Especially when you compare it to stuff like the taggedout in the last video…

[@TheAustralian1x]

This series is the best because it covers everyones interests, folders, choppers, fixed blades, you got it all in every video, you guys are on a winning series, this is the knife talk i like rather that just showing whats new

[@bitumen83]

Strangely he didnt show any Tanto blade here, for which is Cold Steel famous.

[@jwesley235]

I started my knife collection with Cold Steel knives, specifically the old Twistmaster series with Opinel-like locking mechanisms.

[@zachmcmahan8481]

Love the idea for this series. Could we possibly get Spyderco next?

[@18cummins18]

No because they are trash

[@zachmcmahan8481]

@@18cummins18 They actually make some great knives. You are entitled to your opinion though.

[@amitzdullnicker2k]

@@18cummins18lol 😂 Grow up.

[@Pharto_Stinkus]

Ive always felt that the Code 4 is one of the most underrated knives in the hobby. I think that might be my big knife choice, if I was restricted to Cold Steel Knives.

[@realbroggo]

With you. Scales can be a bit slick but well built, works hard and carries very flat/discrete. Have a great day.

[@chriss3886]

Agree, have used it as my "heavy duty" folder for a couple years. Rising which blade: Tanto, Drop Point, or Bowie a needed. All in XHP.

[@grepora]

@@realbroggo I agree. If Cold Steel added some well placed knurling on the handles, I would be inclined to purchase one. However, I don't like all metal handles. I prefer G-10 or Micarta. I recently purchased an S35VN American Lawman. The G-10 does not have the insane grippiness of the old AUS-8 models -- although it is still very grippy. Also, the handle is about 1/8th inch smaller than the older model.

[@evanjack1466]

My 5 blade choice would be Gurkha Kukri in 3v, Trail Master, Master Hunter, Pendleton mini in 3v and the Lucky 2. I have them all and like this setup very much.

[@armenarakelian9876]

Great video, when I got into collecting knives my first 2 knives were the Cold steel SR1 and AD10. Still have them, will never get rid of them

[@NathanScooterKile]

Happy to see the ultimate hunter finally get some attention, great , ans for the money to me its hard to beat

[@godoit3795]

The 4 I use the most. American lawman Master hunter in sanmai Srk in carbon v Trail master in 3v

[@shanecoursen]

First: I like the format of the video. Second: Between all that you have selected, and wherever I have chosen to go with Cold Steel (but haven't yet pulled the trigger), several of these are in my KC wishlist. Nice to know that all I really need is time & patience. And money. (Mostly money.)

[@rustleshackleford1553]

You need a tanto in the fix blade category.

[@MrTJohnston]

Really wish cold steel would release a Recon 1 without a coated blade. It’s in S35 so it’s not needed.

[@FarmersSON55]

I have had a Recon 1 for about four years, very tough knife!!😊

[@magritteetmoncouteau]

- SR1 Lite Clip Point for a hard use folder - Tuff Lite for EDC - Urban Edge push dagger for obvious reasons - SRK full size in SK-5 as camping/survival/tactical tool - Recon Scout or Trail Master as choppers/shtf tools I got so many Cold Steels but those are my ideal choices.

[@brianmatthews3450]

Awesome new series. I'd love to see some budget ones like crkt would be a good one and so would civivi

[@edwardk6764]

I am a fan of cold steel's throwing style knives. Have a gi tanto, a Shanghai shadow, a sure flight thrower, and a set of medium sure strike shurikens.

[@demonhunter-skydomeatlanti1746]

I have cold steel’s entire CTS XHP line-up / offerings. Plus many retired CS knives in Carbon Steel. Been collecting Cold Steel for 20 years.

[@tagwache88]

The Air Lite is missing. It's very thin and light. I like it a lot despite having an AUS10 blade.

[@TheScotchaholic]

Love my Air Lite and the AUS10A! Great performing and easily maintained budget steel - a little better edge retention than the older AUS8A, which I'm also a fan of, after MANY years of Cold Steel blades.

[@realbroggo]

With you. It's my small/light folding blade option. Very discrete but works hard for its size. AUS-10 is a fine EDC - steel edge retention is good enough and is easy to maintain. Have a great day.

[@redastrachan8978]

Love mine - except the XXL clip

[@RetardOlympics]

Every knife in this video was 150 bucks or more 🤣🤣

[@gamallsdokkalfs7253]

DCA, I've actually gave this topic a lot of thought. I have many knives, including some I've made myself. No Chinese-made knives for me when my life is in peril. When the SHTF in the USA, my five GOTO knives are: 1) my Swiss Army Fieldmaster in left front pocket; 2) my Cold Steel AD-15 (made in Taiwan - not China) in right front pocket; 3) no gentleman's knife for me, but a purely offensive knife - my Gerber Mark II strapped to my right lower leg; 4) my camp knife - my Ka-Bar BK2 in my right-side shoulder harness; and 5) my ESEE-6PDE-001 with the machined G10 scales in my left-side shoulder harness in cross draw location. And then there's the guns.

[@robertpanian6167]

Condor! I'm looking at a number of different knives by them right now and would love to hear your opinion in this format.

[@IvIidnight]

Recon 1 (plain edge, drop point), Recon 1 XL (full serrations, tanto), Espada XL, Recon Scout, and Trailmaster would be my 5. A 4" blade wouldn't normally be my smallest, but it's Cold Steel.

[@jonathancupp3686]

IMO, he Recon one (full sized) is finger safe. If you place your pointer finger in the first finger cut out while depressing the blade release, the blade cannot close on your finger when it drops. I know that’s a bad habit to get into if you regularly use different blades (I did see your Blade Show video with Mr. Glesser, 2022 I think), but it does work reliably with the Recon. Just sharing my thought. Not trying to discredit you or anything. Love the channel bro!😊

[@chiefelephanttuskbong8081]

I think for the price the AD-10 is a very good deal, it's a really well built tank of a knife with great materials though you could say that about a lot of their knives

[@vadimzhukov1269]

Great topic, David! While I share your thoughts on the knives you've selected, I still can't imagine a Cold Steel folding knife collection without the Recon 1, American Lawman, and Code 4.

[@davidheath2427]

When are you doing your next one of these . You could do so many brands .

[@jhakimi69]

DCA, I can't believe the tuff lite didnt make the cut! I do wish that knife came in more premium steel and handle material, but either way that knife is probably one of my favorite cold steels

[@1337flite]

Great video - this format is a great way to have a look at a good chunk of a brand's range. Hope we see a lot more of these. On the subject of Cold Steel *to me* it's funny people think Cold Steel's bread and butter is folders - large or small. It probably is these days, but that is not how I think of Cold Steel in my head. The first Cold Steels I can remember are the Carbon V Trailmaster and the Tantos . Both were availble in San Mai. I'm not sure if they were the first Cold Steels, but they were the first I can remember. They were advertised in Soldier of Fortune and were very expensive and not easy to get ahold of over here in Australia. It's actually possible that the very first Cold Steel I saw was tghe Urban Pal or the Urban Skinner, but the Trailmaster and Tantos are what are stuck in my head. It's been a while now. So I think of Cold Steel more as a fixed blade large-ish knife company. The Kukri - I can't recall what it is called the SRK, the Special Projects knives. Even the first small Cold Steel knife I can remember was a fixed blade - the Urban Pal push dagger. I know Cold Steel started making folders, but folders and pockeyt knies is just not how I think of them - it's not the first thing I think of when you say Cold Steel. When I think Cold Steel I think Trail Master and Tanto. If I think more I think Urban Pal and the new kid - the SRK. In a way I don't think of their folders as "real" Cold Steel and probably unfairly I don't think of theior folders as high tier production knives. The folders seem like johnny come lately after thoughts to me. For me Cold Steel is primarily a fixed fighting and survival/field knife company and to some extent I think of the post Carbon V knives as lesser knives - again that is unfair of me, but that is how ideas stick in my head. I guess I'm just old and crusty.

[@LonestarTaoboy]

My 5 knife collection: Recon 1, Mini Recon 1, Code 4, American Lawman, Master or Magnum Tanto in 3V. Up next I believe Spyderco has the inventory for such a consideration. This is the way.

[@jasonweeks6318]

^ is my choice too

[@fvazquez64]

@@jasonweeks6318 yes, mine too!

[@Monsoonpain]

I WANT THAT 3V TANTO SO BAD....I hope it's as great as I imagine. I was gonna get it, but they had the non 3V version at the gun/ knife shop I always go to. My back up place was out

[@DylanLey]

This is a really cool new series! Cold Steel is a great brand to start off the series! I feel like Boker, Kershaw, and CRKT would be great brands to highlight in future episodes! For my choices, I'm going to have to agree with you on the AD15 and the Lucky Two! The AD15 is a great "big" edc folder knife and I love the unique design! It has premium materials, great ergos, and a finger safe lock! The Lucky Two is a quality gentleman's knife that also packs a premium steel and good utility with the dual blades! For the "small" edc folder, I'll have to go with the Tuff Lite. It has everything you want from a Cold Steel knife in a very small package! I'm not that big of a fixed blade guy, so I only need one fixed blade and that's the iconic Recon Tanto! It's tactical and can be used in a more utilitarian setting! A tough, do-it-all fixed blade that I keep in my car!

[@s.h.v.c2865]

I love the Lucky, highly recommend it. It's both unlike Cold Steel and *very* Cold Steel at the same time. Very good value for money for the quality and materials, I'm surprised you didn't mention the price. For the 3", I probably would go with the Hold Out, that's on my wishlist, alongside the Code 4 for a larger folder.

[@barrykarpowich731]

Thank you for coming back to earth with prices,variety is nice but not everybody can afford tenderloin 😊

[@Gringorican]

Civivi would be an interesting one to do next as their catalog is pretty big

[@bhgtree]

I love Cold Steel folders, I have about 20 of them and they truly fit any type of use you could ask of them.Thanks DCA and KnifeCenter.

[@DampActionRC]

Thanks DCA for the wonderful review, now do Boker please. You've said in a previous video that if you had to stick to only one brand it would be them because of the variety in the models.

[@edwardmiller3469]

Great series! Keep it up with various popular brands. I would be interested in you vs. Seth ideas too.

[@Jody6441]

Love this new series! Can't wait to see others!!!

[@mdubb4855]

Big: 5.5” Voyager, 4” Voyager; plus 6” & 4” Ti Lite and Luzon; plus 5.5” Spartan.; plus 4” SR1 Lite. 4” Ti Lite is my most used, adequate food prep capability, super slim and not too heavy. SR1 Lite for emergency rescue tool, some real pry bar skills. Medium: 3.5” Rajah III and Air Lite. 3.2” Pro Lite. Can’t choose, but I do carry the Pro Lite in all 3 blade profiles. Small: Verdict has Joe x seal of approval. I rotate with Mini Recons. Small fixed: 2” Super Edge Large fixed: Kobun Gents: 1911. The model, not the pistol. As I thought about this and watched the vid - Cold Steel could stop inventing knives today and I could still spend the next 10 years adding to my collection.

[@j.p.4541]

Very informative and well articulated, thank you sir. Great post

[@LonestarTaoboy]

A number of criteria must be established for the category of "Gentleman's Carry". Is it blade length or overall length limited? Does an automatic qualify? Why aren't fixed blades considered.

[@damyr]

There's no need for so many various metrics. Gentleman's carry is simply considered to be a bit more fancy looking, smaller and less intimidating knife, intended to be carried in formal occasions, and to be used for some easy and simple tasks. Or in other words, it's total opposite to working/tactical knife types. Automatics can be included, tho it depends of their overall design. Fixed blades, in general, don't go well with suits, nor with formal occasions in present times... as we are not in 1700s anymore.

[@darkframepictures]

4Max Scout, SR1 Lite, American Lawman, Verdict, & Tuff Lite mini are in my CS collection. Love ‘em all. The 4max & SR1 could stand in for fixed blades competently.

[@mountaingoattaichi]

Great video! My 5-knife cold steel set: 1. SR1 Lite 2. Prolite or FinnWolf 3. Pendleton 4. SRK SK5 5. Latin Machete I would love to see a TOPS top5.

[@mdubb4855]

I just bought all three Pro Lites - clip, tanto, spear. Very under rated.

[@4StonesHandcraft]

I always seem to come back to the Finn Wolf, have had it for years. Modded the handle for comfort, which is easy because no liners. Not a super steel but great heat treat and cuts like crazy.

[@mrnothingbettertodo]

I initially thought I’d like to see Spyderco next but Buck or Boker would be pretty interesting.

[@dennisleighton2812]

Wow! Nothing there to fight about! I own a Trail Master San Mai III, and I go along with the assessment - it's a GREAT knife! Now, for the next manufacturer, and a challenge indeed, DC! Let's see how how you do for Victorinox? Go for it! I'm waiting with bated breath.

[@littlemouse7066]

I don't understand much the obsession with "finger safe" locks the triad lock is one of the strongest locks out there and you hopefully have two hands so you can operate it without problems and without any risk for your fingers. I think it's the best choice for a hard working knife.

[@usergonemad]

You absolutely have to add a Cold Steel fully serrated kitchen utility knife to your personal list. I have one with a 6" blade and it's the single most useful kitchen knife I own, price be hanged. Crazy sharp, extremely comfortable in long use, and overall a real pleasure to prepare food with.

[@georgecook5120]

On the large folder, how come the 4-Max Scout was not included in the discussion? For the next brand, look at Spyderco.

[@jhakimi69]

It feels like y'all made this video just for me

[@RichardPoogerman]

Great idea for a series and an awesome premier, you guys rock 👍

[@eighteen0seven]

I always, almost religiously carry my cold steel recon 1 in my wallet pocket. Mini tuff lite also gets plenty of use, which isn't shown here... love it!!

[@maxlvledc]

Perfect choices!

[@sonofagun9856]

great video DCA, as a relatively noob to knife collecting i love every video you do (and i watched older videos in your collection too) i love the folding flavour of knives and wish we had the choice to carry more than just a swiss army knife (i'm from the uk) i own a few larger flippers and love every knife that you show us, keep up the great work sir

[@wcreview8227]

Very Surprised.. The AD10 is my #1 All Around suggestion as far as Value and usability of ALL my knives..

[@happykt]

My Favorite Cold Steel Knives - AD10, Recon1, American Lawman, Rajah II, Tuff Lite, SR1, Canadian Belt knife, and the Kiridashi. I own them all. My Verdict is in my car, and is my emergency knife. Its plain and forgettable but has the triad lock.

[@americansuperdad5769]

I've got a Swift, and until I started carrying my Hogue, that was my EDC. It's a beast!

[@qui-gone]

Interesting series concept - I am not much of a folder guy so i would probably have these categories 1. pocket knife (only folder) 2. small fixed blade / last ditch blade (tactical) 3. medium fixed blade (EDC, camping, tactical) 4. Survival knife (Camping, tactical) 5. Choppa (woodlands) My restrictions because of where i live are a hard 9" limit on blade length and no assisted knives of any kind and no daggers. I would go with TOPS as my go-to brand for this and stick with MSF-G, Street Scalpel 2.0, CUT 4.0, Steel Eagle Delta Class and Bushcrafter Kukuri for the aforementioned categories. Without my restrictions, i might consider one of their daggers (modern gladius for e.g.), el Chete or Kuma Cage.

[@michaelgoains8001]

You should add a sixth knife to the list, being the one tool option.

[@ryancharles7226]

Great new series! Looking forward to seeing other brands and the reasons why the choices are being made.

[@mattgonzales810]

Great series looking forward to more of these. Next up Boker has my vote. 🤘🤙✌

[@johnamoroso271]

Cool idea for a series. I would swap in the Ultimate Hunter and Tuff Lite for my folders. CS doesn't have a gentleman's knife. And since I have no need for a giant fixed blade, I'd add something with a scandi, probably the Finn.

[@wpymes]

Unknowingly I own 2 of the 5: the AD15 and the Master Hunter. The AD!15 is an engineerig masterpiece annd the Hunter fits like a glove in the hand. I also have a SRK in 3V which is my great outdoor knife. After hours of searching the web for a knife for a particular use, I end up buying Cold Steel. Great video. Thumbs up!

[@GuillotineStare]

As soon as I saw the American lawman s35 wasn’t on the table. I knew this was not a serious guy.

[@JerryLoffelbein]

Nice choices for sure! I probably wouldn't have gone with the AD-15 myself, but it's still a good knife. The American Lawman is a bit more interesting to me. Small folder for me would probably be the Mini Recon 1, but if we were dipping into the past, the Medium & Small Voyagers were fantastic. I love my Lucky One; I thought they were discontinued around the time ownership traded hands, but I guess there was just a shuffle. The Lucky Two is now just the "Lucky" and my beloved single blade version is gone. I could imagine how fatiguing it would be to use that Drop Forged Bowie for any length of time for chopping/impact tasks since there's no decoupling between the blade and handle. Our bodies don't tend to like acting as shock absorbers more than necessary. Although the center of the handle is hollow, so it wouldn't be difficult to get a wrap of paracord or leather going to mitigate some of that.

[@cemetarygates2800]

Good to see you brother David.

[@jaybolton9117]

See, I pull off all my pocket clips. They go, they go right in my pocket.

[@Fishbag61]

DCA, loved the concept of the series. Some good choices there...Big Cold Steel fan here. I have somewhere north of 100 of them. Sounds like a lot, but you'd be surprised to find how many of them I do not have. I'm primarily a folder guy, so I currently only have about twenty of their fixed blades. In fact, two of them that you mentioned in the vid, the Trail Master, and the Drop Forged Bowie, well, they are now on my to get list...Cheers!

[@jlogan2228]

Cold steel has been my go to brand for year bc i feel like i can get a very good knife to suit the jobs i need that wont break easily, is very affordable to replace or buy extra, and is designed to be used vs just look oretty and cute string and tape

[@r.w.6251]

I own several Cold Steel back lock knives because I’m left handed and many Cold Steels are fully ambidextrous. My only complaint is your index finger is always in the blade path when closing. Spyderco, on the other hand, has an unsharpened section of the blade hit your finger when closing with many of their back locks.

[@NewBobDylan]

My favorite brand

[@johnwest4492]

Thanks to you DCA, I was lucky enough to pick up a Lucky One with S35VN for 45.00 and I love mine and thank you again great knife for the price ❤😊

[@etherealicer]

Some brands you will struggle to cover all 5 categories... with Boker you will stuggle to only choose one per category.

[@bokusimondesu]

Yup! With Boker you could almost do two. One for Boker+ and one for Boker Magnum.

[@Pattmcgroin]

Great first pic on doing cold steel! I’d like to see esee, buck, and kershaw!

[@lonetrader1]

I just need em to bring that desperado back man......😢

[@chancecarlton8403]

I have zero Cold Steel knives and I really need to remedy that. These look fantastic.

[@michaelpeters5696]

Great series starter DCA. Easy choice- Columbia River and Gerber

[@jondoe168]

Great idea for a new series. Looking forward to see what other brands make the cut

[@jimkissell1620]

I would love to see dca’s opinion on the best 5 knife collection for tactical cqb knives. I’d have to include a pocket deployment folder, a small fixed blade karambit, a kabar style survival knife, an otf, and a large fixed blade fighter

[@vegpwrshlominator1873]

I’m going cold steel super edge. Would love a more upgraded version of this guy without serrations and rubberised handle.

[@mdubb4855]

On a couple of mine I had the serrations ground into plain edge but now the blade is a lot narrower. I’ve sort of come around to the effectiveness of the serrations. It needs a narrower sheath is my only gripe.

[@charlescollier7217]

Thanks for this, Mr. Andersen and Thomas. Perhaps the most telling thing about this is that there were no other options for the gentlemans folder. Cold Steel should do something about that.

[@TRoutdooradventures]

Favorite knife brand. Our tastes couldnt be more different. I carry espadas and talwars everywhere i go lol.

[@paulgarcia2601]

Hi Knife Center and comments section! Had to comment on the Cold Steel video to show my appreciation for this channel. My curiosity for knives started with Cold Steel but my love for learning about all things knives started here. Your consistently high quality content has created a long time fan

[@realbroggo]

Great vid. Love the theme! The five broad categories work for me. My personal picks (based on my current collection): 1. AD-10. 2. Air Lite. 3. Gents Folder - NIL (no Cold Steel meets my gents requirements) 4. SRK-C 5. Largest I have is an SRK (I don't carry blades over 7") but I like the Trail Master in the vid. I've fallen out of love with Cold Steel since GSM buy-out. Purely personal opinion but value & quality have dipped but still worth a look. Can't wait to see the next brand. Sharp blades all.

[@KenWalsh-xh1ds]

Excellent! Would like to see a Kershaw collection. Thanks

[@freestatefellow]

Excellent series idea! Spyderco and Boker have got to be next up on the docket.

[@JimLander]

I like this series. Someone suggested adding Seth’s picks the mix. That would be okay. Either way goes good for me. Maybe van ask for our personal picks.

[@Maddawwg45]

i think you nailed it with your pick

[@rosskrueger3322]

I would love to see an installment of this series on Boker

[@gilldeguill]

Great ! Looking forward to seeing other episodes on great brands such as spyderco benchmade etc.

[@treyh0079]

Excellent series idea, looking forward to see what’s coming up next! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@poacher-ec9zo]

They can nail those 5 plus every kitchen type

[@HelplessTeno]

Recently snapped not one, but both Omega springs in my Mini Adamas Magnacut. It's my least used knife and they both snapped. Time for a triad lock.