Cold Steel Ti Lite folder Review (6'' blade, zytel handle)
Oct 19, 2010 21:45:23 GMT
Post by Sébastien on Oct 19, 2010 21:45:23 GMT
Cold Steel Folding Knife Ti-Lite 6" Blade with Zytel Handles
A review by
Sébastien B., Montréal, Québec
'Bout time I do a review, I have a few swords and plenty of knives to review, so I decided to start with a bang by reviewing of the most outrageous, impossibly-cool and almost-utterly-useless folder ever made, the Cold Steel Ti Lite. This review will be about the 6'' blade, zytel handle version. Let's go.
Introduction
I have been eyeing this knife for a long time. I always liked knives with long, sharp, slender lines, especially those with long blades. With its 6'' long, finely-crafted blade, this knife looked just too good to ignore. After making sure that this knife was legal in my little part of America and discovering that I could get one for just 50 bucks, I took the plunge with this knife.
I bought it from www.knifecenter.com, for about 50 $ (see here ; www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store ... ?s=CS26SXP ). Shipping was quick and efficient. I have always been satisfied by knifecenter services.
Here's some numbers, from knifecenter website :
•Weight: 6.8 oz.
•Blade Thick: 4mm
•Blade Length: 6"
•Handle: 7" long. Zytel®
•Steel: Japanese AUS 8A Stainless
•Overall Length: 13"
•Stainless Pocket/Belt Clip
•Made in Taiwan
Fittings
The handle is made of (duh) zytel. It is black and sports multiple holes. They look good (IMO) and also decrease the weight of the knife. The zytel is slightly textured and has a number of diagonal lines, mostly for looks IMO. Overall, its ergonomics aren't very complicated but it fits easily in my hand and I think it would be easy to grip for anyone's hand.
It all comes with a pocket-clip made for tip-up, right-hand carry, which can be usncrewed, but has no other place to go then where it is already screwed.
The handle, by itself, looks and feels like a weapon. It is so large, long and heavy, that it would make a great improvised Kubotan or small blunt stick.
The blade is made of AUS 8A steel, it is 6'' long, and very slender and pointy. The back of the blade has a non-functionnal false-edge. It comes with a long, ridged thumbstud. It is an impressive, mean-looking blade, mostly because it seems crafted to stab and slash other people. In fact, it doesn't seem to be made for any other purpose than this. The ''hilt'' of the blade is a curved, ridged part of steel.
The locking mecanism is made of a liner-lock, opened either with the thumbstud (which is on the right-hand side, but can be unscrewed and placed on the left-hand side) or with the ''hilt'' of the blade. The size and weight of the blade affects the deployment of the knife ; it offers a slight resistance, but once that inertia is overcomed, the blade opens up very quickly with a strong lock-up sound. Opening with the thumbstud requires some practice; the thumbstud is a bit too close to the grip to be fully effective and easy to use, although it is quite useable. The hilt can be used to open the blade when removing it from your pocket, or by pushing the ''hilt'' the right way. Like the thumbstud, it isn't the most practical way of opening a knife that I have seen (compared to, for example, Spyderco thumb-hole), but it works fine and I think it will please almost any buyer, after some practice. Both of these techniques require a bit of wrist action to open the blade, but not more than most of the other folder that I own.
A downside of the lock mechanism is that it is a bit hard to close ; the linerlock locks too tighly and is a bit uncomfortable to close, it can be frustrating to use.
Here is a clip of me opening and closing the blade ;
One very important thing that I have to mention about this knife is what I would call the ''legal problem'' ; this knife is clearly a weapon, it clearly has no other purpose than hurting other people (and looking cool). This means that if you are caught by a police offer with this model in your pocket, I think you will likely be in big trouble. Chances are the cop will make a face similar to this one ;
Although laws vary from one place to another, I highly doubt there is any state or province where carrying this folder is legal. And even if it is technically legal, and that you intend to wear this knife, prepare some good explanations for Mr. Officer.
Handling and cutting
This knife feels great in hand. Althought it is quite heavy and large for a folder, it is light for its massive size ; many 13'' long knives that I have seen and held were heavier than the 6'' Ti Lite. The handle offers a strong, comfortable grip, I think it would take serious resistance to wrench your hand away from it. This knife feels like it is ready to furiously and quickly jab, thrust, slice and slash at anything. The long blade and the large grip inspire confidence. The handle, all by itself, feels like a fearsome blunt weapon.
I did one short cutting session with this folder, and it easily cut throught most water bottles that I used. It also easily pierced through most of them.
Conclusion
Pros
-Large, sharp blade
-Quick, impressive deployment
-Lots of cool-factor points and lots of knife for the price
Cons
-Not police officer friendly
-Quite heavy and cumbersome to be easily carried
Overall, I am very happy to have this knife. It is so much fun to drool over and to snap open. It is also a great conversation starter when I show it to anyone who likes weapons. I think I got one very big and very cool knife for my money. However, I think ''coolness'' is the only serious use of this knife. I believe it fails as a true tactical folder ; it is too large and heavy for what it offers. Other tactical knives on the market are smaller and/or offer other uses, for example ; the Blackhawk CQD folder has a 3,75'' blade and weights almost 10 oz., but it comes with a glassbreaker and rope-cutter.
So, in all, this is a great knife for your collection and for fouling around, but it has little practical value, IMHO.
A review by
Sébastien B., Montréal, Québec
'Bout time I do a review, I have a few swords and plenty of knives to review, so I decided to start with a bang by reviewing of the most outrageous, impossibly-cool and almost-utterly-useless folder ever made, the Cold Steel Ti Lite. This review will be about the 6'' blade, zytel handle version. Let's go.
Introduction
I have been eyeing this knife for a long time. I always liked knives with long, sharp, slender lines, especially those with long blades. With its 6'' long, finely-crafted blade, this knife looked just too good to ignore. After making sure that this knife was legal in my little part of America and discovering that I could get one for just 50 bucks, I took the plunge with this knife.
I bought it from www.knifecenter.com, for about 50 $ (see here ; www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store ... ?s=CS26SXP ). Shipping was quick and efficient. I have always been satisfied by knifecenter services.
Here's some numbers, from knifecenter website :
•Weight: 6.8 oz.
•Blade Thick: 4mm
•Blade Length: 6"
•Handle: 7" long. Zytel®
•Steel: Japanese AUS 8A Stainless
•Overall Length: 13"
•Stainless Pocket/Belt Clip
•Made in Taiwan
Fittings
The handle is made of (duh) zytel. It is black and sports multiple holes. They look good (IMO) and also decrease the weight of the knife. The zytel is slightly textured and has a number of diagonal lines, mostly for looks IMO. Overall, its ergonomics aren't very complicated but it fits easily in my hand and I think it would be easy to grip for anyone's hand.
It all comes with a pocket-clip made for tip-up, right-hand carry, which can be usncrewed, but has no other place to go then where it is already screwed.
The handle, by itself, looks and feels like a weapon. It is so large, long and heavy, that it would make a great improvised Kubotan or small blunt stick.
The blade is made of AUS 8A steel, it is 6'' long, and very slender and pointy. The back of the blade has a non-functionnal false-edge. It comes with a long, ridged thumbstud. It is an impressive, mean-looking blade, mostly because it seems crafted to stab and slash other people. In fact, it doesn't seem to be made for any other purpose than this. The ''hilt'' of the blade is a curved, ridged part of steel.
The locking mecanism is made of a liner-lock, opened either with the thumbstud (which is on the right-hand side, but can be unscrewed and placed on the left-hand side) or with the ''hilt'' of the blade. The size and weight of the blade affects the deployment of the knife ; it offers a slight resistance, but once that inertia is overcomed, the blade opens up very quickly with a strong lock-up sound. Opening with the thumbstud requires some practice; the thumbstud is a bit too close to the grip to be fully effective and easy to use, although it is quite useable. The hilt can be used to open the blade when removing it from your pocket, or by pushing the ''hilt'' the right way. Like the thumbstud, it isn't the most practical way of opening a knife that I have seen (compared to, for example, Spyderco thumb-hole), but it works fine and I think it will please almost any buyer, after some practice. Both of these techniques require a bit of wrist action to open the blade, but not more than most of the other folder that I own.
A downside of the lock mechanism is that it is a bit hard to close ; the linerlock locks too tighly and is a bit uncomfortable to close, it can be frustrating to use.
Here is a clip of me opening and closing the blade ;
One very important thing that I have to mention about this knife is what I would call the ''legal problem'' ; this knife is clearly a weapon, it clearly has no other purpose than hurting other people (and looking cool). This means that if you are caught by a police offer with this model in your pocket, I think you will likely be in big trouble. Chances are the cop will make a face similar to this one ;
Although laws vary from one place to another, I highly doubt there is any state or province where carrying this folder is legal. And even if it is technically legal, and that you intend to wear this knife, prepare some good explanations for Mr. Officer.
Handling and cutting
This knife feels great in hand. Althought it is quite heavy and large for a folder, it is light for its massive size ; many 13'' long knives that I have seen and held were heavier than the 6'' Ti Lite. The handle offers a strong, comfortable grip, I think it would take serious resistance to wrench your hand away from it. This knife feels like it is ready to furiously and quickly jab, thrust, slice and slash at anything. The long blade and the large grip inspire confidence. The handle, all by itself, feels like a fearsome blunt weapon.
I did one short cutting session with this folder, and it easily cut throught most water bottles that I used. It also easily pierced through most of them.
Conclusion
Pros
-Large, sharp blade
-Quick, impressive deployment
-Lots of cool-factor points and lots of knife for the price
Cons
-Not police officer friendly
-Quite heavy and cumbersome to be easily carried
Overall, I am very happy to have this knife. It is so much fun to drool over and to snap open. It is also a great conversation starter when I show it to anyone who likes weapons. I think I got one very big and very cool knife for my money. However, I think ''coolness'' is the only serious use of this knife. I believe it fails as a true tactical folder ; it is too large and heavy for what it offers. Other tactical knives on the market are smaller and/or offer other uses, for example ; the Blackhawk CQD folder has a 3,75'' blade and weights almost 10 oz., but it comes with a glassbreaker and rope-cutter.
So, in all, this is a great knife for your collection and for fouling around, but it has little practical value, IMHO.