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Post by howler on Feb 13, 2018 20:48:54 GMT
You would LOVE to play with the Ontario SP5 and SP10 Marine Raider. They are quantum leaps beyond anything in their (under $40) price point. Buy them both and don't think twice.
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Post by howler on Feb 13, 2018 21:00:14 GMT
You would LOVE to play with the Ontario SP5 and SP10 Marine Raider. They are quantum leaps beyond anything in their (under $40) price point. Buy them both and don't think twice. I am sure the SP10 would be a beast with a regrind. But it probably has the same "textured" coating the sp6 has. Not a big fan of that kind of coating. DLC coating or no coating IMO. Still, for the price and some time on the belts...It would certainly be a forearm lopper at the least. I'm not sure what the best way is to remove the coating, but I'm sure it would be worth the $39 Midway USA is offering those things for. Great lump of high quality, 1/4" 1095 steel from a USA company. These things are tough, vetted work horses. The SP5 is much lighter, but still sports a 1/4" blade. Start grinding, my friend.
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Post by randomnobody on Feb 13, 2018 21:35:28 GMT
I'll admit, the Black Bear (Classic?) is one of few Cold Steel products I wouldn't mind having. I was never gonna put out what they wanted for it, though, so unless I can get a great deal on the secondary market, I'll just live without. Thought about their OSS or OSA, too, but eh...I have other knives I want more. Trust me, there's a lot of CS products you wouldn't mind having, as they feature a rather large constellation of folders and fixed knives, machete, sword, spear, tomahawk, etc... Now, how much of it is worth forking over the cash is quite another matter, but I still wouldn't mind having much of it. Actually, the greater majority of Cold Steel products simply have no appeal to me and the handful I've handled over the years just haven't been good. Okay? Sure. Decent? Yeah, I guess. Good? Eh... Either way I'm not about to pay Cold Steel prices on Cold Steel merch. But they have their fans.
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Post by howler on Feb 13, 2018 23:51:15 GMT
Trust me, there's a lot of CS products you wouldn't mind having, as they feature a rather large constellation of folders and fixed knives, machete, sword, spear, tomahawk, etc... Now, how much of it is worth forking over the cash is quite another matter, but I still wouldn't mind having much of it. Actually, the greater majority of Cold Steel products simply have no appeal to me and the handful I've handled over the years just haven't been good. Okay? Sure. Decent? Yeah, I guess. Good? Eh... Either way I'm not about to pay Cold Steel prices on Cold Steel merch. But they have their fans. I guess what I'm saying is that even discounting the greater majority of products still leaves a plethora of items that would appeal to anybody remotely interested in blades. There is still a lot of CTS-XHP and 3V goodness too be had. If you are (I believe) mainly talking swords, there are certainly better markets than (Windlass plus) CS, so I get what your saying, as I've gotten some real losers myself from time to time. I suppose CS should divide itself into departments (Swords, fixed blades, folding knives, pole-arm/spear, machete).
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Post by randomnobody on Feb 14, 2018 0:27:30 GMT
Nah, I browse their knife catalog more than their swords and I haven't, in years, seen anything I liked more than something else from another brand. I'm not a supersteel nut so none of those letters and numbers ( )have any value to me. I'm more about design, aestetics, and workability. I still need to buy a new arabe from JJ Martinez to replace the one I wore out a few years ago, though the Manly I bought initially to subsidize it isn't exactly bad...
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Post by legacyofthesword on Feb 14, 2018 1:08:00 GMT
Trust me, there's a lot of CS products you wouldn't mind having, as they feature a rather large constellation of folders and fixed knives, machete, sword, spear, tomahawk, etc... Now, how much of it is worth forking over the cash is quite another matter, but I still wouldn't mind having much of it. Actually, the greater majority of Cold Steel products simply have no appeal to me and the handful I've handled over the years just haven't been good. Okay? Sure. Decent? Yeah, I guess. Good? Eh... Either way I'm not about to pay Cold Steel prices on Cold Steel merch. But they have their fans. I'm a major fan of CS knives - I tend to beat the living daylights out of my folders, so I really appreciate the crazy toughness of their knives. All the ones I've ever handled have also had flawless fit and finish. Their other stuff doesn't stand out much to me, but the knives are just great.
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Post by howler on Feb 14, 2018 2:54:34 GMT
Nah, I browse their knife catalog more than their swords and I haven't, in years, seen anything I liked more than something else from another brand. I'm not a supersteel nut so none of those letters and numbers ( )have any value to me. I'm more about design, aestetics, and workability. I still need to buy a new arabe from JJ Martinez to replace the one I wore out a few years ago, though the Manly I bought initially to subsidize it isn't exactly bad... If you wait for the deals you can score some pretty amazing stuff, as your correct about the general price point vs the competition. Benchmade and Spyderco are better than Cold Steel, equal pricing considered. However, XL Voyagers (with Aus8) for $35 were mind boggling. Actually, anything in the XL size range is basically cornered by CS. I got a few of their XL Talwar with the CTS-XHP (think VG10 with enhanced corrosion resistance...I'm kinda a steel snob, but not crazy so), unbeatable Triad lock, G10 handles, for $66. If you don't think that the XL Talwar folder ain't pretty...you don't have a pulse . I do like the smoothness (Axis lock) of my Benchmade Griptilian, however, and it only cost $67 for a Blue Class. I also got stupid deals, years ago, on my Spyderco Endura ($37) and Delica ($22), but, really, Benchmade and Spyderco usually charge WAY over $100 for even their modest stuff. I got a medium espada folder and Steve Austin Broken Skull (I know, I know...STUPID name, but a 4" blade at only three ounces) for $50 each, both with the CTS steel. As you can see, I'm kind of a price point guy...only way I can afford to have a large selection of...gulp..."specimens" to collect. In addition to CS, I bought a whole poop load of Ontario, Condor, Aranyik, Ka-Bar stuff, when the moons aligned correctly for the right deal.
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Post by howler on Feb 14, 2018 3:00:25 GMT
I'm a major fan of CS knives - I tend to beat the living daylights out of my folders, so I really appreciate the crazy toughness of their knives. All the ones I've ever handled have also had flawless fit and finish. Their other stuff doesn't stand out much to me, but the knives are just great. CS Folders with the XHP Steel and the TRI-AD smash the vast majority of other knives on the market into the pavement. Got an XL Recon 1 clip point (XHP steel) for $79 a few months back from Knife Center. I actually called then to tell them they were mistakenly charging the wrong price (Aus8 version). THAT knife utterly destroys anything even close to it...and nothing is close to it.
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Post by randomnobody on Feb 14, 2018 4:43:15 GMT
Had to look up the take are (specifying "knife") and uh...I guess I'm dead.
Come to think of it, there are very few Spyderco and Benchmade knives that I like and those I do are out of the price range I'm willing to go for them right now.
Though I did break down, a couple years ago now, and drop something like $225 on a Wildsteer WX00...so maybe one day I'll do it again with another knife. I'm trying to justify the 46€ to replace the aforementioned JJ Martinez, because I miss that knife.
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Post by howler on Feb 14, 2018 4:49:53 GMT
Had to look up the take are (specifying "knife") and uh...I guess I'm dead. Come to think of it, there are very few Spyderco and Benchmade knives that I like and those I do are out of the price range I'm willing to go for them right now. Though I did break down, a couple years ago now, and drop something like $225 on a Wildsteer WX00...so maybe one day I'll do it again with another knife. I'm trying to justify the 46€ to replace the aforementioned JJ Martinez, because I miss that knife. Those JJ Marinez look like some very pretty and exotic slip joint types (a type of knife I also like and have many of). You really don't think those Talwar XL folders ain't sexy? I would have intercourse with those blades if it meant I wouldn't end up a bloody mess in the ER. Spyderco and Benchmade go CRAZY over the super steels, which I would love to have, but not at the expense of the...uh...expense.
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Post by randomnobody on Feb 14, 2018 4:55:03 GMT
I don't buy slip joints. Mine were the semi-famous "carraca" lock. Specifically, my knife head four teeth. I've got others from different makers with five, but I carry a Martinez Albainox with six. My Joker only has one, very strong lock. Likewise the Manly. My big JJ Martinez does only have one locking point, though, come to think of it. I bought that one more as a showpiece, for something like $150, but I do sometimes use it in the kitchen. That 9" blade I posted earlier with all the others. I can't even remember which models I liked from Spyderco and Benchmade, but I can tell you one thing about all these knives: None of them are bowies.
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Post by howler on Feb 14, 2018 5:17:35 GMT
Got an XL Recon 1 clip point (XHP steel) for $79 a few months back from Knife Center. I actually called then to tell them they were mistakenly charging the wrong price (Aus8 version). THAT knife utterly destroys anything even close to it...and nothing is close to it. I mean what else does someone want? Premium blade steel? Check (Xhp is actually considered to be BETTER then s30v by some) Shaving sharp right out of the box? Check Premium lock? Tri-ad is the strongest out there. What else comes close for price? And that's not even counting the main issue, which is an almost complete lack of XL (extra large folder) competition. I will say that the only negative with the Tri-ad is the increased difficulty of one handed closing, but it is the opening that must be fast, so no big deal.
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Post by howler on Feb 14, 2018 5:26:31 GMT
I don't buy slip joints. Mine were the semi-famous "carraca" lock. Specifically, my knife head four teeth. I've got others from different makers with five, but I carry a Martinez Albainox with six. My Joker only has one, very strong lock. Likewise the Manly. My big JJ Martinez does only have one locking point, though, come to think of it. I bought that one more as a showpiece, for something like $150, but I do sometimes use it in the kitchen. That 9" blade I posted earlier with all the others. I can't even remember which models I liked from Spyderco and Benchmade, but I can tell you one thing about all these knives: None of them are bowies. Those Martinez are nice. My slip joint knives were pretty cheap, all under $10 (Boker, Kissing Krane), but nice because you have between two and four different sized and shaped blades, which is very utilitarian. No wonder men carried them for over a century, even to this day. Of course, people like the one handed opening folders with pocket clips, as that has been the revolution of the last 30 years or so, and I can't say I blame people as I have SEVERAL of those myself. BOWIES, baby!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 10:18:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 19:54:18 GMT
"My guess is that the frontier men used their big knives mainly for dressing/skinning/butchering "
No need to guess. Different knives for different tasks. Axes were/are the appropriate tool for woodwork.
The Lewis&Clark journals are free to read and include the entire inventory of what they drew for the expedition. Some swords for the officers but not a great many.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Feb 14, 2018 20:07:55 GMT
I don't buy slip joints. Mine were the semi-famous "carraca" lock. Specifically, my knife head four teeth. I've got others from different makers with five, but I carry a Martinez Albainox with six. My Joker only has one, very strong lock. Likewise the Manly. Joker? What knife is that? The name sounds intriguing....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 20:13:48 GMT
Joker is a Spanish brand.
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Post by legacyofthesword on Feb 14, 2018 20:17:47 GMT
Joker is a Spanish brand. Cool - I'll look it up, but do you happen to have a link?
Never mind, found 'em.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2018 20:25:05 GMT
Chiding a bit here but has the ability of research become redundancy, or laziness? How many seek out texts beyond wikis and how many still buy physical books?
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Post by randomnobody on Feb 14, 2018 21:06:02 GMT
Sorry, yeah, Joker is a Spanish knife manufacturer. I refer to their 90mm bandolero model. I bought it several years back when a thread here piqued my interest in classical Spanish navaja, one of five knives I bought, including the aforementioned JJ Martinez and Martinez Albainox. While it gets flak for not being a proper, traditional design, it's turned out to be one of my better knives. Great edge retention, super sharp, sturdy lock, and while somewhat hefty still easy to use. Not bad for a little thing, but the broad belly and long clip point make it act a little bigger. As to research, I'm not one to study randomly but my Google-fu is pretty good whenever something catches my interest. I have a few books, but haven't read the entirety of most and they're all boxed up in a closet right now, so eh...
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