Anyone own a Cold Steel AK47???

S

systemadude

Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
13
This is my first post, so forgive me if I'm doing it in the wrong place...
I'm looking into buying a Cold Steel AK47 folder. I however can't find a single worthwhile review on the knife. Even on youtube, where people have made video clips, they don't review it, they just sort of turn it around to show the view.

So do any of you knife fanatics own one of these things? I'm wondering if it's a lasting knife, how slippery the handle is, and how bulky it is...

Here's the link..
http://www.coldsteel.com/58lak.html

Cheers.
 
I own a number of Cold Steels but, alas, not an AK-47. The knife is big and a bit buy to suit many. My own preferance for a knife like that is for a longer blade, not a "fatter" one.

The knife is a tactical. It has a strong axis lock, is quick opening, and has an AUS8A blade. It can be had for a reasonably decent price on eBay and the G10 black model sells for more.

If I had to choose, I'd go with a Recon 1, but it's all a matter of taste.

If you're going to be doing a lot of cutting, you might want to tag a Kershaw Bump, which, for a few bucks more, will give you a strong knife with a premium S30V blade.

I like Cold Steel, and if the AK-47 looks good to you, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
Thanks Confederate, I agree with you about the fat blade on the AK47, though it has two features that I liked that most Cold Steel knives don't have.

The first is the lock, I'm always afraid that when a knife has one of those 'push releases' (I don't know what they're really called) that I'll close it on my fingers. I don't know if it's foolish though since it seems that a lot of people (both here and on youtube) have that type of lock release and they say good things about the knife.

The other is the 'wave' nook at the top that opens the blade as you pull it out of the pocket. I saw some knives from Emerson that have that feature, but those all are very expensive.

I checked out that Bump, I like the looks of it though I wont be able to walk around with a switchblade where I live.
 
systemadude said:
Thanks Confederate, I agree with you about the fat blade on the AK47, though it has two features that I liked that most Cold Steel knives don't have.

The first is the lock, I'm always afraid that when a knife has one of those 'push releases' (I don't know what they're really called) that I'll close it on my fingers. I don't know if it's foolish though since it seems that a lot of people (both here and on youtube) have that type of lock release and they say good things about the knife.


I checked out that Bump, I like the looks of it though I wont be able to walk around with a switchblade where I live.
Click to expand...

I live in Vancouver, B.C. and I own a Speed Bump. It's not a switchblade. It's an assisted opening knife, which is perfectly legal anywhere in Canada, and you can buy it at any knife store in Canada that carries Kershaw.
I also have an AK 47, one of the first knives I ever purchased. It's a good knife also, The AUS8-A sharpens up easily and well. Either would be a good purchase. The Speed bump is significantly cheaper than its S30V brother, the Spec Bump, but still good, the 13C26 steel is very comparable to AUS8-A.

Hope this helps, good luck with your decision.
 
Is too bulky ( AK)... and that plastic pommel "less than lethal " it is big and ugly. I'd buy a Recon 1 ( actually I have one ). Same UltraLock , same steel, Recon is made in Taiwan, I'm not sure about AK 47 but as far I know, China.... And concerning the "wave" , I can open easy the Recon with a flick of the wrist
 
Yeah, I think those "wave" knives are more puff than anything. You have to really practice to gain proficiency. The axis lock is probably one of the strongest available for a folding knife and you shouldn't have any trouble with it at all. I can open a Recon 1 faster than I can a switchblade, and more reliably. The S30V blade on the Kershaw makes it an awfully tempting knife, but it is more expensive. Given the choices, you can't make a bad choice. All these knives are good. If you go with the AK-47, just make sure you want a blade you can play ping-pong with! :D
 
I've never owned a 47, heck, never even seen one in real life. But I do like that wide clip blade profile. One big gripe I have with Cold Steel is the placement of their clips on their folders. Way too high!
 
I've got one and I beat it to absolute death tbh. Main complaint for me was the really bulky and really really really uncomfortable handle. I broke the aluminium scale where there's a very little piece between a the screw thing :rolleyes: and the lock release. Foolish placement if you ask me for that.
Not a bad knife though edge retention was pretty good and it looks quite good if your into the bulky brutish type of folder :D
 
You guys keep talking about all these different types of steels, is there any website that you can recommend that will tell me all about the different steels, openers, blade shapes, lock types etc?
I looked though this forum and googled a bit but I didn't find anything too specific or informative.

Thanks everyone.
 
Most of what is written about steel types for knives is bunk based on poor assumptions. "It has more of this or less of that" all look good on paper until you cut paper and wood and food and rope and plastic and leather. S30V will have a slight advantage in slicing dirty material (i.e. used rope; animal hide; carpet) and the other two will have a slight advantage when pushcutting and resharpening.

Bottom line: you can't go wrong with a Speed Bump, Spec Bump, AK-47, or Recon-1.
 
Google "knife steel" and you should come up with a lot of information. As for blade types, that's a matter of preference. Some people, for example, love tantos. Others despise them. Same with serrated blades, only there are many patterns.

Steel, too, is a personal choice, but one that might change as you gain experience. People who mostly cut open mail, packages and light stuff, or who carry their knives for self defense, can use almost any steel. Outdoorsmen (hunters, hikers, campers and boaters), though, will probably benefit from the premium steels. Still, one of the most popular outdoor knive are made by Buck, which uses 420HC blades for the most part.

The only blade configuration I hate is the chisel grind, used a lot by Emerson and CRKT. They cut and sharpen differently, but some people like them. Such blades are ground on one side, making them cut with all the grace of a chisel. Cold Steel uses the more genial V-grind, and I've found their steel quality to be consistently good.
 
My son has one and he has beat it to death and it still keeps going and holds a good edge. They are wirth the money in my opinion.
 
I have a friend with a few cold steels and they seem like good knives. If it was me I would probably get the recon1.


on a totaly different and unrelated topic, you wouldn't happen to airsoft would you? If you do then your name is really lame ;) lol
 
i'm pretty sure there is an EXCELLENT steel post in the maintenance forum here. It is a sticky thread with some of the best info i have seen.
 
Thanks everyone! Since most of you seem to recommend the Recon I think I'm going to get that one as my first knife... and I started reading up on the steels, there are so many.

J-Siah, I don't own a airsoft lol, I do a Russian Martial Art called Systema. If you're into MA, it's a great art made for the Russian Special Forces (Spetznas)
 
I wrote last year an article in the (hungarian) Caliber magazine from the AK47. :cool:
I still dont know if I like or hate it. :p It's bulky, not too comfortable to handle and carry. The "Wave" didn't work well (won't open, or even worse, clog in the pocket). Working with it in the woods was a pain. :mad:

But, if I grab it, I FEEL something about it. :jerkit: Maybe it is raw POWER. :thumbup: With some refinement, it would be a seriuos SD knife - but I don't have the time to do experiments with it. :rolleyes: (If you want a folder with working Wave, grab a Spyder Endura Wave... :cool:)

An advice: replace the backspacer with some shims. :D It works...

nhgal7dBQbu.jpg
 
My wife got me one as a gift about a year ago.....big, and bulky yes...but mine came very sharp and seems to stay that way fairly long. Also, I've never had problems with the wave system deploying the blade but I tend to wear jeans with a knife like this. The axis lock seems stiff when compared to my sogs and benchmades, but its smooth and you get used to it. Overall I'd have to say it was worth the 60 somthing dollars my wife said she paid for it. And about the grip; I have a pretty large hand and I find the handle very comfortable although im not overly impressed with the cheesy plastic pommel thing.
 
I own one (aluminum handle version) it's made in taiwan, fit on mine rivals any benchmade or spyderco. It opens super smooth, and I find the wave to be very reliable. It has a short wide type blade that is more suited than anything for utility/cutting use (not even close to a stabber /dagger) but the handle and overall artwork in it's looks gives it the appearance of a military knife.
Bad points the greenish paint finish on mine is just adequate and will show signs of minor wear over time. Cold steels advertising promoting it as a weapon makes it a prosecuter's wet dream come true in my state so I don't carry it anymore. Also it opens super smoothly and can be easily flicked in my state (NY) they may try to convict you for carrying a gravity knife which it is not.

I like the plastic pommel extension (it helps with drawing it out of your pocket and waving it) but if you don't it can easily be sawed off making the package considerably smaller


As I said before this is a knife that pisses me off at cheaply priced knife made in taiwan that can compete with the more expensive us counter parts. I still buy US but the AK-47 has a simple rugged design and look that I find irresistable
 
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