Cold Steel Funeral

afishhunter said:
"Funeral"? I was not aware the new owners bought CS just to shut it down.

Most "major" cutlery companies (and non-cutlery companies) have been sold since they were founded.
Look at CASE, for example. It hasn't been owned by the Case family for decades. Case is currently owned by Zippo Lighters. From what I've read here, Case's QC has taken a major upswing since Zippo took over.
Schrade USA was sold and/or merged several times from when George Schrade founded he company in the late 1800's, and it's going bankrupt in 2004.

What say we give the new owners a chance, before condemning them?

From what post number 1 says, even Mr. Thompson admits he made mistakes (plural, not singular) during his time at the helm.
Just maybe the new owners and management will correct those errors/mistakes. :)
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Funeral: because, I don't know about you, but the news was depressing as hell to me. Like I said in post #1, whatever happens, it won't be the same. Just saying goodbye to the old Cold Steel, the things that we're not going to see again. Like the medieval weapons, the big bowies, the catalogs, the flyers, the DVDs. Some of which went away even before the sale, of course. All we can do is turn the page on the end of an era. I think it deserves a "funeral", don't you? We're just saying goodbye to the past.

"What say we give the new owners a chance, before condemning them?": I don't see anyone on this thread condemning the new owners. This is a positive thread, as you can see from post #1.
 
SanLuisObispo said:
What is the "pot metal fiasco?" Also, I'm not convinced that everyone got canned in Ventura, either.
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Pot metal fiasco: I meant the A2 steel update thread, where LT announced that instead of A2, the bowies would be made of 4034 stainless. It was not generally well received by CS fans.
 
cold steel was always a
personality driven brand.
in a sense a future cold steel management
without sensei thompson's input
will result in a less colorful product range.
i enjoyed the wide yearly array of assorted
wares with assured offensive capabilities
it had a good run and i guess its up to
new management to keep that bit alive.
for now, its kinda like being in a coma.
cold steel knives ventura surely was fun.
and we can thank lynn for not dissapointing.
best wishes to the new csk and get well soon
 
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SALTY said: ↑
Cold Steel may not be dead, but they're on hospice it would seem.

We are predicting gloom and doom for a brand we liked; that prediction may not be misplaced based upon information available.

The Cold Steel knives I have, use and like are suddenly more special to me; I also went and bought a couple more.


SanLuisObispo said:
What facts make you conclude that?

Seems more like CS is in, or is headed to boot camp.
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The LT hostage video.
The lame "lifestyle" touchy-feely emotional marketing vids from Sold Steel.
The hokey good ol' boy with a stick gee-golly-shucksin' with folks on the discontinued model video.
The new and exciting warranty policy.
The fact that a recently sold M&A company (sold to another M&A company) owns CS and what that typically means.
The very recent (contemporaneous with the sale of CS) shuck and jive about A2 then butter knife steel for CS knives.
The lack of a CS presence (overt contra to covert, SLO) here on BF.
CS doesn't need to go to "boot camp" as it did that decades ago - completed A-school and has since been combat decorated.

I have more thoughts but this is a civil forum and I like to respect it.
I like(ed) Cold Steel and don't like the current vibe.
 
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SALTY said:
SALTY said: ↑
Cold Steel may not be dead, but they're on hospice it would seem.

We are predicting gloom and doom for a brand we liked; that prediction may not be misplaced based upon information available.

The Cold Steel knives I have, use and like are suddenly more special to me; I also went and bought a couple more.

The LT hostage video.
The lame "lifestyle" touchy-feely emotional marketing vids from Sold Steel.
The hokey good ol' boy with a stick gee-golly-shucksin' with folks on the discontinued model video.
The new and exciting warranty policy.
The fact that a recently sold M&A company (sold to another M&A company) owns CS and what that typically means.
The very recent (contemporaneous with the sale of CS) shuck and jive about A2 then butter knife steel for CS knives.
The lack of a CS presence (overt contra to covert, SLO) here on BF.
CS doesn't need to go to "boot camp" as it did that decades ago - completed A-school and has since been combat decorated.

I have more thoughts but this is a civil forum and I like to respect it.
I like(ed) Cold Steel and don't like the current vibe.
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Postings like yours above is precisely why CS/GSMO would be foolish to wade into these threads. You're projecting a great deal of stuff onto LCT and CS/GSMO. So have some others. If CS/GSMO tried to explain what's going on, they would be hammered even harder by those who have already attacked them.

There's also the issue of privacy, particularly when it comes to individuals. In simple terms specifically why LCT sold is none of your business or mine.

I don't care for the current vibe either. Referring to the LCT clip as a "hostage video" is hardcore inflammatory, and doing so, along with other comments has set the tenor for follow-on negative remarks.
 
jbmonkey said:
bill ruger sr, the gun control supporter guy? you talking about him? wow, way off there. wrong place to discuss that guy who is not a real gun guy, as you claim.
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Nah. I make a far more serious/deeper comparison than Mr. Ruger's bone-headed comments (when he was old and in ill health) about magazine size and long gun furniture, which you term "gun control", LOL!

One thing that fascinates me about LCT is his historical knowledge of edged weapons (he has like 2.5K volumes on the subject in his corporate library), and how he has used that knowledge as a basis for CS a large number of CS's offerings. Ruger did much the same thing with historic firearms. Ruger's knowledge of the Japanese Nambu pistol set the initial stage for Ruger's first project. Just compare the Ruger 10/22 with the venerable M1 Carbine, or their Mini-14 with the Springfield M14. Going further back in history, compare Ruger's Blackhawk single action revo or their Old Army cap and ball revo with historic Colt offerings. Finally, the ill-fated Ruger Gold Label SxS scatter gun with a vintage Parker.

There's also the issue about championing designs that most found questionable, yet largely turned out to be successful. Designs that simply wouldn't have made their way into production without LCT or Bill Ruger. There are numerous examples of each. There were some serious similarities among the two men.

The more I think about this, the more that I think one of the reason for LCT selling, is due to financing. Bill Ruger was obviously able to take his company public at some point, which generated the funds necessary to really grow the company. I couldn't imagine CS doing a public offering for a number of reasons. I think improved access to capital under GMSO is one of the things that encouraged LCT to sell.
 
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SanLuisObispo said:
Nah. I make a far more serious/deeper comparison than Mr. Ruger's bone-headed comments (when he was old and in ill health) about magazine size and long gun furniture, which you term "gun control", LOL!

One thing that fascinates me about LCT is his historical knowledge of edged weapons, and how he has used that knowledge as a basis for CS a large number of CS's offerings. Ruger did much the same thing with historic firearms. Ruger's knowledge of the Japanese Nambu pistol set the initial stage for Ruger's first project. Just compare the Ruger 10/22 with the venerable M1 Carbine, or their Mini-14 with the Springfield M14. Going further back in history, compare Ruger's Blackhawk single action revo or their Old Army cap and ball revo with historic Colt offerings. Finally, the ill-fated Ruger Gold Label SxS scatter gun with a vintage Parker.

There's also the issue about championing designs that most found questionable, yet largely turned out to be successful. Designs that simply wouldn't have made their way into production without LCT or Bill Ruger. There are numerous examples of each. There were some serious similarities among the two men.

The more I think about this, the more that I think one of the reason for LCT selling, is due to financing. Bill Ruger was obviously able to take his company public at some point, which generated the funds necessary to really grow the company. I couldn't imagine CS doing a public offering for a number of reasons. I think improved access to capital under GMSO is one of the things that encouraged LCT to sell.
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not worth it as this is a cold steel forum not a ruger forum......thats why I changed my post but you decided to go ahead anyways. I'm sticking to my not worth it. I disagree with much you said but not worth it and wrong forum.
 
Change is constant and often comes abruptly and drastically. I think that's why it's hard on people.

I guess I'm old school in that I'm always wishing for the old days, whether or not the old days were actually better. That's why I feel like Cold Steel won't be the same for me (rightly or not).
 
jlauffer said:
No, that's precisely why they should wade in...to set the record straight and show us that we're wrong.
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Do you honestly believe they would be given a chance, based on some of the existing comments on the big CS/GSMO thread? No way. It would be like trying to drink from a fire hose.
 
SanLuisObispo said:
Do you honestly believe they would be given a chance, based on some of the existing comments on the big CS/GSMO thread? No way. It would be like trying to drink from a fire hose.
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I honestly do, as long as it doesn't come across as damage-control spin-doctoring BS. Unlike the masses that may fall for it, we are by and large a pretty savvy lot, so that crap ain't gonna fly here.
 
Lee D said:
Surely they have someone on the payroll with thick skin and the ability to explain what’s going on and what the plans are for the future.
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I've been learning corporate babble-speak and am making progress. How's this?

We at GSMO are one with you - family. Together we will endeavor on the path of the journey to the vision of togetherness at a level previously only dreamed of. Our products, being all things to all people, will unite your inner-self with the environs with which you may be - wherever that may be and whenever you may be there for "there" is where you are and GSMO is there, together, with you - hence the "Any Time / Anywhere" ethos of our heritage - brightly shining and illuminating the way to where you want to be ... where you are going. Brace yourself for the next crest, summit and challenge however it presents itself because together, GSMO will be there - with you - together. Your investment in GSMO Life Gear shows your savvy discernment and displays a boldness to the world only recognizable to those with a weather eye for such things. We are on the path of the journey to the vision of great things together, GSMO and you; ready?

As for the plans:

GSMO is actively engaged in the process of evaluating the feasibility of embarking upon a study of our base - both present and future, so as to monetize the product line, mantra and IP of Cold Steel and to use the financial strength, resources and experience of GSMO to bring Cold Steel products to markets and consumers on a grander scale - amortizing fixed costs over a broader production base so as to provide the ROI our investors expect and have become accustomed to.
 
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