Cold Steel Sword / katana

Yeah, I have a Grosse Messer and it is truely an awesome sword. Very heavy at first but it is extremely brutal and effective once you get used to it. Really sharp to boot and it can retain or retake an edge rather well with the 1055's configuration and temperance.
 
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Cold steel swords are typically heavy yet very sturdy beaters. I've heard that you can't do anything to one to seriously damage it out that wouldn't destroy a traditional katana.
 
There's a saying I remember about Cold Steel katanas.

"Cuts like a lightsabre, handles like a prybar"
 
I can't speak to their Japanese swords, however I can say that there have been significant problems with their Western Style swords including complete blade failure. At this point there is no way I would buy one.
 
I have one of their base model Warrior Katanas. I picked it up online for $150 previously owned. The blade is supposedly 1050 steel but I'm not 100% on that. I studied Iaido for several years and still keep up on some cutting as time allows. That being said, the CS is heavy and has an odd balance to it. Not very lively. Cuts great and made short work of multi mat rolls. After about 50 or so cuts the handle wrapping loosened to the point of sliding down the handle. I had a friend re-wrap it with higher quality cord and it has held fine after that. The factory wrap seems iffy at best. The blade would make a nice project base for customization since the factory fittings just don't strike me as all that good. Either way, if you can get one at a decent price, go for it, it's a sturdy user.
 
I have several of the Cold Steel Warrior Chisa Katana (Ko Katana). It is the heaviest katana I have ever handled. The steel is supposed to be 1050 but is sometimes advertised as 1055 so I'm not certain. The Chisa Warrior Kat has the thickest steel of the entire line. I think it is a very durable beater sword if you can get past the weight.
I have read that there have been tsuka (handle) issues with the Cold Steel swords. The wood seems to crack easily and the only thing really holding it together is the tsuka ito (cord wrap). I wouldn't necessarily let this stop me from buying one but the buyer should be aware of this potential problem. (This problem can exist with other companies as well).
I like the Chisa Warrior Katana but lately I have decided that I am going to make future purchases of swords in this price range from Cheness. I think Cheness has better quality control and the reviews seem to outrank anything made by Cold Steel. Check out cheness.com
 
Triton said:
I can't speak to their Japanese swords, however I can say that there have been significant problems with their Western Style swords including complete blade failure. At this point there is no way I would buy one.
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Any documentation or is this complete hearsay? I gave one of the practical katanas to a nephew who has used it quite a bit for tameshigiri with great success. I bought one of the heavy duty canes for myself as I am forced to use a cane occasionally and I figure it might as well have defensive properties. It seems very well made and had no problem cutting down some light bamboo (1-1 1/2 inch stuff).
 
Back when their Euro style swords first came out, there was a write-up over on Sword Forums about some handle and tang failures. This was years ago and supposedly Cold Steel took care of the problem.
 
Absintheur said:
Any documentation or is this complete hearsay? I gave one of the practical katanas to a nephew who has used it quite a bit for tameshigiri with great success. I bought one of the heavy duty canes for myself as I am forced to use a cane occasionally and I figure it might as well have defensive properties. It seems very well made and had no problem cutting down some light bamboo (1-1 1/2 inch stuff).
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Sure, This one broke 2006.

http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=6573&highlight=gross+messer


This Grosse Messer broke in 2004 cutting a pumpkin:

http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=2652

As previously mentioned a couple of years ago there were numerous incidents of the Cold Steel hand and a half sword breaking that were reported at SFI. As you say it is hearsay... but they are reports from people I trust. I suppose it's possible that cold steel has made adjustments in the past couple of years (or rather whoever they have making these in China has) but honestly, what's the incentive to take a risk and find out? For whatever it's worth I've never heard about a failure with their Japanese style swords.
 
Cas Iberia's European swords took more abuse without failure than Cold Steel, and they're cheaper too.
Do a good, long, internet search for testing reviews before buying a CS sword.
 
Cold Steel is a company that I can't quite put a finger on. I got a couple of the knives to determine whether or not to shell out big bucks for a CS sword, and while they cut as advertised, they felt like Ginsu knives and seemed less than substantial. I'm looking at Cheness, instead.
 
I have a 6 Cold Steel Katana. And I have one Cheness SGC Katana.

Imperial Double Edge 2007 series
DragonFly 1 piece 2007, 1 piece 2008 model
Chisa 2007
Warrior O 2007
Warrior 2007

I absolute recommend Cold Steel swords.Their extremely sharp and slasher.
And their steels are very good quality.Only some models are very small mirror polish mistakes.Their balance not very good but they are very powerful and they are not traditional...For exmp Imperial Double Edge and DragonFly models balances are very good.
About Cheness , I 'm not recommend their SGC sword.Their fittings and made are look like very cheaper. Cheness SGC series solid powerful blades but very heavy and look like very cheaper.Absolutely Cold Steel's are much solid and high quality...
If you a really traditional and excellent pieces , you think buy Hanwei or Bugei series.
Hanwei high series are excellent very high quality pieces.I recommend Bamboo Snake, Kami etc... They are very collectible pieces.
 
The Cheness katana is made to be a very durable and functional sword for the money. Neither the Cold Steel or Cheness swords have traditional fittings. For the money the Cheness Tenchi series katana, ko katana, and wakizashi are hard to beat for durability. I also like the full tang construction of the Cheness. A few of the Cold Steel swords I have seen taken apart were not full tang construction.

Cold Steel does not make a bad sword. As I have mentioned before.....their Chisa katana is one of my favorites. I just wouldn't pay their suggested retail price for any of their blades. Their suggested retail is highly over-inflated.
 
What?...You mean we can't believe their advertising?
I've been wanting a 1796LCS from them.
Anybody familiar with these from CS?
Know of anywhere else to get them?
 
Ever heard of ebay? Many dealers / online stores will cost you barely one-half of CS retail prices.

I have a number of their knives / fixed blades, no swords, but I didn't pay retail for any of them. Obviously, the Cold Steel name can bring out passions from each end of the emotional spectrum.
 
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