Cold Steel Voyagers: Which One Do YOU Like?

C

Confederate

Joined
Sep 5, 2005
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I've bought the Cold Steel Voyagers in all its configurations and I like the tanto the best.

Many people like the flat grind blades in the clip point and Vaquero models, but the 4-inch tanto has become my favorite. Why? I like the balance, strength and the hollow grind blade. Not only that, the tanto is by far the sharpest out of the box. In fact, I was very disappointed with the clip point Voyagers because they just aren't as sharp as their predecessors, which also were hollow grind. The tantos didn't need sharpening out of the box, but I've had to sharpen the flat grind knives out of the box because they just weren't up to Cold Steel standards.

Has anyone else noticed this? What's your favorite blade length and configuration?

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I like the current flavors, and want to add a clip point XL, but I still prefer the old school pre-2011 versions as they just ride easier in the pocket. I have some tantos, but prefer clip point for EDC.

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Old style XL.

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2011 large Voyager. With some bling for the ladies.
 
My favourite is the old school 4" clip point Voyager. It's a great knife for those times when I want something light weight, but strong and with a blade large enough for anything I might need a pocket knife for.

I was quite disappointed when the 2011 san mai Voyagers were cancelled and the AUS8 Taiwan made ones came out instead.
 
I don't think the company was planning on issuing the Voyagers in San Mai. They used to issue them in VG-1, which was nice, but all San Mai is is VG-1 with two 420 panels slapped on to the sides. It's nothing but a gimmick. I called CS and asked if the core steel was treated any different than the VG-1 blades on the old Voyagers and they said no. If the VG-1 had been treated to a hard, brittle core, then paneled by softer 420, it would be one thing. But VG-1 doesn't need any soft steel slabs to make it more effective. It is purty, though! Paying a pirate's treasure for them is just a waste of $$$.

Another reason the older Voyagers were better, I think, is that they had the hollow grind blades, which tended to be sharper for some reason. In the new models, as I said, the tanto version is way sharper than the flat grind clip points and Vaqueros, and I think the reason is that it's hollow ground. Why are they sharper? Who knows? But CS is known for sending out their knives sharp. My 4-inch clip point wouldn't even cut strips off a piece of paper! It just tore the paper until it ripped. The tanto shaved strips off paper with no problem, so go figure.

The XLG tanto is heavy, but it's capable of light chopping. The 4-inch model is perfect in balance and weight. It's also strong enough to pry and pierce. I recommend it.
 
I like the Vaquero in the large and the clip point in the small size. For the extra-large I like the clip point as well. Mine came sharp, shaved hairs and sliced squiggles in newspaper very easily.
 
I have to say that I prefer the old versions better than the new versions. The older locks were solid and dependable, the VG-1 steel kept an edge longer than AUS-8 and I prefer the handles on the older Voyagers/Vaqueros. One other thing that is petty, but is an issue with me - The blades on the older models are stamped rather than the cheap looking laser engraved blades.
 
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I bought three of the 2011's so far. The large /four inchers fit my hand like a glove and is my favourite size. Although I like the four inch clip I find that it doesn't peel my mangoes or whatever as well as an Endura. Actually my most practical four inch is the Tanto. I have used it as a rough blade to peel tree bark and or pry out chunks of tree sap. The tough tip is practical for me.
 
4 inch tanto. I generally prefer different blade shapes, but then again I generally prefer different knives. That being said, cold steel does a great job on the Voyager tanto. The primary cutting edge can slice well, but the secondary edge still has enough steel behind it to be good as a chisel/wire cutter/prybar. I know it's all knife abuse, but it's plenty tough enough to take it and, if it breaks, I can get a new one for less than a tank of gas.
 
I like my large 2011 tanto as well, and I hope to pick up a clip point model too. I only have one of the older ones, a fully serrated model I recieved in a trade with the molded plastic pocket clip, very smooth action.
 
The new style "large" Vaquero Voyager is my favorite. It's been in my pocket almost every day since January even though I have the urge to enjoy all the exotic steels in knives I have from Kershaw and Spyderco (SG-2, S110V, S90V, CPM-M4.... drool) as well as my favorite steels (13C26, 14C28N.... triple drool) - it's just too favority!
 
I don't think VG1 was done in a San Mai style on the Voyagers. Maybe on the Gun Site if any. But not sure. I thought the VG1 was just that VG1. The higher end knives like the Custom series folders were VG1 San Mai and the early runs were AUS8a San Mai I think. I have two the XL's clip points and gave one to my eldest and kept one. Just outstanding knives and the AUS8 is heat treated very well imho. keepem sharp

PS points could be a little thicker.
 
Confederate said:
I don't think the company was planning on issuing the Voyagers in San Mai. They used to issue them in VG-1, which was nice, but all San Mai is is VG-1 with two 420 panels slapped on to the sides. (...)
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longbow said:
I don't think VG1 was done in a San Mai style on the Voyagers. Maybe on the Gun Site if any. But not sure. I thought the VG1 was just that VG1. (...)
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Cold Steel had announced San Mai III Voyagers and Gunsites when they switched to the new Tri-Ad lock designs but they never saw the light of day and CS later released the current AUS8 versions. From their own website: "The new Voyagers and Gunsites have been CANCELLED because they did not meet our specifications or delivery schedule requirements. All backorders will be CANCELLED and the Voyagers will be reintroduced in Spring 2011. We will have more information on the 2011 Voyagers at a later date." (http://www.coldsteel.com/voyager-series.html).

I actually prefer flat ground blades to hollow ground ones (although I'm fine with both in pocket knives), but I'm not crazy about the new handle shape and I think AUS8, while quite functional, is a step down from VG-1 (and I honestly haven't warmed up to Taiwanese made knives).
 
I love my newish XL clip point even though I know it's largely impractical. :D As a plus, the handle doesn't look as stupid in person as it does on the internet. The 4" version is just a bit too small for my hands so I gave it to a friend. I like the looks of the old 4" clip point the best but have never handled one.
 
I like the 2011 Voyagers better than the previous versions.

I like full-flat grinds better than hollow grinds on clip points.

That said, mine weren't as sharp as they should have been brand new out of the box either.
 
GCG199 said:
I like the 2011 Voyagers better than the previous versions.

I like full-flat grinds better than hollow grinds on clip points.

That said, mine weren't as sharp as they should have been brand new out of the box either.
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^I've heard that complaint, the medium tanto I bought was definitely a bit sharper than the flat-ground Vaquero. However, my clip point shaved my arm hair extremely easily and really, I don't need a knife much sharper than that, especially since AUS8 wouldn't hold a hair-whittling edge long... doesn't stop me from trying to improve it though :D
 
I wish people would drop CS a note and push for a reintroduction of their knives in VG-1 stainless. I've sharpened my flat grind knives and they're now very sharp, but they sure didn't come out of the box as sharp as the older models (hollow grind) and the 2011 tantos (hollow grind).

I'd sure like to know the stories behind the Gunsite/Voyager cancellations. I carry my old Gunsite 5-inch every day, and I carry it in a nylon pouch that my S&W Powerglide came in. I also hate to see CS go back to AUS8. I wish I'd gotten a few of the older XLG Voyagers with the 6-inch VG-1 blades. I did get a few 5-inchers, so it's not like I missed the boat entirely.

CS is really into marketing and whatever Lynn Thompson decides to do is going to be backed up with a lot of hype. On the plus side, he's really held the manufacturers to stiff standards in heat treat. My older Voyagers always held an edge better than my CRKT M21-04, which is one of my favorite knives. Both have the same steel, and the CRKT is still a great knife; but CS must heat treat its steel a bit different as the CRKT seems to be a bit softer.

The older Voyagers were pretty much perfect in my view. Their locks were strong and the VG-1 was definitely a step up from the AUS8. The new large frames are more gripable, but they tilt the hand downward instead of going straight back. It makes cutting easier in some respects, but I don't like the downward slope of the grip after the finger stop. I understand they were trying to keep the length of the knife down, but it feels strange to me.

I like the Tri-Ad locks, but if they come at the expense of downgrading the steel, I'd just as soon not have them. I also agree with A.P.F. about the laser engraving. It looks cheap. I'm also not sure why people like flat grind, but I'll continue to prefer hollow grind. I'm also not a huge fan of the stone washed blades, but it sure beats the bead blast finish on many knives. Personally, I prefer the bright steel polishing of the old models. Take a hollow grind knife and polish the blade to a mirror finish and it's really beautiful. I do like the Vaquero blade styles and they're ideal for self defense, especially with serrations. My old Vaquero has a 6-inch serrated blade and it's an incredible knife. I rarely cut anything with it, but having it makes me feel a lot better on walks at night. It's intimidation value is ten out of ten. The plain edge Vaquero Voyager I do use for cutting and it does a great job. I greatly prefer it over the clip point.

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The tanto and Vaquero XLG Voyagers are great knives, but the tanto weighs
a few ounces more and can do light chopping. You also can baton the tanto
thanks to its thick spine.


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The polished hollow grind knives not only are gorgeous, they seem to be sharper
than the flat grind Voyagers.
 
I prefer the older models.

The handle on the new 4" version is too small for my hand.

The newer models don't seem to hold an edge as well either.
 
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