History of the Espada and the changes • when is this hollow ground XL from/steel?

Hashishiin

Hashishiin

Joined
Dec 29, 2021
Messages
4,115
I would like to precede the question I am going to ask with the fact that the Espada is simply one of my favorite Cold Steel knives or knives in general (as you'll see, the PM2 and SAK are the only ones I come close to having this many of) and I would like to know the history of the changes for many reasons. Pure interest for one. Add any timeline info you can on the Espada series.

First, my query

So, it is my belief that the CTS®XHP marked blades came out before the CTS XHP blades, due to the hollow grind being reduced and taken to a flat on the ® versions. I know there were a few different reprofiles, changes from the depth of the hollow grind and eventually the flat saber, clip changes and ricasso changes.

What really puzzles me is when my newest came out because it does not have the insaaaane hollow grind of the first such as my beat up fancy Large but it is still very much a hollow grind and has the pocket shredder G10 (insane). So... Could it be XHP?

So, I have recently acquired a new old hollow grind Espada XL in G10, however it doesn't seem AS hollow as the definite AUS-8 Large I have, nor is the ricasso as big as the originals. There were some unmarked XHP blades prior to the change but did they do them in G10 black, I wonder? Could this be one? What do you guys think?

Compared one to a modern G10 AUS10a largeIMG_20230326_130129431.jpg
IMG_20230326_130220693~2.jpg


Here is the entirety of my Espada Larges, I think I have them in the right order as the purple is glossy black and the tanner one is matte
IMG_20230326_132353171~2.jpg

IMG_20230326_132338488~2.jpg
All the larges and then all fancy
IMG_20230326_131826389~2.jpg
IMG_20230326_131925538~2.jpg
IMG_20230326_133031903~2.jpgIMG_20230323_215621776~3.jpgView attachment 2131240
 
Did they ever offer the XL in stonewashed XHP? If not, then it’s definitely AUS8. Also, grind depths can vary in my experience with hollow ground Recon 1’s.
 
Beautiful group of Espada's looks like you carry the large models mostly. Congrats nice collection. :thumbsup:
 
After looking into it, I don’t think there was ever a stonewashed XHP Espada XL. Stonewashed Espada XL’s came in AUS8 and AUS10, the later were marked AUS10. XHP Espada’s came in the fancy polished/G10/bolsters, and flat G10/DLC coated with OD or Brown G10. Have you found any stonewashed XHP XL Espada blades in your searches?
 
I think it went...

G10

Aus8
XHP (only DLC)
Aus10

Polished G10

Aus8
XHP
S35vn

The Espada large is a fantastic blade, so are the others but i think the XL for me is more ''fun'' than ''function'' I have never EDC'd my medium in green XHP as its like new and for the collection. it looks like it would be a good EDC'able blade.
 
Hashishiin said:
I would like to precede the question I am going to ask with the fact that the Espada is simply one of my favorite Cold Steel knives or knives in general (as you'll see, the PM2 and SAK are the only ones I come close to having this many of) and I would like to know the history of the changes for many reasons. Pure interest for one. Add any timeline info you can on the Espada series.

First, my query

So, it is my belief that the CTS®XHP marked blades came out before the CTS XHP blades, due to the hollow grind being reduced and taken to a flat on the ® versions. I know there were a few different reprofiles, changes from the depth of the hollow grind and eventually the flat saber, clip changes and ricasso changes.

What really puzzles me is when my newest came out because it does not have the insaaaane hollow grind of the first such as my beat up fancy Large but it is still very much a hollow grind and has the pocket shredder G10 (insane). So... Could it be XHP?

So, I have recently acquired a new old hollow grind Espada XL in G10, however it doesn't seem AS hollow as the definite AUS-8 Large I have, nor is the ricasso as big as the originals. There were some unmarked XHP blades prior to the change but did they do them in G10 black, I wonder? Could this be one? What do you guys think?

Compared one to a modern G10 AUS10a largeView attachment 2131221
View attachment 2131222


Here is the entirety of my Espada Larges, I think I have them in the right order as the purple is glossy black and the tanner one is matte
View attachment 2131232

View attachment 2131233
All the larges and then all fancy
View attachment 2131234
View attachment 2131236
View attachment 2131238View attachment 2131239View attachment 2131240
Click to expand...

Nice collection of Espadas! The Espada is one of my favorite knives, as well, and I think I can answer your questions. Your new G-10 XL is second generation. The first generation of G-10 models had the course-textured handles also, but bead-blasted blade finishes. That semi-stonewashed finish was the next iteration. The blade steel is AUS-8A. To my my knowledge, no unmarked XHP blades were ever used on Espadas.

The CTS XHP blades with the registered trademark symbol included were actually first. For some reason, Cold Steel dropped the symbol on later offerings. So your tan Large model was made before your purple Large. Out of curiosity, what color was your purple handle originally?

Definitely the oldest of your Espadas is your AUS-8A polished Large. That's a first-generation model with the original long-swedge blade grind. I'm not sure why the grind was changed. I thought it might have been for better performance, but the originals did just fine in the Absolute Proof video. It's one of those things we may never know.

I think the Espadas improved with each new generation. And so far, GSM's versions are just as well constructed as Cold Steel's. I only wish they'd bring back the Medium.


-Steve
 
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