I added to my magazine collection a good bit last year, and I've been trying to set aside some time to update this thread for a while now. Ken Hash's recent contributions in some other threads have inspired me to get in gear.
All of this post's ads come from Soldier of Fortune magazines. As you peruse them, remember that Soldier of Fortune had an advertising policy that required ad submission at least four months prior to publication. So these ads were created, at a minimum, four months before the issue in which they appear.
The first is from the August 1981 issue, and it's the oldest Cold Steel ad I've ever seen. As far as I can tell, it's Cold Steel's first time advertising in Soldier of Fortune (though my inventory is far from complete) or any other magazine that I'm aware of.
Note the Urban Skinner's slightly different blade and handle shape, its entirely unique sheath, and its smooth handle construction. The completely different blade shape of the Urban Pal was a total shock to me, as was its singular card case pocket sheath (despite the fact that I knew Cold Steel supplied a similar sheath with later models, I was surprised to discover that this was the first version offered). I'm almost certain that the knives depicted in this ad were handmade/hand-ground models by custom knife maker Jim Merritt.
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These next two are from October 1982.
First we have a friendly looking Lynn, displaying his Urban Stroll.
And then we have a no-nonsense Lynn, brandishing an updated configuration of the Urban Skinner.
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These next three are from January 1983. Note the callout of a new manufacturer in all three ads.
This was the first Cold Steel ad that I remember seeing as a kid. It drew me to the brand immediately.
Here we see the Urban Pal as we've come to know it. This is the only image I've seen with the knife's name printed in that spot on the handle.
And we have the Urban Skinner ad again, but this time with different copy. You can see better in this ad than in the 1982 version that it contains the only picture I've observed of an Urban Skinner with the name printed on the blade.
As a study in contrasts, I have to include this early Spyderco ad, which appeared on the same page with one of the Cold Steel ads.
While Sal Glesser never shied away from the notion of his knives being used as weapons, it took him many years to acknowledge it. And I would argue that Spyderco, as a brand, didn't embrace the concept until Michael Janich was hired and added his Martial Blade Craft approach and designs to the company's lineup.
But with Cold Steel, Lynn Thompson came out swinging. He unapologetically wanted the world to know that he was making weapons--functional, capable, tough weapons that could give his customers a combative edge.
I'm not trying to churn up a debate here (and no disrespect to Sal Glesser or Spyderco intended), but I laugh when people in the tactical community try to compare Spyderco with Cold Steel. Whom are they attempting to fool? Cold Steel was selling fighting knives and other weapons back when Spyderco's catalog consisted of a pocket knife and sharpening stones. (Actually, the evidence leads me to believe that the Urban Pal and the Urban Skinner may have predated the first Worker. So Cold Steel might have been selling knives before Spyderco even offered one.)
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Next up, we have a Tanto ad from December 1984.
Note the specifications. The callout of 425 stainless leads me to believe that this was the brief period when Buck was manufacturing the Tanto for Cold Steel.
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These three are from October 1985.
The Outdoorsman was already in production.
A new Tanto ad.
And another ad for the Urban Skinner, sans any printing on the blade.
___________________________________________
Finally, two from January 1986.
The famous Tanto-through-a-car-door-without-damage advertisement. Bear in mind that this ad was created in 1985, two years before the first Proof video.
An early endorsement from Dan Inosanto. He's been a Cold Steel advocate for many, many years.
I hope that you got as much education and entertainment from these old Cold Steel ads as I did! There are more to come, from later years. Lynn Thompson had a good relationship with Soldier of Fortune throughout the magazine's existence. I'll post them as I'm able.
-Steve
All of this post's ads come from Soldier of Fortune magazines. As you peruse them, remember that Soldier of Fortune had an advertising policy that required ad submission at least four months prior to publication. So these ads were created, at a minimum, four months before the issue in which they appear.
The first is from the August 1981 issue, and it's the oldest Cold Steel ad I've ever seen. As far as I can tell, it's Cold Steel's first time advertising in Soldier of Fortune (though my inventory is far from complete) or any other magazine that I'm aware of.
Note the Urban Skinner's slightly different blade and handle shape, its entirely unique sheath, and its smooth handle construction. The completely different blade shape of the Urban Pal was a total shock to me, as was its singular card case pocket sheath (despite the fact that I knew Cold Steel supplied a similar sheath with later models, I was surprised to discover that this was the first version offered). I'm almost certain that the knives depicted in this ad were handmade/hand-ground models by custom knife maker Jim Merritt.
___________________________________________
These next two are from October 1982.
First we have a friendly looking Lynn, displaying his Urban Stroll.
And then we have a no-nonsense Lynn, brandishing an updated configuration of the Urban Skinner.
___________________________________________
These next three are from January 1983. Note the callout of a new manufacturer in all three ads.
This was the first Cold Steel ad that I remember seeing as a kid. It drew me to the brand immediately.
Here we see the Urban Pal as we've come to know it. This is the only image I've seen with the knife's name printed in that spot on the handle.
And we have the Urban Skinner ad again, but this time with different copy. You can see better in this ad than in the 1982 version that it contains the only picture I've observed of an Urban Skinner with the name printed on the blade.
As a study in contrasts, I have to include this early Spyderco ad, which appeared on the same page with one of the Cold Steel ads.
While Sal Glesser never shied away from the notion of his knives being used as weapons, it took him many years to acknowledge it. And I would argue that Spyderco, as a brand, didn't embrace the concept until Michael Janich was hired and added his Martial Blade Craft approach and designs to the company's lineup.
But with Cold Steel, Lynn Thompson came out swinging. He unapologetically wanted the world to know that he was making weapons--functional, capable, tough weapons that could give his customers a combative edge.
I'm not trying to churn up a debate here (and no disrespect to Sal Glesser or Spyderco intended), but I laugh when people in the tactical community try to compare Spyderco with Cold Steel. Whom are they attempting to fool? Cold Steel was selling fighting knives and other weapons back when Spyderco's catalog consisted of a pocket knife and sharpening stones. (Actually, the evidence leads me to believe that the Urban Pal and the Urban Skinner may have predated the first Worker. So Cold Steel might have been selling knives before Spyderco even offered one.)
___________________________________________
Next up, we have a Tanto ad from December 1984.
Note the specifications. The callout of 425 stainless leads me to believe that this was the brief period when Buck was manufacturing the Tanto for Cold Steel.
___________________________________________
These three are from October 1985.
The Outdoorsman was already in production.
A new Tanto ad.
And another ad for the Urban Skinner, sans any printing on the blade.
___________________________________________
Finally, two from January 1986.
The famous Tanto-through-a-car-door-without-damage advertisement. Bear in mind that this ad was created in 1985, two years before the first Proof video.
An early endorsement from Dan Inosanto. He's been a Cold Steel advocate for many, many years.
I hope that you got as much education and entertainment from these old Cold Steel ads as I did! There are more to come, from later years. Lynn Thompson had a good relationship with Soldier of Fortune throughout the magazine's existence. I'll post them as I'm able.
-Steve
