Question about Cold Steel Nightshade "knives"

theocguy85

theocguy85

Joined
Apr 5, 2006
Messages
132
Has anyone actually confirmed that without the little key rings these knives are completely invisible to metal detectors? Many plastic knives have small metal inserts that allow metal detectors to pick up on them. I need to know if these nightshade knives do also, or if only the key ring is metal.

I would appreciate any feedback you might have.

Thanks.
 
That is an interesting question. I'm not sure, but I believe only certain states have the requirement. I know a few years ago mission knives announced they were putting such a chip in their knives because of california laws. It may have changed since then. Supposedly if you're military or law enforcement you can get them without, but that has kept me from purchasing one because if I ever needed a non-magnetic knife for some obscure reason I'm sure I would get the one with the chip still in it. That's my luck anyways. You might want to ask them, but my guess is with the key ring they can market that as the metal detector set off gizmo device.
 
Be really carefull about trying to get through metal detectors with weapons, I used to go through metal detectors on a daily basis at a court house for my job. I had dense plastic objects set off the alarm. This is not bull. Also if you happen to move too quickly through the detector's feild you will also set off the alarm and be subject to a more carefull search. You are taking a really big risk if there are any law enforcement types around. If they discover your plastic weapon you could be looking at incarceration. When bad guys want to get a metal or other type of weapon past a check point they never wear it on them when they go through the gate, I wont tell you the method but take my word for it wearing the object is not the way to go.
 
Trust me, I am not trying to sneak weapons into court houses or other government buildings. I'm just tired of power-tripping wand-nazis "confiscating" my knife when I am going in to certain clubs. I always carry two or three knives, and I am just not comfortable without one. Even if it's just a cheap plastic thing, at least it beats no blade at all.

To paraphrase an old quote, "In the kingdom of the unarmed, a plastic knife is king.":D
 
I have two of the FGX pushdaggers ( one for the shower ) and think they would serve well in a " down and dirty " altercation. I went with the pushdaggers because of the grip potential and most of the FGX knives aren't cutters so much as stabbers. One way you might test them is to go to a store that sells ( or if you have a friend with ) the big "looking for buried treasure " metal detectors and ask to test a model with a coin and then your " toy" plastic knife, just to " be sure it doesn't give false readings ".
 
Last time was in radio shack they had little handheld wands like those used at a courthouse. If you are just trying to get into a club with a plastic blade just try it, whats the worst that could happen, they'll kick you out?

Actually beleive it or not, after 9/11 i went to tijauana mexico and bought 3 italian autos and walked through customs comming back into California, through a metal detector (airport style x-ray machines and all) not once but twice and it did not set it off, but it did go off for the guy in front of me. Cheap knives would be my guess, even though they say 440 stainless on the blade. I had no idea how much trouble i could have gotten into. Oh well lucky me i quess.
 
You'll have to ask Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-Georgia) what kind of knife she smuggles past Capitol Police.... Seriously, the Nightshades do not have any metal in them; however, I have to agree with others who say that you don't want to be caught with one. The FGX Skean Dhu is a very nice little carry piece that would prove very good for defense, but it would make a fairly poor choice as an offensive weapon.

skean_dhu.jpg
 
There's usually a reason they use metal detectors on people. If constantly having a knife on you is that important, don't go to the places that don't allow it. I always carry one but I'll leave it in the car if I'm going somewhere that doesn't allow it. Crowded, confusing, hot places where everyone is drunk and fights are a common occurence (ie clubs) aren't a good place for knives. The bouncers have a hard enough time dealing with people fighting let alone knife fighting. I'm no fan of restrictions on knife carry but understanding that you can't always carry is part of being a responsible knife knut.
 
Laceration said:
There's usually a reason they use metal detectors on people. If constantly having a knife on you is that important, don't go to the places that don't allow it. I always carry one but I'll leave it in the car if I'm going somewhere that doesn't allow it. Crowded, confusing, hot places where everyone is drunk and fights are a common occurence (ie clubs) aren't a good place for knives. The bouncers have a hard enough time dealing with people fighting let alone knife fighting. I'm no fan of restrictions on knife carry but understanding that you can't always carry is part of being a responsible knife knut.
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I understand your point, and I suppose you're right. I will still probably carry a Nightshade, however. (I have a few on order.) I suppose I might be a little rebellious when it comes to authority, but I am not reckless or stupid. I have never had to use a knife for the purpose of self defense, and I rarely even reveal that I am carrying them. (Yeah, I know, but concealing my knives has never caused me any legal problems... yet.) OK, well, I'm rambling. Better get to bed.

PS How many sleep with a knife under their pillow? (I sleep with a cheep auto. I won't accidentally hurt myself, but I can deploy it fast.)
 
PS How many sleep with a knife under their pillow? (I sleep with a cheep auto. I won't accidentally hurt myself, but I can deploy it fast.)
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Not under the pillow, but just because I like to have them around, on the stand by the bed I have a CS SRK and a Gerber Profile. Now and then a CRKT Bear Claw slips in the stack. It just depends on where I toss it. They sit next to the Glock 22 .40 S&W. :D You can probaby guess which will be grabbed first under most situations.
 
theocguy85 said:
How many sleep with a knife under their pillow? (I sleep with a cheep auto. I won't accidentally hurt myself, but I can deploy it fast.)
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No knife under the pillow, as it might interfere with grabbing the .357.
 
I definately wouldn't want to get caught but we bought one of each model, took off the metal "key ring" and they have so far worked like a champ. And they're sharp as hell! Paul forgot we had the kerambit model in a hidden pocket in the truck and stuck his hand in to look for something lost and it bit him good.
 
I agree that a gun beats a knife as a self-defense weapon in your house... I just don't have one right now. I plan to get a Glock 33 (.357, compact profile) sometime in the not-to-distant future.

Thanks all for your replies. This is a very friendly forum, and I have already learned a lot here. I really appreciate all the experienced and knowledgeable people who call bladeforums home.
 
Funny thing happened the other day. My mate comes round to visit, spots my Nightshade Tai-Pan in the shower - "What's that, a knife?"

"Yes, kinda plastic, wont rust."

"Wont cut either!"

"Well it's not as good as metal but it'll cut a person."

"No it wont. Look, I'm gonna close my hand on it and pull it through."

"No Greg, I REALLY wouldn't do that!"

Slash...

:rolleyes:
 
What a brilliant way to test the cutting effectiveness of an object, hahah.
 
If all those looking for knives to get past club security would kindly tell me which clubs they're going to so I can avoid them, I'd appreciate it :D

Seriously guys. Let's not contribute to the prision population by mixing alcohol, sharp objects, cheap women, and men competing for them.
 
Nick, did the knife really CUT your friend? I always assumed they were a last ditch stabbing weapon?
 
Yes it did, not very deep but certainly drew blood.

If you're wishing to recreate the experiment, he held it by the blade in a closed fist and pulled it out quickly by the handle. I imagine that despite him obviously being an idiot he still wouldn't have been putting too much pressure on the blade, so potentially the cut would've been worse if, say, his hand was held down and someone else did the cutting with greater pressure through the draw.
 
How might these do against leather and/or denim for stabbing?
Also, could someone with a leather or work glove grab the blade and hold on to it, or could you pull it out of their hand?
 
Hmm... I only have experience with the Tai-Pan which doesn't have the sharpest point, I must admit I think it would have trouble with these materials. By the way I must thank you, I now know what to do next time I'm throwing out a pair of jeans!:D I reckon the Skean Dhu pictured or the push dagger verions would do better, they definately have more of a point to them.

With regard to someone with a tough glove grabbing the blade, I think the answer has to be yes no problem. With a blade as long as the Tai-Pan's they could probably grab it and snap it if they were quick enough.
 
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