Those who have experience with the 4-Max variants..

el gigantor

el gigantor

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2015
Messages
1,631
I've got a Scout which I love! I'm considering saving up for an Elite as my next big knife purchase. I'm wondering if you folks think the upgraded materials warrants the big price increase. Contoured G10 scales and titanium liners and spacer are pretty rad as far as I'm concerned, and I love stonewashed S35VN.

(As I know he has ownership of what I'm asking about, paging Z Zephyr One/Zero )
 
I have both the Scout (I actually have 2 Scouts, thanks to that place that puts them on sale all the time) and the Elite, which I got on the Exchange here. Both are fine knives, but if I’m being completely honest, I carry the Scout far more often because I don’t worry about knocking it around at all. Don’t get me wrong, the Elite is really really nice, and I love it.
 
El G: I have the Italian-version of the Elite, and the new 5 Max. The "Elite" is the luxury-edition of the basic Scout-model. Its a pricey option ($360.00), but not; if you really want one. Supposedly, the Elite sports titanium-liners. But no mention of it, in the official specs. I originally purchased my Elite, when the Scout wasn't even being made yet. Still, and all; I thought at the time it was worth-it, and still do. I like the G10 slabs, and the S35VN steel alloy. Why the Elite costs forty-dollars more than the 5 Max, I'm not really sure? Perhaps, something to do with overall production costs. The premium Cold Steel blades are worth-it, in my opinion. I'd snap-up a ($300.00) premium-version of the Hatamoto, with a triad-lock in a second. The best comparison would be: do you want a Volkswagen, or a Porsche? These new 'premiums' from Cold Steel are made in Taiwan. They are just as good as my Italian-made knife, or better! So no worries there. The 5 Max at $310.00 dollars; is no slouch either. I hope, that I helped you out a little bit.

ZaiWUOeh.jpg


1dfYBvjh.jpg
 
Zephyr One/Zero said:
El G: I have the Italian-version of the Elite, and the new 5 Max. The "Elite" is the luxury-edition of the basic Scout-model. Its a pricey option ($360.00), but not; if you really want one. Supposedly, the Elite sports titanium-liners. But no mention of it, in the official specs. I originally purchased my Elite, when the Scout wasn't even being made yet. Still, and all; I thought at the time it was worth-it, and still do. I like the G10 slabs, and the S35VN steel alloy. Why the Elite costs forty-dollars more than the 5 Max, I'm not really sure? Perhaps, something to do with overall production costs. The premium Cold Steel blades are worth-it, in my opinion. I'd snap-up a ($300.00) premium-version of the Hatamoto, with a triad-lock in a second. The best comparison would be: do you want a Volkswagen, or a Porsche? These new 'premiums' from Cold Steel are made in Taiwan. They are just as good as my Italian-made knife, or better! So no worries there. The 5 Max at $310.00 dollars; is no slouch either. I hope, that I helped you out a little bit.

ZaiWUOeh.jpg


1dfYBvjh.jpg
Click to expand...
Always love when you post pics!

So on Cold Steel's official website it says the Elite has tumbled titanium liners and backspacer. (Link here) I'm definitely tempted. You mentioned how it's $360 USD which would be a decent price. The problem is I'm in Canada and pocket knives always cost more here for some reason. I did the conversion and my retailer is selling the blade for approx. $445 USD which is a harder pill to swallow. Also I've looked at the 5-Max and think it's super appealing, it's just too big for my uses. And I say that as an actual giant!

Z Zephyr One/Zero if you or anyone else has more input (and/or photos), let me have it! Really appreciate the help so far.
 
el gigantor said:
I've got a Scout which I love! I'm considering saving up for an Elite as my next big knife purchase. I'm wondering if you folks think the upgraded materials warrants the big price increase. Contoured G10 scales and titanium liners and spacer are pretty rad as far as I'm concerned, and I love stonewashed S35VN.

(As I know he has ownership of what I'm asking about, paging Z Zephyr One/Zero )
Click to expand...

While I don't have a Taiwanese Elite, I love my 4-MAX in G-10. It's among my favorite folders. The 4-MAX Scout is a great budget-friendly alternative that I also enjoy. But, like all of the low-cost versions that Cold Steel produces, while it measures up in the performance department, it's just not quite as nice in-hand as the upgraded models. A Zytel Ti-Lite isn't as nice as an aluminum or G-10 version, handling an SR1 Lite isn't the same as handling an SR1, and a G-10 Espada can't begin to compare to the excellence of a polished Espada.

For me, if I like a design, the higher-end model is always worth the money. That said, if I remember correctly, you've got large hands and you're often disappointed with folder handles. If that's the case, as others have suggested, skip the 4-MAX Elite and get a 5-MAX. I don't think you'll be disappointed.


-Steve
 
First-off, glad that I could be of some small help to fellow blade-brother. The Elite having titanium-liners is just another plus in my book. Eventually, I'll probably snap-up the newest incarnation of the Elite. For those brothers considering the 5 Max, its quite stunning to have one in-the-hand. The extant quality is truly amazing. If there ever was an end-of-the-world folder; the 5 Max aces all the pretenders out there. Three-hundred USD, is not unreasonable for a high-end folder like this. Mine came flawless from the factory, and comparing it to the Scout is quite the contrast. Its unfortunate, that many of the uninformed view Cold Steel knives as "mall ninja" blades. A number of acquaintances, that I introduced to the marque, are now bonfide believers. I think Lynn Thompson intrinsically, understood his target market years ago, by single-handedly creating the 'big knife' genre. Add-in the mechanical-genius of Demko, now that's a winnning-combo!

YGWVwDth.jpg
 
Don’t have the Elite, but I have the Italian version, Ti heavy. Very cool IMO. Is it worth it? Yep. Great knife for big hands as you know.
The good thing is the Taiwan version should have better fit and finish than my two Italians. They’re not terrible, but my two Scouts have better f&f.
There is definitely a cool factor to all that titanium. Love mine.
IMG_4509.jpeg
 
Zephyr One/Zero said:
iO2cbhHh.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice shot!

So my decision has been made. The retailer I buy from puts 50-100 different items on sale every week. They have huge inventory so it's rare that a knife I really want gets reduced. Anyway, yesterday the new sale was announced and I had a look; the 4-Max Elite had $210 CAD taken off the price!! I couldn't believe it! Pulled the trigger even though it'll put me in some bad debt. I knew I'd regret it otherwise. She ships tomorrow.
 
How many of you would be interested in a 4 Max/5 Max with either a Cip or Tanto point? I think that these would both be great additions to the Max Series of knives in much the same way that the Voyager Series has different blade shapes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top