Who actually makes cold steel knives?

C

citizensoldierNY

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Feb 21, 2008
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I might actually be the last to know this but it came as revelation to me that Cold Steel does not make their own knives. Just wondering if anyone knows what models are made by which companies.
 
I'm not sure who makes their knives, but if you look for a factory named knife that has some of the attributes of current Cold Steel products you might be able to get an idea.

For example, I have a Spyderco Chokwe. The clip's finish on this knife reminds me of the the original Cold Steel TiLite. Some connection? I don't know.

The G10 on the Lawman series might be a clue. I don't recall seeing G10 quite like it.
 
AFAIK, over time, they have had several famous knifemakers in US make them knives. Now recently they have moved to Taiwan and China for most of their knives so its not very known.

My CS ODA, which i recently bought here is a carbon V and was made by Camillus for CS.
 
Cold Steel knives are oem'd from manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and China. Cold Steel has never manufactured a single knife themselves. They are designers and marketers of knives. There are many companies like this in the industry. SOG is another one.
 
Spyderco, doesn't make anything from, Japan, Taiwan, China or Italy. It's all contracted to other companies.
The USA made Spyderco's I'm not sure about. I suppose they own the factory?
 
Buck used to make those original fixed blade tantoes for Cold Steel.
Camillus made the Carbon V line.
 
Once upon a time, Cold Steel folders were made by the same makers in Japan that make some of Spyderco's folders. Sal introduced Lynn to them. Cold Steel's specifications were not as exacting as Spyderco's, hence the lower price point, as the makers were able to cut some corners to reduce the production cost. I don't know who is making Cold Steel these days.

Jill, Spyderco does own their own factory in Golden. They are capable of making any of their models there, and they are expanding it constantly, but it still isn't large enough to produce the volume of knives they sell.
 
I would not be surprised if CS contracts out to the lowest bidder for their different lines of knives.
 
I recently received a Cold Steel Large Espada. It is simply marked
COLD STEEL Taiwan.

However I must remark it is a very well put together knife. Symetrical grinds on the blade, unlike some other brands I have seen. Sharp as one can expect a new knife to be, sliced tp out-of-the-box. Fit and finsih is excellent.

So whoever makes them over there knows what they are doing.
 
South Africa for some machete's.China for other Machete's,knives. I think only the high-polished samurai swords are made in Japan? Taiwan for alot of thier knives.
I like Cold Steel knives.
It says right on the blade usually where they are made.
 
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cbxer55 said:
I recently received a Cold Steel Large Espada. It is simply marked
COLD STEEL Taiwan.

However I must remark it is a very well put together knife. Symetrical grinds on the blade, unlike some other brands I have seen. Sharp as one can expect a new knife to be, sliced tp out-of-the-box. Fit and finsih is excellent.

So whoever makes them over there knows what they are doing.
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CS has very high quality control and those Espadas are really nice. :)
 
Whether they make them or not, the Cold Steel knives I've bought are exceptional. I've said this before, but I bought a few of their knives with 440A blades because I liked the designs (Recon 1, Pro-LIte, Nightforce), and they all were all top notch. I've had problems with other knife brands that used 440A stainless (I have several I can never get very sharp). My CS knives, on the other hand, sharpen easily and they keep their edges well. I keep a well worn Nightforce plain edge downstairs so that when I cut up boxes and other things, I'll have one at hand. It almost never needs sharpening and when it does, it only takes a few passes and some stropping and it's ready for more.

I also called Cold Steel one time and the tech person I was speaking with told me that they had just bought some 440A at a good price and it was what was used in the Nightforce/Pro-Lite/early Recon-1. Once it ran out, they discontinued the Nightforce and Pro-Lite knives and upgraded to AUS8 for the Recon-1. Unfortunately, they also went to a G10 handle, which I detest. The older Zytel steel-reinforced grip was far superior in my opinion. I still carry my old Recon-1 and it's one of my favorite knives. Although the black wears off the blade, the knife remains sharp as the dickens.

The few knives that have been real garbage (like the tri-folding knife) was because of dreadful construction. I don't know what the blade was like. I just know that I like the large folders and love the Voyager series. The 6-inch Ti-Lite also is an amazing knife for under a hundred bucks!

So whoever makes 'em, my hat's off to them, though I'm sure Cold Steel exerts tight control over its products. If it can purchase slabs of steel, then they're pretty involved in the process.
 
Confederate said:
I also called Cold Steel one time and the tech person I was speaking with told me that they had just bought some 440A at a good price and it was what was used in the Nightforce/Pro-Lite/early Recon-1. Once it ran out, they discontinued the Nightforce and Pro-Lite knives and upgraded to AUS8 for the Recon-1. Unfortunately, they also went to a G10 handle, which I detest. The older Zytel steel-reinforced grip was far superior in my opinion. I still carry my old Recon-1 and it's one of my favorite knives. Although the black wears off the blade, the knife remains sharp as the dickens.
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I have one of the older Zytel handle AUS8 Recon 1's, it's great knife. :thumbup:
 
Samael said:
You mean they're not made by elves in an old oak tree? Shucks.
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those are the keebler cookies

Keebler_2.jpg
 
CS swords actually made by Huanuo Sword in China. Great quality swords, but the CS ones are heavier than they should be.
 
Jos said:
Who actually cares?

Kind regards,

Jos
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Apparently I do or I wouldn't have bothered asking the question, as I have a Cold Steel or two and as stated never knew before that they weren't made by Cold Steel I was interested in who might have actually made them. Be it the lower bidder, Camillus or whoever. Thanks to all who actually contributed some knowledge to the thread.
 
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