Cold Steel Large Voyager: Budget Tactical Perfection... Yes, Really 

CampfireTalk 👩 🍈🍈 🍑

Was TheApostleP acutally opposed to the Voyager??? That would be a great shock to me taking into account a Voyager with an TheApostleP edge on it! That could be the perfect marriage of edge and low priced EDC tactical blade!!!

Peter Cardona He despised the look of the handle. What I gathered from this vid is: he's still not warm to the look but is tolerant because of knife's functionality and value. I've been watching Rob's vids for quite awhile and I believe that his appreciation for value is roughly equal to his appreciation of knife art and fine craftsmanship (read that expensive knives). But that's all based on surmising rather than long discussion.

05generic Yes, I got the sense he made a concession for the blade's value. It did suprise me because I love Rob's channel exactly because of the fact of his devotion to craftsmanship and better materials in blades. I'm am SO glad he put this video out because I can send TheApostleP my much loved Cold Steel AK47 and AK47 mini without fear of being mocked! :-)

I try not to mock, even when I want to, with a customer's knife on video. But it would be a pretty rare thing for me to mock a Cold Steel knife with the Tri-Ad lock. I love 'em!

1all's Pub I wonder what Rob charges to sharpen one of those curvy beasts... Seriously, I'd probably buy an XL Espada ... *IF* I could afford it!

Mine’s from the later run with BD1 blade steel - those were a particularly awesome value

keep in mind, oil attracts dust

+mlopez22284 Me as well, couldn't resist (the AUS-8 version of course, bd1 version is more) - Has to be one of the best 'value knife' deals going today. Looking around, AUS-8 Recon 1's with the same blade shape run ~55+ Also got a Voyager XL 50/50 clip point for $38 True bargains.

shcmoly I thought so too. I knew about the hollow vs. flat difference, but I was really surprised how differently the tangs are shaped and how it affects deployment. The Voyager is a much faster knife than the Recon 1.

I know it's late but I know from my Recon 1 I had the same problem. They used Red Loctite on those. Carefully put a soldering iron or cigarette lighter to the thumbstud. After about 10 seconds or less the Loctite will liquify and you can then unscrew it. Then after you switch the studs you can wipe off any carbon from the studs and blade if you used the cigarette lighter.

How it would be stronger? I heard somewhere that g10 is the strongest of all non metal handle materials

paul greenwood On the Voyager, you can remove the thumb studs and use the L-shaped flats. But on other hollow ground blades without adequate flats, like a Sebenza, you can use the hollow grind to locate on and make an angle correction like you would on a FFG blade. You just have to be careful to be precise in how you locate the blade left to right each time you move it.

+TheApostleP Sorry Rob, I must be missing something. I can see the L-shaped flats you mention on the Recon but not the Voyager. However, I think I do know what you mean by using the flat of the blade and making an adjustment for the slight difference in the grind angle. The 'sharpie' technique you once mentioned helps too. God bless mate. :)

I actually did a tutorial on how to use the primary bevel grind to locate with the Edgepro, Check out my "Knife How To Videos" playlist.

TheApostleP Will do - thanks brother.

I really like the sandvic steel kershaw has, they sharpen easy and stay sharp better than aus 8 in my experience, but I hate that they keep switching everything over to overseas production in 8Cr13Mov like the zing for example. Im just glad I got the zing tanto sprint run before those ran out. Cant find a regular one now and there's no way I want the 8Cr13Mov one, I just don't see the need for spring assist

TheWhiteNinjaWolf Yeah I cant get on board with the yearly dose of Chinese Kershaws.

it was below 50 back in the day but since demand is very high the price jacked up like crazy the same with other cold steel knives like the espada and talwar

@@BoBoSticks still can get them under 50 daily

@ablackprep 4max scout, spartan and I believe rajah ii and iii still use steel liners. Some of their knives say steel liners in the description like g10 espada and sr1 but the liners are only down the back spine, not around the main pivot from what i can see. I would suspect having a liner around main pivot would give the lock strength in side to side flexing. Cold steel and most reviewers only show us up down lock strength. Keep in mind cold steel never skeletonizes their liners so the steel ones are super heavy. My spartan doesnt get a lot of use for that reason

do you know of any tests that compare handle materials? Ive seen blades on recon 1 break before the lock so a liner may not be worth its weight anyway

Oh and easy to sharpen so they can learn that would be great also.

Ahhh, what a great question! If you're looking for something small and lightweight in a modern locking folder, I would heartily recommend the Ontario Rat 2 or the Cold Steel Mini Recon 1. I have two videos on the Rat 2 on the channel, and I'll be uploading a video review of the Mini Recon 1 in the next day or so. The Rat 2 will cost about $30, and the Mini Recon 1 about $50. Both are in AUS 8 steel, just like this Voyager. AUS 8 is a very good edge holder and super easy to sharpen. Now, if you're looking for something with more implements than just a main knife blade, you might want to look at Victorinox Swiss Army Knives. I'd start with the Tinker or Super Tinker for a young scout. The steel used by Victorinox isn't quite as good an edge holder as AUS 8, but even easier to sharpen. These knives are in the under $30 range. Hope that helps!

Thanks. It does help a bunch!

Thanks for that detail, my friend! It makes perfect sense. I should have done my research :)

What is your primary?

shcmoly You have no idea how funny and impossible to answer that question is! But here goes... My Recon 1 clip is always in my EDC pack. My Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder is always in my tac vest (grab-n-go bad day system), and the knife clipped to my front left pocket changes daily. But most commonly it's a Large Sebenza 21 clip point, most often the one with micarta inlays. While my Spyderco Military or Benchmade 710 are probably better pure tactical blades, the Sebbie is my go to primary carry knife.