Cold Steel VOYAGER XL - Demo and Thoughts 

I have the SRK in AUS8A and it does very well..much better than other AUS8(A) i have worked with

Aus10 is much better and won't rust and keeps a much better edge

i feel the same way. i do trust their locking mechanism.

if i will trust a knife, like I do the ESEE 4 or 6...i have to know I tested it much harder than i will ever need to use it.

@@SpartanJohns I'm pretty sure that the Triad lock is secure and I trust it.

Thank you! Lately I have been looking for videos on a few models...and all I could find was stats and assumptions...not much info which seemed to be based on actually working with the knife. I don't mind table tops but i'd like to hear people's experiences with a certain cutting tool. This is what I try to offer.

Do you carry a plain or serrated vaquero/Tanto?

@@PerfectNormal my vaquero is serrated. That is mainly a self defense knife. The tanto I carry is plain edge that is my jack of all trades knife. I do a lot of fishing in rivers around Maryland Pennsylvania and West Virginia. So many places you have to make a trail. I like the tanto for clearing branches so I can cast. It’s a great size. Plus it’s great cleaning and cutting bait. My absolute favorite knife for cleaning game is the mini Pendleton Hunter it’s cheap and holds a great edge that Aus 10. The only thing I question now is how tough the Aus10 is . I watched joe x break it like it was glass. But then he couldn’t break the 4max scout which is same steel. The serrated vaquero is like a laser beam on vegetation it’s also not hard to sharpen lansky makes a sharpener for $10. My recommendation would be get the tanto plain first. Better all around blade. The vaquero is a specialty blade. It’s not for everyone but with a little training it’s the most dangerous. Sorry for the long epitaph, waiting for the morning coffee. Can’t go wrong with any of the voyager blades.

Hey thanks I’m more about self defense first. I’m a city boy that doesn’t get outdoors much. I always try to make sure I’m ready for a self defense situation and ready for when I have to cut open a cardboard box or slice a birthday cake. 😂 I love Lynn Thompson and his approach to self defense. I like his style of controlling distance midrange/ long range . I’m not really into knife grappling. I try and practice as much as I can. I have a serrated vaquero and serrated Tanto myself. But due to blade length limits here in my state I carry A serrated Tiger claw in my right pocket. I don’t hold it as a karmabit. I hold it in a hammer grip position and use it as a hawk bill slasher. In the left pocket I usually carry an Ak-47. Though it has been love at first hold with my large voyager clip point with a snaggletooth that I just got. For me, I think it’s a perfect EDC.

I have been thinking about a tanto voyager xl for bushcraft tasks....but I do like the way this one performs. The vaquero is definitely cool...as i bought the voyager more as a 'joke' i was thinking about getting the vaquero..because it looks so cool and the main purpose behind that shape is obviously self defense...but i am am really not into that so i am happy i got the clip point version...it is, as you said, a nice machete for clearing brush. I cleaned up my in-laws garden using the voyager...

​@@SpartanJohnsi recommend a Spartan I have voyager xl in tanto, clip and vaquero. Tanto in regular and serrated, and vaquero in plain A good self defense knife would be a serrated Spartan

Hey Rob! Thank you my friend! as an "all around" tool the Voyager XL is definitely a good choice. I also thought about the drop point version but tbh i am pretty happy with the clip point. Never took any damage. I was thinking about the Espada. It is about the same size as the Voyager XL but has G10 handle scales... I realise that their main purpose might be another but as a rough wood working/processing tool it does excellent. If you ever get one...i would really be curious about your thoughts on it

@@SpartanJohns I will for sure give my thoughts on it. It has been year eyeing the xl range so hopefully I will find a "justification" for the purchase;)

I'd really like to see a video from you again my friend!

me too man...i already thought about getting another one...just for the heck of it.

Glad you liked it

i carried it as an edc a lot. just for fun. I still take it with me when I take the dogs out for a walk in the woods. Great for clearing brush and 'just in case'

i like the voyager series...but then again...i keep saying: if it is a backlock, it should be a tri-ad lock

I just got mine the other day. I am absolutely in love. I had a snaggletooth attached to it too. It’s my favorite knife right now. I have most of the cold steel folding knives,. I think for me. The 4” clip Point is absolutely perfect. I have other cold steels that are also comfortable. But I thinks this is the most comfortable of them all for my hand. It’s butter. I also love the grippiness. And the fact that it’s lighter than the lawman. Anyway, I love it.

@@PerfectNormal I still take the Voyager XL with me outdoors. Almost all the time. I have considered trying the smaller versions. Haven't yet pulled the trigger.

I’m sure you’ll love it. I have the majority of the cold steel folding lives. For medium/large hands, I think as far as ergonomics, it’s supreme. And at around $50, you can’t go wrong.

I hope you will like it. If you feel like it, after you used it for a few days, let me know if I failed to mention something. I know every hand is different and everybody carries/uses their knives in a different way but I do appreciate the feedback

I like the tension there....even if my pockets don't...i am willing to sacrifice them. :))

I also like using it for stuff like that. Not at home bt when I go at a cabin. I just find it practical. It's a big folder, capable of chopping and batoning wood and can cut vegetables, cake.... :)

I used axes with much lower edge angles for chopping. Under 20 DPS. of course not all steels used for axes can handle that. It really depends what you feel comfortable with. Yes, the Voyager XL's main reason is self defense. I don't like to look at knives in that role. But if you do, then I think few companies offer the stability and variety in self defense designs as Cold Steel does. The fact that their designs can take such abuse is indeed a nice bonus. I would take this knife in the outdoors for how practical it is to use. You can chop, split wood, prepare your food with it and it does that great! The fact that it has also "another capability" which it can do very well(i assume) is indeed a huge bonus. This is from my pov. Others, like yourself, look at it starting with the main reason it was build. Either way: A good design. Thanks!

I have seen your TUFF video. I like the knife. Weird looking? yes...but i like the way it looks. And I have nothing against bigger, thicker, weirder knives....

i like CS. I don't think that the tri-ad lock is actually needed. But i do like it! I wish all back locks would be tri-ad locks

I got it as a "joke knife" but nowadays I really like it. I got a deep carry pocket clip...but the standard with which it comes does a better job as far as comfort in hand is concerned.

I use the 4maxscout much more. I use it to process wood, chop, split, dig. It is a beast! But if I had to chose 1 of the 2....i would chose the Voyager XL simply because I think it is much cooler. The huge blade can come in handy in more ways than the one on the 4 Max Scout. Simply depends on what you actually plan to use it for.

I love axes...but none which fold this well! ;)

I would like bronze phosphorus washers and g10 handle scales....I have been carrying this one quite a lot. Especially outdoors....and i used it a fair amount since this video. Still no issues

I've never heard of bronze or nylon washers ever wearing out

fixed blades will be more resistant to abuse...but folders...fold :) They do not need a sheath and are more versatile. that is my take on it. at the end of the day each person uses/tests what htey like. I am just here to provide some information

I wanted to get the vaquero...I think it looks really cool. In the end I opted for this one. Not sad about my choice...but I often think: How about getting a vaquero? :))

@@SpartanJohns i alwsys wsted to carry s sword around.now i just have the cold steel neck knife.the kukri in my car and a saw flashlights , lighters grill.i alao carry a uzi tanto folder.and a ganzo 4 inch folder

I sold most of my knives about 7-8 months ago. the big ones I miss most. I know the Rajah series. All of them cool knives! If I will be able to get some big folders...i'd like to try the Espada

They are cool knives...I have been thinking about the tanto version, the vaquero....

​@@SpartanJohnstanto is a hollow grind. Vaquero is flat grind. Tanto is a good self defense slicer

@@kenmastersmaster I feel like the Tanto would also make a great tool for processing wood and gardening tasks...

definitely a nice little knife...I think they should bring it back too! I would give it a try!

Lynn might be able to answer that question much better. I mainly use it for wood processing

I don't have an extra voyager...i only have this one and yes...the knife is really cool.

2 differente beasts....the L,which I don't have, is in my understanding a much beefier, tougher Endura....The XL...is...a fun toy. And a great knife should you ever actually need something this big

@@SpartanJohns, thank you😉

XL for BOB. L for every day carry.

If it's outdoor XL. If it's a super solid work knife 4 inch. For the price it cannot be beaten.

they do make good tools

Taiwan! now you know!

not sure...I think it is legal to own everywhere...maybe not legal to carry.

Every city in CA has its own laws and ordinances. This knife would be illegal in Los Angeles to conceal carry. This is not State law -- it's the city ordinances.

legal, as long as it's an folding knife, doesn't matter the blade length, you can carry fixed blades as well, but those has to be hanging on your belt, and of course, it's very illegal if you take it out, and intimidate people with it

Adamantium and 3V with Delta HT. Got it! But other than that…if you chop thru steel wire all steels with all HT’s will chip, bend…

I heard that CPM M4 can do it as well, but I haven't seen it. However, yeap, these are extreme exceptions. Steels obtained via standard metalurgy will either chip or plastically deform doing this (and most of the powder steels will chip as well).

Nope! Neither M4, 3V or any other steel can resist taking damage when you are chopping thru steel wire. The tests you see on youtube are of knives with large edge angles and soft steel. Or 1 in a milion tries. You have to understand that chopping introduces a whole other ballpark of tensions. Unlike normal cutting. Stories and claims i have heard a lot. However i have also tested many steels. M4 and 3V among them. Both powder steels. That is what CPM does. Crucible Particle Metallurgy. Don’t believe such stories. Better to test for yourself. That is what i started doing for a long time now…

Nope, I'm talking about my experience, not what I see on YT. I have a Swamp Rat Free Rein Wakizashi in 3V @62 HRC. I chopped wood that had insertions of steel wire under the bark. I didn't notice that until I finished. I had no chip at all, just two minor dents that could be felt when moving the nail onto the edge, but not visible with the eye. And the times I might hit and cut those wires were more than twice for sure. The edge is somehow thick, but not as thick as it is on my other Busse knives. It is just about comparable with the edge on my Fallkniven A2, just that it's not convexed. So this is true. It's one of the blades that I use in one of my videos. Properly heat treated CPM-3V can do that. It's tru, I'm not fabulating. For M4 I mentioned that I just heard about it, but I hanev't seen it. For 3V I have personally experienced it.

Soft steel does not chip. Axes, machetes made out of non stainless “soft” steel(55-57 hrc) will not chip. They will dull. True, some keep 3v at lower hardness levels, but that is wasting good steel. Or saving money on HT. You can leave any steel soft so that it does not chip but rather bend. But those bends(flat or warped) require steel to be removed beyond the immediate area of damage, just like chips. Otherwise you are leaving weakened steel there. Which, in the long run, will not help you at all. So rather than an expensive 3v which was left soft to save money on HT, i would take a 1095(ROWEN HT), O1, or a well heat treated AEB-L and adapt the geometry to what it is you want to cut.

Did this video make you laugh! So happy for you! Glad you liked it!

“Also”…how old are you?

@@SpartanJohns 42 and now?

Now you really need to grow up! Read a book! Learn how to properly speak and write so that you don’t come across like a douche! Try making some friends! Learn about active listening and being part of society. Imagine how cool it would be if people actually liked you…just imagine it!

it is snappy! I keep it very sharp so I am very careful when dealing with it.