This is a Hype Vs Reality review of the Cold Steel Recon 1. I do size comparisons and give you my extended impressions of this knife, and I also have footage of me using the knife.
I'm from Texas and I find your stereotypes very offensive. We don't carry huge tactical folders and Desert Eagles to out kid's baseball games. We carry katanas and AR 15s.
I own one of these and it's a phenomenal knife. It's the Pitbull of knives - it's basically a full on combat/survival knife, disguised as a mid-sized lock-knife you can keep in your pocket!
I bought the tanto half serrated recon 1 before my first deployment 10 years ago and i loved it... worked perferct for me.. glad to know its still around and even better than before
The recon 1 will definitely leave its mark as the epitome of a tactical folder. Carries good, solid lock up amd good cutting geometry. I think the half serrated tanto has been the most useful. The hollow grind on their tantos just fly through what ever you put in its cutting path.
This is one of my favorite EDC knives. The 4" is just right. I love the steel S35VN, blade design, great lock, double finger guard, rough G-10 handle, and easy to open one handed. My only complaint is the slight difficulty to disengage the backlock after the blade is opned. Not a big deal though. They have these knives at Knifeworks for $99, which is a good deal, I think. One thing to note is the knife is made in Taiwan, who produce excellent quality knives and have free elections, a mutli-party system, and a republic. Conversely, China is one party ruled--Communist, totalitarian, and has poor quality control. Any knife purchased from China is a gamble to quality and supports the Communists. Just something to remember.
love your channel,great job -cold steel has been taking most of my money in the last couple of years ,super value knives-even their aus8a knives are great,am interested in picking up some of their aus10a just have a problem with the new voyager series love their old japanese versions aesthetically and pocket carrywise much more
First-time viewer. I think you did a great job on talking through the knife and really enjoyed it. Great information and very practical. Not a bunch of crazy "ninja" stuff with heavy metal music intros and cut aways. You, sir, just got a new subscriber! Keep up the good work.
In my experience, the BETTER a steel sharpens the BETTER the HT. We expect a well HT higher HRC blade to be more difficult to sharpen... when in reality its EASIER. Finer grain structure, smaller burrs, easier burr removal, finer edges and better edge holding . Great fucking review brother.
SuperSteel Steve Absolutely! It’s hard to think of that way, but I believe you are absolutely correct. The edge is going to come up quicker, and more keen as well. I think that’s a false impression that a lot of people have. There’s a point where it does become very hard to machine or grind though. I had this discussion with Elliot from FFKW, and he was saying 20cv at 64hrc, a lot of production companies won’t touch it with a ten foot pole haha Thanks a lot brother🤙
It all depends on what you're using it for. I carry the clip point in my backpack instead of a large fixed-blade knife when going on a light hike. I carry the Tanto point in a get home bag in case of violence break out in a disaster.
Don't knock it till you try it .. Glad to see we have another Cold Steel fan on RU-vid . As soon as CS switched to XHP and BD1, I bought just about every folder they make , and a few fixed blades too . Also happy to see someone on RU-vid that can cut cardboard right , I never saw so many knife reviewers that don't know how to use a knife , they talk a good game , but when you finally see them use a knife to cut cardboard or try to make feather sticks or something , I'm like Holy Shit , my 8 year old daughter knows how to use a knife better , its unbelievable , LOL , ha ha
I remember when they first came out with that design. They were selling out their inventory of the Gen 1's for, 2 for $60. I bought a bunch. It's a great knife.
@@inthepocket7405 - The thing I like about the gen 1's is how fast you can open and close them by holding the lock. A little practice and it's practically instant.
I'd carry this thing to work just to wig people out when I open boxes or cut my lunch. Hell this would be my date knife and if she's disturbed by it she's not the one for me
I first bought a mini recon 1 then my buddy had a recon 1 XL and that just made me smile. So I bought a used chipped S35VN recon 1 a few months ago and reprofiled it. It took a great sticky edge. The knife is confidence inspiring when stabbing material. I’d really like to try an American lawman and the ultimate hunter but they always take the back burner. So many cool knives how can a guy ever experience them all.
Cark Nelson dude.... I can’t imagine the XL haha must be nuts. All of mine in xhp are really well done, and they seem to do a good job on their heat treat. It’s definitely a confidence inspiring knife. Yeah, I want so much shit right now🤦🏽♂️ I wish I made the money I used to haha where do u live again Cark?
InThePocket I live in Minnesota. Yeah I used to travel for work and make twice what I do now so I need to pull back a little or catch and release some knives but I end up liking them.
Cark Nelson I’m the same way... I was thinking, maybe this year we could do some sharing👍 I’ll let you borrow my American Lawman and ultimate hunter(to start), and you can lend me anything you think I should try. Maybe something you think I should have on my channel, but don’t. Just a thought...
Great review dude! I have an XL Recon 1 Tanto in XHP steel. A beast of a knife and I would NEVER sell it. I would have liked Cold Steel however to make all The Recon1 models with smoother G10(especially under the pocket clips). As well as deeper carry pocket clips and jimping on the spine. If they would have done this then they would have been perfect, at least to me!!
Thanks Barry! I definitely want to check out a tanto one day. You could always smooth it out a bit yourself, especially under the clip. I’ve been doing it a lot lately.
Got mine delivered to the house for i think $ 105.00. BEST hundred dollar knife you can buy in my opinion. And you never have to worry about your fingers. In my pocket all day everyday. Thanks for the video.
I have a few CS knives with the triad before this.. the lock is just as good now as it was in 2011 and I beat the crap out of it. Just got the Black Tanto version Of the Recon 1.. grip feels amazing in the hand.. it's light.. and I ordered the Snaggletooth pocket catch for it.. My Rajah II was my EDC for years.. so this thing feels small in comparison to it.
My edc carry is cold steel Recon 1 3" cts-xhp with that new coating they came out with, I've literally carried it every single day for years now probably around 5 years could be more & that coating has not scratched off for shit! They didn't only make the steal better that coating is amazing!
I trade in a little edge retention for toughness for sure. S35VN for me. Brittle edges and easy breaking tips are a no-no for me. I rather sharpen a blade a little more. No effort..
For all the trashing of Cold Steel for Some of their “mall ninja” gear yah can’t beat their heat treatment and how well built they are. Would love to get the new ad10 and a kukri for the love of Cedric & Ada and of course Advanced Knife Bro
"Mall ninja" is a term used by MORONIC detractors, that have no idea that Lynn Thomson and many of the company's past and present employees, are melee weapons aficionados/collectors, hunters, and a trained martial artists (despite Lynn's appearance), that have contributed to real input of their many offerings. "Mall Ninja" CRAP is the stuff that's sold at flea markets and on late night shop at home TV, with clueless hosts.
It actually 100% legal to own in new york, i believe they have some fairly relaxed knife laws compared to most other states The Recon 1 is aggressive anywhere, aside from a firearm event or being on base, youll get some looks if you pull it out at the BX, mostly from new unknowing dependas
Sorry, but New York has more restrictive laws than other states. Legal to own is one thing - allowed to legally carry is another matter. In NYC the laws are more restrictive on carrying folders than the state itself. NYC is less than 4 inch blade, depending on how the NYPD measures it. There is another ordinance regarding carrying within the NYC subway system. www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/about/faq/knives-faq.page
I have a Manix 2 XL and a Recon 1 (tanto point). The Spyderco has an edge on the tactical side of it, but is 💩 in comparison on the utility side. Because of my circumstances I carry the Manix for self-defense purposes but I have the Recon in my backpack for a backup if I ever need one. Overall the Recon is superior because it can fill the role as both a weapon and a tool. IMO it’s one of the best options for a get home/bug out kit.
I really like the Bad monkey but at one third the price, better blade steel and the triade lock nothing can compare to the Recon one. Best value in the knife world.
Hello I really enjoyed your video and have several cold steel knife’s Recon 1 is awesome also I saw on the video when you where comparing recon one to other knives on the American law man had the wings on the blade i’d like to know where can I get one
The Tanto is the best EDC version of the Recon 1s I used to be skeptical of Tantos, because like everyone else, my opinions of a good knife was its ability to dress game. This paradigm still pervades opinions, even if the user does not think about it. Popular opinion is influenced by this benchmark. Once I was honest about how often I dress game on a daily basis, I was willing to give a tanto a go, as a daily driver. The reality is, a Tanto is exponentially better at performing the overwhelming majority of daily cutting tasks. Furthermore, if you were to look at my XHP Tanto Recon 1, and compare it to yours, a blind man could see which has seen more use and carry...
Tracer Widowmaker I can see that. I do see the benefits to a tanto vs a drop point, or just any shaped blade with belly, but I also see the adverse opinion. I personally lean towards the latter, but there are times a tanto is more advantageous. Thanks for your input on this✌️
I find the Cold Steel tantos in general, to be great for handyman utility. I've used the Recon 1's smaller top portion as a makeshift flathead screwdriver, the smaller edge as a scraper/shaver/scoring for edgework and corners along floors and certain windows/doors. It sharpens up quick (AUS8A) and no need to have replacement blades/utility knives - I reserve those for finer cutting with sheetrock/carpets or scraping paint/stickers off windows as examples.
I EDC a Recon 1 at work (I live in Georgia) and nobody notices. I also EDC a XL Espada. (That gets a few looks🤣) Bu where I live, it's odd to find a guy not carrying a knife. Open firearm carry is common here and knife carry is almost a given. The law here states that you can open or conceal carry any knife as long as the blade length is 12" or less. Any bigger and you need your carry permit but not many folks carry that much knife!
Funny how in California, it's legal to carry any length blade, no permit required. But the social response - including from LEO ignorant of the law - would be the main impediment here. I could technically legally open-carry a sword, but that I'm sure that would go real bad real quick. But a big folder shouldn't be an issue if you don't look and act like some hoodlum.
I have this knife in the S35VN version and it is enough for self-defense to cut the opponent's tendons. In the near east, such knives scalp alive the skin of the opponent's chest.
To me it doesn't matter if they're aus8-10 xhp or s35... I have my lansky sharpener & set the stones at 25° literally 1 or 2 minutes of sharpening if that & it's razor sharp. Only use grey stones, forget the white ones. It's the $60 sharpener you can set the angle at 17 20 or 25° depending on the knife you're sharpening. The great thing about aus8-10 is they re-sharpen very easily & still hold an edge plenty well. We've just been spoiled with the super steels
Just ordered a Recon 1 yesterday. Little disappointed that they don't make them with CTS-XHP anymore due to steel shortage. So i hope the S35VN steel is about as good.
I agree, and definitely prefer Xhp. I have heard that they do a good job on the S35vn though, and Bj “@Hilltop knives and gear” has tested the S35vn. Cold Steel seems to do a good job with all their steels.
How do you find the Voyager XL compares to the Recon 1? I just ordered the 5.5" Voyager XL tanto serrated for $50 and the 4" Recon 1 spear point for $80.
@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou i am in love with the Voyager XL tanto. Of course handle and steel material is lower grade than the recon one but tgere is something about that voyager i love so much. Im not even really a huge tanto fan but it may be my favorite cold steel i own. The recon one is high quality and sexy.
Another reason I don't miss living in California. Also, I just ended living in South Carolina for over a decade. No one there would even bat an eye no matter what kind or size knife I pulled out. Open and concealed Cary of any knife was legal. Now I'm on temporary assignment in Lefty Oregon and people out here think a butter knife is an assault weapon. I love my Ultimate Hunter and am planning on getting the Recon 1 S35VN Spear Point and the American Law Man. Thanks for the video my Bladed Brother ⚔️
mister smith Yeah, it sucks that people have a fear of knives, and I try to do what I can to educate people when they seem frightened or startled by the fact that I have a knife, sometimes big one. hahaha I I try to have a smaller option when I’m carrying a big knife, just so if I’m around someone that might get nervous. Yeah... it sucks haha. Thanks bro!
Spyderco sucks for design. That fucking hole, and a cross between fishing/gentleman’s knife is worth shit in the woods. The cold steels are great ! I’ve got the recon 1 tanto partial serrated, and SR1 tanto. I never have to worry with the triad locks either. I could climb a tree with those two.
I'm from Texas, I carry this knife , and various other large folders such as the Talwar and the spartan , its perfectly legal here , some folks look , but oh well Fu*kem if they dont like it ..😊
I carry a Recon-1 everyday mine is the S35VN Steel. Got it for right at a hundred bucks. When i was a teenager i carried the ole Buck 110. Still got one, but that Recon will be in my pocket for the rest of my life. Wish they would upgrade the steel....
I like Spyderco just fine, but for the money I think Cold Steel offers a better deal in the pricepoint in each knife. For collectors like me, I love my bright green-handled Spyderco Endura and a few others, but if I were going out to just get a knife for everyday carry (EDC), I'd go with Cold Steel every time. Strength: CS Blade: CS Safety: CS Edge Retention: CS Edge: CS/Serrated or Plain Ergonomics: CS Ease of Sharpening: CS/AUS10A Price: Mixed Views Of all knives, Cold Steel has, I think, the best combinations of blade length, steel, strength, edge and safety. When talking price, I'd also choose Cold Steel, but with the caveat of shopping. Some CS knives are horrendously overpriced, with others being great deals. AUS8A/AUS10A blades are the steels I'd choose. I love edge retention, but I _hate_ sharpening blades; and if I'm not cutting wood, I prefer the CS serrated edge. Years ago, I bought a CS Vaquero/5-inch serrated blade. I didn't know much about knives back then and I just wanted a Cold Steel, but I could see even then that the scallops were a bit rounded and the teeth were worn. But the nylon sheath was practically new. Now, I've used that knife a lot since then, since about 2006, and the blade edge has been worn significantly, but if I close my eyes and just run my finger along that edge, it still cuts through anything but wood. The serrations last forever. I did get a Marauder w/serrations, recently, and the patterns were terrible. This most likely was on purpose to keep users from grinding the teeth off, but I returned it to Amazon. The seller sent me a replacement (though I'd asked for a refund). Happily it had a much better serrated edge. Cold Steel is UNM (under new management), so we knife users have to keep them honest, so don't accept shoddy workmanship!
Man I feel bad for you being in Cali. I live in the Appalachians and I regularly walk around town with the Magnum warcraft tanto in a scout carry. People don't care, cops don't care. No one cares. I work Un the woods a lot and carry it for brush clearing and just carry it everywhere. Too much of a hassle to take on and off the belt.
Screw it. Carry it outside the pocket just to melt all the snowflakes who see it. I do it with my Steel Will Apostate just to offend my fellow Californians
I would say your review is still "hype". It's just your hype instead of theirs. Reality is using the knife on more than some paper and cardboard. It's kind of funny... almost all the reviewers on RU-vid would be better off with a box cutter.
True. Many are collectors who never really use their knives for say, cutting wood. Or larger amounts of thick cardboard... Then the handle comfort, or lack of, starts to show up. Box cutters are actually really useful tools. I carry one everywhere. Use it on the job daily. And it weighs nearly nothing. Takes no space in the pocket. It's the 9mm blade width version though.
If the knife review community would stop pushing knife shame, maybe society wouldn't give a shit. If someone is offended by my knife, then that is their problem not mine.
I wonder how cold steels ht on s35vn is they do good ht but bad hideous tacticool designs onley handled a reason 1 once didn’t like it they butchered the sharpening and choil same thing happens on my new broken skull high spot of 4 to 5 degrees
Kurt has tested it at 60 hrc... as far as the rest of the HT , CS has done a great job on there aus8 and XHP so I would assume they did the s35vn well too.
@@SuperSteelSteve I have the American Lawman in S35 and it seems to be pretty damn good. I haven't needed to sharpen it yet, and although I haven't used the hell out of it yet, I haven't babied it either..has done a good deal of wood cutting and cardboard..still can shave hair. They seem to have their ht down..even their AUS8 and 4116 perform pretty well, considering what they are.
I kept wondering where you were at that made you do concerned about people's impressions, then you said Southern California. Out here in the real world people carry work knives all the time and soy boys are not crying at every corner. I feel bad for you as a real knife guy, not the greatest location for your passion, the bleeding heart liberals there are WAY to sensitive.
I'm in California. Someone called the cops on me saying I had a combat knife because I had a Swiss Army Knife. I've even had the rangers called on me for wearing my Mora Eldris on my neck while hiking. People here are PUSSIES
I dress like a normal guy from SoCal. I wear quicksilver and o'Neil. Usually wearing Vans. And i carry everything. Benchmade, Spyderco, SOG, Steel Will, Esse, Cold Steel, Kershaw, Ontario, Kabar, Opinel, Mercator, Leatherman. Once got stopped by the police with 3 knives on me in the park after hours. If you act chill and don't go whipping out an XL espada. Youre good. Just dont look like a mall ninja or a cholo wanna be.
@@michaelsantana5781 I know that to be true. I was stationed in San Diego for a while and you can definitely get away with carrying a knife, but the average persons view of knives there is very different than where I'm from, North Carolina. Still, knife guys live everywhere and I'm glad we can all connect through guys like Kenny. Keep rocking the edc man.
