Yeah I luv the Espaada in all its different grades and upgrades, but the Mayhem is a Gimmick even with the Atlas Lock BS. I will not be purchasing one because one it's a limited run and the now selling blades are as high prices and the premium ones it's just an over sized knife that is waiting to break or fail and then have old GSM refuse to honor the warranty. 😢
i still haven't tested one of the new locks..but the only lock i trust 100% is and will be the tri ad lock..specially on this pocket swords..greetings from germany..uddo
It's not the first time GSM introduced a new product at an outrageous price. You're spot on with the Rajah comparison. Sure, it's a new design with a new lock, but it doesn't justify being that much more expensive.
As an individual who wants this knife, I appreciate your views tremendously. Without the item in hand we rely on videos like yours to make an informed decision. You have provided a lot of food for thought. My dilemma is that I am a collector of much of Cold Steel's inventory (not all, or a completist) but I also give heavy consideration of the price. I am afraid that the "cool factor" combined with possibility of a great deal will result in a purchase. It seems the Atlas lock has driven up the price on those models.
Just ordered my Mayhem. Maybe it is just a taste thing, and I love the Triad lock, but the Atlas lock looks great and easier to deploy. As far as lock strength, at least per Cold Steel it handles 800LB, Wow! Even at half that it is stronger than I could ever hope for. As far as blade steel, I have many knives with many steels and AUS-10 has never disappointed me. Easier to strop and sharpen than many higher end steels and what people must know is it is always a trade off, better edge retention = harder to sharpen. Harder steel = more brittle. Blade thickness makes a huge difference as well. Got the blade for $30 lower cost than Amazon at Midway with free shipping. I think Bezos gets enough of my money and Potter at Midway shares my values. We vote with our dollars. Thank You for the great review !
Its more fun to depress the tri-ad lock while holding the knife horizontal, letting the blade free fall, stopping just short of your finger every time. Gets your heart racing a little with a hair popping sharp blade.
GREAT VIDEO! 100% agreed on all counts! The Mayhem is a beautiful knife, I'm sure it's put together solidly but, I have the Rajah 2 AND the G-10 Espada XL which if I didn't, I'd choose "them" anyway. Not knocking anyone who got the Mayhem, we all buy what "we like" but for me, I'm hoping to see a 5Max Scout and, it had better be reasonably priced (VERY important!) too! That's what I like and if and when available, gonna buy it too!!!
I got mine on Amazon, too. I wasn't willing to pay upwards of $250 for one but I jumped on it at Amazon. It's still $135 on Amazon on 5/27/24. That seller must have a lot in stock. Some of the knife websites are lowering their prices now.
Mathew Culbertson, Thank you very much for this very informative video! I think, compared to the other knives in this video, the ease of opening and closing the Cold Steel Mayhem is its biggest (maybe only) selling point. However, this feature might also be a liability: How likely is it that the late would bounce back if you opened this knife using the Atlas lock mechanism with too much force (While one has all fingers on the handle without encompassing the cut where the blade is housed, there is no danger, but if the blade bounced back at the moment one fully gripped the knife one would lose one's fingers)? Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to answer my question.
At Knifecenter the 5.5" Aluminum Espada is $30 more expensive than the Mayhem. However the Mayhem is still overpriced when the G10 Espada with the same steel is $100 less.
Matt first I’ll say thank you for the insight on the Atlas lock I’m with you on the tri-ad lock is much better. I have the engage small like 2inch blade The atlas lock doesn’t make feel good about it strength . Also out of the blades on that table beside the mayhem and Laredo bowie because I don’t have any of those The others I have used and carry The talwar and rajah 2 are in my opinion are monsters In the best way
I sold mine for what I paid for it. The price point was too high for what it is, especially the steel. I bought it against my better judgment. Once it was in my hand, I knew I made a serious error in judgment. It's okay, but I'm sticking with pre-GSM manufacturing.
Like you, the Tri-Ad Mega Folders still rule with me... But, the Mayhem is awesome Collector, to me... :-) Or, Zombie Apocalypse Folder! :-) But, due to it's weight and bulk, I would choose one of my lighter weight and less bulky Tri-Ad Mega Folders over the Mayhem to SDUEDC. Great Video! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
Im still pissed about my Talwar's that the lock bar has issues with the newer s35vn blades from those folks at GSM Outdoors the new owner of Cold Steel and SOG and Camillus. 😢
The Aus10 is 150 bucks on Midwayusa right now. I have a 25 dollar gift card from a promotion they did last year so it's like 137 with tax. I think that's close to a fair price because I think a fair price is roughly 115 so I bit. I hope it gets cheaper in the future but this is a sign to not buy the GSM Cold Steels right away.
Thank you fo the comparison. In my opinion, the Mayhem is just ugly. Perhaps if one were to grind down that Klingon cranial ridge, it might look better.
The Mayhem is a gimmick especially have a limited amount in S35vn and the regular selling knives in aus10a , I pass because I would want both and the things you mentioned are dead on as issues I would have observed once I get one in my hands so the Mayhem in my humble opinion get the 👎
I am pretty much not in love with this knife. Why would anyone want to carry a knife that big, that heavy and that expensive...and would you please stop flipping that blade! You remind me of a guy on TH-cam who kept flipping open and shut a revolver all the while doing a “review” of it. I don't mind a demo, but to just open and close it for no reason is aggravating. Anyway, one has to buy steel when buying a knife, and ensure it's heat treated properly. S35VN isn't cheap, nor would/should anyone want to buy it as a chopping steel. Additionally, S35VN is too expensive to make a hatchet out of. So why is Cold Steel trying to sell us a hatchet out of an expensive steel? Wouldn't AUS8A or 10A be a better choice for this kind of a knife? It's like the huge Espada, but much more expensive. I bought one of the hotrod Espada dress knives with AUS8A steel when it was phased out, and you know what? It's still razor sharp and is yet to cut anything. Why? Because it's a weapon, not a tool. I've carried it a few times, but I have a Broken Skull XHP blade for cutting. Even if I had an Espada XHP monster blade, I still wouldn't cut anything with it. And even if I used it to cut things, I'd prefer the AUS8A/10A because I hate trying to sharpen an XHP blade of any size.
I agree with everything you said. Like yours, many of my knives as well have never cut anything. They are weapons and are meant to cut one thing and one thing only.
@@11non-serviam11 Yep...I have several Recon 1 XXLs w/CTS-XHP that are brand new. And why carry them? If I have to use them for self defense, they most likely will be confiscated and I'll never see them again. And I have a smaller BROKEN SKULL w/CTS-XHP, which I carry for an EDC blade. My number one carry for self defense is a Cold Steel Ti-Lite. It's inexpensive, has a 6-inch blade, incredible reach and it can be used as a weapon with the blade in or out. You can punch, thrust and pound with the thing, again, with the blade in or out. And it looks like a giant switchblade with the blade extended.
@@johnroberts6695 Again I agree with you. And you are correct in assuming that your blade will be confiscated. I like the Mayhem and I will be getting one later this week.... However if I ever had to use it and then had to defend myself in court, I feel that it might go badly. The blade (too me) looks awesome... but the name is terrible. The way it looks, as well as the name for sure, would be burned into the minds of the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury. I believe that they would fixate and I don't think they'd be able to get past those things. Better to carry a smaller blade that one knows how to deploy and use... Than an awesomely big scary folder. Only my take. Cheers man. ***Edit... Again I think mayhem is a terrible name for this awesome blade. The legal def of mayhem is: """mayhem. 1) n. the criminal act of disabling, disfiguring or cutting off or making useless one of the members (leg, arm, hand, foot, eye) of another either intentionally or in a fight, called maiming.""" If anyone reads this, and you carry this knife and have to use it, then best believe in our fucked up criminal "justice" system, that going forth with a knife called "Mayhem" and it looking like it looks... Well then... Defending yourself in court is probably gonna be a little rough.
@@11non-serviam11 » Yes, you're right about the name. Masaad Ayoob also warns that names of weapons be considered. For example, carrying a gun called, “The Jury!” might not be your first choice. If you don't have a Ti-Lite, please consider it. It has a wave function, opens ridiculously easy and is easy to carry and use. You may not want to use lethal force in all situations, and the Ti-Lite is very light in the pocket. I agree about the Mayhem itself and it looks larger than it's blade length would indicate. Of course, if your wife/girlfriend _gave_ you the knife, that may be a mitigating factor with a court.
@@johnroberts6695I’m more of a “knife bro” than a gun guy but I’ve heard from several lawyers/former prosecutors that have said a boring, non-fancy 1911 is one of the best guns to carry if you want to avoid the prosecutor having a field day in court harping on & on about the name and type of gun used to defend yourself. It’s old school, it’s name, “1911”, is non-threatening-sounding, it was the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II. It’s a gun that the prosecution would have a hard time attacking in comparison to most other guns and their names and their history and what/who they were associated with/popular with.
Agree on the points of critique Matthew as well as the price point on the Aus10.
Hard ro beat the espada ❤
Yeah I luv the Espaada in all its different grades and upgrades, but the Mayhem is a Gimmick even with the Atlas Lock BS.
I will not be purchasing one because one it's a limited run and the now selling blades are as high prices and the premium ones it's just an over sized knife that is waiting to break or fail and then have old GSM refuse to honor the warranty. 😢
I got #051 mayhem is cool but not a espada
The Mayhem doesn't have a thumb stub to catch when pulling from a pocket. So, no quick draw.
i still haven't tested one of the new locks..but the only lock i trust 100% is and will be the tri ad lock..specially on this pocket swords..greetings from germany..uddo
grüsse aus der schweiz 😎🙏🏻
It's not the first time GSM introduced a new product at an outrageous price.
You're spot on with the Rajah comparison. Sure, it's a new design with a new lock, but it doesn't justify being that much more expensive.
As an individual who wants this knife, I appreciate your views tremendously. Without the item in hand we rely on videos like yours to make an informed decision. You have provided a lot of food for thought. My dilemma is that I am a collector of much of Cold Steel's inventory (not all, or a completist) but I also give heavy consideration of the price. I am afraid that the "cool factor" combined with possibility of a great deal will result in a purchase. It seems the Atlas lock has driven up the price on those models.
Just ordered my Mayhem. Maybe it is just a taste thing, and I love the Triad lock, but the Atlas lock looks great and easier to deploy. As far as lock strength, at least per Cold Steel it handles 800LB, Wow! Even at half that it is stronger than I could ever hope for. As far as blade steel, I have many knives with many steels and AUS-10 has never disappointed me. Easier to strop and sharpen than many higher end steels and what people must know is it is always a trade off, better edge retention = harder to sharpen. Harder steel = more brittle. Blade thickness makes a huge difference as well. Got the blade for $30 lower cost than Amazon at Midway with free shipping. I think Bezos gets enough of my money and Potter at Midway shares my values. We vote with our dollars. Thank You for the great review !
If you have espada you don't need Mayhem for sure.
I bought my Mayhem limited in S35VN for 259.00 from Midway USA. Great price for what you are getting..Absolutely love it.
Its more fun to depress the tri-ad lock while holding the knife horizontal, letting the blade free fall, stopping just short of your finger every time. Gets your heart racing a little with a hair popping sharp blade.
Great video bro!
GREAT VIDEO! 100% agreed on all counts! The Mayhem is a beautiful knife, I'm sure it's put together solidly but, I have the Rajah 2 AND the G-10 Espada XL which if I didn't, I'd choose "them" anyway. Not knocking anyone who got the Mayhem, we all buy what "we like" but for me, I'm hoping to see a 5Max Scout and, it had better be reasonably priced (VERY important!) too! That's what I like and if and when available, gonna buy it too!!!
Only $135.00 at Amazon and Midway USA. Hurry!!!!!!!
I got mine on Amazon, too. I wasn't willing to pay upwards of $250 for one but I jumped on it at Amazon. It's still $135 on Amazon on 5/27/24. That seller must have a lot in stock. Some of the knife websites are lowering their prices now.
299 Euros in EU 😢
Mathew Culbertson,
Thank you very much for this very informative video!
I think, compared to the other knives in this video, the ease of opening and closing the Cold Steel Mayhem is its biggest (maybe only) selling point.
However, this feature might also be a liability: How likely is it that the late would bounce back if you opened this knife using the Atlas lock mechanism with too much force (While one has all fingers on the handle without encompassing the cut where the blade is housed, there is no danger, but if the blade bounced back at the moment one fully gripped the knife one would lose one's fingers)?
Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to answer my question.
At Knifecenter the 5.5" Aluminum Espada is $30 more expensive than the Mayhem.
However the Mayhem is still overpriced when the G10 Espada with the same steel is $100 less.
Matt first I’ll say thank you for the insight on the Atlas lock
I’m with you on the tri-ad lock is much better.
I have the engage small like 2inch blade
The atlas lock doesn’t make feel good about it strength .
Also out of the blades on that table beside the mayhem and Laredo bowie because I don’t have any of those
The others I have used and carry
The talwar and rajah 2 are in my opinion are monsters
In the best way
The constant opening and closing clicking and clacking was distracting, brother. But thanks for the review.
The Sparta scares the hell out of me.i want use it.
Totally agree in anything you say in this vid, thank you.
Well done, I agree with all of your dislikes on the knife.
At this time this knife is $180 at Amazon.
I sold mine for what I paid for it. The price point was too high for what it is, especially the steel. I bought it against my better judgment. Once it was in my hand, I knew I made a serious error in judgment. It's okay, but I'm sticking with pre-GSM manufacturing.
Like you, the Tri-Ad Mega Folders still rule with me... But, the Mayhem is awesome Collector, to me... :-) Or, Zombie Apocalypse Folder! :-) But, due to it's weight and bulk, I would choose one of my lighter weight and less bulky Tri-Ad Mega Folders over the Mayhem to SDUEDC. Great Video! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
6/22/24 at MidwayUSA…..$135. Still too much. $85 and im a buyer 👍👍🇺🇸
It would be scarier if there was a serrated blade version.
I saw one in the CSN group from Veff’s Serration.
that one belongs to Jimislash.
Im still pissed about my Talwar's that the lock bar has issues with the newer s35vn blades from those folks at
GSM Outdoors the new owner of Cold Steel and SOG and Camillus. 😢
The mayhem price has certainly dropped down. At least the Aus 10 version , and Midway runs sales and specials on cold steel often.
Careful flipping that big blade about Sir.
The Aus10 is 150 bucks on Midwayusa right now. I have a 25 dollar gift card from a promotion they did last year so it's like 137 with tax. I think that's close to a fair price because I think a fair price is roughly 115 so I bit. I hope it gets cheaper in the future but this is a sign to not buy the GSM Cold Steels right away.
I dont need no fiddle fancy knife lock... tri-ad forever.
400 cnd for aus10 is rough
Nice finger clipper......
Cold steel needs to make a Rambo knife in cpm 3v and San Mai 💯🔥🔪
Thank you fo the comparison. In my opinion, the Mayhem is just ugly. Perhaps if one were to grind down that Klingon cranial ridge, it might look better.
The Mayhem is a gimmick especially have a limited amount in S35vn and the regular selling knives in aus10a , I pass because I would want both and the things you mentioned are dead on as issues I would have observed once I get one in my hands so the Mayhem in my humble opinion get the 👎
First #1
You bet me
@@Hissatsu5 - only by a few lol. I was waiting for this one to drop per CSN
@@thehebrewyisraeliteinstitu1868 I can’t alway win 👏
I am pretty much not in love with this knife. Why would anyone want to carry a knife that big, that heavy and that expensive...and would you please stop flipping that blade! You remind me of a guy on TH-cam who kept flipping open and shut a revolver all the while doing a “review” of it. I don't mind a demo, but to just open and close it for no reason is aggravating.
Anyway, one has to buy steel when buying a knife, and ensure it's heat treated properly. S35VN isn't cheap, nor would/should anyone want to buy it as a chopping steel. Additionally, S35VN is too expensive to make a hatchet out of. So why is Cold Steel trying to sell us a hatchet out of an expensive steel? Wouldn't AUS8A or 10A be a better choice for this kind of a knife? It's like the huge Espada, but much more expensive. I bought one of the hotrod Espada dress knives with AUS8A steel when it was phased out, and you know what? It's still razor sharp and is yet to cut anything. Why? Because it's a weapon, not a tool. I've carried it a few times, but I have a Broken Skull XHP blade for cutting. Even if I had an Espada XHP monster blade, I still wouldn't cut anything with it. And even if I used it to cut things, I'd prefer the AUS8A/10A because I hate trying to sharpen an XHP blade of any size.
I agree with everything you said. Like yours, many of my knives as well have never cut anything. They are weapons and are meant to cut one thing and one thing only.
@@11non-serviam11 Yep...I have several Recon 1 XXLs w/CTS-XHP that are brand new. And why carry them? If I have to use them for self defense, they most likely will be confiscated and I'll never see them again. And I have a smaller BROKEN SKULL w/CTS-XHP, which I carry for an EDC blade.
My number one carry for self defense is a Cold Steel Ti-Lite. It's inexpensive, has a 6-inch blade, incredible reach and it can be used as a weapon with the blade in or out. You can punch, thrust and pound with the thing, again, with the blade in or out. And it looks like a giant switchblade with the blade extended.
@@johnroberts6695 Again I agree with you. And you are correct in assuming that your blade will be confiscated. I like the Mayhem and I will be getting one later this week.... However if I ever had to use it and then had to defend myself in court, I feel that it might go badly. The blade (too me) looks awesome... but the name is terrible. The way it looks, as well as the name for sure, would be burned into the minds of the prosecutor, the judge, and the jury. I believe that they would fixate and I don't think they'd be able to get past those things. Better to carry a smaller blade that one knows how to deploy and use... Than an awesomely big scary folder. Only my take. Cheers man.
***Edit... Again I think mayhem is a terrible name for this awesome blade. The legal def of mayhem is:
"""mayhem. 1) n. the criminal act of disabling, disfiguring or cutting off or making useless one of the members (leg, arm, hand, foot, eye) of another either intentionally or in a fight, called maiming."""
If anyone reads this, and you carry this knife and have to use it, then best believe in our fucked up criminal "justice" system, that going forth with a knife called "Mayhem" and it looking like it looks... Well then... Defending yourself in court is probably gonna be a little rough.
@@11non-serviam11 » Yes, you're right about the name. Masaad Ayoob also warns that names of weapons be considered. For example, carrying a gun called, “The Jury!” might not be your first choice. If you don't have a Ti-Lite, please consider it. It has a wave function, opens ridiculously easy and is easy to carry and use.
You may not want to use lethal force in all situations, and the Ti-Lite is very light in the pocket. I agree about the Mayhem itself and it looks larger than it's blade length would indicate. Of course, if your wife/girlfriend _gave_ you the knife, that may be a mitigating factor with a court.
@@johnroberts6695I’m more of a “knife bro” than a gun guy but I’ve heard from several lawyers/former prosecutors that have said a boring, non-fancy 1911 is one of the best guns to carry if you want to avoid the prosecutor having a field day in court harping on & on about the name and type of gun used to defend yourself.
It’s old school, it’s name, “1911”, is non-threatening-sounding, it was the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. It was widely used in World War I, World War II. It’s a gun that the prosecution would have a hard time attacking in comparison to most other guns and their names and their history and what/who they were associated with/popular with.