Good to see Cold Steel getting some love. They're not what they were 20 years ago when they put out works of art like the Black Sable but they're still solid.
The American Lawman is my daily carry and i totally agree with you. It is such a strong knife and what I really like about it over the other Cold Steels is that front choil. I love a good front choil.
If you are interested in expanding your ZT inventory, the ZT 0560 is a great hard use choice. Lots of after market titanium parts for pimping it out too.
Been trying to decide between am lawman and ad10 for my next purchase. Wish Ihad somewhere I could actually handle both of them bc I think really that is what would be my deciding factor.
The Lawman is much easier to carry. It is a great knife. The AD 10 is big and much heavier. The AD 10 a beast, if you feel comfortable with the extra weight and size it should handle anything. I like the AD 15 over the AD 10, but the are both great.
I’m really impressed with the Demko ad20.5, I’ve got the carbon fiber 3v version. The carbon fiber is very high quality and the 3v is super sharp and the whole knife locks up like a vault and is so fun to use.
I don't have as many to choose from as you but I use my ZT0562 more than the others for hard use. My 2nd choice is my AD15, 2nd only because the 0562 carries easier.
It’s not current or very nice but the CRKT CK Folder is probably the hardest use I’ve owned. It tore the pockets out of my jeans just walking around with it clipped in. I want that Adamas.. that’s a one and done hard use I’d be totally fine with.. maybe it and the mini. Perfect setup. If a Navy SEAL uses them, I’m sure it would work out for my use case haha
I definatly carry a hard use knife all the time. The Cold Steel 4max scout and Ad10 is part of my normal rotation one or the other is in my pocket. For back yard stuff the SR1 lite is a great choice. I've beaten on all three and I know for a fact that anything I throw at them they can handle with ease. Only thing I would trust more is a full tang fixed blade. Thanks for the great vid and keep making sharp things fun and enjoyable
The “Mini” craze drives me nuts...with my monster mitts most knives are mini. The same ZT0640 as yours is my current carry. The only hard use knife I’ve purchased duplicates of in case I lost one is the Recon 1 (Canadian Uncoated XHP & Spearpoint S35vn) been my #1 for some time. I do have the standard sizes of most of your list...and yes, the 4-Max’s are even to big for me...
Great list. My go-to mid-price hard users are the Spyderco Manix 2 & Real Steel H7 Snow Leopard (not a common one I know). I also use a Code 4 from time-to-time if I need something a bit thinner to carry (yes the scales can get slick but it does cut well). On the budget end I use a RAT1/2 (work hard, built well & cheap!!) or if I need a sacrificial tank I grab my Cold Steel SR-1 Lite. Anyway, thanks for another great vid to get our minds going. Sharp blades all.
I think I’m going to spring for a CS Engage. It looks like a well built knife with a fidget friendly lock. Another reviewer had a problem with theirs. The pivot got wonky after their testing and he couldn’t fix it. Cold Steel did warranty it though. They sent him a replacement.
ZT 300, Grayman Dua or Satu, Extrema Ratio RAO, CS Recon 1, Strider whatever. Theres hard use then theres hard use. I still love the mini A100. I would buy one again if I could.
I have the AirLite and do not consider it a hard use knife. More of a medium duty over my favorite, light duty, Spyderco Stretch. The best heavy duty folder that I have is the Cold Steel Voyager, followed by the Recon 1 Tanto. I prefer the Voyager because it is uncoated AUS10a. My Recon 1 is the first generation with the wimpy Teflon coating AUS8(I found that out real quick!), so it is purely my defensive blade, when I carry it. It's kind of funny that the top 8 of your choices were Cold Steel knives. lol! They are definitely heavy duty knives. Most of them, anyways. They make the best!
I haven’t had any trouble with mine yet, it hasn’t seen sand yet but it’s smoother than it was new, luckily Demko made the knife extremely easy to take apart for cleaning.
My hard use is always a fixed blade. Period. But for secondary “harder” tasks I love my SpyderCo folders.
I love these hard use knife videos!
Good to see Cold Steel getting some love. They're not what they were 20 years ago when they put out works of art like the Black Sable but they're still solid.
Cold Steel Recon 1 is my favorite tough folder.
Opinel number 8! I prep firewood with mine. 😎
For actual hard use my go to knife is always, always, always either a RAT I or RAT II. My expensive "hard use knives" are way too nice to mess up!
Haha
...me too
I totally get it.
Me too, I got mini adamas and coldsteel ad 10 (s35vn) in my right pocket and a civivi in my left pocket for real hard use
The Rat 1 is going to come in s35vn soon, I can’t wait.
@@chrisjosekuehl $139
The American Lawman is my daily carry and i totally agree with you. It is such a strong knife and what I really like about it over the other Cold Steels is that front choil. I love a good front choil.
Agreed. Front guarded choils are my favorite
Cold Steel Recon One with the spear point. I also love both my Demko AD 20 and ZT 0308, which has an unbelievable blade shape.
If you are interested in expanding your ZT inventory, the ZT 0560 is a great hard use choice. Lots of after market titanium parts for pimping it out too.
Awesome review of hard use knives
Quiet Carry - Waypoint Knurled
Appreciate the video stass!
I like the approach of picking those that you would personally carry most, instead of picking only specs and test results.
Great choices
Great video! Looking forward to the next one.
Awesome video keep em coming
Emerson has been my daily EDC for many years. Great American made knives.
Very nice great top 10 list! Lot of great choices!!
Cold Steel Rajah 3 is my pick.
Cold Steel is my go to hard use for quality and price they are hard to beat.
If you like the AD10 check out the CS Bush Ranger. Better handle, way more slicey, pocket plate deployment, and better pocket fit.
Been trying to decide between am lawman and ad10 for my next purchase. Wish Ihad somewhere I could actually handle both of them bc I think really that is what would be my deciding factor.
The Lawman is much easier to carry. It is a great knife. The AD 10 is big and much heavier. The AD 10 a beast, if you feel comfortable with the extra weight and size it should handle anything. I like the AD 15 over the AD 10, but the are both great.
I’m really impressed with the Demko ad20.5, I’ve got the carbon fiber 3v version. The carbon fiber is very high quality and the 3v is super sharp and the whole knife locks up like a vault and is so fun to use.
I don't have as many to choose from as you but I use my ZT0562 more than the others for hard use.
My 2nd choice is my AD15, 2nd only because the 0562 carries easier.
It’s not current or very nice but the CRKT CK Folder is probably the hardest use I’ve owned. It tore the pockets out of my jeans just walking around with it clipped in.
I want that Adamas.. that’s a one and done hard use I’d be totally fine with.. maybe it and the mini. Perfect setup. If a Navy SEAL uses them, I’m sure it would work out for my use case haha
I definatly carry a hard use knife all the time. The Cold Steel 4max scout and Ad10 is part of my normal rotation one or the other is in my pocket. For back yard stuff the SR1 lite is a great choice. I've beaten on all three and I know for a fact that anything I throw at them they can handle with ease. Only thing I would trust more is a full tang fixed blade. Thanks for the great vid and keep making sharp things fun and enjoyable
My kind of knives!
Mini Recon spear point is a real sleeper and can be found for $50-60. Clip point easier to find , often under $50
Oh Mr Stassa would have been so tough to choose with all these great choices 👍
Good list, what's the clip on the lawman?
Great selections. Really need to pick me up an RSK
What scales are those on your AD20.5?
The Rajah-ll
The SR1 Tanto
The 4MAX Scout
The “Mini” craze drives me nuts...with my monster mitts most knives are mini. The same ZT0640 as yours is my current carry. The only hard use knife I’ve purchased duplicates of in case I lost one is the Recon 1 (Canadian Uncoated XHP & Spearpoint S35vn) been my #1 for some time. I do have the standard sizes of most of your list...and yes, the 4-Max’s are even to big for me...
I can’t wait to get the new shaman in 15v, I don’t like the scales it comes with but micarta is easy to find.
My number 1 is SR1 Lite tanto
Do you know what BM runs the Cru-Wear on the Adamas at?
I believe it’s 63-65
Good presentation
And strangely enough there was a belt grinder ad that followed your video, not a boob control video. Finally a targeted ad.
Great list. My go-to mid-price hard users are the Spyderco Manix 2 & Real Steel H7 Snow Leopard (not a common one I know). I also use a Code 4 from time-to-time if I need something a bit thinner to carry (yes the scales can get slick but it does cut well). On the budget end I use a RAT1/2 (work hard, built well & cheap!!) or if I need a sacrificial tank I grab my Cold Steel SR-1 Lite. Anyway, thanks for another great vid to get our minds going. Sharp blades all.
I think I’m going to spring for a CS Engage. It looks like a well built knife with a fidget friendly lock. Another reviewer had a problem with theirs. The pivot got wonky after their testing and he couldn’t fix it. Cold Steel did warranty it though. They sent him a replacement.
Excellent selections sir keep feeding my addiction 🙂
ZT 300, Grayman Dua or Satu, Extrema Ratio RAO, CS Recon 1, Strider whatever. Theres hard use then theres hard use. I still love the mini A100. I would buy one again if I could.
I have the AirLite and do not consider it a hard use knife. More of a medium duty over my favorite, light duty, Spyderco Stretch. The best heavy duty folder that I have is the Cold Steel Voyager, followed by the Recon 1 Tanto. I prefer the Voyager because it is uncoated AUS10a. My Recon 1 is the first generation with the wimpy Teflon coating AUS8(I found that out real quick!), so it is purely my defensive blade, when I carry it.
It's kind of funny that the top 8 of your choices were Cold Steel knives. lol!
They are definitely heavy duty knives. Most of them, anyways. They make the best!
Would've thought the sr1 lite would been in there. I love my tanto ad10.
Maybe not in the budget range, but Medford Praetorian is pretty solid hard use blade
I really like it, but the AD20.5 is a bearing knife if that's a concern to some.
I haven’t had any trouble with mine yet, it hasn’t seen sand yet but it’s smoother than it was new, luckily Demko made the knife extremely easy to take apart for cleaning.
Haven’t handled them but the zt knives don’t do it for me.
I need to buy 30 of the 20 knives you’ve shown. 😢
Zt 0308
Respectfully, this is a strange list for hard use folders. A lot of small and medium sized knives.
Love my American LAWWWman 😂
Should be filled with cold steel products
The mass simping for benchmade and spyderco gotta stop at some reasonable point.