Lynn Thompson - The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 434)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
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Lynn Thompson, Cold Steel Founder & Former President, joins Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco on Episode 434 of The Knife Junkie Podcast (theknifejunkie....
Lynn grew up the son of a farmer in rural Brazil before moving to the USA, learning English and learning how to hunt.
In addition to being the founder and public-facing president of Cold Steel, Thompson is martial artist, hunter, survivalist, shooter and master at arms. In 1980 Lynn founded Cold Steel with the mission to bring the “world’s strongest, sharpest knives” to market.
Lynn is a lifelong martial artist with extensive training in Wing Chun, Jun Fan, JKD, Savate, Silat, BJJ, Muay Thai as well as Western, Japanese and Filipino. Thompson holds the rank of Master at Arms for this martial skill across multiple disciplines: empty hand fighting, edged weapons combatives and tactical firearms techniques.
After 40+ years of innovating in the edge weapons field, Lynn embarked on a new chapter, selling the company to GSM and carefully ensuring it’s in good hands with Keith Beam.
Find Lynn Thompson online at www.lynncthomp... and www.neverunarm....
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Host: Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco
Producer: Jim Person
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Lynn is the man. My dad and I are both huge fans and got to meet him at a restaurant at Blade show one year. I walked up to shake his hand and he invited us to sit and chat. Then he gifts my dad and I two brand new LT vaquero voyagers. When he says he loves his customers he is being 100% genuine. My dad has since passed and I will never sell that voyager, or forget that memory. So thank you Mr. Thompson.
*What a great story, and experience, with lasting memorabilia.*
*Makes me want to go out and buy a Vaquero Voyager.* (BTW; what's "LT")
Such a bittersweet but awesome story 👍. I'm so glad I rediscovered Cold Steel knives, since I had forgotten about them for a long time.
@@tropocal2343 I think he might mean his initials "LT" likely means the (The Lynn Thompson Signature series) of knives, there's a few of them in different models, usually with OD green handles and Lynn's signature engraved on the blade
ew weee.... he gave u a voyager... spared no expense.
It sounds like he took out his everyday carry and gifted them.
Cold Steel got me into the world of knives. Lynn is a legend.
Lynn Thompson is one of my favorite people! I wish he never sold Cold Steel, but hopefully his next endeavors are just as excellent.
I also wish he had not sold the company
@@ericmack001 Yeah, the new owners won't even sell ya a screw that gets lost, nothing. They say send the knife back, heck, it's 15 years old and I no longer have a register receipt as they demanded. So basically unless the knife was sold factory direct, the warranty is just a bunch of words. Having lived in Ventura CA, guess I got spoiled with real customer service.
You think your comment would have had 900 likes,Lynn Thompson is one in a million. I wish him the best in any adventure that his life takes.🎉🎉😊
@@jdemeter4357 👍 *# 37*
Lynn IS Cold Steel
This has been the best interview in the knife community, hands down!!!!
This is a true success story from a Real enthusiast / entrepreneur.
Lynn Thompson is a rock star in the world of knives.
*I'm just now finding this out.* 👍
This dude changed my life as a teenager! All love and respect !
I'm from Ireland and I hope to go to a bladeshow some day and 90% of the reasoning behind me wanting to go is to meet Lynn Thompson, he has such a wealth of knowledge and seems like a really genuine man.
Great interview.
That dude is the reason I carry what I do. The cold steel voyager vaquero xl with serrations. Absolutely beautiful knife
The one conversation we all needed! Thank you Bob and thank you Mr. Thompson.
Thanks Bob - what a great stream of conversation! Greatest quote I ever heard from Lynn, "Ergonomics? I'll tell you about ergonomics - go cut 50 feet of dense carpet and that will tell you all you need to know about a knife's ergonomics." 👊
Really needed a clip of Bruce Buffer standing in the middle of a ring yelling "Its time" before this one started. Thanks Bob.
Andrew Demko said aus8a is a good steel and that others claimed they were using aus8 and was using another steel that was not real aus8a.
aus8a steel is very good and takes an edge well it's a very good steel for advanced and beginning users both. 😊
Actually yeah, aus8a is underrated
I love the fact that Lynn Thompson is a real martial artist and hunter. The fact that he made tools that are affordable and useful. I was in the Rangers in the army. Every Ranger was carrying a coldsteel fixed blade. Back then they were made at carmillus. My first coldsteel was a recon tanto bought it at ranger joes in Georgia in 1991.
I now carry a vaquero xl serrated and a broken skull everyday. I used to carry a large espada in xhp but it’s not replaceable now.
I also use coldsteels blinki sticks an his city stick. Best weapons made.
BOB... EXCELLENT PODCAST!!! Lynn Thompson changed the WORLD!!! My big blade addiction started with the Luzon XL and it hasn't stopped since... and I'm far from being alone here! Lynn Thompson is to the knife world, what Bruce Lee is to martial arts, what Arnold is to bodybuilding, what Mohammed Ali is to BOXING!!! You know where I'm going here!!! Saving THIS video to my favorites cause it IS!!! Thank you Bob and thank you Lynn!!! 💙
This is easily in my top 5 favorite interviews that you've done. I hope you get to do another with him!
Thank you Lynn for your Brashness and all your big knives. At 74 an old Scottish sweat with two sons in my old Regiment, 2nd Para the whole ethos of badass weaponry with blades changed. I was retired when your American tanto hit the scene, snap cuts will never be the same again. I hail from Glasgow originally, so no stranger to blade play. Finish off with saying, everybody steps back in awe when I show off my Espada.. although my Recon 1 is hard to beat as a folding knife for everything, Trailmaster just a good knife, Rob Bixby thinks it is the perfect knife for a crusty old Scot.
Lynn C Thompson brought some phenomenal knives to market and manufacturing that will always be classified and classic knife designs.
Awesome kit, i have similar setups. My wife carries a backpack that contains who knows what...as well as knife, light, pens, water, ibuprofen, hair ties, etc lol
What a great pleasure, honor & education listening to the greatest, most respected knife maker that I've encountered in my almost 74 years. Having grown up in a "gun nut" outdoors sporting family & into my adulthood, I owned some knives in my early days, but it wasn't until I discovered "Cold Steel Co." that I truly turned my respect for cutlery into a passion & addiction ( in a positive way ) by purchasing & using so many models & multiples of the fruit of Lynn's visions & production of the greatest blades & weapons that he produced. Now I respect & admire him even more after listening to his life stories. I only regret that I live on East Coast rural Western Franklin County, Western Massachusetts farm country & he's on the West Coast, so I'll never be able to look him in the eye & shake his hand for all of the gratification that I've garnered by owning & using his products, which I will pass on to my 3 Adult Children & my 3 Grandchildren.
I have many many knife brands, Spyderco, Benchmade, CRKT, SOG. But the best value is Cold Steel hands down.
King Knife Junkie, this is the most killerest of all vids ever made. Mr. Lynn Thompson sure has had an impressive life. I've watched a lot of vids with&about Mr. Thompson&never heard most of what yall talked about. Again Bob, top notch killer vid brother!!
Ive had Cold Steel knives since the begining ; i still think after almost 40 years they are the best knives for the money especially when the chips are down!
WE Love you Lynn!!!!!
Just a great human being, there could only ever be one Lynn Thompson, but the world could benefit from a few more. We as knife lovers owe this man a great deal of gratitude and continued support, you don't have to like every cold steel, but you should respect them, not just the object, but the integrity, the work, the effort behind the Cold Steel name, long live the Rajah2!!!!!!❤
Great episode Bob. It's great to hear how well Lynn is doing and that's enjoying his ranch with his wife. He's certainly put in the work , and he and his wife deserve the time of peace. 😎🤘
Lynn T. is a BOSS! Thanks for having him on! Im not a brand loyalist but Cold Steel is easily my favorite brand. I truly hope GSM keeps up the standard... i have so much more Cold Steel to add to my collection.
Man, Lynn Thompson was somewhat of an idol for me as a kid. I used to wear Cold Steel catalogs out just dreaming of the day I could buy these knives. My dad wouldn’t allow anything less traditional than a Buck or Case folder but I wanted Cold Steel.
Edit: Forgot to add, when my “traditional” dad died I found a CS Voyager tucked in his drawer with a lot of miles on it. Guess he was sold on Cold Steel too, even if he never admitted it.
Teenage me bought his marketing hook line and sinker and to this day there’s usually at least one CS folder in my pocket. Good guy, good knives.
This was so cool! It was very special especially for us that can remember from the beginning. Thank you Mr. Thompson for help keeping my life interesting. A example is when I did demolition on my house I used a war hammer 😂. I have so may cool things because of Cold Steel. It's not just the knives but, blowguns, medieval weapos, tomahawks, spears ect. ect. Fantastic show thank you!
Thank you for this interview!
I didn't know he was Brazilian. That's sick. I wish they'd bring back the smatchet and make a Fairbairn-Sykes knife.
I wish they'd bring back the smatchet too. I got the black bear Bowie machete which is similar and it's great
I got to see Lynn Thompson in passing at Bladeshow. He was movin! He always made sure the knives were safe. Badass & safe.
Awesome interview with the man himself ⚔️
If GSM is smart they will listen to everything Lynn Thompson is kind enough to tell them.
Lynn C. Thompson, absolutely "ROCKS!!!" :-) Great interview! :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
I miss getting the Cold Steel/ Special Projects catalog in the mail! It was always a special day! Huge Lynn Thompson snd Cold Steel fan! Salute!!!
I have always loved Lynn for being such a no BS straightforward person. He has the balls to make knives that are weapons first. And he has been doing it the WHOLE time.
So awesome, thanks! 🤘🏼
I love this man. I found the Cold Steel Voyager Vaquero XL serrated under the Christmas tree at Christmas and that is my homage to my heroes. Thank you because you're an absolute monster.
*Santa brought me a Cold Steel Spetsnaz Trench Shovel!*
*Unbelievably sharp!*
Best Video on YT. Thank you man. Im a CS super Fan. Over 70 products.
Awesome!! Love your first question to Lynn. Great job 👏
Great interview
Best podcast! Love how direct he is and no BS attitude. Massive respect to the man. Also thanks Bob for a great interview. 👊
Bought two knives a couple weeks ago, the fit and finish on the Talwar 4 inch with new branding was not as good as the fit and finish on the cheaper Rajah 3 with old branding. It's only one data point, but I'm wary. We'll see.
I haven't even begun to see the video and it's already my favorite.
What an honor to have him in the podcast.
I know when I'm heading into rougher neighborhoods CS comes with me; one of their fixed blades lives in the cars emergency bag as well as that shorty Spetsnaz shovel is in the trunk.
What a delightful and informative interview. Insight into Lynn Thompson and the legacy Cold Steel. Tenacious.
say what u will about this man, he did someting... for real. he made thing no one lese did, and got a lot of flack for it.
I love lin and his designs. I am so glad there's a guy that unapologetically puts out the biggest baddest folders and wicked fighting fixed blades.
The man is an icon!!!
I am so happy that you got to interview Lynn Thompson. That was a great Livestream when we were talking about you doing this. Im a huge Cold Steel fan.
Great interview Bob! I got my first voyager tanto in the 80’s I seem to remember. I’d had an encounter with a deranged guy that I escaped harm from who had a Buck folder out. I decided I’d get a knife to carry after that and have many cold steel knives and some of their other dependable weapons. Lynn is a one of a kind force of nature that really wants folks to be able to protect themselves and their families.
In Yugoslavia, secret service had master tanto production! Company name was Impa Zemun.
This was a great interview. As arrogant as Thompson seems in his marketing, he gave so much credit to others in the Cold Steel history. I enjoyed this.
Calling a child by it's name is probably my favorite quote. And he does that, if you're liking it or not. Sometimes you and also I have to learn to life with that and don't get offended all the time
The only people who get offended by pigs being cut by knives don't buy knives.
Some good stuff there. A lot of it was before my time. What happened with Sel and owing the gov $400k? Also who is the Tennessee knife mafia that often gets mentioned? Don't have to get exact if you can't.
Yes!!! Lynn is amazing. Such a great guy.
I dont find him to be braggadocious one bit i think he is very truthful.cold steel rocks
Love Lynn.
Lynn Thompson is such a good, solid guy. I've conversed with him a few times during those long gone parking lot sales. He even gave me a set of his shooting DVDs after I told him most of the guys in my company had an SRK on deployment. I think it's great that he calls out a-holes in the knife industry like Les deAsis and Mick Stryder.
Lynn made Cold Steel in many ways the ultimate knife manufacturer. With wild and creative enough stuff to get people excited and curious about knives, and serious enough stuff to keep people as customers long term. What a fun company.
Lynn you should show the new owners how to make test videos! Your's were super professional/ the new ones are not.
quite sad that lynn sold cold steel, quality and quantity seems to have gone down
I love Lyn with all my hart!!!
Great interview Bob! And greetings to Lynn whom I haven't connected with since the mid '80s when I had written a Tanto article for inside Kung Fu magazine and he had shared a generous number of his knives with me for review. No question, a man who walks the talk. Be well, and continue to prosper and lead us along the edged way! 👍🗡️🔥
My very first Cold Steel was a Ti Lite 6
my second Cold Steel was A Ti Lite 6 also , and that was my introduction to the quality and durability the great brand
Lynn C Thompson brought to all us knife enthusiast.
Me too. Prices are higher here in England but bought the aluminium handled ti lite in 2012. They still used aus8a then. Bought a zytel scale version a few weeks back. Love cold steel. Also have a ti lite 4 and an espada xl g10. I can't really justify getting any more but there are a few more I'm interested in haha
Bob you are awesome! Thank you for getting this knife legend on your show!! 👏🏽🔪👏🏽🔪👏🏽
What a great interview! Thanks for posting!
Lynn is the best!
LT forced other manufacturers to up their game.
THATS "KNIFE LORD" THOMPSON!!!
Big fan of cold steel for years and years !
😅 I knew this video would get a lot of comments-as always, great interview Bob! Lynn has built an empire-that doesn’t happen without a great timing, talent, and hard work, and inevitability comes with haters (and lawsuits 😬).
Thanks, Bob, Jim, and especially Lynn Thompson for a fantastic interview. Luv to see the Axe Gang promoted. Remember, just 3 types: Sheep. Wolves. Sheepdogs.
Love you forever, Mr. Thompson. The greatest knife designer and salesman in the world!
I remember before the Safe Maker series of push dagger was the Defender 1 & 2. I believe Tom Berrenger used the Defender 2 in the movie Platoon. Great knives
Bob you asked the best questions of Lynn. I enjoyed this so much! So things I thought about! Please keep it up.
In the early `80's I was attending a law enforcement training class and two of the instructors had the then new COLD STEEL Tanto's and everybody in the class was so frickin' jealous!
Great interview! I bought some cold steel knives then graduated to more expensive knives, but I still bought a few more cold steels knives. I think I have more cold steel knives than anythings else now
I knew there was sumthing I couldn't put my finger on but soon as I heard you shopped at Randell Park mall and bought an American Tonto there I knew what's up... classic
Awesome interview. Lynn Thompson is a Legend. His contributions to the knife world are incalculable.
Legend !
Okay folks. Who wants to venture a guess on which company was claiming AUS8 but really using 420.... I'm going down the rabbit hole to try and come up with it.. who wants to helpm
The Ti Lite was the first knife I ever bought. Back in the Christmas 2008 SMKW catalog.
Oh ya the man the myth the Legend Let’s Go!
By all accounts, Lynn is a great man and the real deal. I hope to one day meet him and shake his hand. I used to see his ads in the 1980s in Soldier of Fortune magazines as a kid, I remember the push daggers they sold. For some reason, I was infatuated with Gerbers and Spydercos back in the day and missed out on the Ventura days. I just started getting into CS knives now and I feel like I missed a really good party.
Thank you, Sir!! I have 3 x Cold Steel blades in my collection that gets rotated from go bag to sniper (competition) ruck to hunting rucksack. Many blessings! Peace Be The Journey!
Mr. Thompson is one bad ass individual. I hope to meet him at a blade show
🖤🩶🤍🩶🖤🩶🤍 thank you for the awesome knives. If I could marry a knife it would be a cold steel knife
Grew up watching this guys videos and thirsting over knives in his catalogs. Nice to hear his backstory.
If you need a ridiculously large pocket knife 😉 cold steels got your back! And I mean really large!!!!😊
Sr1 clip point in left pocket, range boss in the right packet, sr1 tanto in the bag. I'm all ears.
He should have made sure it went to an American company if he was going to sell out. I don’t blame him for selling, but he should’ve made sure that it went American.
Phenomenal interview.
My wife used to fight escrima on the world stage. She has even gold medaled in a few national tournaments. I’m waiting for the day that cold steel upgrades their Luzon line a bit so that I can gift her one.
Ok maybe it’s just me but Lynn is SO damn fine 🫠 good lord
I remember buying an xl voyager in the mid 90's. That was a lot of money for a kid. Still have it. Still rock solid. One of the few I've seen with the plastic pocket clip in tact. Been hooked ever since. Pretty sure I have early to mid 90's catalogs also.
Always have liked his no bs attitude. Hopefully we havent seen the last of his blade designs & there are many more to come.
I have been into knives since I was a kid and now in my sixties I have many many knives from cheap junk to high end. I feel naked without one. If I could only grab one knife leaving the house when the s#@t hit the fan it would be a cold steel. Don't know which one but one. The steel and locks represent a value unsurpassed in the industry! They give me the ability to buy many knives simply because I like the design or It fills a self defense role, but are still very well made. I will pick up one of the serrated and throw in my pocket when going somewhere and cannot carry a gun or just walking my dog because we have been attacked by a stray pit bull. Their serrated blades in the crazy curve of the spartan, voyager and rajah are crazy cutters!! Lynn Thompson thank you soo much for going through the trials and tribulation to bring us great products!! Will always be a huge fan!
Who are (were) Lynn’s competitors?
That's funny that he mentions Survival Lilly's bad imitation of the SRK. 1:03:04