I see a lot of people talking about Nutn's opinion about the weight, honestly that's what these reviews are about, HIS opinion, his professional opinion about knives, gear and guns. Because you don't mind the extra weight is your deal, Nutn is only saying he would prefer it to be lighter. Nothing wrong with that, Nutn always says that if you dig it then rock on, stop complaining about Nutn doin exactly what we love him for. Keep on rockin Nutn - a huge fan of yours.
I have owned this exact knife for 0ver 3 Years now, after a recommendation from my instructor, Bill Davison at Tac-Pro, Mingus, TEXAS. The knife is still superb in every way, still takes a razor edge in about a minute on a ceramic sharpener. To answer the Authors other query, the lock-up is STILL as good as new after 3 years of good use, some scratches on the teflon blade coat, thanks to a mate who cleaned it by sticking the blade in the dirt! GET ONE! Dave, Liverpool UK.
I have carried mine, Plain Clip Point as my EDC for over 5 years, awesome knive and still tight with NO play. Now I have used this knife very hard so yes it will hold up.
i actually just bought one last saturday from a friend. he probably carried it only a few times, but never really used it. its a clip point with a 50/50 serration blade, i got it for $40. its pretty much brand new. it wasnt really his 'style' plus he claims it to be too bulky and heavy (which i agree for this model, but i dont usually mind weight). great review nutn! keep up the great work and congrats on the 100K Subscribers! and im proud to be one of them!!! :)
Ive been carrying this blade almost religiously for almost 3 years. I have the simi-serrated drop point and love it to bits. I wish I would have bought the plane edge version but theyve save me a few times. I live in a area, and have a job requires a heavy duty knife that can be used for defence. This knife does its job and asks for more!
Dude, nutnfancy; if there was ever a way to tell how important you really are: it looks as though Cold Steel watched this video and made all the changes you recommend, in weight, in the clip, in the traction on top of the handle, etc. Thanks for being our voice! =]
This is my EDC blade and LOVE IT!!! its plenty big for anything in the folding knife role and has plenty of handle for gloved hands. The locking system is a beast.
Right on Nutn! I've owned a couple of these knives for about three years now. Here goes, the short version..... The teflon finish falls off if you look at it wrong, the pivot WILL have to be adj. and locktited, the G-10 wears to a not so grippy feel, so.... I took mine apart, sanded the blade/pocket clip to a nice benchmade style stonewash, put locktite in the pivot, (no problems with blade play since), and while the G-10 is not quite as "tacky" as new, it still feels pretty darn good!
This is a great review; very informative and no filler. I've had my Recon 1 for almost two years and it still works perfectly. I personally love the deployment disc, but it may just be that I'm used to it. My favorite part about this knife is the lock: because of its design it allows you to open and close the knife with one hand, which is not only useful but also pretty cool. Haha. Got mine for about $80, I think, so the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend this knife.
I have had my Recon 1 half serrated tanto blade since about 2006 or 2005. It has been one of the best knives I have ever owned. The teflon coating does have some scratches off of it but nothing too bad. I carry this blades everyday, The locking mechanism has a little bit of wiggle side to side but nothing up and down. The more I have used it I have found quick ways of getting the blade out even in a hidden blade position. The weight hasn't been an issue for me. Good review by the way.
Talk about a great knife. I bought this approximately 6 months ago, and have been carrying it every day (LEO). Extremely well constructed, perfect lockup, mine came out of box extremely sharp. Definitely second type of cool. Everyone that sees this knife loves it. The one thing I was concerned about this knife was the VERY aggressive handle material. When I first got it i thought it felt like skateboard tape... but after 6 months i think it's great, and it hasn't shredded my pockets at all.
LOL Nutnfancy, your right I'm not a knife guy myself but I still love your reviews and if I ever go looking for a blade for whatever POU I'll have good info to help me make the choice. Keep up the Great reviews. Luv-ya man.
i have this knife had it for about a year now. i love it man dont care about the wait myself i use this thing for opening bottles cutting anything and everything and the black coat has held on really well. i have to say guys the way this thing deploys is a thing of beauty u dont even feel it u just hear the click
I'm a gun- and a knife guy, so it's all good for me. Another good review man, thx and keep up the good work. Would love to see a sequel to your "Don't hasten the day" video.
I just got 2 of the Recon 1 Bayonet point from the Cold Steel 4th July Sale 2 for 60 dollars! The Knives are AWESOME! Cold Steel is redesigning the line with a new handle and reducing the blade styles to a typical Tanto and Clip point. Because of your Review I ordered my new EDC knife!
After several years of very serious thumping on this knife some side to side wiggle has developed nut by tightening the pivot screw about 1/8 of a turn it has been pretty much eliminated and I'm still extremely happy with this knife
I am cold steel guy because of knives like this. Cold Steel makes a huge effort to come above the river of useless obsolete junk that most companies put out, with their liner locks, their tradicional lock backs and lack of wave feature. Most tactical knives Cold Steel make are waveable and have the best lock they could put on it. Now that Cold Steel has the Tri-Ad lock noone licenses their lock to put on their knives especially Spyderco and Benchmade but Cold Steel was humble enough to recognize that the Axis lock was the best lock before the Tri-Ad lock.
Right on TNP! GREAT knife review!!! I actually have had this knife for quite some time. It has held up extremely well for me. No blade play after a lot of different uses. The teflon, has adhered just fine so far. I also have the partially serrated tanto version as well as the partially serrated spear point version. 3 total. Love them all. That said, the detent that retains the knife when closed can be a little loose. While I love the G10 texture, it is really tough on pockets!
Got mine today. Agree totally with everything you say here in the vid. I threw up an empty envelope and sliced it in half in mid air, so mine was quite sharp out the box. I'll do the epoxy trick, smart idea. The lock rocks. Snaps perfectly and no play. We'll see if that lasts like you say. I really liked the old Voyager even thou it had the plastic clip because it was right at the very tip end of the knife, it was perfect. I would clip on the inside of my jeans and you couldn't see it. Perfect!
That's the locking mechanism, pressing that locks and unlocks the knife. look at the lower portion of the blade and you'll see a thumb stud attached to it. Pressing the thumb stud gets the blade out of the handle and with some practice you can open the knife completely with it. A smooth mechanism lets this happen really fast and switchblade-like.
I've had my Recon 1 for about 7 years now. Still love it. The lock is still nice and tight after many years of work. Plus in all my years with it, I've only had to touch up the edge once. It is half serrated though so that is probably why the edge has lasted so long. I have yet to find a knife worth replacing it with.
I have carried a Cold Steel Recon (The original Recon with Tanto tip, straight edge) for over 5 years with no issues at all besides some of the black coating wearing off a bit from use as mentioned in the video. It is a bit on the heavy side but after you carry it for sometime you won't notice the weight and its actually easy to conceal. In my city the largest knife you can carry is 4 inches and you'll be hard pressed to find a knife that matches that limit. Overall great knife for daily carry.
I've had this knife for a couple years now, and thought I would share my thoughts. I bought it after watching your review despite the negative aspects you brought up, and many of them are actually reason I like it. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way saying you weren't right, just illustrating the fact that sometimes a 6.5 for someone is a 9.5 for someone else. For example, the thumb disk that you dislike, I happen to find provides much more traction for me than normal thumb studs.
bought so many cold steels today with lynn! omg they are awesome i recommend everything by cold steel. once you use a cold steel, you will never think of any knife the same...ever again!!
I've had a Recon1 (although mine is Tanto with Serrations) almost for four years, used as an EDC blade with moderate to heavy use and the lock is still tight, the mechanism is almost as it was outside the box. Finish on pocket clip has worn to steel and the handles texturing is somewhat less grippy, the coat on the blade has worn, however has not developed an rust or corrosion. It's a good knife for the price, and las lasted for me many years.
haha yeah, i've been waiting for this review for a long time. i'm so glad you like the knife, nutn, despite a couple shortcomings. i've got one, although i have the tanto half serrated just because all the rest i have are spear tip fine edged, so i wanted to vary it up. great vid, keep up the awesome work!
Beautiful hollow ground blade! Mine has the half-serrated blade, and I have the first version, too. I'm still carrying it and at first I didn't like the serrations -- but now I wouldn't be without it.
I have had the cold steel recon 1 tanto for about 4 yrs now and I use it daily. The lock on this knife has never giving me any play and is better then it was new cause it has been broke in. The only thing I do not care for on this knife is cleaning out the lock and inside the knife I have taken it apart and done it but I would not recommend it. These knifs are great they hold a edge for a long time and yes they are razor sharp. Good review man
My buddy jesonerism has owned this knife for about 6 months. no wiggle and he has ALOT of use on that blade. even used it to jimmy off the hubcap of his tire while changing it. I cant wait to own the 2010 model. Love that triad lock on my rajah 1.
@IDieForPie Nope, not with the old or new ones. To tell if you can wave a knife you can just look at it in a picture or something. If it has a normal thumbstud, disc, or hole, you can't wave it. If you can wave it, it'll have a thumb-stud that looks a lot like a thumbdisk. It'll be on the top of the blade and have some space under it, so it's kind of like a hook.
I've carried a tanto Recon 1 for close to ten years and I think some of the criticisms brought up in this video actually have very obvious explanations. Skeletonizing the interior steel scales is a no-go for two important reasons: cleaning and stability of the handle. The smooth, uninterrupted surface makes it cleaning dirt, lint, and mud very easy in the field. Benchmade has a lower-ended Pardue design knife that is similarly unskeletonized as far as the steel scales are concerned.
@mikethenascarfan I agree. When we're talking in ounces, 1.6 ounces isn't going to be that significant. That extra ounce and a half that was removed isn't going to increase your stabbing or swinging speed by 1.5x. Weight should not be a factor in a folding knife because they're all really light. If we were talking about this compared to a bowie knife, then yeah.... weight is a huge issue.
i love the sound effects!! i have been collecting knives for a long time and bought a s&w hrt am60b.for the money i have never owned a better knife and wanted to know your take on it.THANKS!!
I carried a Recon 1 spear point for about a year and a half. It held up great until one of the springs broke in the Ultra lock. The bar doesnt come all the way up and there is a lot of play now. Too bad the CS warranty is only one year on their folders. I'm carrying a Benchmade with an Axis lock. We will see how that holds up.
About the thumbstud. Dont know if this was what they had in mind. But in some country's you cant have a large locking blade that can be opened with one hand so they use a removable thumb stud. So the owner can remove it and it becomes legal to carry.
i have had this knife for a year, its been opened and closed a 1000 times. at least. and its still as strong as the day i got it. ive even split wood with it.
nutnfancy - I have a love/hate relationship with your project - I love watchin your cool reviews, very cool, but I hate the way I so often end up buying stuff after watching em! Bought this exact knife. Lovely blade, shaving sharp, a great shape, feel and a sweet action. Only complaints: mine had a incy tiny bit of play in the lock. Also listen to Nutnfancy when he says don't use the lever to open. Addictive as so fast, but it does rebound on ya and I have a knick on my finger to prove it!
Tanto tip is made for piercing armor. I would recommend that you avoid stabbing and chopping as much as you can with your edc. I would probably say tanto is more the way to go for you, my dad has a tanto blade knife he got two years ago used it for chopping and fencing and never broke the tip off.
i have been looking at this one online for a while now but now that you reveiwed it i no were part of my next paycheck is going get the lawman review up ive been looking at that one too
I just got my new version recon 1 Tanto yesterday. I haven't handled the original one you reviewed here but I can tell a few differences right off. The pocket clip is placed to allow a deeper ride, it has a traditional lock back design and has a traditional thumb stud. I also think it's a bit lighter (5.3ish oz). Looks like Cold Steel might be watching your reviews.
I'm a proud owner of this knife and yeah, the blade wiggles a bit after a while, but it might be because of 2 tours in Afghan and countless times I used it... but you can tighten it. I also have the newer model with the Tri-Ad lock, which was much lighter and grips better :)
thanks for this reveiw man, been waiting on it for awhile. i dont like this steel, but the design of this knife makes me want it. love the handle. id like the tanto, if i had one. its still a little on the big side for me, i like a 2.4"-3.0" blade. ill let you know about any possible mods if i get one. and thanks again for that RTAK2 cold weather review, that was good to see.
This has been my main carry and use knife for about five years now. The play after heavy use is negligible. Wear on the locking mechanism is more noticeable. The deployment is not affected, so the functional performance hasn't really changed, but the one-handed close is no longer as smooth as it was half a decade ago. I like the heavy knife. I can use it as a fist packer/kubaton without having to deploy the blade. The G10 under the pocket clip has not ruined any jeans yet. :-D
I bought a part serrated tanto blade Recon 1 back in 2006 and the torx screw behind the arc lock broke after 3 weeks.I paid £86 (about $130 US I think?)for this knife, best price for it over here.. Cold Steel UK flat out refused to fix it free! I was totally outraged and will NEVER buy another CS product as long as I live. I bet you don't get treated like that in the USA! Us Brits always get the shit end of the stick. BTW thanks for the reviews Nutn, always informative.
Tanto, if you want it for tactical/fighting/deployment use. clip point if you want it for every day use (cutting rope/fencing work) or EDC defensive knife. just personal preferance.
in my collection i already have a 4" ti-lite, large tanto voyager, 3 pocket sharks, and a black talon on its way (ordered it just a few days ago)! next, im planning on the new 2010 recon 1..... the new designs look so great!
I own the tanto blade recon 1. Love it. I use it as a carry/ utility blade. Some of the teflon has flaked off as I cut into material I probably should not have. It has developed a slight wiggle, but nothing I cant tighten up.... please review the Rajah II... curious as to what you think.
I have 2 of these I carry on a daily basis, one for work one for defense. If a knife makes it past a year and survives its a tough blade. I'm in hvac if I need a starter hole in the tin I stab it with the knife, I have no coating left on the leading inch of my blade butthe metal holds up quite well edge and tip wise. I also throw these a little bit, not allot but enough to damage any other knife and after numerous throws there is no wiggle in the blade. These are the strongest Ive used to date.
My dad just bought one today, and I have to say, it is a cool knife. I still like the Recon 1 better, but the Lawman is a good smaller option, and the handle is VERY grippy.
For what its worth, I have both of these knives, have used and carried them alot. I would have to say either one would be a great choice. The Recon is obviously going to have more reach, but the AK is way faster into action if you can master the pocket snag opening technique. Both make great impact weapons when closed, but the AK has that nasty hook on the butt. Basically, take your pick. You really can't go wrong.
Secondly, about the position and texture of the handle underneath the pocket clip. The texturing is a non issue, it does feel a little too grippy at first but it does smooth out with use and will do so well before you wear out the edge of a pocket. The position is ideal too. Having that inch of handle makes it very easy to grasp with combat gloves on. Cold Steel's actually gone the wrong direction with the Recon folder line. First and second generation versions are all I'd buy now.
Those G10 handles on the Recon 1 are pocket eaters and same with the Kershaw Avalanche, awesome knives but I sold both of those because of the G10 was really coarse and just tore up my pockets in no time. When I sold those I bought an Emerson CQC 8 I would say I got a good trade.
The new redesign is out for 2010. Lighter at 5.3oz.. Higher clip position. Seems like more ergo grip/handle. They also dropped the benchmade clone lock and went with the Tri-Ad. Plus some traction added for the thumb. It's like they consulted with Nutn for the redo. Maybe a comparison review vid on the new one versus the old?
The "grippyness" of the handle material wears of fairly quick, mines almost gone but still has plenty of grip. The Teflon wears off very easily and the serrations SUCK! They break really easily and are a beast to sharpen. The belt clip does sit low but imo it makes it easier to deploy. I've batoned, feathered sticks, cut thick rope, and just about beat it to heck. Its been dropped from about 50 foot onto cement with blade open...still fine, tips bent, but it works.
I'm more of a gun guy, but I'm looking for a large tactical folder, probably because I'm too poor to buy guns! Thank you for the excellent review. Many of my concerns were addressed as well as a few I hadn't considered. I'm still looking. I can ignore a few Recon 1 issues, but the spray on Teflon is a serious weak point for me. I'd have paid $10 more for Tungsten DLC or a Titanium Carbide finish. The satin black DLC finish on my Kahr PM9 is like new after 2+ years of 24/7 pocket carry.
I own the old style of Recon 1 with the tanto blade and after 2 years its still great i use it every day from trimming/cutting drywall chopping small trees down checking my steaks i hav had to resharpen it obviously but everything is still great very tight lock i hav lost much of the black finish off of the belt clip and the edge and point due from use 1 thing I would like to say i have never had problems with the blade "rebounding" when I open it stil a greav review and amazing knife
Rob Roy already reviewed this knife on Deadliest Warrior. Did you know that you can amputate, castrate, decapitate, disembowel and utterly destroy a man with this knife? He did!
Recon 1 but I like the solid feel of the Recon 1. The Voyager is a good knife but it is an entry level folder. Funny too, because the Voyager has a better steel than the Recon 1 too but that Recon 1 is so sturdy. Choose based on your needs.
Wear report! Out of curiosity I searched YT, 4 a review on this knife as I've been carrying this knife since about 2005. nutnfancy asked for comments from a long time user in regards to wear. NO complaints. This has been my EDC (in spite of weight) almost without fail. For fun (n practice) I have deployed (blade) 1000s of times. Other than clip tightening and minimal pivot adjust, it's wearing well and lock up is still good. I would have to compare it to new 1, 4 diff in play. I'd buy another.
I've got the Recon 1 tanto point and am happy with it. It's sharp and the opening action is good. It does have a bit of up and down play. I've tried to tighten and get no improvement. If anyone has suggestions I'll be checking back for replies. Nutnfancy is concerned about the weight of the Recon 1; me, I'm okay with the "hunk of metal" for non-lethal butt striking purposes in particular. And, the coating comes off as easy as any. All in all, I like the knife. Nutnfancy is full of good thoughts.
have you seen the new update to the Cold Steel Recon 1? Just at first glance, I saw they added traction and a slope to the top for thumb grip, just like you were saying was needed. I think after doing some searching and seeing several written reviews, and seeing your video review. I think I'm going to try out the Recon 1, as I'm one of those people who like a heavy knife :-) It seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the Review nutnfancy!
In re-watching this vid, I'm reminded of just how cool the Recon-1 series is. Oddly, I just noticed that the clip-design on the Recon-1 is identical to that of the clip-designed Voyager. By the way, I have two AK-47 knives and neither has developed blade play. While they are good knives...I definitely think that the Recon-1 is the better choice.
I have had my recon 1 for a while now and got it as the display and the seller was bouncing the blade by holding the ultra lock down and throwing the blade around. i personally have used it alot and there is a slight wiggle. But I love this knife and everything nutnfancy says. it is very heavy compared to my cold steel scitmitar. over all a great blade.
i've had my recon 1 for about 4 years now, it's been my EDC the whole time lol. sometimes i do feel like it's a little heavy, but sometimes i don't even care. if i had a main complaint, it'd be that the handle is pointed at the bottom and tends to tear up the side of my jeans :P. that and the squared edges should be rounded, i may finally take sandpaper to it. just a little up and down play too. for reference, i have the tanto with serrations. starting to look at replacement options though.
I took advantage of CS's 4th of July sale, 2 for $60, a good deal. Was going to do the Nutn JB Weld mod, but thought what the hell and just tried sanding it by hand. It took about 20 minutes and turned out great, looks and feels like micarta after sanding. Just don't breathe G10 dust, it'll mess up your lungs!
IF I WON THE LOTTO id buy every single cold steel product then mount them in my weapons room with several barrett rifles :) keep up the great work loved the booth with review with Mr Ron Barrett himself
I have been carring my recon 1 for about 6 months now and my only two complaints are that it takes up alot of pocket space and that the clip is too low on the knife, otherwise it is a good knife.
Hi Nutn, hey, when are we gonna see the exclusively designed Nutnfancy, perfect edc knife? All the flaws worked out i.e. pocket clip position, milled liners,blade shape,size,weight ect.. I'm sure it would be a kick ass knife! I'd definetly buy from you.
I have the stud on another knife that was a gift to me by a man I HIGHLY respect even though I have a Recon 1 Tanto. I love both knives but carry my Recon because I don't want to loose my other knife.
I have owned and used my Cold Steel Recon 1 for 4 years running and I mean heavily used with no play developing in the blade either vertically or side to side! It's been a kick ass knife, Cold Steel got this one right! I have used it to stab into various materials and for gutting and skinning deer without any problem slipping even though there is no "jimping" on the top front? I guess the grip the G10 handle allows me is sufficient in this respect. Great knife, worth every penny!
I like blades to be at 3 and three quarter inches because any shorter than that i can't even cut a tomato efficiently. As an EDC i don't mind the weight at all. For EDC I use a SOG trident (not the tanto one) and a CRKT M16-14.
Hey I have watched a lot of your videos and have recently purchased the Cold Steel Ti-Lite 4" Zytel model after watching your review. Thanks for your insight. I have also wanted to purchase the Cold Steel Recon 1 2010 model and was wondering which blade type was better. Tanto or drop point. I want it as a defensive self defense knife but will carry it as an EDC knife. Also are serrations better than the plain edge. Thank you for everything. I always highly value your experience thanks.
truthfully i have watched most of your vids and there is nothing like this series good work keep it up man
if i could rate it 5/5 would be just
I'm a gun guy who has always ignored your knife reviews until recently! Gear obsession is a progressive sickness!
I see a lot of people talking about Nutn's opinion about the weight, honestly that's what these reviews are about, HIS opinion, his professional opinion about knives, gear and guns. Because you don't mind the extra weight is your deal, Nutn is only saying he would prefer it to be lighter. Nothing wrong with that, Nutn always says that if you dig it then rock on, stop complaining about Nutn doin exactly what we love him for.
Keep on rockin Nutn - a huge fan of yours.
I have owned this exact knife for 0ver 3 Years now, after a recommendation from my instructor, Bill Davison at Tac-Pro, Mingus, TEXAS. The knife is still superb in every way, still takes a razor edge in about a minute on a ceramic sharpener. To answer the Authors other query, the lock-up is STILL as good as new after 3 years of good use, some scratches on the teflon blade coat, thanks to a mate who cleaned it by sticking the blade in the dirt! GET ONE! Dave, Liverpool UK.
I have carried mine, Plain Clip Point as my EDC for over 5 years, awesome knive and still tight with NO play. Now I have used this knife very hard so yes it will hold up.
i actually just bought one last saturday from a friend. he probably carried it only a few times, but never really used it. its a clip point with a 50/50 serration blade, i got it for $40. its pretty much brand new. it wasnt really his 'style' plus he claims it to be too bulky and heavy (which i agree for this model, but i dont usually mind weight).
great review nutn!
keep up the great work and congrats on the 100K Subscribers! and im proud to be one of them!!! :)
Ive been carrying this blade almost religiously for almost 3 years. I have the simi-serrated drop point and love it to bits. I wish I would have bought the plane edge version but theyve save me a few times.
I live in a area, and have a job requires a heavy duty knife that can be used for defence. This knife does its job and asks for more!
Dude, nutnfancy; if there was ever a way to tell how important you really are: it looks as though Cold Steel watched this video and made all the changes you recommend, in weight, in the clip, in the traction on top of the handle, etc. Thanks for being our voice! =]
This is my EDC blade and LOVE IT!!!
its plenty big for anything in the folding knife role and has plenty of handle for gloved hands. The locking system is a beast.
Right on Nutn! I've owned a couple of these knives for about three years now. Here goes, the short version..... The teflon finish falls off if you look at it wrong, the pivot WILL have to be adj. and locktited, the G-10 wears to a not so grippy feel, so.... I took mine apart, sanded the blade/pocket clip to a nice benchmade style stonewash, put locktite in the pivot, (no problems with blade play since), and while the G-10 is not quite as "tacky" as new, it still feels pretty darn good!
This is a great review; very informative and no filler.
I've had my Recon 1 for almost two years and it still works perfectly. I personally love the deployment disc, but it may just be that I'm used to it. My favorite part about this knife is the lock: because of its design it allows you to open and close the knife with one hand, which is not only useful but also pretty cool. Haha. Got mine for about $80, I think, so the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend this knife.
i have this knife and can ultimately say i love it, fits my hand like a glove and does the job every time.
I have had my Recon 1 half serrated tanto blade since about 2006 or 2005. It has been one of the best knives I have ever owned. The teflon coating does have some scratches off of it but nothing too bad. I carry this blades everyday, The locking mechanism has a little bit of wiggle side to side but nothing up and down. The more I have used it I have found quick ways of getting the blade out even in a hidden blade position. The weight hasn't been an issue for me. Good review by the way.
Best review of any product I've seen on you tube. well done 10/10
Talk about a great knife. I bought this approximately 6 months ago, and have been carrying it every day (LEO). Extremely well constructed, perfect lockup, mine came out of box extremely sharp. Definitely second type of cool. Everyone that sees this knife loves it. The one thing I was concerned about this knife was the VERY aggressive handle material. When I first got it i thought it felt like skateboard tape... but after 6 months i think it's great, and it hasn't shredded my pockets at all.
LOL Nutnfancy, your right I'm not a knife guy myself but I still love your reviews and if I ever go looking for a blade for whatever POU I'll have good info to help me make the choice.
Keep up the Great reviews.
Luv-ya man.
i have this knife had it for about a year now. i love it man dont care about the wait myself i use this thing for opening bottles cutting anything and everything and the black coat has held on really well. i have to say guys the way this thing deploys is a thing of beauty u dont even feel it u just hear the click
I'm a gun- and a knife guy, so it's all good for me. Another good review man, thx and keep up the good work.
Would love to see a sequel to your "Don't hasten the day" video.
I just got 2 of the Recon 1 Bayonet point from the Cold Steel 4th July Sale 2 for 60 dollars! The Knives are AWESOME! Cold Steel is redesigning the line with a new handle and reducing the blade styles to a typical Tanto and Clip point. Because of your Review I ordered my new EDC knife!
After several years of very serious thumping on this knife some side to side wiggle has developed nut by tightening the pivot screw about 1/8 of a turn it has been pretty much eliminated and I'm still extremely happy with this knife
I LOVE THIS KNIFE. I have the recon 1 with the half serrated blade. Been using it for 6 month now and no problems. I highly recommend
I am cold steel guy because of knives like this. Cold Steel makes a huge effort to come above the river of useless obsolete junk that most companies put out, with their liner locks, their tradicional lock backs and lack of wave feature. Most tactical knives Cold Steel make are waveable and have the best lock they could put on it. Now that Cold Steel has the Tri-Ad lock noone licenses their lock to put on their knives especially Spyderco and Benchmade but Cold Steel was humble enough to recognize that the Axis lock was the best lock before the Tri-Ad lock.
Right on TNP! GREAT knife review!!! I actually have had this knife for quite some time. It has held up extremely well for me. No blade play after a lot of different uses. The teflon, has adhered just fine so far. I also have the partially serrated tanto version as well as the partially serrated spear point version. 3 total. Love them all. That said, the detent that retains the knife when closed can be a little loose. While I love the G10 texture, it is really tough on pockets!
Got mine today. Agree totally with everything you say here in the vid. I threw up an empty envelope and sliced it in half in mid air, so mine was quite sharp out the box. I'll do the epoxy trick, smart idea. The lock rocks. Snaps perfectly and no play. We'll see if that lasts like you say. I really liked the old Voyager even thou it had the plastic clip because it was right at the very tip end of the knife, it was perfect. I would clip on the inside of my jeans and you couldn't see it. Perfect!
That's the locking mechanism, pressing that locks and unlocks the knife. look at the lower portion of the blade and you'll see a thumb stud attached to it. Pressing the thumb stud gets the blade out of the handle and with some practice you can open the knife completely with it. A smooth mechanism lets this happen really fast and switchblade-like.
I've had my Recon 1 for about 7 years now. Still love it. The lock is still nice and tight after many years of work. Plus in all my years with it, I've only had to touch up the edge once. It is half serrated though so that is probably why the edge has lasted so long. I have yet to find a knife worth replacing it with.
I have carried a Cold Steel Recon (The original Recon with Tanto tip, straight edge) for over 5 years with no issues at all besides some of the black coating wearing off a bit from use as mentioned in the video.
It is a bit on the heavy side but after you carry it for sometime you won't notice the weight and its actually easy to conceal. In my city the largest knife you can carry is 4 inches and you'll be hard pressed to find a knife that matches that limit. Overall great knife for daily carry.
I've had this knife for a couple years now, and thought I would share my thoughts. I bought it after watching your review despite the negative aspects you brought up, and many of them are actually reason I like it. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way saying you weren't right, just illustrating the fact that sometimes a 6.5 for someone is a 9.5 for someone else. For example, the thumb disk that you dislike, I happen to find provides much more traction for me than normal thumb studs.
bought so many cold steels today with lynn! omg they are awesome i recommend everything by cold steel. once you use a cold steel, you will never think of any knife the same...ever again!!
as usual, another great, informative video. i know you don't have to make these videos, so thanks for making them
I've had a Recon1 (although mine is Tanto with Serrations) almost for four years, used as an EDC blade with moderate to heavy use and the lock is still tight, the mechanism is almost as it was outside the box. Finish on pocket clip has worn to steel and the handles texturing is somewhat less grippy, the coat on the blade has worn, however has not developed an rust or corrosion. It's a good knife for the price, and las lasted for me many years.
"if you got time to cry you got time to train"-a badass
haha yeah, i've been waiting for this review for a long time. i'm so glad you like the knife, nutn, despite a couple shortcomings. i've got one, although i have the tanto half serrated just because all the rest i have are spear tip fine edged, so i wanted to vary it up. great vid, keep up the awesome work!
I love both your guns and knifes review.
GREAT VIDEO!
Beautiful hollow ground blade! Mine has the half-serrated blade, and I have the first version, too. I'm still carrying it and at first I didn't like the serrations -- but now I wouldn't be without it.
I have had the cold steel recon 1 tanto for about 4 yrs now and I use it daily. The lock on this knife has never giving me any play and is better then it was new cause it has been broke in. The only thing I do not care for on this knife is cleaning out the lock and inside the knife I have taken it apart and done it but I would not recommend it. These knifs are great they hold a edge for a long time and yes they are razor sharp. Good review man
My buddy jesonerism has owned this knife for about 6 months. no wiggle and he has ALOT of use on that blade. even used it to jimmy off the hubcap of his tire while changing it. I cant wait to own the 2010 model. Love that triad lock on my rajah 1.
sweet, i was wondering if you were ever going to get one of these to review! i just love the clip point model.
I LOVED my Recon 1! Can't wait to get another one!
@IDieForPie
Nope, not with the old or new ones. To tell if you can wave a knife you can just look at it in a picture or something. If it has a normal thumbstud, disc, or hole, you can't wave it. If you can wave it, it'll have a thumb-stud that looks a lot like a thumbdisk. It'll be on the top of the blade and have some space under it, so it's kind of like a hook.
I've carried a tanto Recon 1 for close to ten years and I think some of the criticisms brought up in this video actually have very obvious explanations.
Skeletonizing the interior steel scales is a no-go for two important reasons: cleaning and stability of the handle. The smooth, uninterrupted surface makes it cleaning dirt, lint, and mud very easy in the field. Benchmade has a lower-ended Pardue design knife that is similarly unskeletonized as far as the steel scales are concerned.
@mikethenascarfan I agree. When we're talking in ounces, 1.6 ounces isn't going to be that significant. That extra ounce and a half that was removed isn't going to increase your stabbing or swinging speed by 1.5x. Weight should not be a factor in a folding knife because they're all really light. If we were talking about this compared to a bowie knife, then yeah.... weight is a huge issue.
i love the sound effects!! i have been collecting knives for a long time and bought a s&w hrt am60b.for the money i have never owned a better knife and wanted to know your take on it.THANKS!!
I carried a Recon 1 spear point for about a year and a half. It held up great until one of the springs broke in the Ultra lock. The bar doesnt come all the way up and there is a lot of play now. Too bad the CS warranty is only one year on their folders. I'm carrying a Benchmade with an Axis lock. We will see how that holds up.
About the thumbstud. Dont know if this was what they had in mind. But in some country's you cant have a large locking blade that can be opened with one hand so they use a removable thumb stud. So the owner can remove it and it becomes legal to carry.
i have had this knife for a year, its been opened and closed a 1000 times. at least. and its still as strong as the day i got it. ive even split wood with it.
nutnfancy - I have a love/hate relationship with your project - I love watchin your cool reviews, very cool, but I hate the way I so often end up buying stuff after watching em!
Bought this exact knife. Lovely blade, shaving sharp, a great shape, feel and a sweet action.
Only complaints: mine had a incy tiny bit of play in the lock. Also listen to Nutnfancy when he says don't use the lever to open. Addictive as so fast, but it does rebound on ya and I have a knick on my finger to prove it!
Tanto tip is made for piercing armor. I would recommend that you avoid stabbing and chopping as much as you can with your edc. I would probably say tanto is more the way to go for you, my dad has a tanto blade knife he got two years ago used it for chopping and fencing and never broke the tip off.
i have been looking at this one online for a while now but now that you reveiwed it i no were part of my next paycheck is going
get the lawman review up ive been looking at that one too
I just got my new version recon 1 Tanto yesterday. I haven't handled the original one you reviewed here but I can tell a few differences right off. The pocket clip is placed to allow a deeper ride, it has a traditional lock back design and has a traditional thumb stud. I also think it's a bit lighter (5.3ish oz). Looks like Cold Steel might be watching your reviews.
I'm a proud owner of this knife and yeah, the blade wiggles a bit after a while, but it might be because of 2 tours in Afghan and countless times I used it... but you can tighten it. I also have the newer model with the Tri-Ad lock, which was much lighter and grips better :)
thanks for this reveiw man, been waiting on it for awhile. i dont like this steel, but the design of this knife makes me want it. love the handle. id like the tanto, if i had one. its still a little on the big side for me, i like a 2.4"-3.0" blade. ill let you know about any possible mods if i get one. and thanks again for that RTAK2 cold weather review, that was good to see.
This has been my main carry and use knife for about five years now. The play after heavy use is negligible. Wear on the locking mechanism is more noticeable. The deployment is not affected, so the functional performance hasn't really changed, but the one-handed close is no longer as smooth as it was half a decade ago.
I like the heavy knife. I can use it as a fist packer/kubaton without having to deploy the blade.
The G10 under the pocket clip has not ruined any jeans yet. :-D
I bought a part serrated tanto blade Recon 1 back in 2006 and the torx screw behind the arc lock broke after 3 weeks.I paid £86 (about $130 US I think?)for this knife, best price for it over here.. Cold Steel UK flat out refused to fix it free! I was totally outraged and will NEVER buy another CS product as long as I live. I bet you don't get treated like that in the USA! Us Brits always get the shit end of the stick. BTW thanks for the reviews Nutn, always informative.
5/5 as almost always great job nutn.
Tanto, if you want it for tactical/fighting/deployment use. clip point if you want it for every day use (cutting rope/fencing work) or EDC defensive knife. just personal preferance.
in my collection i already have a 4" ti-lite, large tanto voyager, 3 pocket sharks, and a black talon on its way (ordered it just a few days ago)!
next, im planning on the new 2010 recon 1..... the new designs look so great!
I own the tanto blade recon 1. Love it. I use it as a carry/ utility blade. Some of the teflon has flaked off as I cut into material I probably should not have. It has developed a slight wiggle, but nothing I cant tighten up.... please review the Rajah II... curious as to what you think.
I have 2 of these I carry on a daily basis, one for work one for defense. If a knife makes it past a year and survives its a tough blade. I'm in hvac if I need a starter hole in the tin I stab it with the knife, I have no coating left on the leading inch of my blade butthe metal holds up quite well edge and tip wise. I also throw these a little bit, not allot but enough to damage any other knife and after numerous throws there is no wiggle in the blade. These are the strongest Ive used to date.
My dad just bought one today, and I have to say, it is a cool knife. I still like the Recon 1 better, but the Lawman is a good smaller option, and the handle is VERY grippy.
For what its worth, I have both of these knives, have used and carried them alot. I would have to say either one would be a great choice. The Recon is obviously going to have more reach, but the AK is way faster into action if you can master the pocket snag opening technique. Both make great impact weapons when closed, but the AK has that nasty hook on the butt. Basically, take your pick. You really can't go wrong.
Secondly, about the position and texture of the handle underneath the pocket clip. The texturing is a non issue, it does feel a little too grippy at first but it does smooth out with use and will do so well before you wear out the edge of a pocket. The position is ideal too. Having that inch of handle makes it very easy to grasp with combat gloves on. Cold Steel's actually gone the wrong direction with the Recon folder line. First and second generation versions are all I'd buy now.
Great review. I've been wanting that type info on this knife. Thanks.
Those G10 handles on the Recon 1 are pocket eaters and same with the Kershaw Avalanche, awesome knives but I sold both of those because of the G10 was really coarse and just tore up my pockets in no time. When I sold those I bought an Emerson CQC 8 I would say I got a good trade.
can you make a review on their new version of recon 1?
they already made some modification
The new redesign is out for 2010. Lighter at 5.3oz.. Higher clip position. Seems like more ergo grip/handle. They also dropped the benchmade clone lock and went with the Tri-Ad. Plus some traction added for the thumb. It's like they consulted with Nutn for the redo. Maybe a comparison review vid on the new one versus the old?
i wish i had money to spend on all this knives like this guy.
The "grippyness" of the handle material wears of fairly quick, mines almost gone but still has plenty of grip. The Teflon wears off very easily and the serrations SUCK! They break really easily and are a beast to sharpen. The belt clip does sit low but imo it makes it easier to deploy. I've batoned, feathered sticks, cut thick rope, and just about beat it to heck. Its been dropped from about 50 foot onto cement with blade open...still fine, tips bent, but it works.
if you look the the CS web site, they changed the locking system. it is now a lock back blade.
I'm more of a gun guy, but I'm looking for a large tactical folder, probably because I'm too poor to buy guns!
Thank you for the excellent review. Many of my concerns were addressed as well as a few I hadn't considered. I'm still looking. I can ignore a few Recon 1 issues, but the spray on Teflon is a serious weak point for me. I'd have paid $10 more for Tungsten DLC or a Titanium Carbide finish. The satin black DLC finish on my Kahr PM9 is like new after 2+ years of 24/7 pocket carry.
I own the old style of Recon 1 with the tanto blade and after 2 years its still great
i use it every day from
trimming/cutting drywall
chopping small trees down
checking my steaks
i hav had to resharpen it obviously but everything is still great very tight lock i hav lost much of the black finish off of the belt clip and the edge and point due from use
1 thing I would like to say
i have never had problems with the blade "rebounding" when I open it
stil a greav review and amazing knife
Just ordered one of these (Clip blade, tanto looks a little better for baton splitting but I like bellies on my folders). Hope it's worth it!.
love this video man, love the knive im about to get the new version of it, tanto half serrated
yeah alright I guess I'll get one when I get the money. thanks man as always good information.
Rob Roy already reviewed this knife on Deadliest Warrior. Did you know that you can amputate, castrate, decapitate, disembowel and utterly destroy a man with this knife? He did!
Recon 1 but I like the solid feel of the Recon 1. The Voyager is a good knife but it is an entry level folder. Funny too, because the Voyager has a better steel than the Recon 1 too but that Recon 1 is so sturdy. Choose based on your needs.
Wear report! Out of curiosity I searched YT, 4 a review on this knife as I've been carrying this knife since about 2005. nutnfancy asked for comments from a long time user in regards to wear. NO complaints. This has been my EDC (in spite of weight) almost without fail. For fun (n practice) I have deployed (blade) 1000s of times. Other than clip tightening and minimal pivot adjust, it's wearing well and lock up is still good. I would have to compare it to new 1, 4 diff in play. I'd buy another.
And then there's those of us who are knife and gun guys.
I've got the Recon 1 tanto point and am happy with it. It's sharp and the opening action is good. It does have a bit of up and down play. I've tried to tighten and get no improvement. If anyone has suggestions I'll be checking back for replies. Nutnfancy is concerned about the weight of the Recon 1; me, I'm okay with the "hunk of metal" for non-lethal butt striking purposes in particular. And, the coating comes off as easy as any. All in all, I like the knife. Nutnfancy is full of good thoughts.
have you seen the new update to the Cold Steel Recon 1? Just at first glance, I saw they added traction and a slope to the top for thumb grip, just like you were saying was needed. I think after doing some searching and seeing several written reviews, and seeing your video review. I think I'm going to try out the Recon 1, as I'm one of those people who like a heavy knife :-)
It seems to be exactly what I'm looking for.
Thanks for the Review nutnfancy!
I bought two of these when they had the clearence sale, I carry one everyday and love it!!
I hate that they changed the lock.
I love all of Nutnfancy's videos, dogs or kids I don't care!
In re-watching this vid, I'm reminded of just how cool the Recon-1 series is. Oddly, I just noticed that the clip-design on the Recon-1 is identical to that of the clip-designed Voyager. By the way, I have two AK-47 knives and neither has developed blade play. While they are good knives...I definitely think that the Recon-1 is the better choice.
I have had my recon 1 for a while now and got it as the display and the seller was bouncing the blade by holding the ultra lock down and throwing the blade around. i personally have used it alot and there is a slight wiggle. But I love this knife and everything nutnfancy says. it is very heavy compared to my cold steel scitmitar. over all a great blade.
@ponysoprano ugh, why did they cancel thee old tanto? it looked AWESOME
i've had my recon 1 for about 4 years now, it's been my EDC the whole time lol. sometimes i do feel like it's a little heavy, but sometimes i don't even care. if i had a main complaint, it'd be that the handle is pointed at the bottom and tends to tear up the side of my jeans :P. that and the squared edges should be rounded, i may finally take sandpaper to it. just a little up and down play too. for reference, i have the tanto with serrations. starting to look at replacement options though.
hey man, love your shows here. just one request, could you do a review on the cold steel gunsite? thanks and keep up the good work :)
I took advantage of CS's 4th of July sale, 2 for $60, a good deal.
Was going to do the Nutn JB Weld mod, but thought what the hell and just tried sanding it by hand. It took about 20 minutes and turned out great, looks and feels like micarta after sanding.
Just don't breathe G10 dust, it'll mess up your lungs!
IF I WON THE LOTTO id buy every single cold steel product then mount them in my weapons room with several barrett rifles :) keep up the great work loved the booth with review with Mr Ron Barrett himself
I have been carring my recon 1 for about 6 months now and my only two complaints are that it takes up alot of pocket space and that the clip is too low on the knife, otherwise it is a good knife.
Hi Nutn, hey, when are we gonna see the exclusively designed Nutnfancy, perfect edc knife? All the flaws worked out i.e. pocket clip position, milled liners,blade shape,size,weight ect.. I'm sure it would be a kick ass knife! I'd definetly buy from you.
I have the stud on another knife that was a gift to me by a man I HIGHLY respect even though I have a Recon 1 Tanto. I love both knives but carry my Recon because I don't want to loose my other knife.
I have owned and used my Cold Steel Recon 1 for 4 years running and I mean heavily used with no play developing in the blade either vertically or side to side! It's been a kick ass knife, Cold Steel got this one right! I have used it to stab into various materials and for gutting and skinning deer without any problem slipping even though there is no "jimping" on the top front? I guess the grip the G10 handle allows me is sufficient in this respect. Great knife, worth every penny!
i love both guns and knives. no problem.
@Camohat100 No it's not, a lot of them use a SOG Seal Pup or Seal Pup Elite.
I like blades to be at 3 and three quarter inches because any shorter than that i can't even cut a tomato efficiently. As an EDC i don't mind the weight at all. For EDC I use a SOG trident (not the tanto one) and a CRKT M16-14.
Hey I have watched a lot of your videos and have recently purchased the Cold Steel Ti-Lite 4" Zytel model after watching your review. Thanks for your insight. I have also wanted to purchase the Cold Steel Recon 1 2010 model and was wondering which blade type was better. Tanto or drop point. I want it as a defensive self defense knife but will carry it as an EDC knife. Also are serrations better than the plain edge. Thank you for everything. I always highly value your experience thanks.
@LBsharkfisherman Is there a name for it? Is it called Recon 2 instead of Recon 1 or something?
I have an ak-47 and that play he mentions can be fixed by tightening the torx screw on the handle by the blade, i had the same problem.
How would this compare to a Benchmade Griptilian? They both have the axis style lock and are larger edc knives.