Gotta disagree with you on the non-cool factor for the Voyager...I think it is a very cool knife. A little more so than even the Recon. The blade finish is superior in my view, the handle shape (Recon handle is also too long,) and I really like the full flat grind on the Voyager. Both cool knives though.
I've got the American Lawman and I love it. Easy one-hand opening but the Tri-Ad lock is very strong. For people with smaller hands perhaps the Medium Voyager or the Recon 1 Mini (which I also own and carry daily)....just an idea.
Just wanted to try something a bit different. I handled a clip point SOG Trident a few months back while doing a review, and started to like the blade shape. When I got the Voyager, I almost bought the Vaquero.. but it was just too weird haha.
That is an awesome in depth side by side comparison. One of the best I've seen. The Voyager does look beefier, so why do so many people say the Recon 1 would be their "knife of choice" if they could only have one knife to choose?
Good question. My guess, looks and the G10 handle. Tactical look. G10 and micarta are favored a lot in the knife community. I can only say that the Voyager's handle material is extremely tough. I once hit a cold chisel against the side of the handle. It didn't even scratch. Wouldn't do that to G10, the results will be different.. The handle of the Voyager is very comfortable. Also due to having a little more thickness. Fills the hand better. And for some the double finger groove of the Recon1 might be fine for many, but it can be uncomfortable to others in comparison to the Voyager.. It's all about personal preference.
@@Ve-suvius Yes and it's very well constructed ; it's a Tanto version and my favorite EDC. Actually I have two and go I got it when I did because Amazon where I purchased it has sky rocketed the price on the Tanto Recon 1 for some strange reason.
@@powerplay4real174 Good to hear. I'm going to get the Recon 1 clip point. I'm a fan of those. At least two also. Weird from Amazon. They ain't always the lowest price. I've seen that too. That's whay it's good that there are many players on the market , and not only one. Who will have a monopoly.
They have excellent craftsmanship with Taiwan made products some of the best in the world along with the Japanese , Germans and Italians. America not so much ,mostly junk made in America and a lot in China but even China has America beat too shyt. Just look at all the shyt we could not get over the pandemic because it was made in China that you like and needed so very much , other then trucks overseas automobiles are top seller in the USA ,because we make junk ,pure junk and have been for decades now.
Here in texas it's legal to get the xl. I got it in the tanto version because it is so much lighter than most of my other knives. Battoning is easy. I feel a lot safer in my neighborhood.
+Luis Ortiz-Sanchez No blade length restriction in Canada either. For practicality reasons, I would never carry a knife that big. These ones I only carry if I'm going camping or hiking for the most part.
I have both. The Voyager is better since the blade doesn't get scuffed up from use. The medium Voyager is better than both since it's small enough to make a practical edc
+Johnny Appleseed I haven't been able to warm up as much the med voyager. It's a full oz heavier than the Delica and Mini Grip. It's a good knife, but I like Large Voyager way better.
Just got the newer version of the Recon1 to add to my collection which includes the Mini Recon with older finish. I also ordered the Voyager lg with the BD1 steel as well and am still awaiting its arrival. I love the new steel and new DLC coating on the Recon 1 and can't wait to get my hands on the Voyager due any day now. I am the same type lefty/semi-ambi-dextrous as you and love the robust feel of the Recon 1. Great video! Thanks for the comparison.
Cold Steel has done some really impressive upgrades to alot of their popular knives, without adding that much cost. I have a Code 4 XHP for a while, until I traded it for a hammock lol. Thanks for watching
@@707SonomaComa I still favor the Recon1 and have carried it every day since this post. But I still love the feel and blade of the Voyager. So the winner for me by a nose, is the Recon1.
I like more the flat grind on the voyager. Is the tri ad lock same about thickness?. Almost i like more the voyager than recon 1 and i know the recon 1 is the favorite for everybody.
Jason Clark I'm in the UK Jason and we'll have to wait a good long time for old stock to run out before we can get the CTS-XHP Cold Steel blades over here. I'm led to understand that there is a sprint run American Lawman with green G10 scales and XHP steel. It would be equally realistic to wait for a light-sabre!
I'm fortunate that I can order straight from the states via eBay, and I don't have to worry about import taxes until the total is more than $400NZ. I'm carrying the XHP Code 4 tanto now and I think I've found the perfect EDC knife.
Here in the UK we have to abide by arcane laws. I've watched a number of reviews on the Code 4 and it seems to be the pinnacle of Cold Steel design. I hope you enjoy your Code 4 for many years.
Thank you. Hopefully you'll eventually get a government who does what you tell them. Failing that, remember 1776, or perhaps Charles 1. As Chesterton observed, "it is a terrible thing to contemplate how few politicians are hung".
The biggest difference I see is the with of the handle. I have the 4 inch Voyager AUS8 and will be getting the Recon (same size but with Carpenter Steel) shortly. I like the Voyager, but the grip is almost too much. Unless you modify it, it will really wear on your pants pocket. The Recon is a little less aggressive. Also, I have small to medium hands and can open the Recon much easier than the Voyager.
+Bill Strack They will both destroy your pants lol. I love Cold Steel, but they need to get a clue with the pocket clip thing. What I did with the Medium Voyager was bend the clip out just a slightly. Now it carries super easy. If I lose it one day, I won't cry over a $40 knife but it hasn't happened yet.
The liner are a big plus on the Voyager series But the G10 scale are super cool and tough although it has no liners and I think liners make a folder stronger but hey I'm no engineer.
At Amazon both knives cost nearly the same $46 for the Voyager and $49 for the Recon 1. I'm thinking about getting the Recon but the I really like the grip on the voyager.
John Koeberlein Hmm tough choice. I honestly don't think the Recon 1 is a superior knife, it just looks a bit more tactical. If that's not important to you, go with the Voyager.
John Koeberlein I like the large better too, but the medium isn't a bad knife. I honestly think large knives are overrated vs how people realistically will use their EDC knives. It might be a blessing in disguise long term, but if you're really set on the large see if you can exchange it.
My sister collects knives too, so I'm going to give it to her. She's got tiny hands and I bet it'll fit her perfectly. Your point about big knives is right on, but I have big paws.
Nice comparison. I've owned several of each of these knives over the years (currently have a large and an XL voyager, and 2 Recon 1's, one in CTS and one in s35), and I've always considered them basically the same knife, except for handle material. If you HAVE to have g10, get the recon, if you don't care, the voyager is a better value, and will perform exactly the same.
I have the newer version of the mini recon and love it. However, I am looking to get either the large voyager or recon 1 but would like to know which takes up more space/real estate in the pocket? Thanks.
+beefyb93 Recon 1 takes up less space due to it's thinner profile. But if you already have a Mini Recon, try the Voyager. You might really like it for a change, and it's a bit cheaper.
@Dan P Better late than never. That said, I have since owned about 4 Recon 1s (have sold them but loved them) and yet still never owned a Voyager. Though I still have the mini Recon. Still the most underrated edc knife there is.
По идее это один и тот же нож. Задумка и форма почти идентичны. Просто один дороже из-за материалов и тактикульности, а другой рассчитан на более массового потребителя.
Any lock can fail. I agree the Tri-ad lock is strongest, but anyone could easily make it fail by just hanging more than 550 lbs or whatever the max weight cold steel mentions is. Maybe not a realistic use of the knife, but just remember, nothing is 100% Cheers,
Let's agree to disagree and I'll leave you with these questions have you personally been injured by a tri ad lock failure or ever had a tri ad lock fail on you. I've never had one fail and I've taken it to pretty extreme and unintended use and that's why I trust them
Trust me, it's plastic. There are many types of plastics used industrially which are very tough. Glocks are made of polymer, which competes with steel in the handgun world. Same with knife handles. Stainless steel is used in some cases, as is aluminum. Manufacturers use plastics to save costs and weight in the design. They put steel liners internally, to add strength.
@@trap-du3hd you obviously have no clue what your talking about lol. It's grivory plastic which is much stronger than g10 and it has aluminum liners nested in the grivory. Where do you get the idea it's aluminum scales
The handle slabs on the Voyager are way more scratch/impact resistant than say polymer or even G10. This I have tested. Hit a cold chisel against them, and it will show. on the Voyager, nothing showed. One 'plastic' is completely different from another. There are all kinds of materials involved that make the differences. A car tire is not the same as the sole of your shoe etc. People looking down upon plastics/synthetics have no idea. They can stick to their wooden handles that split easily..
Frn is much stronger than G10 and it doesn't get all scratched up nearly as easily as G10. Frn is basically a polymer type of plastic like on polymer frame guns. People say how cheap it feels blah blah but are clueless on what they are talking about. It's lighter In weight than g10 that's why people have this idea that it's junk. Again they are clueless
I've now had My recon 1 for almost a month, AND IT"S The best freaking folder for the money I've gotten...I want to get a voyager with the tanto blade.
+Sage Ethan WT I got mine for free from Cold Steel. I got an old axis lock RECON 1 in a trade, the lock was loose so I sent the knife back and Cold Steel sent me a brand new one. Great customer service
Right. I seem to enjoy g10/frn better than steel handled knives, but it looks like a great design. Very similar to these. These days I'm keeping knife purchases to a minimum. Saving for something different and fun!
Gotta disagree with you on the non-cool factor for the Voyager...I think it is a very cool knife. A little more so than even the Recon. The blade finish is superior in my view, the handle shape (Recon handle is also too long,) and I really like the full flat grind on the Voyager. Both cool knives though.
He meant hype IMHO.
I've got the American Lawman and I love it. Easy one-hand opening but the Tri-Ad lock is very strong. For people with smaller hands perhaps the Medium Voyager or the Recon 1 Mini (which I also own and carry daily)....just an idea.
Just wanted to try something a bit different. I handled a clip point SOG Trident a few months back while doing a review, and started to like the blade shape. When I got the Voyager, I almost bought the Vaquero.. but it was just too weird haha.
That is an awesome in depth side by side comparison. One of the best I've seen.
The Voyager does look beefier, so why do so many people say the Recon 1 would be their "knife of choice" if they could only have one knife to choose?
Good question.
My guess, looks and the G10 handle. Tactical look.
G10 and micarta are favored a lot in the knife community.
I can only say that the Voyager's handle material is extremely tough. I once hit a cold chisel against the side of the handle. It didn't even scratch. Wouldn't do that to G10, the results will be different..
The handle of the Voyager is very comfortable. Also due to having a little more thickness. Fills the hand better.
And for some the double finger groove of the Recon1 might be fine for many, but it can be uncomfortable to others in comparison to the Voyager..
It's all about personal preference.
I'm trying so hard to find an XL Recon 1 and they just seem extinct. But I can just find some XL Voyagers.
Same here been looking for a Recon 1 xl can't find it anywhere, might be a limited run or discontinued
@@jackrock1313 Yeah, they were discontinued after they CS got bought over and they cancelled or reworked a bunch of their product line.
That was a good comparison ,I own a Voyager and want 2 Recon 1 folders ,and wondered how they stack up to each other.
Do you have the Recon1's now?
And how do you like the Recon 1.
I know many really like it, and it's extremely durable also..
@@Ve-suvius Yes and it's very well constructed ; it's a Tanto version and my favorite EDC.
Actually I have two and go I got it when I did because Amazon where I purchased it has sky rocketed the price on the Tanto Recon 1 for some strange reason.
@@powerplay4real174
Good to hear.
I'm going to get the Recon 1 clip point. I'm a fan of those.
At least two also.
Weird from Amazon. They ain't always the lowest price. I've seen that too. That's whay it's good that there are many players on the market , and not only one. Who will have a monopoly.
Both made in Taiwan, superb quality, very proud of them.
They have excellent craftsmanship with Taiwan made products some of the best in the world along with the Japanese , Germans and Italians. America not so much ,mostly junk made in America and a lot in China but even China has America beat too shyt. Just look at all the shyt we could not get over the pandemic because it was made in China that you like and needed so very much , other then trucks overseas automobiles are top seller in the USA ,because we make junk ,pure junk and have been for decades now.
The Voyager might be stronger since it has meta liner inside the handle.
Here in texas it's legal to get the xl. I got it in the tanto version because it is so much lighter than most of my other knives. Battoning is easy. I feel a lot safer in my neighborhood.
+Luis Ortiz-Sanchez No blade length restriction in Canada either. For practicality reasons, I would never carry a knife that big. These ones I only carry if I'm going camping or hiking for the most part.
I have both. The Voyager is better since the blade doesn't get scuffed up from use. The medium Voyager is better than both since it's small enough to make a practical edc
+Johnny Appleseed I haven't been able to warm up as much the med voyager. It's a full oz heavier than the Delica and Mini Grip. It's a good knife, but I like Large Voyager way better.
I've been a fan of W&W. I picked up a Spear point Recon 1. I love it. It feels like a real knife in your grip. Big, bad, and intimidating.
Just got the newer version of the Recon1 to add to my collection which includes the Mini Recon with older finish. I also ordered the Voyager lg with the BD1 steel as well and am still awaiting its arrival. I love the new steel and new DLC coating on the Recon 1 and can't wait to get my hands on the Voyager due any day now. I am the same type lefty/semi-ambi-dextrous as you and love the robust feel of the Recon 1. Great video! Thanks for the comparison.
Cold Steel has done some really impressive upgrades to alot of their popular knives, without adding that much cost. I have a Code 4 XHP for a while, until I traded it for a hammock lol. Thanks for watching
So what's the verdict on your choice between the Recon1 and the Voyager?
@@707SonomaComa I still favor the Recon1 and have carried it every day since this post. But I still love the feel and blade of the Voyager. So the winner for me by a nose, is the Recon1.
I removed the clip and lightly sanded down the surface. it's a lot better now. It didn't lower the gripiness either.
I like more the flat grind on the voyager. Is the tri ad lock same about thickness?.
Almost i like more the voyager than recon 1 and i know the recon 1 is the favorite for everybody.
I have the XHP Recon 1 with the DLC coating as my EDC. It doesn't seem to wear like the teflon coating.
Jason Clark I'm in the UK Jason and we'll have to wait a good long time for old stock to run out before we can get the CTS-XHP Cold Steel blades over here. I'm led to understand that there is a sprint run American Lawman with green G10 scales and XHP steel. It would be equally realistic to wait for a light-sabre!
I'm fortunate that I can order straight from the states via eBay, and I don't have to worry about import taxes until the total is more than $400NZ. I'm carrying the XHP Code 4 tanto now and I think I've found the perfect EDC knife.
Here in the UK we have to abide by arcane laws. I've watched a number of reviews on the Code 4 and it seems to be the pinnacle of Cold Steel design. I hope you enjoy your Code 4 for many years.
Thank you. Hopefully you'll eventually get a government who does what you tell them. Failing that, remember 1776, or perhaps Charles 1. As Chesterton observed, "it is a terrible thing to contemplate how few politicians are hung".
The biggest difference I see is the with of the handle. I have the 4 inch Voyager AUS8 and will be getting the Recon (same size but with Carpenter Steel) shortly. I like the Voyager, but the grip is almost too much. Unless you modify it, it will really wear on your pants pocket. The Recon is a little less aggressive. Also, I have small to medium hands and can open the Recon much easier than the Voyager.
+Bill Strack They will both destroy your pants lol. I love Cold Steel, but they need to get a clue with the pocket clip thing. What I did with the Medium Voyager was bend the clip out just a slightly. Now it carries super easy. If I lose it one day, I won't cry over a $40 knife but it hasn't happened yet.
AUS10A Voyager & S35VN Recon 1, now and the Recon 1 is DLC coated which can't be beat.
The liner are a big plus on the Voyager series
But the G10 scale are super cool and tough although it has no liners and I think liners make a folder stronger but hey I'm no engineer.
At Amazon both knives cost nearly the same $46 for the Voyager and $49 for the Recon 1. I'm thinking about getting the Recon but the I really like the grip on the voyager.
John Koeberlein Hmm tough choice. I honestly don't think the Recon 1 is a superior knife, it just looks a bit more tactical. If that's not important to you, go with the Voyager.
StartUpSurvival Thanks I think you changed my mind. Plus I'd pay not to get the coating. Cheaper too, sounds like a win win.
Ah nuts I got medium size one. I love the blade but the grip is way too small. Looks like the large is the knife to get.
John Koeberlein I like the large better too, but the medium isn't a bad knife. I honestly think large knives are overrated vs how people realistically will use their EDC knives. It might be a blessing in disguise long term, but if you're really set on the large see if you can exchange it.
My sister collects knives too, so I'm going to give it to her. She's got tiny hands and I bet it'll fit her perfectly. Your point about big knives is right on, but I have big paws.
Nice comparison.
I've owned several of each of these knives over the years (currently have a large and an XL voyager, and 2 Recon 1's, one in CTS and one in s35), and I've always considered them basically the same knife, except for handle material. If you HAVE to have g10, get the recon, if you don't care, the voyager is a better value, and will perform exactly the same.
The cold steel fixed blades are full tang
Could you do a vid on 10-20 knifes you would but in the future
You like the clip point vs. Spear point version of the Recon 1. Any reason why?
when I get a recon I'm gonna swap out my Finn wolf pocket clip and put it on recon one
I have the newer version of the mini recon and love it. However, I am looking to get either the large voyager or recon 1 but would like to know which takes up more space/real estate in the pocket? Thanks.
+beefyb93 Recon 1 takes up less space due to it's thinner profile. But if you already have a Mini Recon, try the Voyager. You might really like it for a change, and it's a bit cheaper.
@Dan P Better late than never. That said, I have since owned about 4 Recon 1s (have sold them but loved them) and yet still never owned a Voyager. Though I still have the mini Recon. Still the most underrated edc knife there is.
@@beefyb93 it’s been another year. Got one yet?
По идее это один и тот же нож. Задумка и форма почти идентичны. Просто один дороже из-за материалов и тактикульности, а другой рассчитан на более массового потребителя.
I already have the voyager and the ti lite. I'm probably gonna get the code 4 and the recon 1 tanto.
$24 for the voyager now from KnifeCenter
a tip. Your hands are blocking the view. Use a pointer.
I trust my fingers with to Andrew demco and the tri ad locks they don't fold or fail
Any lock can fail. I agree the Tri-ad lock is strongest, but anyone could easily make it fail by just hanging more than 550 lbs or whatever the max weight cold steel mentions is. Maybe not a realistic use of the knife, but just remember, nothing is 100% Cheers,
Let's agree to disagree and I'll leave you with these questions have you personally been injured by a tri ad lock failure or ever had a tri ad lock fail on you. I've never had one fail and I've taken it to pretty extreme and unintended use and that's why I trust them
Treway
voyager has plastic handle? its hardened aluminum
It has aluminum liners, but the handle is grivory or zytel - aka plastic.
StartUpSurvival Dropped it once, no crack or deformation. Pretty tough for plastic
Trust me, it's plastic. There are many types of plastics used industrially which are very tough. Glocks are made of polymer, which competes with steel in the handgun world. Same with knife handles. Stainless steel is used in some cases, as is aluminum. Manufacturers use plastics to save costs and weight in the design. They put steel liners internally, to add strength.
@@trap-du3hd you obviously have no clue what your talking about lol. It's grivory plastic which is much stronger than g10 and it has aluminum liners nested in the grivory. Where do you get the idea it's aluminum scales
The handle slabs on the Voyager are way more scratch/impact resistant than say polymer or even G10.
This I have tested. Hit a cold chisel against them, and it will show. on the Voyager, nothing showed.
One 'plastic' is completely different from another.
There are all kinds of materials involved that make the differences.
A car tire is not the same as the sole of your shoe etc.
People looking down upon plastics/synthetics have no idea. They can stick to their wooden handles that split easily..
Only Tri-ad lock and S35VN nearly industrial blade who it's better for a million cuts like CTS-XHP
Do you prefer G-10 or FRN?
I honestly don't have a strong preference either way. I would have to look at the whole package of the knife before making a decision.
Frn is much stronger than G10 and it doesn't get all scratched up nearly as easily as G10. Frn is basically a polymer type of plastic like on polymer frame guns. People say how cheap it feels blah blah but are clueless on what they are talking about. It's lighter In weight than g10 that's why people have this idea that it's junk. Again they are clueless
I just got the coldsteel recon 1 for 40$ on knife center. pump to get it!
No way. I paid double that. Congrats on the great deal.
I've now had My recon 1 for almost a month, AND IT"S The best freaking folder for the money I've gotten...I want to get a voyager with the tanto blade.
+Sage Ethan WT I got mine for free from Cold Steel. I got an old axis lock RECON 1 in a trade, the lock was loose so I sent the knife back and Cold Steel sent me a brand new one. Great customer service
LARGE VOYAGER AND TANTO AIR LITE N POCCET... STAY BLADED
7:12 thumbs down video with my small hands 😐😆
Code 4 FTW!
Right. I seem to enjoy g10/frn better than steel handled knives, but it looks like a great design. Very similar to these. These days I'm keeping knife purchases to a minimum. Saving for something different and fun!
Looks and all around feel, the Recon 1 for sure. But for EDC Code4 hands down. Your pants will thank you later. haha