A cold steel knife is a high-quality fixed blade, folding or sword that is designed and built to be ready for any adventure. They are renowned for their strength and durability.
They are the best knives for the job and they come in a variety of styles, from tactical fixed blades to burley folding swords. Read on to learn more about what makes a cold steel knife so great!
Tri-Ad Lock
One of the most common locks on Cold Steel knives is the Tri-Ad Lock, designed by Andrew Demko. It’s a variation of the classic back lock that places a stop pin between the blade tang and the lock bar, which distributes the load and helps to prevent flexing.
In theory, the Tri-Ad lock is a lot stronger than the traditional back lock because of the way it disperses the load across the handle rather than focusing it directly on the blade tang and lock bar. If you want a knife that will stay locked up no matter how hard you use it, there isn’t a better option than a Tri-Ad folding knife from Cold Steel.
Another strong lock is the Arc-Lock, which is similar to the Tri-Ad Lock but uses a block of metal (like a peanut) that’s mounted on a pivot and engages with the tang when opened or closed. This design is used on the SOG Vulcan series and makes a very strong, slick, and durable lock up.
Checkered Kraton Handles
The Checkered Kraton Handles are a Cold Steel innovation that dates back to the early 1980’s. They are deeply checkered and molded directly to the blade tangs. They are also shock-absorbing and provide a soft, comfortable, yet strong grip.
Cold Steel has a long legacy of pushing the boundaries in both design and materials. Their innovations like the checkered Kraton handles, and the “Americanized” Tanto point blade style are now industry-wide hallmarks of quality and sophistication.
Each knife is designed and tested to be ready for the real world, and raises a new bar in strength, durability and performance. They are always striving to make the strongest, sharpest knives in the world.
CPM-S35VN Blade Steel
CPM-S35VN Blade Steel is one of the higher-end martensitic stainless steels available. This Crucible-brand knife grade is designed to provide a good balance of toughness, hardness and corrosion resistance.
Its high Carbon, Chromium, and Vanadium content offers a fine balance between the three key characteristics most knifemakers look for in their cutlery. This makes it a great choice for tactical, rescue, hunting, and survival knives.
This knife steel is also known for its excellent edge retention, which means that it can hold a sharp edge for a long time even when used in rough conditions like batoning. This is a feature that is highly sought after in a pocket knife, since it can help prevent the need for frequent sharpening and keep your blade sharper longer.
S35VN is a popular choice among knifemakers because it’s easy to grind, machine, and polish. It’s also highly resistant to wear and tear, which is important for a durable and high-quality blade.
Cold Steel’s Patented Atlas Lock
The Cold Steel patented Atlas Lock was engineered to blur the lines between folding and fixed blades. It is incredibly durable, reliable, and quick to actuate.
The Atlas Lock is a slide action lock that is actuated by sliding a metal bar back, which opens and closes the blade. It is easy to actuate and has been tested to hold up to 800 lbs of hanging weight!
Cold Steel’s patented Atlas Lock is an impressive feature and is the perfect solution for those who want a strong knife without having to carry a heavy one. It allows the user to open and close the knife with ease, which is why Cold Steel uses it on their premium EDC knives.