Cold Steel,blades -- myArmoury.com

Karl Knisley · Posted: Sun 18 Jun, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject: Cold Steel,blades

Hello.Whats the general opinion of ,Cold Steel,these days?Have the blades and tangs improved any?Thanks

GG Osborne · Posted: Sun 18 Jun, 2006 5:44 pm Post subject: 1796 Saber

I can add this much: I purchased a 1796 saber for the blade, which is being used for a non-related project. As I was disassemblying the guard and hilt, the knucklebow snapped clean in two!! I was just potmetal that had been polished up. Very brittle and cheap! The blade is okay...overly heavy...but acceptable...barely. :\ Very disappointed in the overall quality. George Osborne

George Hill · Posted: Sun 18 Jun, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: Cold Steel,blades

Hank Reinhardt · Industry Professional

Most of their swords are now being made by Windlass. Like the 1796 Cavalry saber. I had an original, made by Thomas Gill. On the back of the blade was engraved "Warranted to Cut Iron". I let myself get talked out of it, which was a great mistake. I still have a Polish version of the sword. The blades on these sabers are verylight, and very thin at the last 6 inches or so of the blade. They were made that way. the idea was that they would cut very deep, but being very flexible, would easily pull out as the cavalryman rode past. It worked very well ( and was one of the best sabers produced by the Brits.) If it was needed, then it was also easy to straighten out, but a blade off a very degrees from true is not going to bother a cavalry trooper cutting down. As was stqted, most of their swords are way too heavy.....
I wonder if there is a market for an accurate 1796? People have tried to con everyone by saying that these are the "Blucher" sabers and that they were heaqvier, but thats just a con job.

Chuck Wyatt · Posted: Tue 20 Jun, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject:

Hank Reinhardt · Industry Professional

Well, the ones made by Windlass will be made the same way and by the same people that make the blades for MRL. From what I have seen, I can't tell any difference.

Hank Reinhardt · Industry Professional

Whoops, I forgot to add that I also think that the blades are too heavy.....but that was when they were made in China. I have one Chinese sword that started out as a Viking sword, but I changed it and put on a medieval style grip. Its only a triffle heavy, and cutrs quite well. From what I heard the main problem with the Chinese was the consistency, or lack thereof.

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Wed 21 Jun, 2006 8:03 am Post subject:

Here is a discussion of a CS 1796 saber that address "accuracy."
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s...adid=68298

Robert B. Allison · Posted: Wed 21 Jun, 2006 9:56 am Post subject:

I handled one of their hand and a half swords a year or so ago, didn't think it felt too bad from a weight standpoint. I have read (here I believe) that the tang is a bit thin and not very strong, and is also threaded. Some people were complaining that when they tried to cut with them, they'd break rather easily, despite the claim that they are "combat ready", whatever that might mean. I believe that I would tend to consider them simply decorative pieces if one were to come into my possession. Unfortunate too because I've owned a couple of Cold Steel knives over the years and have found them to be quite rugged.

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Fri 30 Jun, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:

I had read this thread and it started something stewing but I hate to speculate. With Hank mentioning many Cold Steel swords now being manufactured by Windlass, it begs an answer to whether Windlass might also be the shop behind the offerings from Military Heritage.

It has been written that the 1796 and Blucher from MH are in fact the same as the CS. This, along with the CS "1830 Napolean" and a couple of the baskethilts at MH do show striking similarities.

I'm still curious to see good pictures of the new Cold Steel 1860 cavalry sword but it does seem to suffer from the same blocky and round grips we see on some Military Heritage sabres and the "classic" Civil War swords that have graced Atalanta Cutlery pages for many years.

So, I guess my main supposition is that Windlass may indeed be behind what we see at Military Heritage. I wish there were some way to confirm that.

Cheers

GC

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Fri 30 Jun, 2006 9:10 am Post subject:

I have sent a letter of inquiry to Miitary Heritage and await their response. They are notoriously bad at returning mail.

Calling them is certainly another option but I'm likely to spend first and ask questions later;)

I was simply somewhat suprised to hear that Windlass was supplying Cold Steel. If they also supply Military heritage, it would go a long way to explaining the price point they are able to maintain.

Cheers

GC

Thomas Laible · Posted: Sat 01 Jul, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:

Karl Knisley · Posted: Fri 03 Jun, 2016 4:55 pm Post subject:

Hello
To raise a zombie thread:-) I`am very tempted to get one of their new English backsword. Does anybody have one yet?
If so could you chime in with your views?

Thanks

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Fri 03 Jun, 2016 8:28 pm Post subject:

Roger Hooper · Posted: Fri 03 Jun, 2016 8:51 pm Post subject:

How is the balance and handling on that English Backsword?

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Fri 03 Jun, 2016 9:16 pm Post subject:

Karl G · Posted: Mon 06 Jun, 2016 8:21 pm Post subject:

Their swords my only experience is in buying their 1917 cutlass as a fun all round EOTW zombie sword knowing it would be a basic, untapered production item. It turned out to be even more overbuilt and heavy than I wanted, cutlass techniques were a bit difficult to do, so I decided to destructively test it rather than keep or sell it. It chopped up several wooden transport pallets, pierced and sliced some thin sheets of corrugated roofing tin and chopped down some medium sized palm trees too boot. Apart from the black finish , no blade damage.

Machetes- I bought their 'Cutlass machete' which is not a bad bush clearing tool for the very cheap price. However metal is noticeably softer than that used in the other long machete makers such as Condor and OKC and you spend more time sharpening it during work.

For interests sake their '1917 cutlass' cuts deeper than their 'Cutlass machete'.

I know of another gent using their Gladius machete to good effect hunting hogs with dogs. Rates its as a good sticker.

Lance Morris · Posted: Sun 12 Jun, 2016 10:43 pm Post subject: Cold steel

Hello hello,

I like cold steel. But only at best for an entry level blade. When you pass the $300 mark. Start looking for other makers
They do fall apart and their scabbards arnt the best but they still come with scabbards which is pretty cool.

I have had several. The 1796 was fun. Heavy and not mad like the original but better then windlass or cas.

Saying that though, are their swords made by windlass?

By them on sale or don't get them

Holger Mahling · Posted: Thu 11 Aug, 2016 5:22 am Post subject:

Check out their new line...they look abslutely similar to actual Dynasty Forge models. I have purchased the new German Longsword for a steal price at Knifecenter and its a well-balanced, very elegant weapon with a top-notch scabbard. I would put it slightly above Valiant Armory level...yeah blasphemy, i know. Whatever. It surely surpasses my VAs in fit&finish. I will post some pics in the "your last sword" thread...