RECON I

I just received this knife today, so I can’t speak to its longevity or how well it holds an edge. But I can say this: this is the first knife that has wowed me right out of the box. I literally said the word “WOW!” when testing its sharpness just now.For the last 15 years, I’ve been using an Emerson Commander and a number of Spyderco knives. This is my first time trying something new outside of that realm. Compared to these other knives, it’s definitely a lot bulkier in the pocket — so if your pocket space is limited, be aware that the fit may not be optimal.The G-10 handle is very solid, and the grip is designed more ergonomically than any of my previous knives. My fingers feel well-protected and there’s not a chance this thing is coming out of my hands in a fight.It locks open *very* firmly — much more so than any knife I’ve used to date. It’s a bit hard to close, but I’ve been opening and closing it repeatedly and it does seem to be easing up, so I think it just needs a couple hundred closes to break it in. The same is probably true or the pocket clip, which feels a bit excessively tight. Not sure if I’ll be leaving it on or not.Aesthetically, this thing is both gorgeous and intimidating. Maybe not the best thing to pull out on a work site for utility use, but will definitely intimidate someone in a defense situation.Overall, this thing feels like a workhorse and I get the impression it’s worth double what I paid for it. I can see why it has a reputation as one of the best defensive folding knives for EDC.

First off, please know that I am not a metallurgist and am only semi experienced with knife combat and techniques. However, The up dated version of the Cold Steel Recon 1 which is made from S35VN is an exact copy other the original Recon 1 that was made from AUS 8 steel. Anyone with questions about the difference can look up the details on line. Knowing that it is identical in design to the original AUS8 in G10 grip texture, locking mechanism, and so on, I must say that for me, this is a fantastic knife. In my opinion, it was a brilliant move for Cold Steel to change the blade material to S35VN alloy. Like I stated, I am not a metallurgist and I have no way to verify the upgrade only to say while sharpening the blade, there is a definite difference in feel and edge retention. The knife is well balanced and very tight. The locking mechanism may need to be "sweetened" a little for one handed opening but short of that, in my opinion, this blade is worth every penny. Other blades made from S30V and S35VN can cost up to 200 + dollars. I only have two little quips to remark on about the Recon 1 upgrade. 1. The pocket clip is very tight and somewhat tough to utilize. 2. because of the tightness of the clip, it might be rough on the pants you are wearing because the G10 grips do exactly that, Grip! With all that said, so far this knife is fantastic in my opinion. It is large enough to be effective in combat and small enough to carry where ever you go, i.e. work, home, the streets, wilderness, or war, be assured that the Recon 1 upgrade is the answer to any cutting or utility needs that may arise.

I had wanted to get a really nice knife for EDC. I'm not too savvy when it comes to knives so I popped into a few forums and noticed Cold Steel was mentioned pretty regularly. I wasn't looking to break the bank on a knife but something >$100 and this one just made it in there.I prefer the tanto blades over the normal blades. I think it looks better and it just seems like a better point to have on a blade (I could be wrong though). The knife is very lightweight which is a huge bonus. The locking mechanism seems really strong so I'm not too worried about the blade coming loose or accidentally unlocking itself. I had some older cheap knives where the blades would get unlocked if I putt pressure on the blade. Not very reliable so this blades locking mechanism seems a much better quality.The blade itself seems really solid and the serrated edges really make this an ideal EDC knife for me. It comes with a L/R pocket clip so you can adjust that if needed. Blade arrived super sharp so it's ready to use out of the box.Overall, really nice knife that's super lightweight and seemingly very well built.

This knife really turned me on to cold steel. Seems and feels a little large at first, but then you start to carry your smaller knives less because it’s just an awesome knife that feels right and commands attention.

The knife is awesome. Sharp, easy to use. Good size, fits in pocket. Nice balance. The only drawback for me is the thumb-press closure. As an older person it is difficult for me to apply sufficient pressure to close it easily. I need to put on a pair of gloves to get it to close well.

Not what I expected. I should have done my research. I assumed it had steel liners not just G10 not sure if that affectse the durability. The knife feels cheap in hand and also light which is good. It’s sharp and a large knife which I knew it was. The lock is awesome and locks up is positive and strong The handle feels cheap with an an only G10 handle and no liners inside. It’s definitely a robust knife The SR1 is similar but has liners and about 35$ more. However I can’t knock the knife because I failed to do my research. 3 stars because the handle feels cheap. Maybe over time I’ll change my opinion. It doesn’t go well in the pocked easy due to the aggressive textured blade find a nylon sheath, it will carry betterUpdate April 12, 2019. I changed from 3 stars to 5. I used this knife on several occasions and it is super strong. It’s lock up is solid even after abuse of splitting and cutting wood for the fire place. The wood was dry and probably 1-3 in diameter. The knife has been in water and some snow. I felt at first due to no liners it would t be so strong. I was wrong it’s an excellent knife well worth the money