COLD STEEL, INC. 3036-A SEABORG AVE., VENTURA, CA 93003 USA TOLL FREE: 1-800-255-4716 OUTSIDE THE USA, CALL: 805-650-8481 FAX: 805-642-9727 WWW.COLDSTEEL.COM © COPYRIGHT 2004, COLD STEEL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ® CARBON V OUR 1996 DOCUMENTARY VIDEO, PROOF, SENT RIPPLES OF CONTROVERSY THROUGH ® ® Some of our Cold Steel knives are made from Carbon V , a high carbon, low alloy cutlery THE KNIFE WORLD. BUT THIS DVD WILL SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THE grade steel. This steel is superior in performance to most other steels due to its chemistry and KNIFE INDUSTRY IMPLY PUT OUR COMPETITORS GROSS FOLDING KNIVES .................................. 4-14 also because of the close controls that we maintain at every stage of the manufacturing process. S , - ™ ™ ™ ® ULTIMATE HUNTER, PRO-LITE, ARC-ANGEL, These controls begin at the steel mill where Cold Steel specifies the desired microstructure LY EXAGGERATE, THEY SUGGEST AND IMPLY PERFORMANCE, TI-LITE,™ VAQUERO,® TRIPLE ACTION,® SCIMITAR,™ of the steel. Once smelted, each steel shipment is microscopically checked for structural qual- ™ ™ ™ RECON 1, NIGHT FORCE, TRAIL GUIDE, ity, cleanliness and chemical content by an independent metallurgist not in the mill's employ. RATHER THAN PROVE THE WORTH OF THEIR PRODUCTS. LAND/SEA RESCUE, GUNSITE,™ VOYAGERS® The blades are then blanked parallel to the rolling direction of the steel plate to optimize grain COLD STEEL® BACKS ALL OF ITS CLAIMS WITH HORRENDOUS COUNTRY CLASSICS............................. 16-17 flow along the length of the blade. The final step is a precise heat treatment sequence that was CLASSIC STOCKMAN, CLASSIC TRAPPER, CLASSIC developed by Cold Steel® specifically for this custom steel. This heat treatment process is one TORTURE TESTING AND GRAPHIC DEMONSTRATIONS. WE TWO BLADE HUNTER, CLASSIC MUSKRAT, CLASSIC of our most highly guarded trade secrets. It was arrived at over several years by using an ex- PROVE THAT WE MAKE THE WORLD S STRONGEST SHARPEST BIRD KNIFE, OZARK HUNTER™ ’ haustive series of practical and metallurgical tests and observations. KNIVES AND DOCUMENT IT ALL ON VIDEO TAPE. SEE THE HUNTING/OUTDOORS .........................18-24 ® TRAIL MASTERS, LAREDO BOWIE, PENDLETONS, EVIDENCE FOR YOURSELF. WE HAVE NOTHING TO BIRD & TROUT, MASTER HUNTER, OUTDOORSMAN,™ AUS STAINLESS STEELS ALL TERRAIN HUNTERS, FILET KNIVES, KUKRI SERIES The words “stainless steel” are misleading, because, in fact, all steel will stain or show dis- HIDE...AND THAT’S A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN WE CAN The XL Voyager® plowing through 2" of PROMOTIONAL .........................................25 coloration if left in adverse conditions for a sufficient time. Steel is made “stainless” by adding SAY FOR OUR COMPETITORS. free hanging Manila rope. Manila rope is SHIRTS, HATS & STANDS Chromium and reducing its Carbon content during the smelting process. There is a serious VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR CALL: very tough on a knife edge. Blades that performance trade-off with stainless steel. As the Chromium increases and the Carbon decreases, JAPANESE STYLED BLADES ....................26-27 can repeatedly cut this rope will last in- ® ® ® the steel becomes more “stainless”. But, it also becomes more and more difficult to sharpen, 1-800-255-4716 FOR YOUR FREE COPY. TAI PAN, OYABUN, KOBUN, TANTO SERIES definitely under normal field use. and the edge-holding potential is seriously impaired. This is usually why most stainless knives BOOT KNIVES ....................................28-29 are rarely razor-sharp and quickly lose what little edge they have. ® ® ™ ® SAFE KEEPER, CULLODEN, SPIKE, DESPERADO In contrast, at Cold Steel® we use AUS 8A Stainless, a high carbon, low chromium steel BOOT KNIVES ..........................................30 that has proven itself to be the ultimate compromise between toughness and strength, edge KOGA SD1, RUBBER TRAINING KNIVES, WARRIOR’S holding, and resistance to corrosion. EDGE™ DVD AUS 6A is a medium to high carbon stainless which is tougher than ATS-34, 440C, ATS-55, etc., but still holds a good edge. This means it is particularly well suited for heavier, longer TACTICAL .......................................... 32-35 blades that are subjected to a lot of stress while chopping and hacking. SRK®, RECON TANTO, BLACK BEAR CLASSIC, R1 MILITARY CLASSIC, RECON SCOUT™, PEACE KEEPER®, ODA™, UWK™, OSS™ ® SAN MAI III SWORDS............................................36-45 San Mai means “three layers”. It’s the term given to the traditional laminated blades used by WESTERN SWORDS, JAPANESE SWORDS, CHINESE SWORDS the Japanese for swords and daggers. Laminated construction is important because it allows UTILITY............................................ 46-49 different grades of steel to be combined in a single blade. A simple way to think of this type PARA EDGE,™ READY EDGE,® SUPER EDGE,™ MINI PAL,™ of construction is to imagine a sandwich: The meat center is hard, high carbon steel and the URBAN PAL,™ HAI HOCHO,® K5, K7, MINI TAC,™ pieces of bread on either side are the lower-carbon, tough side panels. The edge of the blade KITCHEN CLASSICS should be hard to maximize edge holding ability, but if the entire blade was hard it could be A Carbon V® Trail Master® Bowie under Critics say that practically any knife can Retaining an edge while repeatedly cutting be stabbed through a car door... but unlike SPECIALTY .........................................50-59 damaged during the rigors of battle. For ultimate toughness the body of the blade must be able extreme pressure at about 23° in a vise. pine wood indicates superior fine edge ™ BLOWGUNS, THROWERS, TORPEDO, CHINESE to withstand impact and lateral stresses. Toughness is generally associated with “softness” and This blade returned to true after over one other knives, our Gunsite folder’s rein- retention. We maximize this potential in HALBERD, SWISS HALBERD, POLE AXE, TOMAHAWKS, “flexibility” in steel, so that, surprisingly, if a blade is made “tough” the edge won’t be hard hour in this position. Most knives shatter forced Tanto point is remarkably unaf- our knives. CAT TANTO, DELTA DART, MACE, enough to offer superior edge holding. San Mai III® provides a blade with hard (higher carbon) or permanently bend well before they fected by the ordeal. SPECIAL FORCES SHOVEL, BAD AXE, MACHETES, SJAMBOKS, reach this point. BUSHMAN® SERIES, SPEARS & STICKS steel in the middle for a keen, long lasting edge and tougher (lower-carbon) steel along the sides for flexibility. This laminate is 25% stronger than our incredibly tough AUS 8A Stain- less. 420 SUB ZERO QUENCH Cold Steel® has always sub zero quenched the blades that we have manufactured in Japan, WARRANTY and we are now adding this often omitted, yet crucial, process to the heat treating sequence WE STAND BEHIND OUR KNIVES 100%. WE SUBJECT of the new blades we are making in Taiwan. THEM TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE INDUSTRY Typically, stainless steel blades suffer from retained austenite after they have been heated to AND STRIVE TO MAKE EACH ONE AS PERFECT AS POS- critical temperature and then air or gas cooled. The big drawback of this procedure is that it SIBLE. OUR FIXED BLADE SHEATH KNIVES HAVE A FIVE doesn’t get the blades cold enough to assure complete transformation from an austenite to martensite grain structure. Only by freezing—sub zero quenching—stainless blades to 120 YEAR WARRANTY TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER AGAINST degrees below zero (Fahrenheit), will the austenite be completely transformed to martensite. DEFECTS IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP. OUR This assures the blade will be as hard, strong, and wear resistant as it can possibly be. FOLDING KNIVES ARE WARRANTED FOR ONE YEAR. Most of the tests shown on these pages and in our MORE PROOF DVD 5150 are dangerous and should not be duplicated. ANY knife can be broken ABOUT THE FOLDING 5150 is a medium carbon, low alloy steel that is particularly well suited to the hot forging Our Folding knives are tested (and have Shaving is a quick indicator of sharpness. or damaged if subjected to sufficient abuse. ALL knives eventually wear out and must be replaced. These destructive tests constitute gross abuse KNIFE FEATURED Most factory and custom knives do not process. This steel has the properties to harden well, making it ideal for heat treating blades been proven) to withstand more weight of a knife. Duplicating them will void your warranty. ON THE COVER... exhibit this sharpness when first used. ® that have a very thick cross section such as tomahawks, axes, etc. After the quenching process, pressure on their locks than 99% of our THE ULTIMATE HUNTER.™ COLD STEEL ’S NEW All Cold Steel® knives are shaving sharp, THERMORUN® HANDLED FOLDER. blades will be completely hardened at Rc 55-60. The combination of carbon and alloy elements competitor’s like models. READ MORE ABOUT IT ON PAGE 4 OF THIS CATALOG. also produces an extremely tough and impact resistant steel in the hardened and tempered right out of the box! condition which is essential in a tool which is hafted and or thrown. 2 Performance 3 ULTIMATE PRO LITE™ ™ ™ Made for the professional hunter, guide, or To protect your fingers from the Pro Lite’s HUNTER outfitter— but sure to be appreciated by super keen edge, the blade, once opened, is Have you ever imagined a hunting sportsmen around the globe—the Pro Lites™ rigidly locked in place with our strong leaf knife that has the safety and conve- can do it all. Whether you’re skinning musk- spring lock. This locking mechanism has been nience of a folding knife, yet has the rat, moose, or simply just cleaning a catfish extensively tested by Cold Steel® and will strength and cutting power of a fixed for supper, one of these blades is sure to be reliably hold 100 lbs. without catastrophic blade? Cold Steel® has taken this right for the job. failure, making it the equal of any lock in the thought one step further and made it a Available in Clip Point, Drop Point, or Tanto world when it comes to safety.