made in Taiwan

Cold Steel Recon 1 Review

Last Updated: July 15, 2019
I love it when knife companies refine their existing designs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for new and exciting models, but I’m almost more excited when a “good” knife turns into a “great” one. Cold Steel did just that with their latest version of the Cold Steel Recon 1. The new version (released in 2010) of the Recon 1 is lighter, has a stronger lock and a smarter design. What that leaves us with is a refined hard-use folding knife at a price almost anyone can afford.

Buy the Cold Steel Recon 1 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Purpose

The Recon 1 is a large folding tactical knife or utility knife. Many people will not want to EDC the Recon 1, but I’ll say for a larger knife it is an extremely strong and relatively light EDC option. This could also be a decent trail knife/backup knife – I’ve seen people actually baton wood with this thing. Obviously these weren’t huge logs, but it’s still pretty incredible for a folder.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Recon 1 has an overall length of 9.75″, a 4″ blade, weighs 5.3 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a large folding knife geared towards hard use and self defense applications. Certainly this could be used for every day carry (EDC) if you can swing carrying a knife of this size.

As far as the blade is concerned you have the option of either a clip point (bowie) blade shape, American tanto, or spear point blade shape (not shown here). All blade configurations come hollow ground and have the option of plain or partially serrated edges.

My personal preference is for the clip point or spear point blade shape, as I find the belly is useful for EDC. Regardless, the blades are all ground thin and cut nicely. If you need the additional tip strength of a tanto, or just like the look, then this is a great model to pick up with a tanto blade.

Cold Steel originally chose Aus 8A for the blade steel here. The Aus 8 version of the knives are shown here, and these are what I used for my review. Cold Steel upgraded the blade steel to CTS-XHP around 2016. Although I haven’t reviewed the CTS-XHP version of the Recon 1, I have tested the Ultimate Hunter and Code 4 and the Broken Skull in CTS-XHP. It’s a great upgrade. CTS-XHP is still easy to sharpen like AUS-8, but the edge holding is much better. It’s a great stainless steel and an excellent upgrade for these knives.

Also, the Recon 1 used to come with a teflon coated blade. These coatings chipped off easily and were long considered a downside to the Recon 1. When Cold Steel upgraded the blade steel to CTS-XHP they also started DLC coating their blades. This is a much tougher blade coating, and resists wear far better than teflon. This new coating holds up far better and I’ve had a chance to test it out on my Broken Skull.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

Cold Steel did an excellent job updating the Recon 1’s handle. They went with a linerless design and used two thick slabs of G10 for the handle. Some might find the lack of steel liners troubling on a hard use folding knife, but let me tell you – there is nothing to worry about. This is a very strong handle design (more on that below) and it has a 6061 aluminum backspacer. Everything is bolted together and there is a good size lanyard hole for added security.

The Recon 1 has great ergonomics. A major feature is the deep double choil. This fits my hand like a glove. The handle is thick enough so that it fills the hand adequately and the edges have been rounded for comfort. The roughly textured handle helps to ensure a firm grip under a variety of conditions. Note that there is no jimping on the thumb ramp. In this case, I don’t think the Recon 1 needs jimping, your hand is not going anywhere with this handle design. That said, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Due to the curvature of this handle design Cold Steel sells this knife with 2 pocket clips. This is so both left and right handed users can carry this knife comfortably. As a leftie, this sort of thing brings a tear to my eye (almost). I suspect some manufacturers don’t make clips reversible to keep costs down, but to see CS go so far as to make a second clip – well, that is really a statement and doesn’t go unnoticed here. Note that the clips allow for tip up carry only (fine by me) and that the clips has been given the same teflon coating as the blade so expect it to show wear.

Deployment and Lockup

The Recon 1 is deployed with a single thumb stud. The thumb stud is easily reversed with a screw driver, but in a perfect world I’d rather see ambidextrous thumb studs right out of the box. The Recon 1 has a powerful backspring, so it isn’t the easiest knife to deploy, but with a little wrist action I have no problems at all snapping this blade out. And it does snap out, with a loud and authoritative crack. This is a knife that deploys with confidence thanks to a smart design and phosphor bronze washers.

The Recon 1 has the Andrew Demko designed Tri-ad Lock. This lock is phenomenal and is the strongest lock currently on the market. It’s a beefed up backlock with the inclusion of a stop pin. The stop pin takes all the force of heavy duty tasks rather than the locking mechanism. What this means is that this lock will take more stress and punishment than anything else on the market. I’ve tested these locks extensively myself and my results match everyone else’s conclusions – that the Tri-ad lock is nearly bullet-proof.

Recon1 vs. the AK-47 or the American Lawman?

Chances are, if you are interested in the Recon 1, you may also be interested in the AK-47 or the American Lawman. If that is the case, I recorded a video where I do a detailed comparison of these 3 models that you may find useful.

If you still have any questions or are interested in another comparison feel free to leave a comment or contact me.

Cold Steel Recon 1: Final Thoughts

The Recon 1 is an absolute beast of a knife. If you are looking for an inexpensive hard use folder, you really can’t do better than this Recon 1 folder with the Triad lock. The Recon 1 is very similar to the Cold Steel Ak-47 and American Lawman, 2 knives I have previously reviewed. If you are having trouble deciding between the three it really comes down to which knife you like the look of the most. They have minor functional differences but they are all tough as nails and ready for any task.

Also, well after the initial publication date of this review Cold Steel made major upgrades. They upgraded the blade to a DLC coated CTS-XHP blade from a teflon coated AUS-8 blde. The upgrades Cold Steel made to the blade steel and blade coating addressed the 2 biggest complaints I previously had with the knife: soft Aus-8 steel that was serviceable, but didn’t hold an amazing edge, and a teflon blade coating that quickly chipped and looked bad. Granted, these upgrades have raised the Recon 1 from a $50 knife, to more like a $75 knife, but I think you are getting more knife for your money. The Recon 1 has been elevated from a good bargain knife, to an impressive cutting tool.

At the end of the day, if you can carry a larger knife like the Recon 1 you are going to have a hard time finding a tougher pound for pound folding knife. It remains an excellent choice to this day. Personally, I prefer the slightly smaller and more utilitarian looking American Lawman, but if you like the dimensions of the Recon 1 then you won’t be disappointed with this knife.

Cold Steel EDC Tactical Folding Pocket Knife, Recon

The Cold Steel Recon is a strong, durable, and effective mainstay in the world of tactical pocket knives.
The steel blade features DLC coating for long-wearing use. The coating is black, rough to the touch, and super strong against scratches and wear.
Cold Steel's innovation is the safest folding knife locking system on the market, holding 800 lbs of hanging weight.
Folding knife with ambidextrous pocket and belt clip for both right- and left-handed draws. Thin construction does not imprint in the pocket for a stealthy carry. Perfect for battle gear.
A great everyday carry option for self-defense, battooning, stabbing, etc. The scales on the handle around the finger grooves provide excellent grip and ergonomic comfort.

If you are interested in purchasing a Cold Steel Recon 1, then I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing things through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com and will help to keep the reviews coming. Any support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Sage 1 Review

by Dan Jackson 24 Comments

Last Updated: July 20, 2019
A while back I took a look at the Spyderco Sage 2. The Sage 2 is an absolutely fantastic knife and with it’s eye catching titanium handle, I find that the Sage 1 often plays second fiddle.

Buy the Sage 1 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

That is a shame, because I think that the Sage 1 may be the better EDC knife – at least for me. Regardless, I can safely say that it’s an excellent EDC knife.

Clearly, it’s high time I reviewed my Sage 1. Let’s take a closer look and see why I like this knife so much.

Purpose

The Sage 1 is arguably the perfect EDC knife for my purposes. Yes, you read that right. The Sage 1 is my personal EDC blade, and for my purposes I couldn’t ask for a better knife. What I like about the Sage 1 is that it has perfect EDC proportions, excellent materials, outstanding fit and finish and it carries very well.

In addition to EDC, I think this knife is a great collector’s piece (I know plenty of people who have all 3 of the knives in the Sage series) and while the Sage 1 is not billed as a tactical knife, it could certainly fulfill an emergency tactical role. Finally, the carbon fiber and stealthy carry make this a great option for a gentleman’s folder.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

As for the dimensions we have a 3″ blade, an overall length of 7 1/8″ and a weight of 3.2 ounces. Going back to me calling the Sage 1 the “perfect” EDC knife, the dimensions of the Sage 1 are ideal for EDC in my book. I really don’t like carrying anything smaller, and anything bigger starts to raise some eyebrows (sad, but true). The Sage 2 actually handles like a bigger knife, but it remains small and is people friendly.

The blade is a classic Spyderco leaf shape given a nice full flat grind. There is a decent amount of belly and the tip has a sturdy point while still being strong. This is a very practical blade shape that is also non-threatening to people who don’t understand knives.

The blade steel is S30V which was a gold standard for production knives for many years. When I originally wrote this review in 2011, it was about as good as you would find in any $100 knife. It’s still a great choice, but I would not complaint if they upgraded to S35VN, or chose CTS-XHP like on the Chaparral. S30V is a harder steel, so sharpening takes more effort than say, AUS8 and other more inexpensive steels. However, S30V it takes a good edge and holds it well. S30V is also very resistant to rust and corrosion. Given the price point and intended use of the knife I think this is a great steel.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle is part of what sets each Sage apart, and the Sage 1 has carbon fiber scales over stainless steel liners. The carbon fiber is left with a “woven” or “twill” texture that provides some traction and is pleasant in hand. The entire knife is held together by 3 hex bolts, and the flow through design is an exercise in restraint. Looking inside you can see that the liners have been milled out extensively. I count no less than 4 different size bits used to mill this liner out. Everything has been expertly finished and polished up – including the liners.

The ergonomics are another huge plus to the Sage 1 (and the entire Sage series really). First of all, there is a nice 50/50 choil and a large thumb ramp. This makes the most of the relatively small handle and provides plenty of room, even for larger hands, in practically any grip. I absolutely love the ergonomics of the Sage, it’s much like the Caly 3 if you have ever handled one of them. Basically it gives you a big knife grip in a small easy to carry package.

The pocket clip is another home run. While pocket clips are often a source of grief for me the Sage 1’s clip is about to close to perfect as I can ask for. The Sages all use the Spyderco “wire” clip, which is actually a very strong piece of tempered steel. What sets the Sage 1 apart is that has given the clip a black coating. Not only has the coating held up extremely well, the knife disappears when you clip it to the pocket. If you work in an office, this is the perfect knife – it’s very difficult to notice this knife when wearing slacks (ultimate urban camo). Finally, I have to mention that Spyderco gives you the option for ambidextrous tip up carry. This is perfect for my applications.

Lock and Deployment

The Sage 1 uses a liner lock, and not just any liner lock but a “Walker Linerlock.” That is because the Sage series was designed to pay homage to innovators in the knife industry and the Sage 1 was made to honor Michael Walker. Michael Walker is known for designing the ball-bearing detent method of holding a lock in place which is used in many many knives today. A knife designed around a lock should have decent lockup, and the Sage 1 does not disappoint. The lock makes a very crisp “click” when engaged and it bites in nice and early. There is absolutely zero play in any direction. This is a very strong liner lock worthy of paying homage to Michael Walker.

Deployment is accomplished by a 1/2″ Spyderhole. I found deployment to initially be pretty stiff on the Sage 1. For a while this was my only real complaint with the knife. However, it took a while but the knife slowly broke in. These days deployment is very smooth and it only seems to be getting smoother (after months of carry). Of course there are some large phosphor bronze washers in there which reduces the friction but the tolerances are very tight on this knife – in my experience this knife will take time to break in but is well worth the wait.

Spyderco Sage 1 vs. Spyderco Caly 3 Carbon Fiber

Ah, the age old question. Two beautiful Spyderco knives that are very similar in size, price and materials yet have some interesting differences as well. Which one should you choose? Well, I attempted to answer that question with a youtube video. It’s not an easy answer, but I like the idea of saying “the Sage 1 is my wife and the Caly 3 is my mistress.” Really that Caly 3 is built like nothing else, just an awesome knife that has the “soul” I think the Sage 1 lacks in some way (difficult to describe). That said, for all out practical EDC use, I prefer the Sage 1. The knife rocks, it’s designed to be used and will be up for any challenge. Buy ’em both if you have the money, I don’t think you will be disappointed with either one.

Spyderco Sage 1 Review – Final Thoughts

So yeah, what is there left to say? Not a whole lot really, the Sage 1 is just a fantastic knife. I stand by my original comment that this is the “perfect EDC knife” for me – even months after writing the first draft of this review – this one’s a keeper! Sure it all comes down to personal preference, but I’ve handled a lot of knives and if you are looking in the ~3″ blade EDC knife category, it’s going to be hard to find something as well rounded and beautifully executed as the Sage 1.

I tell you, I write very few reviews that are this positive, I literally have nothing bad to say about the Sage 1. The overall fit and finish on this knife is outstanding. Every surface has been polished, the blade centering is dead on, and everything has been done to an almost eerie state of perfection. If you are on the fence about the Sage 1 my advice would be to go ahead and buy it. You will not be disappointed.

Update – I originally wrote this review in 2011. I still have my Sage 1, still carry it, still use it, and still enjoy it. It remains one of my all time favorite EDC pieces. This continues to be an excellent knife.

Spyderco Sage Linerlock

Crafted from the highest quality materials
Built for performance and durability
Made in Taiwan
Folding knife with CPF-S30V steel blade
PlainEdge is ground flat for precise cutting

I recommend purchasing the Sage 1 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Sage 2 Review

by Dan Jackson 14 Comments

Last Updated: August 2, 2019
Today I am looking at another beautiful knife, the Spyderco Sage 2. The Sage series is designed to pay homage to various pioneers in the knifemaking industry and to recognize some of the talented custom knifemakers that have helped re-define pocket knives.

Buy the Sage 2 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Sage 1 pays homage to knifemaker Michael Walker who invented the liner lock and features carbon fiber scales while the Sage 2 focuses on knifemaker Chris Reeve’s Reeve Integral Lock (or frame lock). For those unfamiliar with Chris Reeve Knives (CRK), his “semi-production” knives are considered to be the holy grail among many knife enthusiasts. They are beautiful pieces and are quite pricey. What appeals to me about the Sage 2 is that you get a lot of what makes the CRK so desirable at a fraction of the cost.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Sage 2 has an overall length of 7 1/8″, a 3″ blade, and weighs of 3.5 ounces. These are great numbers in my opinion. The Sage 2 packs a lot into a small and lightweight package. This is an ideal size for every day carry, and the Sage 1 has proven itself to be one of my all time favorite EDC knives. The Sage 2 is just as carryable and makes for a great upscale EDC. The Sage 2 is made in Taichung Taiwan.

The blade is 1/8″ thick which is nice and beefy, it makes for a stout knife which is still light and agile. Spyderco went with their classic leaf shaped blade, with the full flat grind that many people love. The full flat grind is beautiful and makes this knife a great slicer.

Spyderco selected CPM S30V for the blade steel. Back when I first penned this review in 2011, S30V was a high end steel. Today (late 2016), S30V has lost some of its luster next to steels like S35VN, CTS-XHP, and even more exotic steels like M390, but this is still serviceable steel. It’s a little more brittle than I would like, and can be difficult to sharpen at times, but it’s still reasonably easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. It’s a good steel, but admittedly not a great steel. I’d like to see Spyderco update the Sage series to S35VN at some point.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle is where the Sage 2 really shines. It is made of 2 thick slabs of titanium and is held together by 3 torx bolts. I really like the simplicity of the handle. The titanium keeps this knife lightweight and is nicely finished. The flow through construction and easy disassembly are two other features that I love. They make this an easy knife to clean and maintain.

The ergonomics are also very nice. The handle length is only 4 3/16″ however the jimping on the thumb ramp and choil allow you to choke up real close to the blade. Like most Spyderco knives I have held the Sage 2 feels good in hand and will make an excellent user for someone looking at a high end working knife or EDC item. The handle edges are also well finished with no sharp edges or “hot spots.”

The pocket clip is the Spyderco wire clip. I think that this is a great pocket clip design because it is simple, strong and easy to conceal. Some people do not like the wire clip. I think those people are nuts, but there is plenty of room for multiple opinions.

The retention of the pocket clip is perfect and the deep carry nature of the clip makes the knife almost disappear in pocket. Spyderco designed this knife tip up carry only however the clip is ambidextrous. For me this isn’t a problem although I understand that sometimes people prefer tip down. If that is your desire Spyderco makes plenty of knives with that feature. I tend to prefer blackened clips as it makes them even more discreet, but I can see how that might spoil the aesthetics of the Sage 2.

Deployment and Lock

Deployment on the Sage 2 is a breeze with the standard Spyder-hole and phosphor bronze bushings. The blade moves with very little effort from your thumb and the sound the knife makes when it locks is very fun and satisfying. With the Caly 3 (and other lockback knives) I noticed it takes some effort to flick the blade out but the Sage is practically effortless. That said, retention is still good, it’s not like the blade is falling out of the handle – it’s only once you give it that initial push that you get the incredibly smooth deployment.

Now, the lock is really the first thing I wanted to talk about (since the entire knife is designed to showcase the lock) but I try to keep a method to the madness here and like to do my reviews “in order” so my regular readers know where to find exactly what they are looking for. The Chris Reeve’s designed framelock is a beast and is among the strongest locks you can buy. The lock’s strength lies in its simplicity. The entire titanium handle locks the blade in place.

I am left handed and this is not a left handed knife. That said, this knife is still easy to disengage with my left hand although I would love to see a dedicated lefty version some day.

Spyderco Sage 2 Review – Final Thoughts

The Sage 2 is an excellent knife and a worthy successor to the Sage 1. The materials, fit, and finish are top notch and the design is pure Spyderco. The retail price for the Sage 2 is around $175. I know for some that will be too much money to spend on a knife, but when you compare that to the other titanium frame lock knives on the market (including Hinderer, Strider, and Chris Reeve Knives) the Sage 2 offers a compelling value proposition. Granted, the Sage 2 is made overseas, but Spyderco’s Taiwanese knives are all excellent. There is not a single manufacturing flaw with the knife and I am extremely impressed with the level of fit and finish. I can’t think of another titanium framelock out there that can touch the value and performance of the Spyderco Sage 2 except for perhaps the Boker Urban Trapper.

If you are in the market for a titanium frame lock knife, but aren’t ready to shell out the big bucks for Chris Reeve, or similar offering, then I can absolutely recommend the Spyderco Sage 2. The Sage 2, along with the Sage 1, are some of my all time favorite EDC knives. These are top shelf knives that can both be had for a reasonable amount of money.

Spyderco Sage2 Titanium PlainEdge Knife

Deep-pocket wire clip for left or right hand carry
Closed Length (Inches): 4.19, Overall Length (Inches): 7.19, Blade Length (Inches):3, Blade Steel: CPM S30V, Grind: Full-Flat
A spear-point shaped, full-flat ground CPM S30V blade
All screw constructed titanium handle
Michael Walker Linerlock with ball bearing detent

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Sage 2 at ]Amazon, or BladeHQ.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley C134CF Review

by Dan Jackson 13 Comments

Last Updated: August 26, 2019
The Spyderco Gayle Bradley (C134CF) is one of those knives that was built for use and abuse, but is so nice I wasn’t sure if I could bring myself to really scuff it up. I guess the only reasonable answer is to buy two of these, one for carry and the other to keep pristine in the bowels of the collection.

Buy the Spyderco Gayle Bradley at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The knife was named after its designer, Texas custom knifemaker Gayle Bradley. Mr. Bradley has been making custom knives out of his shop in Weatherford, Texas for over 22 years. He also has the distinguishment of winning BladeSports International Cutting competition in 2008 (he had the most points for the 2008 season).

The Spyderco C134CF is Bradley’s first production knife collaboration. The knife is made from heavy duty M4 steel – the same steel Mr. Bradley uses in his competition cutting knives. With Mr/ Bradley’s credentials and the use of such a high end steel you know that this knife has the potential to go the distance.

General Dimensions and Blade Steel

The Gayle Bradley has an overall length of 8.078″, a 3.438″ blade, weighs 5.5 ounces, and is made in Taiwan. This is a large and thick folder with graceful lines and a rock solid feel. The knife is manufactured in Spyderco’s Taichung Taiwan factory. Sure, I’d love to see this knife made in Golden Colorado, but I can’t deny that some of Spyderco’s best knives, from a fit and finish perspective, are currently coming out of Spyderco’s Taiwanese factory.

The Gayle Bradley has extremely high build quality – it’s difficult to describe on paper but the moment you handle this knife it all comes together. The dimensions and feel of this knife make it slightly large and heavy for EDC, although it would certainly work in that role. This knife is a work horse and it’s intended use is heavy cutting tasks.

The blade is a modified drop point with a high hollow grind and a sloping swedge. The blade has been given a beautiful satin finish that gleams in the light. This blade is a thing of beauty from any angle. Blade thickness is right at 3mm. It is thick enough for tough tasks, but is still ground thin enough to be a capable slicer. This blade is almost all edge and the long curving belly provides tons of room for cutting.

The blade is made from Crucible CPM-M4 steel. M4 is a high quality tool steel and Crucible’s version uses their Crucible Particle Metallurgy (CPM) manufacturing process to enhance the toughness and ensure the M4 has a consistent grain. What this means is that the knife will really hold an edge and is capable of getting extremely sharp (sharp enough to win Mr. Bradley a couple world records in cutting competitions). This is not a stainless steel so you will need to take care to keep the blade dry and (preferably) oiled.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The knife has a flow through, pillar construction handle made of textured carbon fiber and full-length steel liners. The liners have been milled out in an attempt to reduce the weight, but this is still a substantial folder. The handle is bolted together (rather than pinned) which is great if you ever have the desire to take this knife apart (perhaps you want to try and mill it out yourself). If you are thinking of milling the liners out I want to wish you good luck because these are some of the thickest liners I have seen. This is a very heavy duty handle.

The carbon fiber Spyderco selected is the textured version used on the Spyderco Sage (review coming soon). This has a “weave” like texture that provides decent grip considering it’s carbon fiber, a traditionally smooth material. There is light jimping on the lock bar and on the thumb ramp, which combined with the finger choil and flowing handle make for a very comfortable and ergonomic grip. This all helps to make the knife a great work knife. For those that intend to use this knife heavily I think the handle design and ergonomics will be great for that.

The pocket clip is also quite interesting. It has a smokey gray black finish that almost looks anodized although the clip is definitely steel. It is a unique looking finish that I really like and is another detail that makes this a special knife. I also like how the clip can be mounted on all four corners of the knife. The knife rides low in the pocket and the blackened clip won’t attract much attention (unless you are around a bunch of knife knuts).

Deployment and Lock

The Gayle Bradley uses an extra large (1/2″ diameter) Spyder hole and phosphor bronze bushings for deployment. This knife is very easy to open and it is super smooth. The deployment feels just as good as the rest of the knife which is great news indeed. The ultra thick liner lock sits snugly on the blade. This knife is constructed very solidly and with that extra thick liner lock I think this knife is capable of taking some abuse. Really the lock-up and deployment are both very impressive; it’s hard to put it into words.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Review – Final Thoughts

Mr. Bradley said that he was very pleased with the way the knife came out, and he gave it his full endorsement. I have to say, the knife has my endorsement too. The beautiful design, the high quality materials and the excellent construction make this a great knife in my book. It also is a great value. The knife has a $225 MSRP but I am seeing it retail for right around $130. At that price I think it is a steal. Of course, this knife isn’t for every one. The weight may be an issue, and it may be on the large size as well, but overall I think this is a great knife and I look forward to more Gayle Bradley collaborations.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley Folder Carbon Fiber PlainEdge Knife

Carbon fiber handle. Screw-together construction.
4-way hourglass steel clip. Full-length internal liners.
Michael Walker LinerLock.
Hollow-ground blade.

I recommend purchasing the Gayle Bradley at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.