Cold Steel Recon 1 4" S35VN Razor-Sharp Blade 5.375" G-10 Handle Tactical Folding Knife w/Tri-Ad Lock, Ambidextrous Pocket/Belt Clip

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.

Incredible durability with the Triad lock this is one of the best hard use folders that's on the market period Regardless of cost. The Recon one is just a beast of a hard use folder the grip has excellent thickness so you're going to really be able to put in a lot of force on it without without it being uncomfortable the knife looks incredible it's a very Sleek design yet very comfortable in hand. The blade shape is beautiful for EDC type task as well as harder use type task say during camping or whatever the geometry of this blade is excellent it is a super slicy blade yet very stout. The grind does a really good job of leaving a lot of material for a nice tough blade allowing the knife to have reasonable cutting performance due to a nice geometry i'm not a fan of S35VN Steel in most cases there's only two companies out there that do it really good one is Cold Steel the next is Spyderco those are the only two companies that I will buy that specific steel from because they do a pretty good job on it and you actually get a pretty decent performing Steel. The Recon one is one of those knives that is a classic for a reason because it's built like a tank it's comfortable in hand it'll take whatever you throw at it and it just makes for an all-around good cutting tool. I still wished they made these in CTS XHP steel as it was significantly better but sadly that's not the case anymore.

Cold Steel has achieved another home run with this model. For me, the overall size is just right: not to large and not too small. The handle's texture and configuration is ideal. You get a grip that is comfortable and secure. Their locking system is a thing of beauty and may well be the best and most secure locking system of any folding knife - ever! When the blade locks open, it does so with an audible "CLICK" and a feel that lets you know it's not going to close until you make it happen. The blade is a tad stiff to open, but that's a good thing. It will smooth out in time. It does take a bit of effort to close the blade, but again this is a good thing because it reminds one of how rock solid and secure the mechanism is. The 4" blade is razor sharp, so use caution while handling. The pocket clip is typical Cold Steel. It has heavy tension and will keep the knife in place. I tend to use a belt pouch for knives of this size, but this one is slim, lightweight and carries well in a pocket, so either way you'll be fine. I don't know what kind of finish the blade has, but it appears to be a quality job. It's not some cheap powder coating or other such finish that will wear off easily. Another great feature is the steel itself. S35VN is a high grade steel that is durable, strong, and fairly easy to sharpen. You get a lot for you money with this steel. In summation, I like everything about this knife. Ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar, this is true bargain. I've had and seen folders costing a lot more that were not this nice. If you are on the fence about this knife, hop down and get one ordered. You cannot go wrong. God Bless America and stay safe out there!