Cold Steel New AK-47: "Masculinity Perfected" by Nutnfancy

The original Cold Steel AK-47 knives were masculine: chunky blades with broad clip blades. They featured their older style of "Ultra-Lock" and handles were offered in 100% aluminum (7.6 oz) or steel-lined G10 (6.6 oz but more expensive). Examples I studied were often loose in lockup and definitely too heavy for this size/type of blade. I felt uncompelled to get one and my previous 10 initial tabletop review of the type sufficed for TNP. Enter 2010 and the re-designed AK-47 knives, full size and Mini. They represent huge improvement in the design. Utilizing strong NON-STEEL LINED G10 handles, they achieve lighter carry weights at 5.4 and 2.8 ounces respectively. Though no steel is present in these rounded and ergonomic handles, I expect high durability in use. This lightness alone is transformational to the design and for me opens upon POUs such as backpacking (especially for the Mini AK-47 blade). The new 2010 full size AK is a tactical folding knife with an improved blade ground, hollow grinding, razor sharpness, the Cold Steel wavable thumplate, and excellent deployment speed. The new Mini AK-47 has the same features in smaller form and makes a great EDC/Utility blade. Its pocket deployment capability is rare among lightweight, smaller EDC blades. The ambi clip is also improved: solid now with no "Wizard of Oz" issues noted. It holds strong, is low enough profile but still suffers from aggressive G10 underneath that will shred pocket fabric over time. I rec' performance of my CS pocket clip mod with JB Weld to solve this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9OLKqxqZA). Both knives feature the Andrew Demko Triad lock mechanism which transfers shock energy to the handle-mounted stop pin and not the locking bar. In a departure from my normal tabletop review, I test this lock rather hard in this video, using the AK-47s cousin, the new CS Recon 1 (same handle, lock implementation) for the guinea pig. After 30 minutes of hammering and wood splitting abuse the lock emerged solid and unaffected. It is indeed strong and may approach fixed blade levels of rigidity (no promises though). The lockup after the test was only slightly affected; small up and down play noted after this thump-age. The pivot point was tightened to achieve tightness again in the side to side dimension. Two-handed closure (rec'd for safet) is about the downside to the Triad lock. The AUS8A steel also came out of the test with good sharpness, no peening, chipping, or damage. It has good rust resistance and Cold Steel touts its fine grain structure achieved through vacuum heat-treatment and sub zero quenching. It serves well in the POU and the blades shown improved, more gradual grinds that are more attractive. Expect the black Teflon coating to rapidly wear off in heavy use (shown!). The pommel is now made of 6061 aluminum (extending to backspacer) and it's adds non-lethal impact versatility to the design (and utility hammering in some cases). Value is moderately high in both models. With their lighter weights, better grinds, improved clips, handles, and pommels, these fast-deploying Demko AK-47s are marked improvements over the original versions. It is gratifying to see manufacturers respond in quality fashion to the weight issue identified in TNP in many vids! ///////Nutnfancy Likability Scale (both knives): 9 out of 10////////////Music: Jason Shaw

Category:

Science & Technology

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[nutnfancy]

@TheBadCommentator And yet here you are...lurking around. Thanks for the view, idiot. -- Veri (Nutn's sister)

[AirForceAce3571]

to all those complaining about the way Veri acts in comments here's a suggestion: Don't read the comments if you don't like it! We all have the right to run our channels how we see fit, & so do Nutn & Veri! Furthemore, most of the people who she slams are the ones who make vulgar, hateful or just outright stupid comments.given the way some of you are reacting, i.e. calling her the 'c' word and other vulgarities, it doesn't surprise me she's slammin you, you prob deserve it. learn some respect!

[whatitischief]

I think the issue with Veri for some people (like myself) is she is stooping to their level by even responding :\ I know it's tempting, but it just looks bad.

[crosspolaris]

KONY 2012

[danielcmanley]

@AirForceAce3571 Everyone needs to grow up. If someone slams you, shame on them. If you slam that person back, shame on you.

[mimixownzall]

SWEET! Now I can tell my friends that I bought a high quality, very well made AK-47 for 65 bucks!

[ghostie234]

@TheLoyalOfficer I hear where you're coming from, its just cause they built it from the ground up to be a soldier's universal tool.

[TheLoyalOfficer]

@ghostie234 I'm sure it's a fine knife. Fair enough.

I just would have called it something else is all.

[ghostie234]

@TheLoyalOfficer Well not really. The ak-47 is the quintessential battle rifle, a weapon that is deadly, useful, and damn near unbreakable. The cold steel ak-47 fills all of those criteria, as well as having a lot of scare factor. Trust me, if you're in a self defense scenario and you pull out a blade, it's rather intimidating because it means you are willing to get in close and dirty.

[ghostie234]

Ive been on bladeforums for like three days trying to trade for one.

[hellsing436]

Great review. Large AK has been my edc since the day I got it, amazing knife

[AbyssAlsoGazes]

Another GREAT review! Some things I agree with, some things I don't, some things I never even thought of. I love the honesty and the reasoning behind your opinions. Keep it going dude...you're a rock star!