Been buying/using Cold Steel products since the '80s. My old Bushman is tough& resilient as hell! Always said Cold Steel knives where worth more than you paid. Cant say that anymore. Watching that was like getting news that your good friend has a terminal illness. ALL REVERSE FULL! Right the ship or sink, Cold Steel!

I was worried about what would happen after Lynn Thompson sold Cold Steel. Looking at their knives in magazines and catalogs when I was a kid is what started my obsession with knives. I own several Cold Steels knives from the 90s to 2020s, and it's sad to think I may never purchase another one.

Another thing I noticed was the handle seam has returned to its original form, just butted and not welded. Mine from 2014, has a welded seam. The early ones were just butted after forming, then they began welding the seam and now they've gone back to the original form, undoubtedly to save money. This is a real shame. Anyone who has older Cold Steel knives should hang on to them.

We all knew Cold Steel was going to go downhill once the company was sold, and we're seeing it happen more and more as time goes on. Sad.

Thank you for being real Chris. Cold Steel has gone awful

I used to be a CS fanboy. I've got probably 100 CS products, from tons of various folders, to multiple shovels, to axes and hatchets, to a buttload of machetes, to a grip of throwing knives and stars, to canes and staves, to several spears, and I've never had anything but great experiences with the products, no matter how hard I beat the tar out of them. Haven't bought any since they sold out, and now I'm glad I didn’t. 😢

What a shame, although it could just be from a bad batch? My Bushman Bowie saved my life back in 2015 when I was attacked by a pack of feral dogs at night whilst camping. I'd fortunately had the foresight to attach it to a branch the previous evening. I've got two of the old ones & now I'm wishing that I'd bought more.

Great review and look back at the old test. We need to see this. As a long time cold steel knife buyer I had my concerns when the company was sold. A couple of years ago Lynn Thompson and cold steel put a video on youtube titled, "Cold Steel Address by Lynn Thompson" where Lynn assured us that he was still involved and the quality will not go down. I hope Lynn Thompson sees your video as well as the new owner Eddie Castro the CEO and President of GSM Outdoors.

Thanks for this. I was just about to buy Bushman Bowie, but I think I'll save my money for something else... What a shame, Huusk Steel Bushman 2023.

After seeing the video, I tested my CS Bushman by clamping the tip of the knife in a vise and bending it more than 45 degrees in both directions, on several occasions, it passed the test. Then I found the box in which I received it when I bought it (2009.), and on the box there is a declaration from the importer for Serbia that the knife was imported to Serbia in 2008. The knife was also made in China, but it was clearly a different time when CS was really CS.

I’ve owned one for almost 15 years. The older versions had a welded seam on the handle & were very springy. You really need gloves/eye/face protection… that could have gotten really ugly, really fast. Take care!

Cold steel was my go to for about every blade.Lynn Thompson made it it into the best knife company in the world.Thank You for informing us.

Cold steel needs to come out with a tester's helmet and goggle set....made in Taiwan.

Ya know what? I made a sad discovery about the new Cold Steel as well. This was on a pair of the Taiwanese made SR-1 Lite's. Back in the day, I used to gently bend the pocket clips on Cold Steel knives to help save my pants pockets from being eaten up too quickly. Never an issue when the outfit was here in Ventura. Well I ordered a couple SR-1 Lite's from my local dealer, went to make the same adjustment I'd made many times before, and both clips actually shattered in the process. Like I said, I'd done this before, but there was no heat treat or something had changed with the current clips; they both failed right at the lower bends. What was even more special, the new wonderful folks in TEXAS refused to sell me two more clips. I mean I wanted to just buy the clips, not get free clips, and they said no way. Fortunately, I discovered titanium deep carry clips from a guy in the area, and that solved my dilemma. So I'm certain that CS is cutting corners, your near disaster here just shows me how many corners the new owners are cutting. I have a bunch of CS knives going back quite a while, but I'm now officially wary of buying any more at this time. This is a very sad turn of events.

Glad I kept my old one.

Eleven years ago when I joined SAR and had no money to buy quality gear, that was the first fixed-blade knife I bought. I wrapped the handle for better grip and squared up the spine for striking sparks, but otherwise used it as made. It served me well for several years until I upgraded to a Jääkäripuukko 140. I still have the Bushman as my Jeep knife, and occasionally use and abuse it. Absolutely bulletproof knife for $20! So sad to see they have now ruined it, and I'm glad I got mine when they were good.

I remember your original review of this knife, and really liked it. It's actually heart breaking to see the cost cutting measures that this company has taken by sacrificing quality. Lyn C. Thompson would have never signed off on anything that didn't live up to his personal standards. Shameful!

I have one that over 20 years old. It’s been a beast.

I purposefully only buy Cold Steel pre-2000. Even rusted and left for dead, i could restore it and it would probably do better than these newer knives.

So in retrospect, it's good that I purchased two of these back in 2014.

I was planning on buying one of these. Not now.... glad I found your video.

I have batoned my bushman into a log so knotty i had to chase it with a wedge to get it back. I recently played with the idea of getting a handful to stockpile. Thanks for saving me money and heartache. So sad to see another one bite the dust

I'm glad I bought a bunch of them over ten years ago.

Please keep in mind, gentlemen, that the China produced bushman knives that have the old Cold Steel logo on them are still very good. Glad I stocked up on them before this batch.

I've been on a "No Chinesium" buying policy for the last 3.5+ years. This coverage makes me feel good in my choices. I buy fewer, but better researched blades overall. Keep the Taiwan made Cold Steel coming.

I remember when they used to weld the seam on the handle. Now you get a pinch point as well.

My Cold Steel purchases from the past year or so: AD10 Lite Tanto - Its a beast. No issues with hard use. Roach Belly - Amazing value, awesome blade shape and probably my favorite "kitchen knife." Commercial pairing knife - I let someone use it and they broke the tip off before I ever tried it. One and done. Pendleton Lite Hunter - I use it for food/game processing. Works well. SRK SK5 - I took it out the day it arrived and chopped a smallish grapevine with it and it got 3 chips in it. Very disappointed after hearing great things. My BPS carbon is waaaay better. Was going to get the San Mai if I liked it. Wakizashi machete - Doesn't hold an edge. I might have messed it up with a pull-through sharpener though.

Made a nice sound

Thank God I have an old model bushman

I still have two of the old ones and they have taken a beating and still going strong.

"Snappy McSnaperson" LOL Now I've got to dig out my old one and play with it.

What that CS video didn’t explain is that you have to bend it TOWARDS the open side of the tube handle, not away from it like you did. (For the humor impaired, that was a joke)

I'd say it snapped at the handle transition first, then the blade sprung forward and snapped the tip off in the other direction

Thanks

I got one in march along with a new mora robust , both are still in great shape after a summer of beating them

Still have my Taiwan bushman, going to have to make a sheath for it someday..

Used one 10 years ago, it was great. Just ordered one to play with... I'm pretty sure it'll be the new version. 😢

Never seen a double break before. Loving the location shift arounds as well.

What did Lin say when he sold the company? Oh, I remember: “Nothing will change”.

dang !!!! safety glasses; just in case...have a great weekend....

Holy shit. That double snap was surprising.

Chris, you are a fair reviewer. That grain was to course, like sand. It should be much finer for 1055. The heat treat looks like it was too hot and the temper was too low. Spring temper for 1055 is 600 degrees Fahrenheit but they probably did the cheaper 350 degrees. Also, please take care of your health. You look different than you did in earlier videos. Take care and best wishes.

Sorry but LMAO at "I'm gonna... JEEEEZUS!!!" Glad you are OK!!!

Hi, thank you for sharing this. I´ve been following you for a long time and, due to your (and others) recommendation, I bought this knife for my son a long time ago. He still uses it for all things outside, even with an extra handle, using it like a machete). Another son uses the CS Trailhawk. I am really disapointed now in the new Cold Steel but that was to expected. Kind regards Alain

Has a nice ring to it !

Thats why I told everyone to buy all the Cold Steel Knives that you every wanted Before they were Sold , I knew they would Never be the same R.I.P. Cold Steel .... 😪😥🤧😭

LOL, mine is still new from back in the day. Time to get a backup.

I have the original Bowie and Tanto 🤙 I used the knife to shape a spear shaft and skin the bark off, then finished with sand paper. It flies like a frickin missile and the blade flexes like crazy on impact 🤘🤘 a total legend 😎✌️✌️

I think maybe the heat treat was off a little

I have two Kai knives, a Shun and a Kershaw, both of which broke. In both cases I had come back to the cutting table and found them broken so I never knew what actually happened to the tip. I suppose it's possible that they broke while doing food prep, which is all I used them for, and I ate the tips or something.

Thanks for helping me Dodge that bullet.

Going to have to change the name to "Brittle Steel" they keep this up. Every time a company sells out like that this happens.

Thnx for the test, but I wlkd away from cold steel in the early 90s, I watched a video at a gun store, got all jazzed up and bought a cold steel folder, went right home and hit my vice like they said it could handle, knocked a good size chunk outta the blade. Still have it somewhere but cursed em and never bought another..I buy Amercan..👊Essee

oh hell . I have two of those and the GI tanto

That knife is an emergency spear, plain and simple. Not for chopping or wood splitting. I have had one for some time, and its a good medium weight general purpose knife/ Emergency spear.

Never really liked cold steel except the Finnwolf and thats pretty much it.

Base on your early review done years ago I purchased the bush knife. Still have it, love it. I made a great looking spear and toss it every now and then and the flex is great. Man the paint has even held up. Well, I won’t buy another.

I bought my GI Tanto after watching your original review, back in the Becker blade days. Too bad...

Good thing I saw this I was about to get one. Not anymore.

I remember watching Lynn Thompson telling the camera that, while he was selling Cold Steel, the same dependability and rigorous standards would still be going into the new Cold Steel products. I had a gut hunch that would not be the case, once it was sold, and a few years down the line.

Get of my lawn…. Hell I love the vibe of the video

5:28 broke my heart

I was NOT expecting that 😮. Dangit i hate being so late to the Cold Steel party. I just started my collection less than a year ago. Looks like i better get some remaining models before its all new stuff. Thanks alot GSM😐.

Wow can't believe it. I just ordered one of theses.

I literally have that exact knife as a backup blade in an emergency kit. That was eye-opening, to the say the least....Actually, it's relieving to have witnessed that particular limitation, to forego ignorance should I ever actually need it

The good old days of Cold Steel are long gone.

oh snap!!

ok hulk with your 2.1 tons of pressure lol

Wow... unexpected!

What about their folders now Chris?

Great video. And I actually love the sounds of kids having fun in the background. But what a disappointment in the Bushman. I guess the question now is, how is the Cold Steel warranty? Will they provide a replacement?

Why did you cut out the breaking scene?

Well that was a quick test 😅

LOL man it didnt even look like you were trying.... On the very first test wow

I actually had zero idea that Cold Steel sold and I am so glad I have not bought another product from them. I have a bunch of old knives from them I bought ever since I started my collection and now I know they are not worth the price tag anymore. I will be taking care of my current and avoiding anything new. So sad to hear that someone who was as vocal as Lynn now gets to watch his life's work sink. This now begs the question for me: What company should someone go to if they want an effective budget knife? Cold Steel and Schrade are both having obvious quality issues. Who does that leave?

Yup. Done with Cold Steel, when Lynn sold them.

Love the original one. One of the first knives I ever bought. Have one of the newer ones and it doesn't seem as good

OK, when was CS sold? Still have an model from early 2010s, with welded handle. I wonder why the new batch has an open handle again, like the models from 90s?

Wow! I have never seen that happen before. I something is wrong with that sample.

Was really good when they were here in Ventura. Went downhill fast when they moved to Texas. Why?

Holy Smokes!

Hi Chris ,good video as always , sad to see this happen to this knife or any other knife in fact ,but it is what it it ! 'shite ' shoddy workmanship 'Cold steel' like Sharade had better get their act together if they want to stay in business & be able to compete with the up& coming WTG , However i bought one of these knives a few years ago after seeing your review on it with Will , ( never used it yet ) mine is slightly different from the one that just snapped in your review , It could be one of the old better ones ?? the sheath is the same with all the same markings etc, on it , However the knife has a welded closed handle ,no gaps , and the blade edge seems to be a sabre grind , that flows into a 3mm slight hollow grind then the blade edge , ??? could this be one of the better ones ???

I noticed the chinese one looks brittle and stiff as hell when you tried to bend it. Doesnt look like it flexes much compared to your old one. Its like totally different knives. Is this a heat treatment problem or just different steel altogether?

They're done!

Lynn Thompson would be fucking heartbroken.

Glad the old one didn't break and cut Will's throat.

Damn it... I've been throwing the old bushman as a spear many times and it just would just not break. Too see what has become of it is sad.

This amazing knife is heat treated using the same process that orcs in Mordor use for their legendary blades....

Something's never change, always someone making noise in the background. I remember back in the day with lawn mower guy and chainsaw guy, and the helicopters 😄

i do got there bowie i don't no if its twain or china but if mine is china mine has served me well i mean i never tried to bend it like that i mean i only ever used mine for splitting wood and camp stuff but there is a dud in every batch

Him reacting to people coming on his spot is how we’d all feel if we were doing our own filming 😂. It’s like getting caught with a porno mag lmao

The Cold Steel Bushman. The knife formally known for making Knife Test Nos utter the words " " One of us is going to die, me or this knife. And right now the knife is winning... " I'm almost heartbroken to see what has become of this company ( but I did kind of think this would be the result tbh ). I'm just glad I bought my G.I Tanto and Bushman before the company was sold.

good ol quality of days long gone... all suddenly i got urge to keep my old CS on shelf, since newer ones are CRAP.

That stinks Coldsteel has definitely been missing the mark recently! I would definitely buy your sheath from you though. I’ve been carrying my old Bushman.

Will sent them.

Glad my cold steels are from a few years ago. No more money spent there

Mine worked fine in the garden last week. Shame coldsteel did this but i doubt i will wver abuse mine like this

Now to be truly old school we need a lawnmower. Lynn Thompson where are you!?!?

JoeX has a KZfaq channel where he legitimately torture tests blades. People give him crap for it, but it is precisely his tests that got me to buy blades that I know won't fail. Believe it or not, the Cold Steel.machetes, made in South Africa, are some of the toughest blades he has tested. (But he has also destroyed their Chinese blades, as you have done here). I recommend his channel for informed future purchases. The machetes really are on another level.

I bought one of these based on old reviews. Not so sure I would do the same now.