Cold SteelRecon 1 MAGNACUT/9-3/8 OVRLL/4" Blade/3.5MM THICK/G-10 HNDL

I hardly ever leave reviews, especially bad ones, but Cold Steel needs to know that whatever is going on since the buyout is letting down longtime users and owners of their products.I didn’t notice an issue at first, aside from a strong chemical smell from the G-10, so I assume that it was improperly cured.After using the knife a couple of times, I noticed that the lock bar was off center, with a gap on one side. I looked closer and realized that the stop pin was not properly seated into the scales, and was pushing them apart. At that point I noticed that there was also excess material left behind from the milling in the jimping on the handle.I figured it would be a relatively easy fix. I wasn’t super concerned about voiding the warranty because I’ve worked on many many folding knives.What I didn’t expect was that when I attempted to disassemble it the body screw immediately stripped out. Good quality tools, low quality screws. When I attempted to approach it from the other side I realized that they were essentially glued into the g-10 with white loctite.I decided to quit while I was behind , and now I have a $260 beater, that smells bad, that I hate.Don’t do it.

PROS: It says Cold Steel on it. The flat black finish on the blade is better than the shiny finish on other models.CONS: Everything else. Packaging was cheap. Action was crunchy. Value just isn't there even with Magnacut steel. Cold steel customer service won't even provide you with a replacement clip if you need one much less screws for their knives, they will make you pay for shipping for warranty work. Some people say you can improve the action by disassembling the knife but there are many reviews that say the knife is difficult to disassembly because of too much lock tite ending with stripped screws. In this price range if your looking for Magnacut in this size I'd go with a CRKT Redemption, Kershaw Launch 7, Kershaw Livewire or a HOGUE RSK.

The title says it all…… If you are not the kind of guy who is willing to take your knives apart to fix or improve them then skip this one.Why? Because just like other Italian made Cokd Steel knives it comes with a crunchy action , dirty washers and cheaper packaging. You will need to take this guy apart and clean out the washers, oil the pivot, and over all rehaul to get that classic smooth action.Otherwise yeah, it’s an awesome knife. Go to YouTube and watch the in depth review done by EDC Gear Guy for all the pros and cons.

**Disappointing Quality for the Price**For the price, I expected much better. The knife arrived in a cheap, crushed plastic bag, and the box looked like it had been used. The action was crunchy and not at all smooth, which was surprising given the tight lock system. Even worse, despite how tight it was, the blade still wiggled back and forth. I'm really disappointed with the quality—especially from a company I thought would have better standards. I hope Cold Steel is paying attention because this kind of craftsmanship is unacceptable. I always believed Italy was known for perfection in its products, but this certainly wasn’t the case here.

The Recon M1 is by far the best overall pocket knife ever! Here are the reasons why:> The handle is made from G10 material that has the perfect balance of grip and comfort that will not slip out of your hands under wet conditions.> Boasting Andrew Demko’s Tri-Ad Lock, this pocket knife bridges the gap between a folder and a fixed blade. It may not be as strong as a fixed blade, but it will definitely take all the abuse a fixed blade can take that most folders cannot tolerate.> The blade is made from super steel MagnaCut, which is a stainless steel version of CPM 4V, matching 4V's edge retention and toughness properties; or a supercharged CPM-S35VN, buffing up S35VN's toughness and stainless properties. This steel is in a league of its own. By definition standard, it is not considered a stainless steel because of the low chromium content; however, it's stainless properties is in the league, if not slightly better than that of M390, CPM-20CV, CTS-204P, and CPM-S110V. MagnaCut steel is considered the best steel in the balanced category, dethroning CPM-S35VN and CPM-154.> The clip point blade shape for the Recon M1 is the well balance decision, providing you with a folder that is always with you that is great for self-defense and survival applications. The sharp clip point provides excellent piercing capabilities, while the large belly on the blade provides versatility. Pairing with the MagnaCut steel on the Recon M1 provides the clip point tip increased strength and stability, significantly reducing the chance of the tip breaking with use. The clip point blade is also known as a Bowie knife. This blade style has been popular among American outdoorsmen and hunters for decades proving itself to be a reliable blade suitable for a wide range of tasks.Nothing is perfect though, and here are the reasons why:> The box opening experience was not great. Packaging seemed like it was rushed out of Italy to be sold as soon as possible. But I'm not buying the box, I'm buying the pocket knife.> The action out of the box was very gritty. However, after utilizing KPL Dry Film and KPL Original a few times, I was able to get the action to open and close very smooth.> The pocket clip is very stiff. But that's just how Cold Steel pocket clips have always been. Any how, my Recon M1 gets pocketed in a slot in my EDC pouch; so it wasn't a big deal for me.> The blade finish is supposed to be a black stonewash; however, it is more of a matte DLC finish that does not present the blade grind like previous glossy finishes did. This did not really bother me since I really like the blacked out look of this blade. It definitely makes the Recon M1 appear way more tactical than it already is.Furthermore, the Recon M1 to me is the perfect blade in my daily carry at this moment. It is the best overall pocket knife ever! America, F*** Yeah!