Customer Reviews

Cold Steel Spartan Grivory Handle

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I searched the internet, read reviews, viewed YouTube Reviews and "How To" modification. I read good things and bad things. And I bought this knife anyway. Most popular complaint: It's too big and heavy. This is pure subjective opinion. The size of the knife is claar. "I never expected it to be this big" will not cut it. My opinion: for it's purpose, it's quite small. Too heavy? easy to find out the weight before purchase. One guy actually dissasembled his knife and milled the inner side plates to save weight. I bet he saved about 0.16 oz. Another Complaint: "I don't like the handle, it encloses my hand too tightly. Again, personal preference. I feel that mine is a bit too big but the size of spacing allows me to present the knife in all practical fighting holds wihtout problems. You won't drop this knife. Another Complaint: It's not practical for everyday use. Well...no it's not. It's only purpose is to fight with. it gives you the best chance to execute a perfect knife attack. A. your opponent pulls a knife on you. B. you pull this knife on him. C. he realized that he has bitten off more than he can chew as he looks fearfully at this "mean-spirited" weapon. D. He drops his knife and runs. You have just executed the perfect knife attack. Nobody got hurt and the situation is diffused. This knife is not intended for cutting open the shipping carton of your latest Amazon.com delivery. Another Complaint: The blade does not open easily and cannot be opened with one hand. Well...this is NOT an assisted opening knife and it never claims to be. The blade is a bit hard to open at first but if you leave the knife half open each night for a couple of weeks and use a proper torx bit to slightly adust it so that it opens a bit more easily without being loose, you can fix that. Another complaintL The lockng mechanism is too hard to unlock. This is true, Unlocking this thing can cause actualy injury to your thumb. The fix: using a #6 torx wrench, dissasemble the knife carefully. Carefully round off the end of the presure spring using a fine file and working up to 2000 grit sandpaper and then Mother's Mag polish to give it a totally smooth finish. Then polish the lock release bar everywhere that it touches anything using whatever grade of wet and dry sand paper and polish that will produce a mirror finish. Make sure to round off the sharp 90 degree angles on the locking lever and the knife blade itself so that these two parts mate smoothly. Then polish every place on the blade that touches anything. After a couple of weeks of leaving it half open at night, it will unlock easily, yet the lock strength will not be compromised at all. As for opening, it has a catch on the top of the blade for that. I was able to draw it out of my pocket from a pair of Levi's Dockers dress slacks perfectly the first time, before tuning it, and it did not damage my pants at all.

If you want a good knife for self defense and your state allows the 4.5 inch blade, this knife is totally legal to carry. There will be no questions or confusion about the difference between an assisted opener and a switchblade because it is neither of those.

Some people say it rusts. I spray mine with heavy duty spray silicon every night. Some people say it's not sharp enough. Find a tungsten carbide knife sharpener for about 6 bucks and draw it across the edge of this knife about 8 times carefully and it will cut almost as well as a new single edge razor blade.

Look at this knife before you buy it. I love mine and will probably buy another one for my other pocket. This knife may not be for you, but you should know that just by looking at it.

FIVE STARS...Would recommend to anyone wanting a folding carry knife for self defense.

SOME TIME LATER...after daily carry. Well...I'm waiting...wait...wait...wait...I'm still waiting for that rust. Still waiting...I spray my blade once per week with heavy duty crc silicone and...it still looks perfect.

One drawback though: I just had to put 8 stitches in my finger. I used a tungsten carbide sharpener on this thing the day I got it. Just about 10 strokes and it was, and still is, as sharp as a new single edge razor blade. I can open it and use it without problems but I seem prone to allow it to cut the dog out of me when I close it. So be careful when you close this thing and always keep a needle and thread with you. It will cut to the bone in an instant. The steel in this thing is top notch.

This is my first cold steel knife and I can safely say I'm very pleased.
I really wouldn't consider this knife an every day carry knife, but you can decide that if you get it. It's just too big to carry around. The weight doesn't bother me, but it's size in my pocket does. But, I didn't buy this knife to be an every day carry, so that isn't really a con for me.
When you first get the knife it will need to be broken in quite a bit. It has loosened up quite a bit from when I received it, but when you try to close this thing for the first few times it will be pretty difficult.
The grip is amazing as mentioned by other reviewers. It definitely doesn't feel like that knife is going to leave my hand at all if i were to start wailing on something.
It comes with two pocket clips (one already on it for right pocket, and one you can put on it for the left pocket). I've read a lot about cold steel pocket clips and they are known for not being very friendly to the fabric of your pants, so be warned if you intend to us this as an EDC. I put it in my pocket to test out the draw of the blade while its in your pocket, and it seems to work great, though I'm not exactly a master yet. But, I can definitely see this knife tearing up your pockets if you use it like this a lot.
The knife can be opened with one hand, though it is kind of difficult. There isn't many situations I can see that being a con though. I usually will be able to use both hands while opening this knife. Maybe if I worked in a warehouse and this was my EDC it could be a problem, but who in their right mind would carry this mean looking blade on them as an EDC...
All of the screws on this knife are a type of Torx, and the blade can be tightened or loosened, but I don't feel the need to right out of the box. The blade has zero play in it, which is how I like it.

the spartan is an amazing knife, everything i expect from cold steel. yes, the steel chosen, AUS8-A is very seseptible to rust, but it can perform and hold an edge better than alot of other choices. if you want simalar quality without the low rust resistance, buy the knives made with more expensive steel. the VG-10 and H1 steels used by spyderco are amazing, in all ways. but they are also way more expensive compared. this knife is AMAZING, just treat it with care; dont take it any were way to humid, dont keep it in a pocket close to your body if you are going to sweat (i personaly keep it in cargo or coat pockets away from my body when i carry it), dont get it ANYWERE near water unless u wipe it right away, i would oil it from time to time as insurance, and just keep it dry. if you do, it will out perform all your expectations.

Very impressive package overall. What a blade. Fantastic grind, to a thin edge but retaining a strong backbone. Awesome curve, plenty of belly. I don't know if it's a property of the steel used or if it's beadblasted, but there's not a reflective surface to be found which is real nice. Unbelievable grip, the material & shape just lock to your hand. It's a beast for sure, based mainly on it's feel and wide, tall blade. I don't find it overly large (as it's not) and it's pretty slim (approx. 1/2"). Has a great heft and a dead solid feel both in construction and lockup. Unique top of blade ambidextrous thumbstud. As the pocketclip is curved to fit the handle, it arrives with one installed for righthanded carry and another for lefthanded carry in a small ziplock complete with screws so you can mount both. Outstanding for the price.

The Cold Steel Spartan has gotten a lot of good reviews, here on Amazon.com and elsewhere, even scoring a cover photo for the September 2010 issue of _Tactical Knives_, and it truly deserves them as it is a spectacular knife. I am not a big fan of Cold Steel (CS) products because most of the CS folders I've handled felt cheap: the grivory handles felt weak and slippery; the kraton handles seemed sticky, as if they left a film on my hand; the serrations look like they belong on an as-seen-on-TV Ginsu kitchen knife; and the locks, especially the liner locks, were not easy to manipulate. My brother has quite a collection of CS items; his Scimitar's ball-end pommel snapped off after a moderate impact, and even the Rajah I, an immense folder, felt cheap and ungrippable with sweaty hands.

However, the Spartan improves upon these weaknesses. The handle, while still grivory, is lined with steel, creating a very strong, solid feel and none of the tinniness of only fiber-reinforced nylon. The handle has a firm, stippled texture, and grip is accentuated with eleven lateral grooves; I'm not worried about my hand slipping after a few minutes of working with the knife. Of course, the handle's shape is unique, with a recurve at the pommel, and most hands should fit this securely. The forward and rear edges within the handle have been rounded, and even the sharper edges along the blade housing are sufficiently dulled to make for a comfortable grip for extended periods, if needed. The blade is big and impressive. I read in other reviews that some people cut themselves while getting used to the knife. Um, the blade is sharp, so be careful when closing it, dummy! I also read a complaint about rust. Yes, the steel in this knife will rust, especially when exposed to water and sweat. I noticed rust spotting on the blade after carrying it concealed in my front waistband after a long, hot summer day, so I applied a little oil and some elbow grease, and the rusting was removed and hasn't reappeared. Like any blade, it's a good idea to apply a light coat of oil to it. I like the muted, satin finish of the blade, too, as a bright finish might be too imposing for this folder's appearance, at least for my tastes. The Tri-Ad lockback is strong, and I believe it'll stand up to a lot of abuse without failure. I don't think anyone will seriously abuse the knife like Cold Steel does in its ridiculous videos, but the Spartan is a rugged pocket folder for any type of chore, one I now carry every day. Finally, it's made in Taiwan, not China. I'd prefer it to be made in America or Japan, but Taiwanese quality control has an edge over Chinese manufacture.

There are a couple of downsides. The pocket clip doesn't like the thick material of some pockets, but I haven't had any problem quickly affixing it to my Levi's jeans' front right pockets. Also, while the thumb plate *can* allow for opening upon removal from the pocket, I haven't gotten that to work consistently, unlike the Emerson wave design. With the Spartan, I'm afraid I'm going to cut open my pocket, but I can easily one-hand open with a flick of the wrist to a reverse- or sabre grip. I heartily recommend this knife as an every-day-carry tool, although it is a bit too big for most law-enforcement and rescue personnel applications. Expect the first words out of a new viewer's mouth, upon seeing the opened folder, to be, "That's a big knife!" Indeed. The Cold Steel Spartan is impressive no matter how you look at it. Well done, Cold Steel!

This is a very large very heavy knife. Most people either hate or love Cold Steel, I fall in between. Some of their knives have not impressed me, other have. I love the Recon Tanto but was disappointed in the Scimitar.
The Spartan Md-21S is a very well built knife. It's big, weighing in at 9.2 ounces and measuring 10 1/2" in length open. It's almost to big for EDC, and you might sprain your wrist opening it one handed. But once it's open it feels great. The grip is phenomenal, you know this knife is never going to slip from you hand or be taken away from you. The blade has a really nice re-curve, it will bite in and draw deep into whatever you slice. Blade was shaving sharp out of the box. The pocket clip sits high on the knife and carries deep into your pocket, with a knife this big that's a plus. The lock seems bulletproof, Cold Steel touts it as a new design, but it's the same lock that was on my buck knife in the 80's. Handle is made of hard plastic but actually feels like metal. I can't say enough about the grip, the indentations on both ends of the grip make this blade feel like an extension of your arm.
One caution: the blade is heavy enough that it will fall closed from it's own weight when the lock is released and land on your thumb. I'm bleeding from a small cut as I type this review. That's good news, it means the blade is sharp.
It will take a lot of practice to draw and open this knife in one motion, I've never mastered the technique of snagging the thumb stud on my pants as I draw the knife to open. It's a big big knife. Time will tell how it holds and takes an edge, but I'm really impressed with the Spartan. And at 1/2 suggested retail price on Amazon it was a great deal

Ill admit, the first reason why i clicked on this was the name. Cold steel made a knife called the Spartan?? It better be awesome!!! I like their Recon 1 tanto and the srk is really nice, so i had high hopes for this one. Right outta the box, i saw it was a little bigger than the picture showed. Looked a little small online but in person, it's the perfect size. A lot of reviews say that it's too hard to open or close it. Get the jelly outta your wrists people! Im not Lou Ferrigno and i have no problem opening or closing this thing one handed.

The handle fits like a good handshake and its comfortable in any grip. Any way you are used to holding a knife, this one makes it happen. The grooves in the handle are nice and feel a bit more natural than a the Kraton handle on the recon 1 and other Cold Steel products.

Now, onto that beautiful blade. This thing is amazing. You can read the specs from the product description so i wont give you facts and figures. You really just gotta hold this thing to appreciate it. Very sharp and easy to sharpen. Very durable and performs well. You dont need 299 other guys to take on several thousand dudes at the Hot Gates if ya got this piece of hardware!

I've only had the knife for a short time and mine too has began to rust. I carry it in my front left pants pocket. It isn't exposed to moisture and I haven't even been able to use the blade much. The handle has a very large gap for the blade to sit, when folded shut and this picks up a TON of pocket lint. I can only guess that the lint holds in moisture, which in turn rusts the blade while it's closed.

I really liked this knife, but if it rusts this easily, I'm afraid I'm no longer a fan.

Sorry ladies, and men that act like ladies, this knife is for the big boys. This bad blade is solid, sharp, balanced, and carrys very well. I tell people I have a pocket knife that converts into a sword. Buy this, you won't be dissapointed. Another high quality product from Cold Steel!

give it a rest, guys-my spartan ain't rusting one bit-I live in Louisiana, not your driest climate, absolutely NO problem with rust. The monster IS ridiculously sharp though, and one vicious knife - be careful, like many others I've already cut myself good. Cold Steel ,the BEST