Cold Steel

Cold Steel, Inc. is an American edged-weapons and outdoor-tools brand whose assortment includes fixed-blade and folding knives, swords, machetes, tomahawks, kukris, walking sticks, blowguns, training weapons, and other martial-arts equipment. The company originated in Ventura, California, and is now based in Irving, Texas following its acquisition by GSM Outdoors in 2020. Its products are manufactured across several countries, including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, India, Italy, China, and South Africa. The brand built its reputation by presenting knives and other tools as hard-use equipment rather than merely ornamental or recreational products. Its range has been marketed to outdoor users, collectors, martial-arts practitioners, military and law-enforcement personnel, and consumers interested in historical or traditional weapon forms. Cold Steel is particularly associated with robust construction, strong locking mechanisms, large-format blades, and designs inspired by knives and weapons from different cultures. One of the company’s notable historical contributions was helping popularize the American tantō concept during the 1980s. Cold Steel also developed a recognizable materials and manufacturing story. Earlier American-made fixed-blade products were produced by Camillus using a carbon steel marketed under the trademarked name Carbon V. Imported knives were commonly produced in Seki, Japan, and used steels including AUS-8 that Cold Steel identified in some product contexts as 400 Series Stainless. After Camillus entered bankruptcy in 2007, Cold Steel shifted production arrangements, initially using China for some carbon-steel fixed blades and subsequently moving relevant production to Taiwan. Folding-knife manufacturing also moved from Japan to Taiwan, while Sanmai III models remained associated with Japanese production. The brand’s product history spans numerous steels, including 1055 high-carbon steel, O-1, SK-5, AUS-8A and AUS-10A, VG1, D2, CTS XHP, CPM S35VN, and CPM 3V. Its swords are primarily associated with 1055 high-carbon steel and pattern-welded constructions intended to evoke historical Damascus forms. Folding knives are strongly associated with the TRI-AD Lock, a locking system designed by custom knifemaker Andrew Demko and used to emphasize resistance to accidental closure. Cold Steel’s marketing has been unusually demonstrative for the knife sector. Its PROOF videos and DVDs showed knives and tools performing aggressive tests involving vehicle panels, suspended meat, ballistic-gel figures, rope, tatami targets, and other materials. These demonstrations emphasized sharpness, edge retention, strength, and durability, while also contributing to the brand’s distinctive image in enthusiast and martial-arts communities. Employees, martial artists, stunt performers, fight choreographers, and weapons specialists appeared in some of the company’s promotional material. The company has also worked with a number of custom makers and designers. Many designs were associated with former company president Lynn C. Thompson, while collaborations and design contributions involved figures including Andrew Demko and other makers named in company and reference material. A former Special Projects division offered items such as shovels, sjamboks, and spears; after the GSM Outdoors acquisition, that division was closed and some surviving products were incorporated into the main Cold Steel range. Tomahawks, axes, and hammers were also marketed under The American Tomahawk Company name. Cold Steel products have appeared prominently in action films, television programs, games, and online productions. Today the brand operates within GSM Outdoors while retaining its identity as a specialist supplier of knives, edged tools, swords, training products, and related equipment.

Cold Steel developed as an American specialist company focused on knives, edged tools, swords, and related martial-arts products. It was founded in Ventura, California, and differentiated itself through an emphasis on functional strength, aggressive testing, and designs based on traditional knives and weapons from around the world. The company’s historical product identity included both practical outdoor tools and large or specialized items intended for collectors, martial artists, reenactors, and professional users. During the 1980s, Cold Steel helped popularize an American interpretation of the tantō. Its early and established manufacturing network included American production by Camillus for certain fixed-blade knives. Cold Steel promoted the carbon steel used in those products under the trademark Carbon V. The company also sourced many imported knives from Seki, Japan, where AUS-8 steel was used in products that Cold Steel sometimes described as 400 Series Stainless. Two models that had been produced in Taiwan were moved to Japan in 2000. Manufacturing changed substantially after Camillus entered bankruptcy in 2007. Cold Steel initially turned to China for carbon-steel fixed blades, but later shifted that work to Taiwan because of reported quality concerns. At approximately the same stage, folding-knife manufacturing moved from Seki to Taiwan. Materials used in these production programs included SK-5 carbon steel and Japanese-supplied AUS-8A and AUS-10A stainless steel. Sanmai III products remained tied to Japanese manufacture, with the largest examples associated with Hattori production. Over time, the brand’s catalog incorporated a broad range of steels, including VG1, German 4116, D2, 1055 high-carbon steel, O-1, CTS XHP, CPM S35VN, and CPM 3V. Cold Steel’s folding knives became particularly associated with the TRI-AD Lock, designed by custom knifemaker Andrew Demko. The mechanism supported the company’s broader positioning around lock strength and hard use. The brand also worked with multiple custom makers and weapons specialists, while many designs were linked to company president and designer Lynn C. Thompson. Its sword range was primarily based on 1055 high-carbon steel and pattern-welded steels intended to reproduce the visual effect of Damascus steel. Marketing was central to Cold Steel’s public identity. The company released PROOF videos and DVDs containing highly visual demonstrations, including cutting rope and tatami targets, piercing vehicle hoods, striking ballistic-gel figures, and testing folding knives in demanding ways. These presentations were designed to communicate durability and edge performance and became widely recognized among knife enthusiasts. Cold Steel employees and collaborators with martial-arts, stunt, choreography, and weapons expertise also appeared in promotional content. Company personnel included figures such as Ron Balicki, Luke LaFontaine, and Anthony De Longis. The company maintained a Special Projects division offering unusual tools and weapons, including Spetsnaz-style shovels, sjamboks, and spears. It also marketed tomahawks, axes, and hammers under The American Tomahawk Company name. Following the acquisition of Cold Steel by GSM Outdoors in 2020, the Special Projects division was closed; some surviving items were discontinued and others were incorporated into the principal Cold Steel assortment. The company subsequently operated from Irving, Texas, while continuing to sell products manufactured in multiple countries. Cold Steel products have appeared in action films, television programs, games, and web productions, reinforcing the brand’s association with dramatic, martial, and survival-oriented use. Its knives have also been marketed to military and law-enforcement users internationally. Within GSM Outdoors, Cold Steel remains a specialist brand centered on knives, swords, outdoor tools, training weapons, and martial-arts equipment.

• 2020

  Acquisition by GSM Outdoors

  [1]Cold Steel (company)en.wikipedia.org

  GSM Outdoors acquired Cold Steel, after which the company became based in Irving, Texas.

• 2007

  Camillus bankruptcy disrupts fixed-blade supply

  [1]Cold Steel (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Camillus entered bankruptcy, requiring Cold Steel to find alternative manufacturing arrangements for carbon-steel fixed blades.

• 2000

  Selected production moves from Taiwan to Japan

  [1]Cold Steel (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Two Cold Steel models that had been made in Taiwan were moved to Japan in 2000.

• 1980

  American tantō concept gains prominence

  [1]Cold Steel (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Cold Steel is credited with helping popularize an American interpretation of the tantō during the 1980s.

A hard-use, performance-oriented edged-tools and training-weapons brand emphasizing strength, durability, distinctive demonstrations, martial-arts heritage, and designs inspired by traditional weapons.

• Knives

  Fixed-blade knives

  Cold Steel’s fixed-blade range includes outdoor, utility, military-inspired, martial-arts, and large-format designs. Historical production used American, Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese manufacturing partners and steels such as Carbon V, SK-5, VG1, D2, 1055, O-1, CPM S35VN, and CPM 3V. Sanmai III models are associated with Japanese production.

• Knives

  Folding knives

  Cold Steel folding knives are positioned as hard-use tools and are especially associated with the TRI-AD Lock, designed by Andrew Demko. The range has used steels including AUS-8A, AUS-10A, CTS XHP, and other stainless and tool steels. Folding-knife manufacturing historically moved from Seki, Japan, to Taiwan.

• Swords

  Swords

  The sword assortment draws on historical and traditional forms and includes products made primarily from 1055 high-carbon steel as well as pattern-welded steels designed to resemble Damascus constructions. The line serves collectors, martial-arts practitioners, reenactors, and users seeking functional sword replicas.

• Outdoor tools

  Machetes and kukris

  Cold Steel sells machetes and kukris based on practical cutting tools and traditional blade patterns. These products extend the brand’s large-blade positioning into outdoor, agricultural, survival, and martial-arts-oriented use cases.

• Outdoor tools

  Tomahawks, axes, and hammers

  The brand’s impact-tool assortment includes tomahawks, axes, and hammers. A related range was marketed under The American Tomahawk Company name, linking Cold Steel’s catalog to historical and contemporary tomahawk designs.

• Training equipment

  Training and martial-arts equipment

  Cold Steel offers training weapons and other martial-arts items alongside live blades. The broader assortment has included training versions of knives and weapons, blowguns, walking sticks, and related products intended for practice, demonstration, collecting, or specialized use.

• Specialty tools and weapons

  Special Projects products

  The former Special Projects division sold unusual tools and weapons, including Spetsnaz-style shovels, sjamboks, and spears. The division was closed after the GSM Outdoors acquisition; some items were discontinued and others were absorbed into the main Cold Steel range.

• PROOF product-testing videos and DVDs

  United States · International markets

  Cold Steel used highly graphic demonstrations to present the strength, sharpness, edge retention, and durability of its products. Tests included cutting rope and tatami targets, piercing vehicle panels, attacking ballistic-gel figures, and other demanding demonstrations.

  Outcome. The campaign became a defining part of Cold Steel’s enthusiast-facing identity and helped distinguish the brand from more conventional knife advertising.

  Source

• 2020

  Acquisition by GSM OutdoorsM&A

  Background

  GSM Outdoors acquired Cold Steel as part of its outdoor-products portfolio.

  Action taken

  Cold Steel became part of GSM Outdoors and its base moved to Irving, Texas. The Special Projects division was closed, with some products discontinued or incorporated into the main brand.

  Aftermath

  Cold Steel continued operating as a specialist knives, swords, tools, and training-equipment brand under GSM Outdoors.

  Source

• 2007

  Change manufacturing partners after Camillus bankruptcyStrategy

  Background

  Camillus’s bankruptcy removed a major American manufacturing partner for Cold Steel carbon-steel fixed blades.

  Action taken

  Cold Steel sought replacement production, moving first to China and later to Taiwan for relevant fixed blades. Folding-knife production also shifted from Japan to Taiwan.

  Aftermath

  The company continued using a geographically diverse manufacturing base, while selected Sanmai III products remained associated with Japanese production.

  Source

1. 1Cold Steel (company)en.wikipedia.org