Cold SteelRajah Series Japanese AUS10A Razor-Sharp Blade Griv-Ex Handle Tactical Folding Knife with Tri-Ad Lock, Ambidextrous Pocket/Belt Clip

First, I opted for the largest model since I have a particular fondness for Kukri's so keep that in mind for this review. Even still, this thing is an absolute unit. I saw another reviewer liken it to a pocket sword and I can totally see why once I was actually holding it in my hand. That said this is absolutely NOT one of the many novelty knives that litter Amazon, it was clearly made to do real work.This is my first Cold Steel product and the quality and design is very good. The blade sharpness outta the box was just as good as advertised and I couldn't find a single issue with the material or assembly quality. The weight is good for its size, light enough to to be actually carry in your pocket and still substantial enough to make the kukri shape of the blade feel like its not just a gimick. My hands are pretty slender but the grip still felt secure and comfortable in different grip styles. After several practice swings and test cuts in different grips I didn't feel like I had any difficulty or awkwardness in controlling this knife. Even with the large blade size I found I still had a really decent amount of fine edge control when gripping from the top of the handle.The only problem I found with this knife is that it's not really optimal for EDC or concealed carry use, at least not out of the box. This can probably be expected given this is essentially a full sized dagger with folding mechanism and pocket clip but I will list the three problems I found just incase you are considering purchasing this knife for that purpose. Before that I will quickly mention though to check your local laws on concealed blades as the largest model will certainly exceed the size limit of many states and localities in the USA.The biggest problem by far I encountered is the metal thumb deployment tab at the base of the blade gets caught on the inside pocket material and I have to struggle to remove it almost every single time. I experimented with a few different types of pants and it didn't seem to make a difference. However, this tab is held on by a single T screw so I will probably remove it entirely to try and fix this issue.The second biggest issue is with the folding mechanism. Particularly the "flick" to open deployment method, which I found extremely difficult to successfully or consistently pull off. Hopefully this will get easier with use or practice as I expect this will make the knife totally unviable if I remove the thumb tab to solve the previous issue. Aside from that it's worth noting this knife will also require use of two hands to close as the lever needs considerably more strength to depress than your average folding knife. I need to use a full handed grip just to disengage the lock.The last and most minor issue with EDC or concealed carry use is the placement of the pocket clip, which is about 1.5 inches from the bottom of the grip. This means that the knife protrudes quite visibly out of the top of the pocket including showing about a half inch of shiny steel. This is easy to cover with a shirt or jacket the extends over the pocket but you will definitely be flashing this thing anytime your pocket is exposed.Overall I am extremely satisfied with this knife and proud to add it to my collection. However, I will most likely be relegating it to my hiking/camping and outdoor gear loadouts where I expect it will really shine instead of adding it to my EDC rotation.

I grasped the dimensions in my head, saw the picture.... When it arrived I bonded with a knife. A "Pocket SWORD" as another reviewer wroteI may order several More before supply chain interruptions hyper inflation whateverAs a beginner " pepper" this knife is idealbeyond sharp, good looking, ergonomic, durable , unbeatable price

This pocket kukri is my first and new favorite out of all of my pockets knives. I used to carry the kneed foss DA52 it's blade is five inches long pretty good pocket knife plenty of meat in the blade and easy to deploy. However this knife exceeds the bounds of pocket knifes. The blade work and quality are amazing the blade is shaped like a kukri and beefy like one as well. The handle is long enough to work the blade and index really comfortable. This blade feels different in the hand it's difficult to explain it the blades thickness is very well balanced the blades hardness is amazing as well. The stone wash finish method used on the blades left a pattern/ design on the blade that catches light or Sun ray's and makes the blade shimmer. The locking mechanism is very strong and the knife is very strong and sturdy. The knife has held it's edge like it was bran new. The knife is very comfortable and moves well with the wielder but be aware this knife comes to you sharpened already cuts from this kind of knife are deeper than regular knives byers be very careful... But aside from that if you like fast and sharp steel you'll have it with this blade.

First off, make sure you get a real one. There's a lot of ways to tell. I know some people here got burned but just verify it once you open it.That aside, this is easily one of my sharpest knives despite its size and thickness. It did not come shaving sharp, but five minutes on a stone and it was scary sharp. While I did have to move stuff around in my pockets to fit this into my EDC, it is doable, although some people might not enjoy carrying 13+ ounces for something overkill. Half of the fun in carrying this is getting your friends' reactions when you whip this bad boy out. Some reactions I got were, "WHAT THE F-", "WHY DO YOU HAVE THAT?!", and the best one, "do that again", when I waved it out of my pocket. The thumb plate acts as a wave and opens with authority as long as you practice. It does stick out quite a bit when clipped in your pocket so make sure you wear a longer shirt or just carry something else if going to a campus or something like that. I might pick up a Spartan for that reason. The lock is quite stiff to disengage at first, but after you inevitably keep playing with it, it becomes much smoother. One handed closing is possible but requires extra care to prevent the heavy blade from closing on you.This thing is cheaper than the Espada series but a little more expensive than the Voyager XL (and a bit longer), so I think that this is actually a great value when it comes to Cold Steel's "pocket swords".Using your thumb when not waving the knife is not the best way to open this. The blade is heavy enough that a yo-yo motion with your wrist will open it, and is probably the best way to open this, second to waving from the pocket.The finger grooves are very effective; my hand isn't going anywhere when I get a finger wrapped around one. The Rajah II also comes with a left handed pocket clip for you lefties (can't use the same clip because of the curvature). Overall, great knife. Get one even if you aren't going to EDC it because it might just replace my fixed blade knives for hiking, and its just really fun to have. If you want the biggest Cold Steel has to offer, that would be the Espada XL, but you'd also have to spend a disproportionate amount of money in terms of value. Of course, I still want one, but this is a good middle ground and will do for now.Edit: After months of carrying this, I decided to remove the thumb plate due to the amount of property damage it caused. It wore a hole through my jeans and proceeded to tear my friends leather BMW seat and scratched some other stuff. Carrying without a thumb plate isn't a big deal due to the opening method described above.