Cold Steel Code 4 3.5" S35VN Razor-Sharp Blade 5" 6061 Aluminum Handle Everyday Carry Tactical Folding Knife w/Tri-Ad Locking Mechanism

This thing is tough, like all cold steel knives. The triad lock is the strongest knife lock on the market hands down. Seriously, it's not even close. The lock might come a bit stiff, but it'll break in over time. If you want to break it in faster, just leave the knife half way open (90 degree angle) some place safe where you won't hurt yourself on the open blade for half a day and then check on it. Just keep checking on it every half day or day or so until you're happy with it. Mine took all of 12 hours to get a point where I was happy with it.Unlike a lot of other cold steel knives, the thin profile and small (well.. for a cold steel small) blade are much more reasonable for office/every day carry than some of the rest of the cold steel lineup.The aluminum handles are a bit smooth, but the design of the handle locks me in very well, so I'm not at all worried about it slipping out of my hand. I might be worried if I worked in an environment with grease & vaseline but outside of something like that it's not going to be an issue. If anything the handles being on the smoother side help with being able to get this beast out of my pocket and help keep the weight down.The clip on this knife is great, doesn't cause any hot spots and has good retention which is important with a smoother handle material like aluminum. It comes with an extra clip just in case you want to carry it on the other side.The code 4 comes in multiple blade shapes, I went with the "spear point". I would personally consider this more of a spear/drop point hybrid, but whatever, I got it because it looks less aggressive than the tanto and I might want to carry this around people who aren't super used to having medium sized knives around.The blade is S35VN, which is an incredible steel that has great corrosion resistance and edge retention. It might take slightly longer to sharpen than 440c, vg10, etc. but I wouldn't call it harder to sharpen (unlike s30v which led to much profanity while I was learning to sharpen knives). If it's going to be a big repair, it's a good idea to start with a diamond stone then move on from there, if you're just touching it up, you can easily get away with just using ceramic. Overall it's well worth the small amount of extra time sharpening for what you get compared to other steels imo. If you need an inexpensive, quick, and easy diamond sharpening kit, I would recommend the lansky turnbox with diamond rods.The Code 4 is extremely smooth while opening and closing and can be operated with just one hand. Put your thumb on the stud and keep some pressure on it while you roll the blade out and keep going until you hear the lock click into place. The flat part on the blade keeps your fingers from getting sliced while closing it one handed. Just keep your index finger where it would normally be while normally gripping the knife and push in the back lock to disengage it. Your finger will catch the dropping blade on the unsharpened area, allowing you to then reposition your hand so your fingers aren't in the path of the blade, then safely finish closing the knife (see pics). While you can operate it with one hand, it's not a fidget friendly knife. It's built to be a solid tool, not a toy.For the design and quality of the materials this knife was ridiculously inexpensive, and then you get cold steel's solid warranty on top of that? I mean it's highly doubtful you'll ever need to use the warranty with this tank, but it's good to know that it's there just in case. Incredible deal.My only complaint isn't a complaint with the knife itself, but rather how these get listed as having 3.5" blades. That's only sort of true. The sharpened part is dead on 3.5". There is also that small flat unsharpened area that is not included in that length measurement, however, an officer may well include that in the blade length, so be aware if you have knife length limits in your area. (see pics)TL;DR Get this knife, it's a great every day carry sized cold steel. Built stupid tough with great materials, great design, great fit & finish, with a solid warranty at a price that can't be beat.

The number one thing I love about this knife is how well it rides. It's got a thin profile, so is non-intrusive in the pocket, and the metal scales allow you to pocket the knife quickly and cleanly. Say goodbye to the days of shredding your pocket with course, gritty or spikey grips; I've had this knife for 3 years and you can't even tell I carry a knife at all times by looking at my pockets. While you might think smooth metal scales would make for a slippery grip, the finger grips molded into the handle keep the knife very snug and I am comfortable using this for almost any task, including self-defense if needed.Beyond that, the tri-ad lock is great and secure, especially for a lefty - there is no chance I'll use a liner lock for any type of stabbing or self-defense, as you're just asking to pop the lock and cut your finger off. I am 100% certain the tri-ad will never accidentally close; it's virtually impossible. Speaking of being a lefty, it's nice to have a company sell an ambidextrous knife, because it's a pain to find something you like only to realize it's not going to carry or hold comfortably.The blade is a good steel, holds a good edge and is easily sharpened when you get to that point. I cleaned a 350lb hog recently with nothing but this knife and just a couple runs through the sharpener. It did great! Also, with the smooth scales, I didn't end up with a bunch of pig gunk to brush out of grip crevices. Just had to do a quick wash, sharpen it up and we were back to new.I originally had a clip point version but forgot I had it on me and TSA now owns that one. I immediately bought another when I returned home and went spear point. Both have their benefits and drawbacks but will probably opt for the clip point if I end up with another one...the sharper point allows for detailed tasks like removing splinters, picking, scraping, controlled/precise puncturing, etc.To summarize, this is a great knife I will continue to carry until something else really impresses me, but it's going to have to include a few features this knife has got me spoiled me with. Highly recommended and for the money, it's hard to beat. Benchmade people will probably disagree with that, and fair enough, they make a great EDC. But don't overlook Cold Steel and the Code 4!

Slim and lighter than I thought it would be good quality feels good in hand

After carrying the Code 4 for several weeks, I had used it mostly for easy stuff. Ok. It did what my other EDCs could do, just with a bit more authority. Recently, I salvaged some chain that had been bolted to the sidewall of an old tire swing. I didn't have any tools with me, so I opened up my Code 4 and began to plunge and slice away. I could hear the blade ripping through the steel layer and make contact with the hardware. I was on a mission, and didn't take the time to be precise with the cuts. Just trying to get 'er done. I expected to see some sort of damage to the blade. Not even a scratch! The blade was up to the task. There was a small amount of flex in the handle as I forced the tip of the knife into the uninflated tire. I had a bit of concern with that. Hence the 4 stars. Don't forget to wear your gloves!

Heavy duty, sharp and clean lines. Smooth aluminum handle but fits the hand great. Bulletproof tri-ad lock back thats heavy to close but will never slip. It comes with both right and left pocket clip. Right handed clip comes installed so wrong handers will have to swap it out.lol