Cold SteelMini Recon 1 3" AUS10A Razor-Sharp Blade 4" GFN Handle Tactical Folding Knife w/Tri-Ad Lock, Ambidextrous Pocket/Belt Clip

Even though it has the AUS-10 steel blade, it is still a nice EDC without overdoing the budget. Fits in the average pocket just fine without being too noticeable when you bend your leg (right-handed clip mount). The knife edge was very sharp and cuts through most everyday materials just fine. It has a nice hand feel and flips open with ease (of course you can adjust the center pivot screw to your liking). Build quality is great and mine had zero issues.

Whether you opt for the spearpoint version, Tanto point or clip point, I believe you'll love these knives. They are all a great value. The first and most important consideration is the locking mechanism. You do not want a blade to close before you are ready. I have found CS's Tri-Ad Locking system to be completely safe and secure. I have total faith in it. I have yet to see anything stronger. While AUS10A steel is not considered a high-end metal, it is very durable, holds an edge well, and is pretty easy to sharpen. No complaints here. The 3" stonewashed blade has a nice appearance and is long enough to tackle any job that you'd need an EDC knife to perform. The blade is easy to open and locks into place with a loud "click." The textured handle is just enough to allow for a good and solid feel without being abrasive. When closed, the blade centers well in the handle. Closing the blade is a bit stiff, but that's a good thing. The cutting edge is razor sharp, so use caution. The knife is fairly small, trim and light in weight, making it an ideal EDC tool. The pocket clip is equally strong and holds the knife in place well. This is a very comfortable piece to carry. I read one review where the writer said that the knife is bulky. I totally disagree. It's so comfortable to carry that I often forget that it's in my pocket. The $40 price range also helps make this knife a genuine bargain. You really get a lot of quality for your dollar. I love these knives and believe that you will also. Stay safe out there.

This is a solid little version of the larger full sized Cold Steel knives. See photos comparing it to the much larger 4 Max Scout. As can be seen in the photos this Mini Recon 1 knife is much more portable and convenient for everyday carry. The 4 Max Scout is a full sized knife and is obviously more robust, thicker blade and more suited for heavy duty work but it is too heavy for EDC. The Mini Recon 1 is very sharp, has high quality steel in a very light package suitable for EDC. Bottom line: The Mini Recon 1 is a great pocket knife and the Max 4 Scout would be good to have in the truck, in a toolbox or maybe on a heavy duty tool belt. Both are excellent knives for the money and I expect they'll last many years.AUS10A isn't the fanciest or most expensive steel but it's very tough, keeps an edge, has some resistance to corrosion and is relatively easy to sharpen. In my opinion it has an excellent combination of materials and the heat treatment is good quality. Again, there are some knives that may be marginally better in some properties but you'll pay many times the cost of the AUS10A steel. Therefore, this knife is a good deal in my opinion if you're seeking a small pocket knife for EDC without spending a fortune.

I got the Cold Steel Mini Recon 1 with a clip point blade a couple weeks back and couldn’t be happier! I have a number of Cold Steel knives including a Large Voyager clip (in my bug out bag), an American Lawman (around the house EDC) , and a Medium Voyager Vaquero (BBQ backyard companion) - my mini recon brings together the of best of all 3 of these in a single knife! I love that the blade is a hair shaving sharp out of the box, has a 3” clip point (most practical shape for me plus legal length in San Mateo County, CA), has a high saber flat grind (sturdier than full flat or hollow saber grinds, but still super slicey), is stonewashed AUS-10A (maybe not a nice as S35VN, but still nicer than AUS-8A, as well as not as threatening as a blacked out blade), has extremely flat but grippy and comfortable scales with just the right amount of non-aggressive texture and heft, has superior security with the the Tri-Ad locking mechanism (best in the business!), has a solid and discreet pocket clip (note, I did upgrade this with a matte black deep-pocket clip for extra discretion - see photos), fully fits 4 fingers perfectly on the handle, and has great fit/finish, including perfect centering. All I needed to do (besides changing out the clip) was clean and lubricate the moving parts as well as strop the edge to get it perfect. It does it all - from heavy duty chopping/cutting work to detailed slicing/piercing tasks. Now I don’t leave home without it. Highly recommend!

The media could not be loaded. This is my first coldsteel product and I will say that the build quality is fantasticThe Triad Lock is very strong and almost feels like a fixed blade when pressure is applied to it.The ergonomics of the handle are fantastic and fit well in my larger hands.The AUS-8 steel comes out of the box razor sharp and takes a high quality edge with little effort.Now for what I didn't likeThe thumbstud is a major source of grief for me. For starters despite looking like a screw it is actually 2 metal caps that screw into eachother requiring one side to be held with pliars. Meaning that field adjustments without a pair or pliars or a multi tool are impossible.The thumbstud also sticks out quite a bit from the rather thin handles leading it to get caught on all sorts of things in the pocket. all of these issues led me to just remove it and use my thumb to open the knife as seen in the video.The blade has a weird cutout presumably for the lock that is quite pinchy. Not a big deal all things considered but it really hurts if you aren't expecting it =/.And Lastly, I don't know if my pocket linings are just really thick? but the clip was way too tight for me and I had to bend it out with pliars.All in all the Recon 1 is a very good stout blade at an affordable price. I wouldn't say it's perfect but if your in the market for a simple, reliable, hardworking knife then it may be for you