Beware of Cold Steel Counterfeits

It has been brought to our attention here at Cold Steel that there are imposters; fake products being sold as genuine Cold Steel Knives. We have received a 43LS – Urban Pal from a loyal customer who found it available for sale on http://www.dealextreme.com. This particular item arrived from China. This item like many others that originate in China was probably forcibly created from the regimes choice to enslave its population and produce slave labor products that are complete knock-offs of the real deal. The lack of business ethics and proprietary rights created the catalyst that enables these unscrupulous individuals to use forced labor to create the phony items that attempt to be the real deal. My fellow Cold Steel warriors please be on the lookout for the following when purchasing this item or any other;

• Serration – Look and examine closely. The shadow product we received has serrations that are spread out and have teeth that are dull and wide. Cold Steel produced the serration to be fine, and sharp.

• Handle – the shadow product’s handle is NOT KRATON. It is a cheap combination of used rubber and plastic that is not properly molded. It also has many imperfections, including the absence of the checkered pattern that is obvious on an original Cold Steel Urban Pal. Other noticeable features include dirty appearance and flawed production marks on the handle itself.

• There is no key ring attached to the sheath. Urban Pals come standard with the key ring attached to the sheath

• The size is incorrect - the handle is slightly smaller and the blade thinner. This shadow of the real thing does not have the correct feel Lynn Thompson designed into the knife. The entire profile is incorrect.

• The Steel – A Urban Pal uses AUS8 Stainless steel. This knife utilizes a cheap steel that looks used, is covered in dirt and oils and is bound to break during use.

• Copyright – The Cold Steel Urban Pal is copyrighted, trademarked product and the knock-off knife is a blatant infringement of our copyright by duplicating our company logo, trademarked name and packaging.

Please be careful Cold Steel warriors when purchasing Cold Steel products thru the Internet or mail order catalogs that originate outside the United States. Call or send us a letter if you feel you may come across a knock-off or are unsure if what you purchased is the real thing. Thank you and stay strong!

 

Cold Steel knock-offs are being produced and sold at an alarming rate. By way of definition, a Cold Steel knock-off is a cheaply produced, poorly manufactured copy of one of our products that is being sold as the genuine article. These products are, naturally, not covered by the Cold Steel warranty.  Be especially wary, because these items are being sold in fake Cold Steel boxes and are stamped or etched with a fake Cold Steel brand logo. As a Cold Steel customer you should know what to look for when you purchase a Cold Steel product.

 

Tell Tale Signs:

Unfortunately, like bogus currency, it is difficult to tell the difference, and usually it takes a direct comparison to an authentic piece to see the difference, but here are some red flags that should tip you off.

1.)   Is the item marked down substantially from the suggested retail price?  This, first and foremost, should be the most obvious clue. If an item normally has a suggested retail price of $100 and it's being offered for $50 or less, you can be pretty sure that you’re being ripped off.

2.)   Is the quality up to Cold Steel's standards? Look at the fittings and the finish. Are the grind lines crisp, and clean or are they blurry and indistinct? Is the blade razor sharp, or is it just somewhat sharp? If you’re buying a San Mai knife, can you see the laminate line where the different kinds of steel meet?

3.)   If it is a fixed blade knife, look at the sheath that came with it? Is it a sturdy quality piece, or something made of the cheapest materials available?

4.)   If it is a folder, is the lock sturdy? Does the blade wobble? Is the locking mechanism strong?

Most of these fakes are being produced in Asia. Our representatives there tell us that the fake knives are available from street vendors there. To protect yourself from this kind of fraud, you should only buy from reputable dealers or from Cold Steel directly. The sayings that “you get what you pay for” and “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” should be first and foremost in your mind when you think about purchasing one of these knives.

 

Let Us Know:

If you have been ripped off by purchasing one of these fakes, please let us know the details of the transaction. We need to know who you bought the product from, when you bought it and where, how much you paid, and why you think it is a fake. We are creating a database of offenders and intend to take legal action against them as soon as possible.