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

I did quite a bit of research on EDC knives with blades around 3" long and at a cost of around $30 - $50. After watching about 10 different review videos of various knife roundups, the knives that I ordered were the Kizer Nice Guy, the COLD STEEL Mini Recon, and the CIVIVI Yonder. Based on overall build quality, locking mechanism, and blade quality, I would rank the COLD STEEL 1st, the Kizer 2nd, and the CIVIVI 3rd. The COLD STEEL has a sharp, beefy blade with a VERY solid lockup. The Kizer has a very nice blade, but the liner lock doesn't inspire quite as much confidence. The CIVIVI (by far) has the thinnest and weakest looking/feeling blade. This is extremely disappointing given that this knife cost almost twice as much as the other 2 knives. I honestly can't understand why this knife won so many awards. The lockup is solid, and the handle appears very well made. This is obviously where the extra cost went, and not into the blade itself.

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.

It's what you would normally expect from a Cold Steel. Decent knife with super strong Tri-ad lock, nice ergonomics, and sharp blade out of the box. A minor issue though, the lock is very stiff, making closing and opening the blade quite a challenge.

Sharp enough to have almost sliced my damn finger off when using it! Strong build, and nice discrete size with the ability to work just as a good as my Rajah II. Great for work. The clip is ambidextrous(comes with opposing side clip). Big bang for your buck in a small package. Overall would buy again, albeit Im getting the XL next time haha

This steel sharpens VERY well and holds an edge in my daily work. Excellent usefulness for a good price.

This knife is perfect for edc as it's thin, light weight and the perfect size for jean pockets. I love the blade shape and it came razor sharp. The triad lock is rock solid and no doubt my other folding knives would fail way before this one broke. I would recommend leaving this knife half open for a few days to break in the triad lock as it is quite stiff at first, but after that it's very smooth. Overall for this price I doubt you can get a more durable knife with quality steel outside of another Cold Steel.

Perfect size and sharp as hell.

La verdad es una muy buena navaja por el precio

Un EDC economico casi perfecto, las dimenciones son ideales, el tamaño, grosor, peso, largo, ancho, alto, ademas viene Muy afilado, el seguro muy confiable, minimalista, acero decente, casi imperceptible en el bolsillo por ser ligero y delgado, el agarre es exelente, en general es un cuchillo modesto pero muy capaz, comodo, economico, confiable no podria recomendar mas este cuchillo, ya encargue otro igual.

Es facil de abrir con una sola mano y la cuchilla es bastante afilada. Muy practico.

Excelente navaja especialmente si la pueden pillar en oferta. De las pocas Cold Steel con marco de metal interno