[demented]

I always considered these the best buy in a knife anywhere near their price range. Now I find CS has replaced this steel with AUS-8 or the much more expensive San-Mai. Don't know about the San-Mai, but AUS isn't worth owning, IMO. What I'm gonna buy in the future, I have no idea!

[Popeye]

Neither Carbon-V nor San-Mai is a recognized designation for a type of steel. They are both "made-up" names used to conceal the actual steel used in the manufacture of Cold Steel knives. At least AUS-8 is an actual, recognized, designation for a type of steel. This is a refreshing change. I look forward to more openness and honesty from this company in the future.

[demented]

Does Cold Steel Actually make knives? I've heard rumors that Camillus did quite a few of their folder models, I've seen similarities between some of their models in the past. Also heard Camillus supplied what CS called Carbon V. Who knows?

[Antlurz]

Kinda like Sears, maybe??? Sears doesn't make anything. They just have other companies put Sears name on it.

[threefeathers]

Interesting, because I've had several of thei high end Tanto's that I like and have a Recon Tanto on my web gear now.

[NGK]

I think Cammilus made some knives for Cold Steel, in specific their carbon steel knives, since not many foreign companies use carbon steels. The Carbon V name is just a name Cold Steel made up for their carbon steel knives, it was not any specific kind of steel, most likely whatever was the cheapest carbon steel on the market at the time they were doing a run of knives.

Non of this however made their Carbon V knives bad, Carbon steels are great for holding a edge, strength, flexibility, the only downside to carbon steels is the ability to rust. It's sad to have seen Camillus go down for the count, they made some great knives and Cold Steel lost a producer.

Cold steel uses many companies to produce their knives; they make none in house as far as I know. Like Antlurz said, Sears.

One of Camillus's best line of knives that had great bang for the buck was the Becker line, from what I have heard and I think it was in Blade Magazine recently, Ontario is going to start producing the Becker line of knives, so that is very cool, I'll be looking forward to seeing them again in the future.

As for the San Mai steel, San Mai is a name for any type of blade that has sandwiched steels. Cold Steel makes some, Spyderco has, William Henry just to name a few. Most any San Mai blade I have ever seen has had high end steels for it's core with a cheaper low end steel wrapped on the outside. Spyderco used this process in order to get some high end expensive "super steels" on knives at a price point people could afford, so they could try these exotic steels. So there are advantages to San Mai type blades.

This all I know or think I know on the subject, so If I am wrong (happens often) blame Popeye or Antlurz :P