MINI RECON I

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.

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.

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.

Very nice edc knife. Sharp, strong and slim. Easy open with a locking back.

5 stars for the cold steel mini recon 1 mini tanto. Griv-ex faux g10 feels great and to be honest it may even have more grip but it does feel less premium and definitely has the more plastic feel. But dont let that fool you it's good stuff. Pocket clip is cold steel typical pocket clip,stiff. Mine fires open with a fast flick of the typical asymmetrical thumbs tubs. Most importantly the heat treatment and steel and sharpness are all on point. While I was skeptical of the Aus10A this has pleasantly surprised me. Like every cold steel I've boughten it has came with a a great sharp edge on the blade. A very even and useful factory edge. I have large hands and I can use this easily, while not as comfortable as a regular recon 1. I am able to get 4 fingers but my pinky is on the very bottom. There is flex in the handle when pressure is applied in the open position but nothing to cause concern over. Tri ad lock is extremely strong and tested can be used one handed when used properly. Overall I would recommend Cold Steel Edit: upon further inspection the blade does have divots near where the blade meets the stop pin and the tri ad lock. I think it's just manufacturing defects but there's a lot of cold steel slipping through with minor issues. My full sized recon had the blade hitting the metal back spacer. Not this one.

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!

This is a great size edc knife. If the 4” or the 12” Recon is not your cup of tea. This should be a perfect size for your edc needs. Small lightweight, thin profile, but still big enough to do your everyday tasks. If you are a Recon fan, comes with the same great ergonomics, fit and feel of a Recon, and the great tri-ad lock. Even with the FRN scales it hard to tell it’s not G10. Aus10A steel really good budget Japanese steel. With CS heat treat and blade sharpness sets it apart. Full 3” of cutting edge, 4” handle. 3.4mm width on the blade, and a thin 10mm on the handle thickness. 3.5oz in weight. Perfect size and weight. You’ll really enjoy this Recon 1 Mini.

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.