AD-15 3.5" S35VN Steel Ultra-Sharp Blade 5" G-10 Handle Tactical Folding Knife with Scorpion Lock and Pocket/Belt Clip

I collect knives. Mostly Spyderco but in the last few years they have released several models that will cut the user when the blade is closed. I consider that unforgivable especially for how overpriced they have become. So I am putting Spyderco in the rear view mirror for these reasons and their shabby release practices attempting to create a hype market by producing limited quantities etc... I own a few Cold Steel knives and can say the S35VN heat treatment is far better than Spyderco who runs them too hard. This knife is exceptionally well made by Cold Steel when you hold it in the hand it is solid. The blade is exceptionally sharp right out of the box. The lock mechanism takes some getting used to but is solid and unlike the compression lock there is no way to misplace your thumb and disengage the lock as I had happen on a PM2 when the blade got bound stuck while cutting plastic sheeting and I was distracted by someone asking questions as we were battening down for a hurricane and applied negative pressure closing the blade on my index finger, Very bad time to take a cut needing the ER for stitches. Fortunately I was not cut but just barely and after that my former favorite lock the compression lock became my least favorite. As for one handed opening and closing on this knife it is possible but I prefer two handed opening and closing for safety. It feels odd to flick it open with the thumb stud as and have the lock bar raise up in ones palm almost made me drop it. The most important thing to me with a lock is that it does not disengage if I am inattentive in the placement of my hand. Accidents happen. I will be sanding down the area under the pocket clip so it does not eat my pocket. Closed the detent is secure. My hands take extra large gloves so this handle crowded my fingers a bit to be perfectly comfortable my index finger has to be carefully placed in the choil. This is not a deal breaker, the ergos are great and it eats cardboard very well. Final thoughts... this knife is smaller than it looks in pictures and videos, the ones I saw must have been done by guys with small hands.

This is a beast of a knife! The quality, sharpness, design, and tolerances are all top notch. That being said, this knife is not for everyone and I wouldn’t call it an EDC for most. The mechanism is the reason I say the knife isn’t for everyone. Operating the bar lock with one hand took me a bit of practice. It’s much different than anything I’m used to, but can be quite satisfying once you get the hang of it. The knife is large for a folding pocket knife and feels a little bulky in the pocket and lacks the hand comfort of a smoother, medium sized EDC. The highly textured scales on the handle make the grip secure, but will fray the top of your pocket with frequent use. Overall, this is a large, well-built folder that’s ideal for certain uses/situations and is quite satisfying to use.

This knife has far exceeded my expectations so far. Very good quality and was razor sharp out of the box. The blade thickness is a bit on the larger end for an EDC knife, but that is what I was looking for. The S35VN steel has held up in a number of various scenarios I have tested it in. The scorpion lock can take a bit getting used to, but after a few times it is actually very easy to use. The pocket/belt clip is very solid and has been well tested in a number of different tests and uses I have put it through. Great value for the price point on this knife, especially when compared to much higher price options of competitors. Pros: Great construction Good size and easy to carry for a larger EDC Razor sharp out of the box

Watch videos of the locking system before you buy! The locking system is unique and extremely sturdy. It is easily the most durable folding knife I own. Very stout and sharper than my benchmades out of the box. Great weight for someone who likes a heavier knife. It has a very thick blade.

The first time I saw this knife I was so intrigued. I love unique knives and this one is definitely unique. The scorpion lock is super interesting. It’s got a great lock up and is fairly easy to get used to. The blade is S35VN which is great. Comes razor sharp out of the box. Edge retention is great. Blade centering is awesome. I love the color contrast between the G10 scales and the anodized aluminum scorpion lock. The G10 is very grippy. It doesn’t bother my hands, but I did sand down the portion under the pocket clip with some 400 grip sand paper. The jimping on the spine is a bit sharp as are the thumb stud and inner edge of the scorpion lock. The first two days, my fingers were extremely sore from using the knife. By day three, the callouses started to develop and it became easier to actuate the knife. I might knock off the edge of the spine jimping but a little undecided. Overall I really love the knife. It’s a big honking knife and it’s got good heft to it. It feels really great in hand and it’s a conversation piece. I bought it for $165. The price fluctuated all the way up to $220, but I kept an eye on it and got it when the price was down. Side note, I’ve never seen or held the custom AD15, but from what I hear this knife is 95% of that knife at a fraction of the price. It has got me interested in the AD10 also.

Awesome knife, its durable with the perfect size of knife for my large hands. The lock mechanism is great. Some people might not like the weight of it but I don't mind.

This is a very interesting knife to fidget with takes a little getting used to, but is very high-quality smooth action and a lot of fun comes very sharp