cold steel voyager xl drop point review

Cold Steel Voyager XL Clip Point Knife Review

By Ben North

Updated on May 19, 2024

Sometimes Size Matters

The Cold Steel Voyager XL is a big folding knife. So big in fact that when it was first announced many years ago I just sort of ignored it as a gimmick, because I thought it was too big to be a practical EDC pocket folder.

Turns out I was an idiot. While it certainly takes up more space in your pants or shorts pocket than an average folding knife it is surprisingly comfortable in the pocket of the type of clothing worn by the sort of person who would carry this knife.

Obviously it would be a bit cramped in the blood flow-restricting skinny jeans that seem to be popular with the weirdly bearded hipster class that infests America’s more densely populated regions, but I don’t think they are the target demographic Cold Steel had in mind when they designed this knife.

The Voyager XL has been my primary EDC for over six months now, and I am surprised at how many times the bigger than average size has been advantageous. In fact it has me wondering if my wife has been lying to me all these years, but that is a subject for a different post.

Knife Specifications

Blade construction and design.

The Voyager XL comes in three different blade styles: Drop Point, Tanto and Vaquero. I am partial to drop point, so that’s the focus for this review. I considered getting the Vaquero for a minute, because I thought it would be funny for my friends to ask, “Is that a Vaquero in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”, but I am a clip point addict, and my friends are not that witty.

Cold Steel has recently begun moving many of their knives from AUS-8 steel to Carpenter CTS BD1 stee l, and the Voyager is one of those knives. You can still find AUS8 steel versions out there, and they are usually around $25 cheaper than the new versions with the CTS BD1 steel. Due to my propensity for losing knives or dropping them in the water I picked up an AUS8 version as well as the CTS BD1 steel version.

AUS8 steel certainly has a few detractors, but I have always found it to be a more than serviceable option for any job I needed it to do, and I am pretty tough on knives. It does lose it’s edge quicker than higher end steels like CTS BD1 and S30V, but I find sharpening to be fun and relaxing.

The fact that knives made with AUS8 are usually quite a bit cheaper is important to those of us who lose knives on regular basis or have bank accounts can’t that support the shiny blade addictions of the gainfully employed steel nerds. In spite of my poor man’s affinity for AUS8 steel, I have to admit that the Carpenter CTS BD1 steel is superior to AUS8 in almost every way including edge retention and corrosion resistance.

The blade of the Voyager XL was crazy sharp on delivery, and it was centered well with no vertical or horizontal play which is really impressive for a folder this big at this price point. The blade is a  serrated/plain edge combo which I have mixed feelings about. Sometimes a bit of serration is nice, but it is more difficult to sharpen. If you are anti serration there is a 100% plain edge version, and if you love serrated blades there is a version that is almost 100% serrated.

The blade has a full flat grind and a nice thin edge. The Voyager XL has a very aggressive clip point which is good from a tactical standpoint, but not ideal for a work knife. The blade has ambidextrous thumb studs that are well placed, but it takes a little practice to open the knife smoothly due to it’s above average size.

I personally ignore the thumb studs and just flip it open. The Voyager XL has a really smooth action, but it doesn’t feel like it wants to jump out of your hand when you flip it open quickly like some other large folders do.

Handle Construction and Ergonomics

The Voyager handle is made of Cold Steel’s Grivory which is a glass reinforced polymer resin that I have always found to be tough and durable. The handle is heavily textured from one end to the other, and this texture is especially nice when using the Voyager XL in wet weather. I have used it often in the rain without any problems.

I have read a few complaints about the texture being too rough and a little uncomfortable, but I haven’t noticed that even though my hands are are soft and sissy from spending a lot of time writing, taking pictures, and caressing my reflection in the mirror instead of doing actual real man work. So I don’t think the rough texture will be an issue for most people.

One of the features of the Voyager XL that make it practical and fairly easy to use for everyday tasks is its large handle.

At 6.8 inches the handle is one of the largest of any pocket folder, and Cold Steel utilizes this space well to make the Voyager fairly versatile and easy to grip. There is a large finger groove on the front of the handle that helps make the handle more grippable, and there are two finger grooves on the back of the handle right where it forms a semi hook shape.

The rear finger grooves and the semi hook shape combine to provide an extremely secure grip when chopping or reaching to cut something. There have been several times I have found myself using this grip to slice through weeds, blackberry bushes or hard to reach fishing line caught in tree branches, which is a great testament to the knife handle’s utility. Less so my casting technique.

The area between the two sets of finger grooves is contoured, which helps make the handle more comfortable regardless of where you hold it.

While I personally like the shape and placement of the finger grooves on the Voyager XL handle, there are those who have complained that this handle limits the user’s grip options, and I have to concede that there is some truth to that. While the conventional saber grip is easy, the reverse grip is limited somewhat by the inability to put your thumb over the butt of the handle unless you have huge hands.

This doesn’t bother me much, because the unique chopping ability and added reach the long hooked handle give me are worth the few grip limitations they create. However, if I were looking for a large folding EDC primarily for tactical reasons the grip constraints may be an issue.

My limited tactical knife training consist mostly of getting my ass kicked in training knife sparring matches by a few friends who have been well trained in knife Eskrima. That probably makes me more of an expert than your average person, but I am not gonna pretend I am qualified to recommend the best tactical knife for you or your dog.

There are a few other cool details in the handle, like the fact that this knife has Cold Steel’s awesome tri-ad lock which may be the best back lock in the folding knife world.

This is especially important with a knife that has a blade long enough to take off four of your fingers if it were to fail at the wrong time. It also has 6061 heat treated aluminum liners which help make this knife more durable, and are partially responsible for it’s impressive weight of 7.4 ounces.

One of the most common complaints of this knife is how tight the clip is when the Voyager is new. It is definitely the tightest clip of any knife I have ever owned, and it will mark your pocket up pretty bad until it is broken in. If you’re that concerned about your pants, it can be ground down or you can put a nickel or two in the clip for a few days to loosen it up a bit.

Obviously I am not capable of doing a subjective review of this knife, because it is my favorite EDC, and I own a lot of knives. That being said, I love this knife, because it helps me do my job. I spend a lot of time in the wilderness taking photos, and having a knife that is basically a mini machete that also works well for camp food prep is great.

While I realize that my situation is unique, there is something to be said for the fact that this knife has been in production for over 15 years, because Cold Steel would not have kept selling and upgrading this knife if it were not popular. I’m guessing I’m not the only person out there who thinks it’s the handiest knife they own.

Considering the fact that this knife usually sells for around $50 I think it is steal for any knife enthusiast, but like I said before, I am not capable of objectivity when it comes to this knife. It’s great for pretty much everything I do outdoors.

I haven’t spent a lot of time talking about the tactical benefits of this knife, because I don’t feel qualified, but I think the sheer size of the Cold Steel Voyager XL might get you out of a potentially violent situation. It is pretty scary when it is opened and mildly scary when it is closed.

If you are wondering about the Tanto or Vaquero models of the Cold Steel XL check out the reviews on More Than Just Surviving . Their reviews are very thorough, and I think they usually write sober. Sobriety and thoroughness are two things you will rarely find on Nothing But Knives , because we still think incoherent enthusiasm somehow makes up for drunken laziness.

About Ben North

Ben started a twenty year commercial photography career after a blurry stint in the navy. He spent a lot of time losing and breaking knives and other EDC gear on location shoots before starting Nothing But Knives. He has reviewed and tested hundreds of both outdoor and kitchen knives over the course of the last six years, and he was mostly sober while testing and reviewing.

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Knife Reviews

Cold Steel Voyager Review

by Dan Jackson 34 Comments

This post contains affiliate links. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.

Last Updated: February 25, 2018

New in 2011, the updated Cold Steel Voyagers took the knife world by storm. There was a lot to like about the original CS Voyagers, but as technologies advance old classics need updating. And I gotta say, the new version really packs some nice improvements. Lighter, faster, with better locks and beautiful details – there is a lot to love about these knives. With 3 sizes, 3 blade shapes and the option of fully or partially serrated edges there is something for everyone.

Buy on Amazon

I have one of each size for your consideration here (the Medium Voyager , Large Voyager , and the XL Voyager ). After testing them all I can safely recommend any one of these knives. Take the “voyage” with me and learn why I like them so much.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Since I’m reviewing 3 knives here I figured it would be easiest to throw the dimensions into a table instead of listing them out.

All the knives feel light for their size. Especially the Large and XL.

The 2011 Voyagers come in 3 major blade shapes. You have the classic clip point shown here, you also have a nice tanto version, and a version known as the “Vaquero.” The Vaquero is a modified clip point with a serious recurve. The knife you decide on comes down to your personal preferences. I think they are all pretty good, but the Vaquero will the hardest to sharpen due to the extreme recurve. I probably should have bought one of each blade style, but what can I say, I’m a sucker for a nice clip point.

And this clip point is really well done. Cold Steel started things off with a full flat grind. You also have a small swedge that forms a nice tip. There is plenty of belly and the edge is beautifully ground. Topping things off is an excellent stone wash. This blade finish really sets this knife apart. I greatly prefer the stonewash over Cold Steel’s teflon coating or blasted finish blades. All said and done the blade is really nice, especially when you consider the modest price tag.

Steel on the 2011 Voyagers is AUS 8. This changed to BD1 in 2015-2016. Both are softer steels. Cold Steel got a lot of feedback from customers wanting something with better edge retention than AUS-8, so they upgraded their premium line of knives to CTS-XHP (and then S35Vn in 2018), and their more budget oriented knives they upgraded to BD1. I don’t have a lot of experience with BD1, but it’s a softer steel. Easy to sharpen, and presumably holds a better edge than AUS-8. I think it was a good option for the Voyager series as the price is still reasonable.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle on the Voyager is a combination of grivory (Cold Steel’s proprietary high density plastic) over aluminum liners. Aluminum strikes me as a great choice for liner material here. It’s been hardened so we have good strength, and it’s nice and light. Grivory on its own is pretty tough stuff too, so we are left with a very robust handle design.

In addition to the materials, I’m a big fan of the way these handles have been put together. Everything is screwed together for easy take down. The aluminum liners are neatly nested into the grivory. Everything lines up well and has been well finished. This is a high quality handle and it really shows.

The ergonomics on the entire Voyager line are also very nice. Naturally you would expect the XL to work in your hand (and it does, in a variety of positions). The Large also functions quite well. The Medium had me most concerned as it was the smallest and was a knife I wanted to EDC. Poor ergos would have kept me from doing that. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the Medium fit in my hand. I wear a large glove and the Medium rested comfortably, with my pinky taking residence on the shelf making up the back part of the handle. I was even able to choke up a little (which I only recommend for light tasks). All the knives have deep finger choils and light jimping on the spine which give you a nice grip.

Speaking of grip, all of the knives feature a kind of “iron cross” pattern on the grivory. This pattern is nice and grippy, but is not so abrasive that it tears up my pockets (although some people have had some issues with this – which sanding lightly under the clip would fix). All the corners have been rounded and all the knives fill the hand really well. All in all I am very satisfied with the ergonomics on these knives.

The pocket clip on the Voyager generally great, but comes kind of stiff. It worked well with the thin shorts I wear down here in Florida, but I found the stiff clip a bit of a pain with thicker materials. However, it will naturally bend out with use, and if you want to you could always bend the clip out slightly yourself. You can only carry this knife in the tip up position, but I like how Cold Steel included 2 clips (for left or right side carry). I also like how CS gave these clips a black coating. The coating held up well in my 2 months of carry, although it finally started to wear off when I scraped it on some concrete.

As far as actual carry goes, the Voyagers are pretty good considering their size. They are thicker knives, and the Large and XL are quite big, but they are very light so they are more manageable than they appear. I know several people who regularly carry an XL around and I gotta admit the knife slips into my jeans really well. Between the three sizes the Medium Voyager was my personal favorite for every day carry. The stiff clip kept the knife in place in my pocket. All in all these knives carry well.

Deployment and Lockup

The Voyagers all use ambidextrous thumbstuds for deployment. They are good size thumbstuds, and it doesn’t take much effort to get any of the knives open (even the XL). I had my concerns that the backspring on the tri-ad lock would be too strong for easy deployment, but it really isn’t the case. I can even shake these knives open (with a good amount of force). CS put some high quality phosphor bronze washers in these knives and they feel very smooth. All in all I’m quite pleased with deployment.

All of the Voyagers feature the now legendary Tri-Ad lock. I’ve spoken at length about these locks. They are basically an improved backlock. They actually feature a stop pin, so any force applied to the blade goes to the stop pin instead of the rest of the lock. This feature, combined with a very beefy lockback, make the strongest lock on the market. Performance is excellent – to the point where these knives will almost act like a fixed blade.

But perhaps the biggest positive to these particular Tri-Ad locks is how Cold Steel adjusted the back spring. The Tri-Ad locks on both my Spartan and Hold Out II were very stiff. It took a lot of effort to disengage these locks, even after breaking them in. I was really concerned this would be the case for the Voyager. Again, I was absolutely wrong (man, sometimes it’s great to be wrong). The locks were very easy to disengage with one hand. Of course, they are still safe and stay locked when you want it locked, but when the time comes to put the knife back in your pocket, it won’t take a ton of pressure to disengage the lock bar. This is a huge win for the Voyagers.

Cold Steel Voyager Review – Final Thoughts

Cold Steel has really raised the bar here. The entire Voyager line is extremely well done. These are Taiwanese knives and I’ll tell you the fit and finish is fantastic. The various Voyagers sell in the $40-65 range depending on the size. At that price I think it’s a great value. Especially the Large Voyager. It’s hard to find a full size utility knife built this well at this ~$50 price point.

I continue to be impressed with how perfectly everything lines up, how wonderfully everything has been finished, and how smooth the deployment, lockup and disengagement is. From a design standpoint there is a lot to like. The great choice of blade shapes, the comfortable lightweight handles, the excellent lock, the awesome pocket clip, the great materials – I could go on and on.

So in conclusion, I like the Voyager series lot. It was one of the best releases in 2011, and when the upgraded the steel in 2016 they made the knives even better. In 2018 I still have my Medium Voyager. I find it a little thick for EDC, but it’s a hell of a work knife. If you are looking for a large utility knife then pick up a Large Voyager. Tough to beat. And if you are looking for a folding sword then snag the XL. The XL is a fun knife, but it’s not a gimmick.

• Blade Length: 3-Inch
• Blade Thickness: 3 mm
• Overall Length: 7 1/4-Inch
• Weight: 3.5 oz (approx.)

• CLIP POINT BLADE - Lightweight, comfortable, and super sharp, the Cold Steel Voyager Large Clip Point folding knife is rugged, dependable and perfect for hunting and camping as well as general utility and daily cutting chores
• AUS10A STEEL BLADE - The Cold Steel Voyager Large folding knife's blade is crafted from premium Japanese AUS10A steel, renowned for its outstanding corrosion resistance and remarkable ability to maintain a sharp and durable edge over time
• ERGONOMIC HANDLE - The ergonomic Griv-Ex handle is reinforced with heat-treated 6061 aluminum liners to ensure ultimate durability; This handle provides great comfort and a secure grip even under extended use in tough conditions
• TRI-AD LOCK - Equipped with Cold Steel's renowned Tri-Ad locking mechanism, the Voyager Large folding knife offers unparalleled strength and shock resistance; This locking mechanism enhances the knife's reliability and safety during heavy-duty tasks
• SPECS - Weight: 5 oz (141.7 g); Blade Thickness: 3.5 mm; Blade Length: 4"; Blade Steel: AUS10A; Handle Length/Material: 5.25" Griv-Ex; Overall Length: 9.25"; Knife Type: Folder; Blade Shape: Clip Point; Locking Mechanism: Tri-Ad Lock

• Blade thickness: 4 mm, Blade Length :- 5.5 Inches
• Handle: 6.75 Inches long. Griv-ex
• Blade style: Clip point
• Steel: carpenters cts Bd1 alloy with stone wash finish
• Pocket Clip: ambidextrous pocket/belt Clip

I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel Voyager at Amazon or Buy the Cold Steel Voyager at BladeHQ . Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

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About Dan Jackson

Dan is the creator of BladeReviews.com. He founded the site in 2010, and for the first 5 years Dan wrote all of the reviews and recorded all of the video reviews. He grew up using pocket knives, and the decision to start the website stemmed from his fascination of all things sharp combined with a deep passion for writing. He has personally reviewed almost 300 knives of all shapes, sizes, and price points. He is recognized as an authority on daily carry knives and has consulted with knife companies on product design.

Reader Interactions

December 27, 2011 at 8:58 am

You are really cranking the reviews out over the holidays!!! Keep up the good work!

December 27, 2011 at 9:01 am

Thanks Rob! Yes I have finally had the time to work on stuff I enjoy, like this website. I appreciate the support brother, all the best.

December 28, 2011 at 1:36 pm

Great review Dan.These voyagers catched my eye long time ago.Now its time to handle them at shop:D Btw here is a experience with my tri-ad lock Recon 1; it didnt cut anything except piece of papers , nylon cords and some stabbing to the notebook.It has up and down play now!My endura4 have less play.When i got it it was rock solid.Im gonna make a thread about this at bladeforums.Lets see whats going on:D Take Care Zakk

December 28, 2011 at 2:42 pm

Thanks Zakk! Yes definitely give this a handle if you have them available to you. I think you will like the knife a lot.

I am really surprised to hear about your Recon 1! I have handled a lot of tri-ad lock knives and have yet to experience any blade play. Have you tried adjusting the pivot? Might need some lock tite once you get it fully tweaked. Either way I’d be curious to hear what the story is.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to write the nice comment.

February 8, 2012 at 8:03 am

Sorry to hear about your Recon 1. Possibly it would be better to send it to CS for repairs, because it obviously has some defect. The Tri-Ad lock is self-adjusting by design, and I have never seen a knife with that particular type of lock that has an up-down blade play. More to say, once I managed to pierce through a 1″ wooden table top with my Spartan (like they do in CS videos!), and the knife showed no blade play afterwards (though it’s definitely not a good way to test knives at home! 🙂 )

December 28, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Yet another great review Dan!

I have been raving about the Cold Steel 2011 Voyagers since I got mine a few months ago. They are a definite improvement over the older versions.

The handle ergonomics are wonderful — weather laying them into a cut or sharpening or stropping them — it works so well for me!

My only question is if they were able to relax the Triad-Ad lock on the XL Tanto-Point versions?

I had two of the older XL Tanto-Point models and opening them via thumbtstud was rough.

December 28, 2011 at 5:52 pm

Thank you Greg! I really appreciate the kind words. I agree, this is an extremely comfortable knife. I haven’t been this excited about “value” knives in a while.

You know I have not got my hand on the XL Tanto, but my XL Clip point came very smooth and relaxed. I think maybe some of the earlier version of the knife were a little stiffer, but I haven’t had any issues with the two XL Clip Point Voyagers I have used. Thanks for reading man, take care.

December 30, 2011 at 12:23 pm

I’ll have to take the Cold Steel plunge sooner or later…. Great review, as always.

December 30, 2011 at 1:11 pm

Thanks man. This is a solid knife that makes for a great beater. It’s a little thick in the pocket but I carry the medium and large with no problem at all.

January 12, 2012 at 5:27 pm

I have been a CS fan for many years and have many of their knives. Presently, I do not have this particular iteration of the Voyager series. They are one tough knife and I like your label of “value” knife–true. Just found this site and like it.

January 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Hey Waykno, Thanks for stopping by man. I think you will really like the new Voyagers – especially if you are already a fan of Cold Steel’s products. They made some very nice upgrades to this version. And yes, I think these are an excellent value. I’m glad you have been enjoying the site – I’ve got a lot of new stuff planned for 2012. Mainly better reviews of cooler knives, but I’m also going to be upgrading this mega slow server and doing some other stuff. Thanks again for dropping in!

April 13, 2012 at 3:45 am

I kind of took a break for a while so I am way behind on your reviews. I enjoyed this one. I have still be struggling over whether or not to get a voyager since I already have the Recon1. After reading I think I will go ahead and get a Voyager. Now to decide which one…nice review!

April 13, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Hey Richard! Great to see you back man, I was wondering where you went. I would definitely still suggest getting the Voyager, there are still plenty of interesting differences between the two. I look forward hearing what model you decided on and eventually reading your review.

May 15, 2012 at 9:33 am

I picked the small Voyager and love the knive. However, it takes quite a bit of effort to disengage the lock. You mentioned in your review that this was not an issue for you. Any recommendations? As always, great review!

May 16, 2012 at 7:27 am

Hmmm, I am not really sure. It’s possible there are differences in tolerances between manufacturing runs, but my Voyagers were all reasonable (whereas the Spartan took 2 hands for me to disengage the lock). Unfortunately my only real suggestion is to just keep working the lock – hopefully it will break in quickly. If it is really bad Cold Steel may be willing to replace it. Thanks for reading!

February 6, 2014 at 5:23 pm

I personally have and carry the XL version. No play, very sharp, love it!

February 7, 2014 at 1:33 pm

Glad you like yours, Cordel. I had a buddy who carried the XL version. Pretty impressive piece of hardware!

February 22, 2014 at 7:51 pm

I just purchased a Voyager medium. I EDC this knife more than I do my Spyderco Delica.The lockup is tight and AUS-8 is very easy to sharpen.I got mine for 35.00 on Amazon

February 22, 2014 at 9:19 pm

You know what, I ended up giving all of my Voyagers away after doing this review, but very recently bought another Medium Voyager for my own personal use. I love it. Fantastic knife for the reasons you have described. I am considering writing an article just on the medium Voyager.

September 7, 2014 at 5:54 am

Hi there, I just ordered the xl clip point, it is my first ever folding knife lol

September 7, 2014 at 6:00 am

Congrats, Patrick! The XL Voyager is a great starter blade – way to dip your toe into the world of pocket knives. 😉 Let me know what you think…

November 28, 2014 at 6:14 am

Went through most of your reviews and been contemplating between the Voyager (Medium) and Kershaw Leek (Black) for EDC. Which one would you recommend?

The previous folder that I got as a gift is falling apart (missing screws) and I need cost effective replacement. While the Spyderco PM2 and ZT 0350 are often recommended, they are in a different league and price point.

Regards, Chester

November 28, 2014 at 11:11 am

Hey Chester,

Thanks for stopping by and for the great question. The Voyager is thick and overbuilt. It’s a fun and satisfying knife to play around with and EDC, but I think you will find the Leek to be much more practical if you are looking for a streamlined urban / suburban EDC. A good friend of mine has EDC’d a Leek for several years and he still likes it. Both are very nice for the money.

November 28, 2014 at 12:26 pm

Hi Dan! Wow that was a quick reply.

I think I’ll go with the black Leek 1660ckt over the regular stainless just because it might be sturdier with the extra DLC coating and it’s less “flashy”.

For your reviews on tactical or self-defense knives, is it possible for you to note on the grip/feel when you hold the knife blade up? I believe nobody does that. I leaned towards the Leek over the Voyager (medium) because it might be awkward to hold the knife that way among others.

November 29, 2014 at 7:11 am

Hi Chester,

My pleasure. Do you mean the “icepick” grip? I can try to do that. I must confess that I know very little about self defense, so I am always hesitant to offer advice in that arena. I might suggest checking out WeAllJuggleKnives on you tube for more “tactical” commentary.

November 29, 2014 at 11:19 am

Yes. Icepick grip and in some cases if the grip or blade has a pronounced shape just your normal grip but the blade upwards. Not a biggie 🙂

Thanks for the WeAllJuggleKnives recommendation. Will check it out.

November 29, 2014 at 4:35 pm

I’ll keep that in mind, Chester. Thanks and enjoy WAJK’s channel. He has some interesting stuff on there.

November 30, 2014 at 2:58 pm

Dan, this remains one of the most useful reviews of this excellent series of knives. The Large Voyager clip point is perhaps my #1 favorite “edc/tactical crossover” folder under $100. The combination of impressive size, light weight, tough build, excellent slicing performance, and comfortable ethos with well above average ergonomics is very hard to find together in one blade and gives the L Voyager a certain charisma all its own. Fit & finish is also way above expectations. Right now there are some online deals that have the M and L Voyagers for crazy prices like $35 to $40. At that price point, if you don’t mind a somewhat weaponized looking, but good carrying and very functional tool , it is hard to see why anyone would pass up the chance to grab these. Peace!

November 30, 2014 at 3:02 pm

LOL @ “comfortable ethos “; thanks smartphone. Heh — actually the only good reason I could think of why someone would not appreciate this well made tool is that CS knives arguably do NOT have a totally “comfortable ethos” associated with them — in the minds of some. 🙂

November 30, 2014 at 5:44 pm

Hey Anon, Thanks for dropping by. Glad you are still enthused about the Voyager series. I agree that the large Voyager is really tough to beat for a larger work knife. They really did a good job with it.

November 30, 2014 at 3:08 pm

Just one more observation: the XL Voyagers are equally well made and are very legit for what they are, but for an actual EDC choice (“car knife” or tool box use is another matter), I ‘d say the target market starts around 6’2″ 225 lbs and goes up from there. Which excludes me! Still fun to own. The Large size is really the sweet spot in my view.

August 30, 2019 at 8:28 pm

After seeing Grivory advertised on some Benchmades I Google it (how dumb not to do it before) and it’s apparently not proprietary – like you I thought it was a bit of Cold Steels puffery, but it isn’t. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphthalamide & https://www.emsgrivory.com/en/products-markets/products/grivory/grivory-ht/

Basically in the Zytel family.

September 22, 2020 at 9:11 pm

I bought a Tatnto blade XL and it’s a great knife open but it won’t close.

October 23, 2021 at 12:18 pm

I own several VOYAGER knives and really appreciate this line of products. I have given countless of them away to friends for birthday presents b/c of their affordability, and b/c I trust the strength and quality. VOYAGER knives come in 4 blade styles, with or without serration, in two different sizes, basically 16 different knives for $50-$75. The handles are grippy to the point of being a bit sharp, and they are very lightweight, but I absolutely trust the strength of the blade and the Tri-Ad lock. I know for certain that the knife will not slip out of my hand, and that the blade will break before the lock fails. These points, along with its light-weight build, make it a very good EDC for self-protection.

I feel like the VOYAGER’s are Cold Steel’s way of offering really good folders at affordable “workingman’s” pricing. Not every buyer can afford a RECON 1 at $100+, but still want a real folding knife- not just a pocket-knife with a liner-lock.

Personally, I view the VOYAGER series as “fighting knives”, or “combat knives”, and not as much as outdoor/woodsman’s knives. I them specifically for self-defense, and prefer the TANTO blade profile for its thrusting and penetration capabilities.

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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Cold Steel XL Voyager 5.5" AUS10A Drop Point Razor-Sharp Blade 6.75" Griv-Ex Handle Everyday Carry Tactical Folding Knife w/Tri-Ad Lock

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• DROP POINT BLADE - The Voyager XL knife is a big tough folder that's lower profile but is ideal for hunting and utility work; Saber ground, its blade is slightly heavier than most to facilitate cutting and features a strong, sharp point
• AUS10A STEEL BLADE - The Cold Steel Voyager XL folding knife's blade is crafted from premium Japanese AUS10A steel, renowned for its outstanding corrosion resistance and remarkable ability to maintain a sharp and durable edge over time
• ERGONOMIC HANDLE - The ergonomic Griv-Ex handle is reinforced with heat-treated 6061 aluminum liners to ensure ultimate durability; This handle provides great comfort and a secure grip even under extended use in tough conditions
• TRI-AD LOCK - Equipped with Cold Steel's renowned Tri-Ad locking mechanism, the Voyager XL folding knife offers unparalleled strength and shock resistance; This locking mechanism enhances the knife's reliability and safety during heavy-duty tasks
• SPECS - Weight: 8 oz (226.8 g); Blade Thickness: 4 mm; Blade Length: 5.5"; Blade Steel: AUS10A; Handle Length/Material: 6.75" Griv-Ex; Overall Length: 12.25"; Knife Type: Folder; Blade Shape: Drop Point; Locking Mechanism: Tri-Ad Lock

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COLD STEEL XL VOYAGER DROP POINT BLADE FOLDING KNIFE: Our Drop Point Voyager is perfect for anyone who wants a big tough folder that's lower profile but is ideal for hunting and utility work. FEATURES: - 5 1/2"" AUS10A Steel Kris Blade; - 6 3/4"" Griv-Ex Handle; - 12 1/4"" Overall Length; - 4 mm Blade Thickness; - Tri-Ad Lock; - Ambidextrous Pocket / Belt Clip. The Voyager Series: The Cold Steel Voyager series is designed to be the true everyman knife. Lightweight, comfortable, super sharp, they are rugged, dependable, and perfect for hunting and camping as well as general utility and daily cutting chores. The Voyagers excel in many survival and rescue applications. They are precision-engineered and held to our most exacting standards. Feature AUS10A blades, and our safe and shock-resistant Tri-Ad locking mechanism. The ergonomic Griv-Ex handles (reinforced with heat-treated 6061 aluminum liners) provide great comfort and a secure grip even under extended use in tough conditions.

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COLD STEEL XL Voyager 5.5" AUS10A Drop Point Razor-Sharp

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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