Review: Cold Steel American Lawman

Cold Steel American Lawman Knife Review for Urban Preparedness

Foregoing fast designs in favor of bomb-proof construction, Cold Steel's long-time commitment to reliability has created a collection of blades to go the distance. While their product lineup is now dominated by oddballs, their legacy designs remain in place for those looking to carry a user instead of a statement. After a couple of years in the pocket, I can attest that the American Lawman from Cold Steel is no exception to the idea.

The Glance

With a 3.5-inch drop-point blade and an overall length of 8.125 inches, the American Lawman is actually one of the most pocketable workhorses in the Cold Steel lineup. Slimmed out by its liner-less G10 construction, the American Lawman remains rigid due to the full backspacer and lock. Designed by Andrew Demko, the Tri-Ad lock provides unrivaled security, while allowing uninterrupted access and ease of use. As someone who has had a couple of liner-locks slip over the years, you quickly come to realize just how important that security is. As for colorways, well, you can have any color you want as long as it's black.

The Steel

While the American Lawman has lived many lives, the current iteration comes to us in CPM S35VN steel. Before super steels really started to rock the boat, S35VN provided a high point balance of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance, marking it as a fantastic and drama-free steel. There’s no argument about the merits of steel quality, but there’s a lot less to chat about once you get to this level. I have yet to see any rolls and certainly no chips on the edge, which is more than I can say for many premium steels that I've owned. The blade itself is a bit of a rarity these days, sporting a barely-there hollow grind that gradually comes to a point. By providing a little extra shoulder for strength, Cold Steel's geometry allows for a strong tip, and resistance-free cutting edge that will stand shoulder to shoulder with just about any full flat grind. After 2 years of carry, the DLC finish has provided plenty of sweat protection, living up to the bonded finish's claims.

The Feel

As someone who has large hands, the American Lawman has never felt cramped or out of place, allowing for a full grip without any sort of psychological overhang. Aided further by a deep finger choil, the forward grip feels naturally dug-in, though a little off kilter when held with a reverse/pikal grip - the choil is simply too deep for the pinky to rest without reaching. While I could do with a slightly more aggressive texture on the scales, my pockets barely notice the finer G10. Overall, the design and ergonomics make for an extremely comfortable and agile blade in-hand. One well suited to fine or quick work.

The Point

A reliable blade in an understated package, the Cold Steel American Lawman makes for the perfect workhorse. Having a rough and tumble knife in an approachable package also means that I never feel short-handed, nor do I have to worry about optics in less familiar settings. While this knife has been destined for the mundane, I'm confident that the lively blade could carry me through just about any conflict, cementing its place as a near permanent fixture in my pocket. So if you’re on the hunt for a bit of a sleeper, perhaps the Cold Steel American Lawman is worth an added glance.

Knives, ReviewJHMay 15, 2023Urban Preparedness, Urban Prepping, Every Day Carry, EDC, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, City Prepping, Apartment Prepping, Prepping Blog, Prepper Blog

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