Cold Steel Rajah II (AUS10A), Black, Ambidextrous

I've had this knife now for over 5 years. This is comfortably the best knife I've ever owned. Not quite as large as or as sharp as the Espada XL but it doesn't have the grip problems that I've found with the Espada. The Rajah 2 is excellent in every way, easy and fast draw, great grip, and edge retention. It's also intimidating to anyone not expecting it yet fits comfortably in your pocket. I heard they were going to discontinue this model a while ago and I was very upset. I'm so glad they didn't. Great purchase. 10/10 would buy again and probably a second one.

I have owned my Rajah ll for over 5 years. As a woods knife, no other folder comes close. I have used this knife to clear numerous trails, pound tent stakes hack throgh log jams, field dress deer, and more. It also makes a great deterrent against 2 legged predators when suddenly snapped open. Hopefully Cold Steel will continue to develop the design with upgraded handles.

From chopping open coconuts while fishing the surf and handling bathroom scorpions in the jungle to impromptu fires, it's been pretty awesome having a pocket machete on me wherever I go. If you put a lanyard on it and hold it by the back of the handle, it handles brush clearing on trails surprisingly well. Carry mine along with a tomahawk when I'm running client security against bears in Alaska. I chop smaller saplings with mine a lot, nothing crazy but did cut a 3-4" diamater beech for a shelter ridgepole a couple times. As is it will loosen up on you, I took mine apart, pulled out a couple of the plastic washers and used locktite on the pin screw's threads, not cleaning it a little too. Sure it's not glassy smooth deployment now but it still waves from my pocket or inertia flicks open no problem and blade remains tight. Obviously for any serious chopping tasks you expect bring along a proper companion chopping tool for cutting firewood, shelter building, etc. But for minor brush clearing, scaring off street corner drug dealers in latin america, food prep, this'll do just fine. My only complaint is I wish the steel was a little better, stock it got some wavy ripples from me chopping, I reprofiled it to a convex and it's been fine since, edge retention isn't great but it's a budget stainless steel can't expect too much.

This knife works amazingly with everything I’ve thrown at it during my two week review and can safely say it will always have a place in my pocket no matter what the task.

I wore this beast daily for three years in the tropics. It did daily chopping and cutting task easily and was always ready to open a coconut for drinking or cutting some fruit from the tree. Mild brush clearing was easy due to the extended handle length which extends reach without adding unneeded blade length. The blade steel holds a great edge and once you get the idea how to sharpen it it’s not overly complicated. It carried in my work pants easily and never felt too big. It conceals very well and always got a reaction when I pulled it out and the blade popped open. Never ceases to amaze folks when you pull a 16” knife out of your pocket.

Very nice grip no warm spots but is hard to sharpen with the curve but cuts through anything.

Incredibly strong! Just a BEAST for a folding knife. Much more like a FOLDING BOWIE!!