Description
The Cold Steel AK-47 folding knife is the model that made Cold Steel’s reputation for lock strength, and this version upgrades the blade steel to CPM S35VN. The 3.5-inch clip point is hollow ground, vacuum heat treated, sub-zero quenched and then DLC coated, so it holds an edge and shrugs off moisture. Closed length is 5.5 inches, which keeps it pocketable.
Blade, Steel and Coating
3.5-inch clip point blade in CPM S35VN alloy steel, hollow ground for a thin, keen edge.
Vacuum heat treated and sub-zero quenched, a process that stabilizes the steel and raises toughness rather than just hardness.
DLC coating over the blade for corrosion and abrasion resistance, which is why the Cold Steel AK-47 folding knife holds up in wet and salty conditions.
Closed length 5.5 inches, with a reversible pocket clip.
The Tri-Ad Lock and the Thumb Plate
Tri-Ad lock uses a stop pin between the tang and the lock bar, which takes the shock that would otherwise batter a standard lockback.
The result is a lock-up that stays tight over years of hard use instead of developing blade play.
Patented thumb plate lets the knife be drawn and opened in one motion by catching the plate on the edge of a pocket.
Ambidextrous deployment, so left-handed users are not an afterthought.
G-10 handle scales, checkered for grip in gloves, in the wet or in the cold.
Cold Steel AK-47 Folding Knife Specifications
- Model: CS-58M
- Blade length: 3.5 inches
- Closed length: 5.5 inches
- Blade steel: CPM S35VN
- Blade grind: hollow ground clip point
- Blade finish: DLC coated black
- Lock: Tri-Ad lock
- Handle: G-10
- Pommel: 6061 aluminum
- Deployment: patented thumb plate, ambidextrous
- UPC: 705442018209
S35VN was designed specifically for folding knife blades. It adds niobium to the older S30V recipe, which refines the carbide structure and makes the steel noticeably easier to sharpen without giving up edge retention. Paired with a hollow grind, that means this blade takes a fine edge quickly and keeps it through more cutting than the average pocket knife manages.
Why it is worth considering
- CPM S35VN blade steel rather than a budget stainless.
- Tri-Ad lock, one of the strongest folding knife locks made.
- DLC coating for corrosion resistance and a non-reflective finish.
- G-10 scales that stay grippy when wet or gloved.
- One-motion deployment via the thumb plate.
Who it suits
This knife suits anyone who wants a folder that will not fail under lateral stress: military and law enforcement users made it popular for exactly that reason, and it has carried over to hard-use everyday carry. It is a large folder, so check your local blade length rules before carrying it. Cold Steel offers the AK-47 in two sizes, and this is the 3.5-inch model.
Carrying and Caring for It
A DLC-coated blade does not need oiling the way bare carbon steel does, but the pivot still benefits from a drop of light oil once or twice a year, and the Tri-Ad lock face should be kept free of pocket lint. Sharpen S35VN on diamond or ceramic rather than a soft natural stone: the vanadium and niobium carbides are harder than the abrasive in most traditional hones, and a softer stone will polish the shoulder without touching the edge. A few passes on a ceramic rod will usually bring a working edge back without a full resharpening.
Cold Steel publishes full product information at Cold Steel. If a fixed blade suits your use better, or you want something smaller for daily pocket carry, browse the rest of the knives and edged tools we stock, and see the other Cold Steel products in the catalog. Knives ship directly to you with no FFL transfer required, unlike firearms, though some states and municipalities restrict blade length or locking mechanisms, so check your local rules before ordering.
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