The Urban Edge from Cold Steel is a great addition to their strong line of push daggers. The Urban Edge is a versatile and useful everyday utility tool that is light enough to be worn as a neck knife or hung from a key ring or a purse.
The blade is satin finished AUS-8A stainless steel with a double edge. The expertly designed handle offers a secure and comfortable grip using textured Kray-Ex. This awesome knife is complemented by Cold Steel's sturdy Secure-Ex¢ sheath and a black bead lanyard chain.
As a knife whose "best use" is "tactical", you hope you never use the damn thing. But even when it's just in your pocket, you are using it, to expand your zone of confidence and safety. This is crucial if you want those around you to feel safer because you are there. This is a solidly built little knife, and the holes in the sheath will perfectly accept snap rivets to fix inside a vest pocket.
I think I've bought every edition of Cold Steel's medium-size, t-handle grip, knives, including the original solid steel, short edition sold in tiny ads in the back of magazines. This current generation is a very nice size and weight - shorter with thinner stock. Some of the earlier ones were just too long, or the stem was too long, and the stock too thick. This current 2.5" Urban Edge is thinner, lighter, and shorter, less likely to torque side-to-side in the hand (up and down rocking movements can be controlled with the handle, but side-to-side blade movements, from deflection, are impossible to control as the handle rotates in the palm. A shorter blade with a shorter stem has less leverage to work against your grip. I also like the move to double edge - I think the first and second gen, with single edge, hoped to duck some knife laws prejudiced against push daggers. For pure self-defense, the double serrated edition is best. For some utility use, the plain edge - single or dual plain edges - is better, since it can be re-sharpened. The original single edge with a lot of belly made a fine "ulu"; the current pointed versions will open cartons and in a pinch carve apart a rotisserie chicken, but are far from optimal. Where the Urban Edge excels is keeping a sharp edge handy when you sleep. I've had some folders partially open when not intended, but I've never had a Kydex sheath on an Urban Edge fly off on its own. This is light and portable. Belongs in every shaving kit / dopp kit when you hit the road. Just don't forget to put it in checked luggage or TSA will have a cow.
I just bought this for myself as a Christmas present. It is the right size for me, easily deployable, and a very great design to look at. The only problem I have with it is that it is only a neck knife sheath. It fits nicely in that sheath but I would have liked a belt and/or boot attachment possibility. Minor complaint though. Steel is also not high quality, but as it is a push knife that would not be a problem.
As a last ditch/defensive blade, the simplicity of this blade is perfect. The rubber grip feels great in hand. Again, simple double edge is very natural to use in a defensive situation which is very important. Finally, the size allows this to be concealed very easily. I didn't prefer the neck sheath, so I ordered a custom kydex inside-waistband sheath, and I think it's a lot more comfortable.
It falls out of the sheath easily. I lost it a few times and found it on the ground.
This is a cheap, small neck knife so you can't criticize much. My main issue with it is that as you remove it from the sheath and replace it over and over the sheath dulls parts of the blade. If you play with your knives, like I do, simple fidgeting will dull it. Be warned!