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At the price point, this is a knife you shouldn’t be afraid to use & use hard when needed. My example came exceptionally sharp which is fairly easy to do with AUS 8A steel but it’s still impressive. Touch ups will be a breeze too because of that. Comfortable in the hand and doesn’t consume a lot of pocket space. Feels robust in use. My only complaint about my example is that the oval opening in the blade was not deburred properly but about a minute with a small round stone easily took care of that.
Cold Steel 20LTR Tuff Lite Folding Knife 2.5" Plain Blade, Red Griv-Ex Handles
It really lives up to its name. First of all I really like Cold Steel Knives. I've never been disappointed in any of the models I've bought. The other parts of its name Tuff Lite are more than accurate. This knife is crazy sharp, and the design of the blade makes it very slicey. I have used it on a lot of different materials and it rises to the challenge and stays sharp. When I am using this knife I cannot help but feel "sorry" for whatever it is I'm cutting. The 2.5 length complies with our state knife law. And also complex with the other neighboring states that I visit. Great knife at a great price.
Cold Steel 20LTR Tuff Lite Folding Knife 2.5" Plain Blade, Red Griv-Ex Handles
I have owned this knife for about year (EDC). It comes very sharp and resharpens very easy. It is not a scary looking knife. If you don't want anyone to know you have a knife drop in pocket, it would print like a Bic lighter. The only down side is like all Cold steel folders is the blade lock release takes some extra hand strength
Cold Steel 20LTR Tuff Lite Folding Knife 2.5" Plain Blade, Red Griv-Ex Handles
I have a size 14 ring finger and this blade fits me equally and in some cases better than knives in my collection that are larger in every aspect. Amazing design in creating a rugged, useful and very cost effective tool. Buy this without an ounce of reservation or doubt. You can not go or do wrong in this choice.
Cold Steel 20LTR Tuff Lite Folding Knife 2.5" Plain Blade, Red Griv-Ex Handles
Seb D
Connecticut
Sep 02, 2025
Pros: Ease of Opening, Lock Type, Weight
Cons: None
Excellent value for the price
I have been carrying this knife as an EDC for a few months now, mainly opening packages I guess (but you never know when it’ll come in handy…). When I received it I was immediately impressed by the quality and the level of pride that went into making this budget knife. The materials and finish are very nice and it arrived razor sharp. The knife feels solid in your hand with good ergonomics and inspires confidence that it will stand up to a beating, especially with the axis lock. The knife has some features that are not exactly my preference, like tip-down only clip mounting, but these features are plain to read from the description. For instance the overall form of the knife is somewhat similar to the Wharncliffe Spyderco Dragonfly, which has four position clip mounting, but costs far more. Then again, the Dragonfly would be better with an axis lock! The grind of the blade on the Tuff Lite is somewhat reminiscent of the Spyderco Yojimbo, with heavy blade stock and a deep hollow grind for slicing power and strength, though the Tuff Lite is less toothpick-like at the tip. I usually don’t prefer back locks, but the axis lock feels premium and strong compared to a normal back lock on a plastic handled knife, and I’m a big fan now. Yes, the spring is pretty stiff on the lock and you need to squeeze the lever further than you might be used to for a normal back lock, but it doesn’t bother me, personally. My only real gripe would be that the edges on the blade along the spine and opening hole came somewhat sharp, and the tips of the finger “choil” divider (the pointy part that sits between your index and middle fingers when holding it) are sharp. The latter is a bit of an unforced error on Cold Steel’s part since they could have noticed how pointy those are during testing. Still, on the whole I’m very impressed with the overall package and would recommend to anyone looking for a knife with these features.
Cold Steel 20LTR Tuff Lite Folding Knife 2.5" Plain Blade, Red Griv-Ex Handles
Amazing little knife. Super sharp out of the box and handle is very comfortable . The only downside is the lock takes allot of strength to disengage . I guess that’s the one fall back since it’s one of the best toughest locking mechanisms out there.
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Close-up of hand holding knife, opening or unsheathing knife, and then closing or sheathing knife.
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