This Cold Steel Knife Was Just Crowned the Strongest Folder on Earth. Here’s Why It Might Be True

This blade’s combination of materials, mechanisms and construction makes it more robust than some fixed blades.

Cold Steel AD-10 knife in industrial setting closeup

Published April 23, 2025

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Updated April 23, 2025

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Yesterday, Blade HQ dropped a video on its YouTube channel titled “The Strongest Folding Knife on Earth.” At only 21 seconds in length, the clip shows a pocket blade being put through some tremendous punishment and surviving all of it triumphantly.

The knife in question is the Cold Steel AD-10, a long-time staple of the brand and the larger knifemaking industry. While it’s certainly bold to crown any folding knife the “strongest,” this one actually has a lot of evidence backing it up.

Here’s why Blade HQ might be right about its lofty claim.

Cold Steel AD-10 knife in outdoor setting — Because of how it’s built, this knife is actually more robust than some fixed blades.

Built Demko tough

The Cold Steel AD-10 was originally launched in 2019 alongside its sister blade, the AD-15. Both were based on Andrew Demko’s custom designs. While the AD-15 is certainly impressive in its own right, the AD-10 quickly became a massive fan favorite and one of Cold Steel’s most significant releases ever.

There are two particular features that lend the AD-10 its exceptional strength: its blade construction and its now-legendary locking mechanism. Combined, they give the knife robustness that even rivals some fixed blade knives, which are traditionally far stronger than folders.

There are two particular features that lend the AD-10 its exceptional strength: its blade construction and its now-legendary locking mechanism.

The blade is made of S35VN steel, which isn’t particularly special in and of itself, although it’s a tried-and-true material trusted by knife fanatics for years. What sets this blade apart is its thickness. Its 4.0-inch blade is complemented by a beefy 3.8 mm-thick spine.

Again, that’s not enough to make the knife strong. However, when paired with its Tri-Ad lock — a Demko-designed mechanism that’s kind of like a back lock on steroids (perhaps an oversimplification) — it makes this knife absurdly robust.

Cold Steel AD-10 knife in industrial setting — The Cold Steel AD-10’s iconic Demko-designed Tri-Ad lock is part of what makes it so remarkably robust.

But wait, there’s more

You need more than a thick blade and a strong lock to make a pocket knife worth carrying. But that’s okay, because the Cold Steel AD-10 hits on other levels, too.

This is not a knife for the faint of heart. But if you value robustness and performance, it’s worth the investment in money and space.

Admittedly, it’s on the larger side of the spectrum. It measures a whopping 8.375 inches in total, which could be prohibitive for some. That said, if you can make the room, the knife will obviously pay dividends.

While the blade takes up four of those inches, the rest is made up of a G10 handle. This material makes the knife’s weight manageable, keeping it just under seven ounces. (For reference, the titanium version weighs a whopping 9.0 ounces.)

That handle also benefits from its ergonomic shape. Furthermore, the finger cutouts add a layer of safety and security, helping to prevent fingers from slipping up the blade when putting the knife through its paces.

This is not a knife for the faint of heart. But if you value robustness and performance, it’s worth the investment in money and space. Watch the Blade HQ YouTube video and try to say you’re not intrigued.

Pricing and availability

The standard Cold Steel AD-10 is currently available in three configurations: one with a standard drop-point blade, another with a tanto blade and a titanium-handled limited edition. Pricing ranges from $240 to $400.

However, at Blade HQ, you can get all the knives’ available configurations (including the lightweight editions) and colorways for even cheaper, from $110 to $166.