Lynn C. Thompson is an American outdoorsman, martial artist and founder of the Cold Steel company based in California, U.S.A. Cold Steel makes solid knives, fighting sticks, swords, walking sticks, training gear, self defense products and EDC gear. Cold Steel has a reputation for building strong tools and has a big following in the law enforcement, military and emergency services as they rely on having gear that stands up under extreme conditions.
Knife industry leaders: Lynn C. Thompson. Born United States of America. Continues to work at Cold Steel which he founded in 1980.
Lynn Thompson Quotes
My passion for Martial Arts and my training also informs my design. After 30 years of training and of testing knives I have a pretty good idea of what works and why.
Lynn Thompson
When people say why do you live in California – well this is the Mecca of martial arts, this is the Mecca of the entertainment industry. And it’s expensive and it’s very politically oppressing and it’s not really weapons friendly, but then there’s million of people that still appreciate what we do.. and we’re not willing to abandon them.
Lynn Thompson
The reason the second amendment is so important is that it exists to protect not only the people but the other amendments. Without the second amendment the people cannot defend any of their rights. Without the second amendment the government can rule without the good will and support of the citizenry that it should exist to serve and represent.
Lynn Thompson
Designing a knife can take years or it can take days. If inspiration strikes just right, it’s a wonderful thing. I often find myself constantly revisiting the design. Trying to make it better. Prototyping and re-working until I get something I like.
Lynn Thompson
I started Cold Steel because I broke two of my competitors knives. One right after the other and I said I could do a better job and I must do a better job.
Lynn Thompson
The Tai-Pan is one of my all-time favorite designs. I tried so hard to make the best double edged dagger that I could. Even after all these years, I’m still not sure it can be improved upon.
Lynn Thompson
Anyone who knows me or my company knows we have a lot of love and support for both the military and law enforcement. But I am also a firm believer in the concept of the armed civilian.
Lynn Thompson
Fashions change, technology changes, materials change. All of that has an impact on what I do. Remember, my main focus is mass-production knives for an international audience. My knives are unashamedly tactical in nature; I find that what I do attracts a certain type of customer.
Lynn Thompson
I love my customers and I tolerate my competitors. I work with my competitors just enough to achieve our common goals. Other than that, they are on the other side of the board. I’m on this side of the board. I don’t really care whether they like me or not.
Lynn Thompson
I’m always interested in why a knife or a sword was designed the way it was. The truth is almost always function, performance and necessity based on circumstances and conditions of combat.
Lynn Thompson
We’re constantly trying to promote the warrior ethos, you know, and trying to bring that back to America. It’s going away. Men are becoming more dumbed down. And, we don’t like that trend. We want to go against it.
Lynn Thompson
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a humble guy. I spend my life testing my products. I have a tendency to brag, but that comes from pride in what my team and I have accomplished. We work hard to be able to back up that brag!
Lynn Thompson
The most important thing when you pick out a knife is how strong is the lock? Not how cool it looks. Not how sexy it is.
Lynn Thompson
A lot of my influences come from historical sources. I’m an avid reader and something of an amateur historian. I have a HUGE library of books and a vast collection of antique blades as well as modern reproductions.
Lynn Thompson
It’s hard to make something look really good and perform real well. My wife said, why can’t we make really sexy knives like the competitors do? I said because they won’t cut and they don’t stab.
Lynn Thompson
I have rooms and rooms FULL of knives, swords, spears, edged weapons and tools. I’ve been collecting them my whole life. I love going to gun shows and knife conventions and seeing what’s there. There’s always something new and exciting and there’s always something to learn if you look hard enough.
Lynn Thompson
I was the first one, Cold Steel, to break the $100 price barrier and start selling commercially made knives for over $100 and it was a huge struggle. Like the tanto point that everybody recognizes today, I introduced that to the American public.
Lynn Thompson
Andrew Demko from Demko Knives has been an incredibly positive force for my brand and he’s a pleasure to work with. He and I have worked together for many years now. He shares many of my interests and sensibilities.
Lynn Thompson
More on the American Knife Maker
Let us know what you think about Lynn C. Thompson in the comments below. Do you own any Cold Steel knives designed by Lynn Thompson? They include some great Cold Steel models like the Tai Pan Dagger fixed blade, Espada and Ultimate Hunter folding knives.
Find Lynn Thompson designed knives on Blade HQ or Amazon Here
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