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Cold Steel Air Lite Tanto Point AUS-10A Folding Knife

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€87.15
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€87.15

Cold Steel Air Lite Tanto AUS-10A Folding Knife

The Folding EDC knife (Every Day Carry) features a Tanto-shaped blade. Crafted from Japanese AUS-10A steel, the blade delivers outstanding corrosion resistance. Its surface is treated with the satined finish, resulting in a refined semi-matte appearance. Deployment is facilitated by a double-sided thumb stud, while the robust Tri-Ad Lock ensures secure lockup when open. The handle, made from black G10 laminate, is engineered for a firm, slip-resistant grip. Carrying the knife is made easy with a spring clip for practical everyday use.

Japanese AUS-10A steel

Forged from premium Japanese AUS-10A steel, the blade boasts exceptional strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and impressive wear resistance. Thanks to an advanced hardening process, the steel attains a hardness rating of 58-61 HRC, guaranteeing outstanding durability and enduring sharpness.

Tanto profile blade, satined finish

The Tanto-style blade measures 88 mm in length and 3 mm in thickness. A high hollow grind delivers a smooth cutting edge for efficient slicing. The blade surface is finished using the satined technique, which provides a semi-matte appearance for enhanced aesthetics and greater resistance to scratches. Along the spine, jimping is present, offering a reliable thumb rest to improve grip and control during precision cutting.

non-slip G10 laminate handle

The handle is crafted from G10 laminate, which consists of layers of fiberglass compressed with epoxy resin. Renowned for its exceptional strength, low weight, and resistance to moisture, this material ensures reliability in demanding environments. An ergonomically shaped, non-slip grip enhances handling and control. A steel tip-up clip is included, allowing for easy repositioning to either side of the handle and accommodating both right- and left-handed users.

Tri-Ad Lock

Featuring the Tri-Ad Lock system, recognized as one of the most robust mechanisms found in folding knives, this knife uses a stop pin to absorb blade pressure, transferring the force to the handle and minimizing wear. The locking system self-adjusts with use, ensuring ongoing reliability. A double-sided thumb stud on the blade enables fast, one-handed deployment.

Main features

  • High hollow grind blade in a Tanto profile
  • Crafted from Japanese AUS-10A steel
  • Blade features a satin finish
  • Deploys via ambidextrous thumb stud
  • Jimping present along the spine for enhanced grip
  • Equipped with Tri-Ad Lock mechanism
  • Handle constructed from G10 laminate
  • Includes a steel pocket clip for convenient carry
Cold Steel


Militaria.pl is the official distributor of Cold Steel.


Cold Steel is a renowned American brand of knives, machetes and tactical tools, founded in 1980 in Irving, California. The company has gained popularity thanks to innovative solutions such as Kraton® handles and American Tanto blades, which are appreciated by uniformed services and military enthusiasts. It has also introduced its own steel alloys, such as San Mai III®, which ensures high strength and wear resistance. Cold Steel has patented the Tri-Ad™ Lock blade locking mechanism, which guarantees safe use. The brand cooperates with renowned knifemakers, including the company's founder Lynn C. Thompson and Andrew Demko, whose passion and experience contribute to the high quality of the products.

More Information
Type Folder
Style Military-tactical
Blade length 88 mm
Blade thickness 3 mm
Blade profile Tanto
Blade edge Plain
Blunt resistance Good
Corrosion resistance Very good
Lock type Tri-Ad Lock
Overall length 203 mm
Main color Black
Blade material AUS-10
Opening method Thumb stud
Handle G10 laminate
Clip for carrying Yes
Holster included No
Weight 91 g
EAN 705442019121
Manufacturer code CS-26WT
Brand Cold Steel
AUS-10 feature
AUS-10
AUS-10 is a high-quality stainless steel produced by the Japanese company Aichi Steel, considered one of the best in the AUS steel series, used mainly in mid-range and high-end utility knives, produced mainly in Japan and Taiwan. The carbon content (0.95-1.1%) ensures high hardness, while chromium (13-14.5%) guarantees very good corrosion and abrasion resistance. The steel also contains manganese (up to 1%), silicon (up to 1%), phosphorus (up to 0.025%), and sulfur (up to 0.025%), which affect hardenability, impact strength, elasticity, and machinability, improving structural stability and maintaining mechanical properties. After hardening, the steel achieves a hardness of 58-61 HRC, offering an excellent balance between strength, edge retention, and ease of sharpening. It is comparable to 440C steel, differing in carbon content and the addition of vanadium, which improves structural homogeneity and increases abrasion resistance.
Tri-Ad Lock feature
Tri-Ad Lock
Tri-Ad Lock is a lock developed by Cold Steel and Andrew Demko, considered one of the strongest systems in folding knives. Its key element is a stop pin, which takes the pressure from the blade and distributes it to the handle, protecting the lock from wear and overload. The mechanism is designed to self-adjust over time, which maintains the reliability of the lock even after prolonged use. In tests, it has proven resistant to loads of up to hundreds of pounds, confirming its durability.
G10 feature
G10
G10 is a lightweight and extremely durable material, considered one of the best for knife production. It is created by pressure-pressing fiberglass with phenolic resin, which gives it high durability and resistance to mechanical damage. It is chemically inert, does not conduct electricity, and retains its properties at both low and high temperatures. In terms of parameters, it is similar to carbon fiber, but its production is much cheaper. G10 handles are manufactured by precision cutting and cutting, which increases the cost of processing but ensures a perfect fit and long knife life.
Satin feature
Satin
Satin finishing is one of the most popular blade finishes, achieved by grinding the steel with fine-grained abrasives. Parallel micro-scratches remain on the surface, giving the knife a technical, matte appearance. Satin finishing has both aesthetic and practical significance - a smoothed blade is easier to clean, and the slightly reduced friction promotes smoother cutting. Depending on the direction and intensity of polishing, different effects are achieved - from a matte finish to an almost mirror-like finish. Satin is valued in both utility and collector's knives because it emphasizes the structure and quality of the steel while maintaining functionality.

Reviews with photos

Review summary

Automatically prepared based on reviews

Number of reviews: 30

  1. A... Review confirmed by purchase
    100%

    I don't really understand why in the following reviews the CS Airlite is compared to the Bugout, which is a knife that bends in every direction for light tasks like opening a package with the CS Airlite, for example. Except that it will be its last use, because if you pick up any CS product, you'll forget about the Bugout immediately (I'm not talking about other Benchmade products, some are decent, but this Bugout...). CS Airlite is a great compromise between price and quality, it's a knife with the best lock on the market, a knife that can easily replace a fixed blade knife for many tasks, and there is no 'blade play', so once opened it is rigid. However, it is definitely not a toy for fidgeters, those who like to play with knives – it's hard to open it in one smooth move with the thumb stud (unless someone has "hands like shovels"); the bearing works with quite a lot of resistance – but that's the price you pay for legendary stiffness. I have no complaints about the steel – just watch Joe X's "review." For this price, I don't need anything more.

  2. G... Review confirmed by purchase
    100%

    Simply Cold Steel, as solid as usual. When it comes to the price, you have to pay for the brand. An interesting thing is the blade's thickness. Despite its slim shape, it fits very comfortably in the hand. Highly recommended.

  3. Ł...
    100%

    Great knife for EDC.

  4. V...
    100%

    Mega solid knife, also flat and light, solid stuff.

  5. L...
    100%

    It's hard to find another knife that, with such a low weight, is such a solid tool. This is due to the materials it's made from and the excellent Tri Ad lock.

  6. K...
    100%

    Great folder, light, well-made and sharp. The Japanese AUS10 steel is fully sufficient! Could be cheaper, but after all, it's Cold Steel. It sits in the pocket so nicely ;-)

  7. K...
    100%

    The tanto blade has always interested me. I was only concerned whether the narrow grip - 9 mm would be ergonomic, but it turned out it is, given the 25 mm width. The knife is very light, flat, with a comfortable handle and a strong blade—perfect for me as an EDC while traveling.

  8. L...
    100%

    It's hard to find a folding knife on the market in this price range whose construction offers a better ratio of size, weight, durability, and ergonomics. If you are looking for a full-size, solid folder that doesn't bulge out your pocket, this is the ideal option.

  9. W...
    100%

    For me, the knife is cool, I wanted a tanto profile. Its advantages are definitely being lightweight, fitting nicely in my hand, and being thin. For longer work, the narrowness might get in the way, but for me, it's fine. It cut through paper with no problem, nice lock.

  10. K...
    100%

    Perfect for carrying with you, fits great in the hand.

  11. D...
    100%

    Very slim handle and aggressive material—because of this, it fits great in the hand.

  12. W...
    100%

    Great EDC knife, very light, slim, but also VERY strong. I can't see any way something could happen to it, even with some light abuse.

  13. M...
    100%

    A solid piece of steel. Highly recommended. Super fast shipping.

  14. V...
    80%

    Good knife, but at this price, the steel could be better. I got it as a gift and I'm very happy with it. However, I wouldn't buy AUS 10 myself for this price.

  15. J...
    100%

    The knife comes excellently sharpened. Very good workmanship. No flaws. Comfortable, I recommend it.

No reviews

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