by Cold Steel, maker of knives, swords, and other stabby, pointy, sharp things, was acquired by GSM Outdoors of Irving, Texas. Cold Steel joins a list of GSM Outdoors brands that includes companies like Hunters Specialties, Birchwood Casey, and Walker’s Game Ear.
The sale was announced on Friday, December 4th.
From the press release:
Eddie Castro, CEO of GSM Outdoors said, “Cold Steel is an iconic, best in class brand that Lynn Thompson has built over the last 40 years by pushing the needle on innovation and new testing standards. His users are some of the most loyal followers I’ve ever seen, and a testament to what he has built. The team and I are highly enthusiastic about bringing this legendary brand into the GSM Family and broadening our current line of cutlery offerings.”
Cold Steel was founded by Lynn Thompson in 1980. If you have been to the NRA Annual Meeting or to the SHOT Show, you have seen Thompson demonstrating his knives and swords. I have a few of their products including a 1917 Cutlass.
In a video message posted on the Cold Steel Facebook page, Thompson noted that he isn’t going away. More importantly, he said it brings in money and greater materials expertise that will grow Cold Steel far beyond what he himself could do.
That message was also posted to YouTube and I have embedded it below.
And GSM has a pretty good reputation for quality, so hopefully no loss there.