Get in Touch with C&S Knifes LLC
Have a question about our knives, want to discuss a custom build, or ready to place an order? We’d love to hear from you. Based in Bandera, Texas, C&S Knifes LLC crafts high-quality, durable blades built for real-world use — and we’re always happy to talk shop. Whether you’re a hunter, collector, everyday carry enthusiast, or looking for a one-of-a-kind handmade knife, reach out and let’s find the right blade for you. Contact us today by phone, email, or the form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
C&S Knifes LLC specializes in premium knives, everyday carry (EDC) gear, and custom blades built for performance, durability, and craftsmanship. Our products are designed for collectors, outdoorsmen, professionals, and anyone who demands high-quality cutting tools.
We’re currently sharpening things up behind the scenes and preparing for launch. Join our waitlist at cnsknifesllc.com to be the first to know when our knives and EDC gear go live, and to receive early-access offers. Looking to go Live by September – October 2026
Yes. Custom blades are a core part of what we do. Once we launch, customers will be able to choose C&S custom builds based on blade style, steel type, handle material, and finish. Reach out to cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com for early inquiries.
We use premium blade steels and handle materials selected for edge retention, corrosion resistance, and overall performance. Specific options will be listed on each product page once our catalog is live at cnsknifesllc.com.
Keep your blade clean and dry after each use, apply a light coat of oil to carbon steel blades to prevent rust, and store in a dry environment. Sharpen regularly with an appropriate stone or system to maintain a clean edge — never run blades through a dishwasher.
Visit cnsknifesllc.com and click “Join the Waitlist” on the homepage. You’ll receive launch updates, product announcements, and exclusive early-buyer pricing.
Yes, we plan to ship across the United States. Because knives are regulated differently by state and locality, customers are responsible for confirming that the blade they order is legal in their area. We are not liable if you we ship to addresses where the product is prohibited by law. That is the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
A detailed answer is provided at the Returns and refund Policy page.
Yes. Buyers must be at least 18 years of age (or the legal age in their jurisdiction) to purchase a knife from C&S Knifes LLC. Age verification may be required at checkout or delivery.
You alone bear responsibility for verifying that the products you purchase are legal to own and carry under your local, state, and federal laws. C&S Knifes LLC takes no responsibility for confiscation, legal action, or refund denials stemming from items that your jurisdiction prohibits. Returns based solely on local legal restrictions follow the standard return policy above.
You can reach us anytime at cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com for product questions, custom inquiries, wholesale opportunities, or general support. We respond to all messages as quickly as possible. There is also a contact Form on this Page you can use to inquire.
C&S Knifes LLC provides custom engraving as a service. When you submit text, artwork, images, or logos for engraving, you — not C&S Knifes LLC — are responsible for having the legal right to use that content.
By placing an engraving order, you represent and warrant that you own the submitted content or have permission from its owner to reproduce it. Please note that owning a product does not give you the right to reproduce its manufacturer’s logo, and being a fan does not give you the right to reproduce a team’s logo. Sports team logos, manufacturer logos, brand marks, characters, and most artwork found online are protected by copyright and/or trademark law and generally require the owner’s permission.
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless C&S Knifes LLC, its owners, and employees from any claim, demand, damages, or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from the engraving of content you submitted, including claims of copyright or trademark infringement or violation of publicity or privacy rights.
C&S Knifes LLC does not review submissions for legal clearance and reserves the right to refuse any engraving request at our sole discretion, including content we believe may be infringing, unlawful, or offensive. Refused requests are refunded for the engraving fee. Engraving performed at your direction does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, any brand, team, or logo owner. All engraved items remain final sale per our engraving policy, and our engraving warranty-void disclosure still applies.
Questions about whether your artwork needs permission? Contact us before you order — we are happy to help you figure it out.
Automatic and out-the-front (OTF) knives are not legal everywhere. Some states ban them outright, some cap the blade length, and a few allow you to own one but make it an offence for a shop to sell you one. This page sets out exactly where we will and will not ship them, and why. If your state is not on the "we cannot ship" list, you can order normally.
Nine jurisdictions, plus one city. Checkout will decline the order.
Your order will go through. These rules still apply to you.
The Federal Switchblade Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1241–1245) restricts introducing switchblade knives into interstate commerce. It is aimed at manufacturers and importers rather than at a shop selling a knife to a customer, and it carries a set of express exceptions — among them common and contract carriers handling shipments in the ordinary course of business, sales and transport under Armed Forces contracts, members of the Armed Forces acting in the course of duty, a person with one arm carrying a blade of three inches or less, and knives built with a spring, detent or other mechanism creating a bias toward closure that must be overcome by hand.
We ship on that basis and in line with the state rules above. If you are buying on behalf of a law enforcement agency or a military unit and need something we would not normally ship to your state, contact us before ordering rather than placing the order and hoping.
You must be at least 18 to buy anything from C&S Knifes LLC. We confirm that when you enter the site and again at checkout. Kentucky and West Virginia set 21 as the minimum for an automatic knife, and where a higher age applies, it applies to you.
State law is not the whole picture. Chicago is the example we block outright, but it is not the only city with its own ordinance — New York City, Denver and Philadelphia all come up regularly. We cannot check every local rule in the country, so this part is down to you. If you are not certain, look it up before you order.
Before you can place an order you confirm that you are 18 or older, that what you are buying is legal for you to purchase, own and receive where you live, and that you accept responsibility for complying with the law that applies to you. We keep a record of that confirmation with your order.
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any order we believe would breach the law. If we cancel for that reason, we refund you in full.
The American Knife & Tool Institute maintains the best free state-by-state summary of knife law in the country, and it is the source we work from ourselves. If you are not certain where you stand, start there. It will usually answer the question faster than we can, and it covers carry and possession rules that our list does not — ours only tells you whether we are able to ship to you.
If AKTI does not settle it, or you are not sure how it applies to your situation, ask us before you order and we will give you a straight answer. We would far rather answer the question than cancel the order afterwards.
This page is general guidance, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for checking the law where you live. Knife law changes — Hawaii changed in 2024, Delaware in 2025, and Massachusetts is still unsettled. We review this page periodically; last reviewed August 2026.
Ask five people which knife steel is best and you will get five answers, most of them confident and several of them wrong. The honest answer is that there is no best steel. There are trade-offs, and the right steel depends on what you cut, how often you sharpen, and whether your knife lives in a dry pocket or a wet one.
We stock most of the steels below, so this is written from handling them rather than from a spec sheet. Here is what each one actually does.
| Steel | Edge holding | Toughness | Rust resistance | Ease of sharpening | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3Cr13 | Low | Very good | Very good | Very easy | $15–30 |
| 14C28N | Good | Very good | Excellent | Easy | $50–90 |
| D2 | Very good | Fair | Fair | Moderate | $30–90 |
| VG-10 | Good | Good | Excellent | Easy with a strop | $85–130 |
| 10Cr15CoMoV | Good | Good | Very good | Easy | $50–70 |
| M390 / Elmax | Excellent | Low | Very good | Hard | $150+ |
Roughly 0.3% carbon and 13% chromium, usually run soft, around 55 HRC. It will not hold an edge through a day of cardboard and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
What it is genuinely good at: being cheap, resisting rust, and sharpening back to keen in about a minute on almost any stone. For a knife that lives in a tackle box, a glovebox or a kitchen drawer — or a first knife for someone who is going to lose it — 3Cr13 is the sensible choice. Buying premium steel for a knife you will misplace is just an expensive way to misplace steel.
In stock: our own C&S Fixed Blade Hunting Knife at $29.00.
Sandvik's stainless, about 0.62% carbon and 14% chromium with nitrogen added, typically hardened to around 59 HRC. On paper it sits in the middle. In the pocket it punches well above where its price suggests.
The fine grain structure means it takes a genuinely keen edge — sharper than D2 will get without real effort — and the nitrogen gives it corrosion resistance that shrugs off sweat and damp. It does not hold that edge as long as a powder steel, but it comes back in a few minutes on a stone rather than a session.
If you carry daily, sharpen occasionally, and do not want to think about your knife much, this is the steel we would point you at first.
In stock: the Bear & Son Nekama I in gray at $68.
High carbon, around 1.5%, with about 12% chromium. That last number matters: below roughly 13% free chromium, a steel is not truly stainless. D2 is semi-stainless, and the distinction is not academic.
It holds an edge notably longer than 14C28N and cuts aggressively through rope and cardboard. The trade is that it will spot and patina if you leave it wet, and it takes more work to sharpen because the same carbides that hold the edge resist your stone.
Wipe it dry and it will serve you for years. Leave it in a damp pocket after a fishing trip and you will find orange freckles. Our own C&S Field Pocketknife runs D2 for exactly this reason — it is the best cutting-per-dollar steel we know for someone who will look after it.
Also in stock: the Dreamtech Linerlock in black and red micarta at $60.
Japanese stainless, roughly 1% carbon and 15% chromium with cobalt and vanadium, usually around 60 HRC. It takes a very fine edge, holds it well through cardboard and rope, and resists rust better than most steels people worry about.
The catch is that VG-10 is a touch brittle right at the apex. Pry with the tip or baton with it and you will chip it — not because it is soft, but because it is hard and fine-grained. Treat it as a slicer and it will outlast you.
Sharpening is where VG-10 rewards you. It responds beautifully to a strop. Most people reach for a stone when the edge needs fifteen passes on leather with a little compound. Save the stone for when it stops biting entirely.
In stock: our C&S Green Squam Luminous Carbon Fiber in VG-10, 59–60 HRC, at $115.00.
A Chinese steel built to a similar recipe to VG-10, and it behaves much the same way: fine edge, good corrosion resistance, easy to bring back. It shows up in mid-priced folders and represents good value in the $50–70 band.
If you like how VG-10 cuts but not what it costs, this is where to look.
Both are Böhler powder-metallurgy steels. M390 runs around 1.9% carbon and 20% chromium; Elmax is close behind. Powder metallurgy means the carbides are smaller and more evenly distributed, which is why they hold an edge far longer than anything else here — published metallurgical ratings put M390 and Elmax at roughly double the edge retention of 14C28N. The trade is toughness. On the same ratings M390 scores near the bottom where 14C28N scores near the top, which in the pocket means it chips where a softer steel would roll. Their corrosion resistance is good but not the best on this page; 14C28N and VG-10 both rate higher, because chromium locked into carbides is chromium that is not protecting the blade.
They are genuinely excellent. They are also expensive, and when they finally do go dull, a stone will take a while and diamond helps. Whether that matters depends on you: if you sharpen once a season and want the knife to simply keep cutting in between, this is what you are paying for. If you enjoy sharpening, you are paying a premium for a chore you like doing anyway.
In stock: the Microtech MSI Ram-Lok in frag blue at $328.
Damascus is a pattern, not a performance category, and there are two different things sold under the name.
Traditional pattern-welded Damascus is layers of different steels forge-welded together and etched to show the pattern — the whole blade is Damascus, and how it cuts depends on which steels went into it.
What you will more often see today, including on our copper Damascus knives, is a Damascus-clad blade with a different steel forming the cutting core. On ours that core is VG-10. The Damascus is what makes people ask about the knife; the VG-10 is what does the cutting. Both facts are worth knowing before you buy, because a Damascus exterior tells you nothing at all about edge retention.
If it is your first decent knife: 14C28N. Enough performance to show you what a good knife feels like, forgiving enough to learn sharpening on, cheap enough that losing it is annoying rather than painful.
If you cut a lot and will maintain it: D2. More working edge per dollar than anything else here, provided you wipe it dry.
If it will get wet: 14C28N or VG-10. Both shrug off damp in a way D2 will not.
If you want to sharpen as rarely as possible: M390 or Elmax, and buy a diamond stone while you are at it.
If it is a knock-about knife: 3Cr13, and spend the difference on something else.
Whatever you land on, the thing that makes the biggest difference to how a knife cuts is not the steel on the box. Heat treatment and edge geometry move real-world performance more than the name stamped on the blade — the same steel run soft or sharpened badly will lose to a cheaper one done right. It is whether the edge has been touched in the last month. A stropped 3Cr13 will out-cut a neglected M390 every single time.
If what you actually want to know is how much to spend rather than which steel to pick, we wrote that one too: what a good pocket knife actually costs, with the knives we stock in each price band.
Our own C&S blades in the higher-end steels carry a limited lifetime guarantee; our entry-level blades carry a one-year limited warranty. The cover for any individual knife is stated on its product page. If you would like one email a month covering this sort of thing, along with what is new and what is on sale, you can sign up here.
Last Updated: August 2, 2026
Please Note: CNSKNIFES LLC operates under the brand "C&S Knifes." Both names refer to the same Texas-registered business. Throughout this policy, "C&S Knifes LLC," "we," "us," and "our" all mean C&S KNIFES LLC.
At C&S Knifes LLC, we stand behind every blade and product we sell. If you're not completely satisfied with your purchase, we want to make it right. Please review the policy below before starting a return — and reach out anytime with questions.
Our refund and returns policy covers 30 days from the date you receive your order. Unfortunately, once more than 30 days have passed, we can no longer offer a full refund or exchange.
Your item must meet all of the following conditions to qualify for a return:
Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer. Ship all returns directly to C&S Knifes LLC at the address below.
For safety, hygiene, and product integrity, the following items count as final sale, and we cannot refund or accept them as returns:
At our discretion, we may grant partial refunds for:
To start a return, please email us at cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com with:
We'll review your request and respond within 1–2 business days with a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and detailed return instructions. We may refuse or delay returns that arrive without an RMA number.
Once we receive and inspect your return, we'll email you to confirm it arrived. We'll then let you know whether we approved or rejected your refund.
If we approve it, we'll send your refund to your original payment method within 5–7 business days. Depending on your bank or credit card provider, the refund may take additional time to show up on your statement.
We do not refund original shipping charges, and you cover return shipping costs unless we made an error or sent you a defective product.
Cancellations. All order cancellations are subject to a 10% cancellation fee, deducted from your refund. This covers our non-refundable payment-processing costs and order handling. If we have already printed a shipping label, we simply void it — you are not charged for postage. In the rare case a label can no longer be voided, the actual postage cost is also deducted.
Special-order cancellations. Out-of-stock items are ordered for you from our distributor. Cancelling a special order is subject to a 15% cancellation fee, deducted from your refund.
After your order ships. Once USPS scans your package in, the order can no longer be canceled and our standard 30-day return policy applies instead: non-defective returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee, original shipping charges are not refunded, and return shipping is your responsibility.
No fee ever applies when:
If your refund hasn't arrived within the expected timeframe, please:
If you've done all three and still don't see your refund, please email us at cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com and we'll investigate immediately.
We only replace items that arrive defective or damaged. To exchange a defective item for the same product, email cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com with your order number, a description of the issue, and clear photos of the defect or damage.
Once we approve the exchange, we'll send return instructions and ship a replacement as soon as we receive and inspect the original item.
If your order arrives damaged or defective, please contact us within 7 days of delivery. We'll cover return shipping and provide either a replacement or a full refund — your choice.
For damaged shipments, please include photos of:
Third-party manufacturers (Olight, MSI, and others) handle warranty coverage on their own branded products. We'll happily connect you with the manufacturer's support team when you need warranty service.
C&S Knifes house-brand and custom blades carry a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty does not cover normal wear, misuse, abuse, improper sharpening, loss, or theft.
If the original purchaser marked your item as a gift and shipped it directly to you, you'll receive a gift credit equal to the value of your return once we receive the item.
If no one marked it as a gift at purchase, or if the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give you later, we'll issue the refund to the original purchaser.
Once you receive your RMA number and return instructions, please mail your product to:
C&S Knifes LLC — Returns Department 458 Seth Cir Bandera, TX 78003-5003 United States
A few important notes on return shipping:
You alone bear responsibility for verifying that the products you purchase are legal to own and carry under your local, state, and federal laws. C&S Knifes LLC takes no responsibility for confiscation, legal action, or refund denials stemming from items that your jurisdiction prohibits. Returns based solely on local legal restrictions follow the standard return policy above.
American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) – State Knife Laws
We're here to help. For any questions about refunds, returns, exchanges, or warranty service, please reach out:
Email: cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com Phone: 830-398-2685 Mail: 458 Seth Cir, Bandera, TX 78003-5003, United States
C & S Knifes Limited Lifetime Guarantee
Purpose-built. Integrity-driven.
At C & S Knifes, we stand behind the quality and craftsmanship of everything we sell.
Our gear is built to last — and we stand by that promise for the life of the product.
Our Limited Lifetime Warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship and failures that occur under normal use.
If something arrives damaged or breaks when it shouldn’t, we’ll repair it, replace it, or make it right.
Covered products include:
Our warranty does not cover:
Due to the nature of electronic components, flashlights and other electronic items are not covered under our lifetime warranty.
These products are covered by a one-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects and failures under normal use.
Proof of purchase from C & S Knifes is required for all warranty claims.
Repairs or modifications made by unauthorized parties will void the warranty.
We might not build every product, but at C & S Knifes, we are dedicated to our Customers with care and purpose — and we stand behind it the same way.
If your gear doesn’t hold up like it should, we’ll make it right.
We believe in Great Customer Service.
C&S Knifes LLC (“we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”) respects your privacy and is committed to being transparent about how we collect, use, and protect your information when you visit or make a purchase on CNSKnifesLLC.com.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we collect it, why we use it, who we share it with, and what rights you have regarding your personal information.
If you have questions about this policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or need to file a complaint, you can contact us at:
Email: cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com
Mail: C&S Knifes LLC, Texas, United States
We collect information that helps us operate our store, fulfill orders, prevent fraud, comply with the law, and improve your experience.
You may provide information to us when you:
Examples of information you provide include:
Payments are processed through third‑party payment processors. We do not store your full credit card number or CVV. Our payment partners receive and process your payment details securely in accordance with industry standards (such as PCI‑DSS).
When you visit our site, certain information is collected automatically from your browser or device. This may include:
This information helps us load the site correctly, maintain security, understand how visitors use our store, and improve performance and design.
We use cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences, keep your shopping cart active, and analyze site usage. For more details, see the Cookies & Tracking Technologies section below.
We may receive information about you from third parties, such as:
In some cases, we may ask you to provide photos, videos, or documents (for example, to verify damage for a warranty claim or to confirm identity for high‑risk orders). Any such media is used only for the specific purpose for which it was requested and is handled securely.
We collect information in three main ways:
We use personal information for the following purposes:
We do not sell personal information.
CNS Knifes LLC sells knives and related gear intended for adults. By using our site and placing an order, you confirm that you are 18 years or older and legally permitted to purchase these products in your jurisdiction.
We may request age verification or additional information if required by law or if an order appears high‑risk.
We share your information only with trusted service providers and partners who help us operate our business. These parties are allowed to use your information only as needed to provide their services to us.
We may also share information when required by law, such as responding to subpoenas, court orders, regulatory requests, or other lawful government inquiries.
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help our site remember your actions and preferences. We use cookies and similar technologies for several purposes:
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that some features of the site may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
We may use analytics tools to understand how visitors use our site and to improve our marketing efforts. These tools may use cookies or similar technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior on our site and other websites.
You may see CNS Knifes LLC ads on third‑party platforms based on your interactions with our store. You can often adjust your advertising preferences directly within those platforms or through industry opt‑out tools where available.
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including:
While we take these steps to protect your information, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including:
When information is no longer needed, we will delete it or anonymize it, unless we are legally required to keep it for a longer period.
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include the right to:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at cnsknifes@cnsknifesllc.com with:
We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. We will respond within the time period required by applicable law.
As a Texas‑based business, we comply with the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) and other applicable privacy laws. If you are located in a jurisdiction such as the European Economic Area (EEA) or California, you may have additional rights under laws like the GDPR or CCPA/CPRA.
These laws may provide enhanced rights to access, correct, delete, or port your data, and to object to certain processing activities. You can contact us using the details in the Contact Information section to exercise these rights.
We do not sell personal data as defined under applicable state privacy laws.
Our service providers and partners may process or store your information outside of your home country. Where required, we take steps to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with applicable laws.
We do not use automated decision‑making that produces legal or similarly significant effects on you. However, security and fraud‑prevention tools may automatically flag or temporarily hold orders that appear suspicious or high‑risk to protect our customers and business.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date below. In some cases, we may provide additional notice (such as a banner or email).
Last Updated: July 20, 2026
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Whatever you read there, the rules we actually ship by are the ones on this page.
