3V Trailmaster

[Benjamin Liu]

Most of us (apparently someone had no idea this issue existed) have seen reviews with pictures of bad grinds on the 3V Trailmaster and a few other Bowies.

These were common on new reviews on retail sites as well.

Most positive new reviews were from people who did not care about the grind issue.

I've asked for updates on whether or not they improved the grinds several times since the issue was noticed and no one seemed to know.

On the thread on the San Mai Trailmaster one poster said his Recon Scout had no problems.

I decided to risk buying a 3V Trailmaster the next time a big sale took place, and a few days ago I got a sale notice in my email and bought a Trailmaster at 25% off at a store that will not be mentioned, totaling $222.00 counting tax and a small NRA roundup donation.

I got it today.

Looking at the spine, I could tell where the grinds start, so the grinds are not perfect.

However, I would not have noticed if I were not looking specifically for this.

Had I bought this without reading any reviews over the past couple years I wouldn't have noticed it.

I can barely see it and I know what to look for.

It is nothing like the pictures I've seen on reviews.

So IMO the grind issue for the Trailmaster is fixed and I'd say they are safe to buy now.

 

[ron finkbeiner jr]

Update: I ended up sending two different trailmaster knives back. The grinds were awful and for the money, it wasn't worth the expenditure.

 

[Benjamin Liu]

I suspect that for a while (maybe a year or so) we'll still be at risk of buying those with uneven grinds, assuming GSM keeps up quality control.

 

[jbmonkey]

Having just bought a 3v trailmaster I can tell you this. The top grinds aren't even, not even close. On the other hand, the business side is sharp! If you can tolerate the uneven top grinds then the bottom grind should make you happy.

dont have a 3v trailmaster due to the issues some seem to be running into. i got a 3v recon scout Taiwan made while back. it's top grinds are pretty good and even on both sides. so I know the Taiwan shop can do it right.

seems some hit and miss. guess Lynn and crew were good at eyeballing qc and gsm isnt yet.......

 

[Benjamin Liu]

guess Lynn and crew were good at eyeballing qc and gsm isnt yet.......

These are the guys that missed the lack of grinds on the Gladius Machete and apparently a couple other machetes as well.

I wonder if they ever got around to fixing them.

I think they might not be knife people and don't look at things that would be obvious to anyone into knives.