Blade thickness on Marble's Trailmaker???

It's great. Full height convex grind. Scary sharp and sends the pine chips flying. It slices very well and handles chopping chores too.
Mine did not come with a lanyard hole which I see as a shortcoming, but otherwise, it was a sound buy. If I had to choose a knife for the one and only, it would be on the short-list of possibles.
 
I just received mine and the blade itself is great. Comparing it to a Becker 9 inch, the becker is more blade heavy and the Marble's is almost perfectly balanced (maybe not good for chopping).

But the sheath :barf: talk about limp, floppy leather. If it didn't have a plastic liner it would be dangerous.
 
But the sheath talk about limp, floppy leather. If it didn't have a plastic liner it would be dangerous.
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Your's has a plastic liner?!! AACCKK!!! Mine didn't come with that, oh well...

Mine was made with about 8-9oz. leather though, so it is reasonably stiff and well made.

ENJOY!!

I've been seriously considering getting one of the newer models. My understanding is the newer ones are made with 0170-06 steel. Good stuff!
 
misque said:
Your's has a plastic liner?!! AACCKK!!! Mine didn't come with that, oh well...

Mine was made with about 8-9oz. leather though, so it is reasonably stiff and well made.

ENJOY!!

I've been seriously considering getting one of the newer models. My understanding is the newer ones are made with 0170-06 steel. Good stuff!
Click to expand...


I'm really liking it. It is blade heavy like the BK 9 inch but for some reason it seems better balanced when in a working grip.


Stupid question for anyone- this is my first convex edge blade (apart from a Marble's Ideal that I bought for my father). Do the edges of a convex blade also have a shinier "bevel" on the edge where it is sharpened? Both of the marbles do.
 
digitalrebelttu said:
Do the edges of a convex blade also have a shinier "bevel" on the edge where it is sharpened?
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Some convex blades have one smooth bevel which runs from the spine to the edge, no real distinct edge bevel. Some clearly have the edge with an individual bevel which is much steeper than the rest of the grind.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Some convex blades have one smooth bevel which runs from the spine to the edge, no real distinct edge bevel. Some clearly have the edge with an individual bevel which is much steeper than the rest of the grind.

-Cliff
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Thanks Cliff, another possible stupid question, but how does one determine that a knife has a convex edge without being told?

By that I mean, I have read that Marble's have convex edges. When I look at an Ideal from the end of the blade I see that the blade looks like a bowed out V shape. So it looks like the diagrams that I have seen of a convex edge. The edge is shinier that the rest, but it doesn't look like a normal edge bevel.

Looking at the Trailmaker, it is flat ground and is much more of a regular V shape. The edge bevel looks like a normal edge bevel, a sharper V shape. Is it possible that mine is not a convex edge or can a convex edge otherwise look like a regular bevel? How does one tell the difference in that case?
 
digitalrebelttu said:
The edge bevel looks like a normal edge bevel, a sharper V shape.
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Put the edge of a ruler on the bevel and see if the bevel dips under the straight edge. As soon as you attempt to sharpen them you will realize if it is significantly convex because if it is then a benchstone will only hit part of the bevel on each pass.

-Cliff
 
misque said:
Your's has a plastic liner?!! AACCKK!!! Mine didn't come with that, oh well...

Mine was made with about 8-9oz. leather though, so it is reasonably stiff and well made.

ENJOY!!

I've been seriously considering getting one of the newer models. My understanding is the newer ones are made with 0170-06 steel. Good stuff!
Click to expand...

The newer models come with the thinner sheaths and kydex liners to keep the blade aligned and not cut through them. Adequate, but the older, thicker sheaths were far superior. One change on the new ones I very much like is that the handles are larger and longer--feels much more secure in a swing. My hand barely fits on the old models.

0170-6 steel is used on a lot of the Marble's line now, but not the Trailmakers. They are still 5160, and that is a better choice for a big blade anyway. Of course, since Camillus was really the only available source of 0170-6 (and has been providing Marble's with their blades) it'll be interesting to see what the next material is that finds its way into the main line. I very much hope they stay in the non-stainless tool steels and don't fall into S30V land with the rest of the lemmings, but only time will tell. There's something about the idea of a stainless Woodsman that's just disturbing...

Cliff Stamp said:
Put the edge of a ruler on the bevel and see if the bevel dips under the straight edge. As soon as you attempt to sharpen them you will realize if it is significantly convex because if it is then a benchstone will only hit part of the bevel on each pass.
Click to expand...

There's a little bit there. Trailmakers have a much wider blade than even the larger Ideals and the convexion is much more subtle. I've yet to find one, however, that wasn't at least slightly convex. Of course, it can end up being so slight that it might as WELL be a flat grind, but qualifies as convex none the less. ;)
 
t1mpani said:
The newer models come with the thinner sheaths and kydex liners to keep the blade aligned and not cut through them. Adequate, but the older, thicker sheaths were far superior. One change on the new ones I very much like is that the handles are larger and longer--feels much more secure in a swing. My hand barely fits on the old models.

0170-6 steel is used on a lot of the Marble's line now, but not the Trailmakers. They are still 5160, and that is a better choice for a big blade anyway. Of course, since Camillus was really the only available source of 0170-6 (and has been providing Marble's with their blades) it'll be interesting to see what the next material is that finds its way into the main line. I very much hope they stay in the non-stainless tool steels and don't fall into S30V land with the rest of the lemmings, but only time will tell. There's something about the idea of a stainless Woodsman that's just disturbing...



There's a little bit there. Trailmakers have a much wider blade than even the larger Ideals and the convexion is much more subtle. I've yet to find one, however, that wasn't at least slightly convex. Of course, it can end up being so slight that it might as WELL be a flat grind, but qualifies as convex none the less. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info!

I feel it is a very good thing they are keeping the Trailmakers in 5160 and providing bigger grips to boot! :eek: :thumbup:
It really is a well executed working Bowie.

I think I feel the need for a new TM. :D
 
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