Cold Steel Bowies?

T

The Savage Rabbit

Joined
Nov 30, 2006
Messages
351
What do you guys think of the strength and cutting ability of the Cold Steel Trail Master and the Laredo? I know a lot of people think their marketing is a bit cheesy and I tend to agree. But, what about the product itself? Is there anything to this San Mai process?

Yes, I tried the search function and, as usual, it either gave me every post with "steel" in it or just a blank page.

Thanks,

Jack
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
What do you guys think of the strength and cutting ability of the Cold Steel Trail Master and the Laredo? I know a lot of people think their marketing is a bit cheesy and I tend to agree. But, what about the product itself? Is there anything to this San Mai process?

Yes, I tried the search function and, as usual, it either gave me every post with "steel" in it or just a blank page.

Thanks,

Jack
Click to expand...

NOT CUSTOM, that is what we know.:eek:

Try this question in General.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
Withdrawn. Permit me to rephrase. :jerkit:

How do those products compare to custom bowies?
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TSR, your use of the "jerkit" smiley in response to my pointing out of your blundering error is not appreciated.:grumpy:

You are a newb. Do you want to get flamed with consistency, drawing my ire, or do you want to try to be a man, and realize the error of your ways, and move on?

This forum was not created so you could flaunt to the cutlery cognoscenti how little you really know, in life, or about knives.

In answer to your question, to a poorly made custom bowie, quite well, to a well made bowie, not well.

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
TSR, your use of the "jerkit" smiley in response to my pointing out of your blundering error is not appreciated.:grumpy:
Click to expand...

Responding with "NOT CUSTOM, that is what we know:eek: " is not simply pointing out that I failed to link the question to custom bowies. (Which, given my posts regarding my intent to buy a custom bowie at the Solvang show was linked in my mind, but I certainly understand the confusion. My posts aren't as memerable to others as they are to me.) The use of caps and bold is usually intended to convey shouting, anger, or attitude. That's pretty well known, even to a "Newb."

My response, though a bit rude, was no less courteous than your dismissive little quip. The number of your posts neither entitles you to greater treatment nor excuses your curtness.

Kohai999 said:
This forum was not created so you could flaunt to the cutlery cognoscenti how little you really know, in life, or about knives.
Click to expand...

That's a bit dramatic.

Kohai999 said:
In answer to your question, to a poorly made custom bowie, quite well, to a well made bowie, not well.
Click to expand...

Had you just said that and added, "and, oh by the way, posts in this forum must specifically relate to custom knives," I would've thanked you, apologized profusely, and made certian to not repeat the mistake.
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
Responding with "NOT CUSTOM, that is what we know:eek: " is not simply pointing out that I failed to link the question to custom bowies. (Which, given my posts regarding my intent to buy a custom bowie at the Solvang show was linked in my mind, but I certainly understand the confusion. My posts aren't as memerable to others as they are to me.) The use of caps and bold is usually intended to convey shouting, anger, or attitude. That's pretty well known, even to a "Newb."

My response, though a bit rude, was no less courteous than your dismissive little quip. The number of your posts neither entitles you to greater treatment nor excuses your curtness.

Had you just said that and added, "and, oh by the way, posts in this forum must specifically relate to custom knives," I would've thanked you, apologized profusely, and made certian to not repeat the mistake.
Click to expand...

TSR,

It was a dismissive quip because it was completely unrelated to custom knives, and suited to the General Forum.

If you want answers to your questions about custom knives, then this is the right place, and I probably should have been a bit more courteous, but frankly, it seemed like a more-than-slightly boneheaded question. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt in the future, the intent is certainly not to drive you of the boards.

To elaborate, from personal experience, the Cold Steel Trailmaster in Carbon V is a weighty piece, more like a sharp balanced chopper, than the elegantly balanced "do-it-all" pieces from the better bowie makers, like Kevin Cashen, Harvey Dean, Jerry Fisk, Terry Primos or Nick Wheeler, to name a few. The kraton handle sucks, as far as I am concerned, too grippy, and lacking flair.

There is a Primos bowie for sale in the Exchange that looks like an awesome piece, FWIW.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Reasonable minds can differ on the "boneheaded" part but I do appreciate your thoughts on the knife. I hope there are no hard feelings.
 
FWIW, in this thread, a poster said he discovered the Laredo does not have a proper tang. It's only a stub tang, and a piece of twisted cable goes through the handle to hold the butt cap on. If that's how the Laredos are all made, I'll never buy one.
 
after ALOT of re grinding edge geomerty and re profiling or replacing of handles they become acceptable knives.
Edited to add- I am primarily refering to Carbon V Trail Masters. I have re done a few with acceptable results, however, its really not worth the time/effort in my view.
 
I would think this type of question would not be completely unexpected in the custom forum. So much emphasis is placed on pure performance of a given knife that many would equate cost with capability. What I find fascinating is that a hand tool as simple and old as a knife can generate such emotion. May the debates rage forever!
 
True, and the response by savage rabbit was inappropriate. It's only that the question is not unexpected from someone wanting to ask those most knowledgeable on the subject of customs. Regards, ss.
 
straitshot said:
True, and the response by savage rabbit was inappropriate. It's only that the question is not unexpected from someone wanting to ask those most knowledgeable on the subject of customs. Regards, ss.
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I jumped on TKC for suggesting in another thread that the question originally posted was inappropriate for this Forum, and felt that it was perfectly appropriate.

I did not think that THIS question was appropriate for Customs, and said so in less than a civil tone, which amends were made for, and am not a Moderator.

That said, the question may not be unexpected, but this is still not the appropriate sub Forum for that question. There are enough qualified regulars in General to give an educated and helpful answer.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
First, they're not custom. Second, they cut like crap. Did you see their More Proof DVD? It took the guy a long time to chop through a 2 x 4, Reggie Barker does this in under 3 seconds.
 
Okay, I'm a bit lost here as this is showing in the "Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades" sub forum. Did this get moved here from Custom or somewhere else? Strange names, regardless of posting count, and a bit testier than us old farts and OFs in training are used to. We usually need a few posts in a thread to get worked up. Then it's usually too much trouble and not worth the energy.

As of the Trail Master. I had one back when they first came out. It did solid service from woods around Ft Bragg, NC to the interior of Alaska. I cut down at least several 2-4 inch saplings with it for various uses in temps ranging from summer in NC to -20 in the field in Alaska. Afterwards it would slice through 550 cord and other tasks like they weren't even there. just sort of present the knife and things would part like Moses at the Red Sea. I kind of wish I hadn't traded it off. All that said, I wouldn't buy a new one. For one thing I don't think the newer ones are as good in the QC or the grinding departments. Same with my old SRK from the days of the cordura sheaths. I hear so much how the people with SRKs have rust problems. My old one spent a LOT of time on my Dad's hip while running sloughs and the woods in Eastern Arkansas on the Mississippi when my parents were care taking a big island there for a group of hunters. It never had problems with rust there and it is still in good shape now that I finally traded it back out of him. Once again, I doubt I'd buy a new one. They do seem to have rust issues and I've seen posts of a few that have busted during basic batoning.

I also happen to think that in the same price ranges, or for a few dollars more, sometimes even less, there are better knives to be had in the same types.

Maybe SunnyD, one of our knowledgeable, fixed blade junkies will come along. He can point you towards excellent bowie types, most likely.

However this thread landed here in the Curmudgeons, Reprobates, And Storytellers Society (CRASS) welcome. Oh, and look out for all those fellers with the slipjoints, small fixed blades, and various Opinels and Moras. They're pretty good cutting things up fast and efficient with those thin, ole fashioned blades. And they're not so much testy as they are easily irritated by harsh behaviour. ;)
 
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