Cold Steel SK-5 Trail Master has been DISCONTINUED

Cold Steel discontinues the Trail Master?

Well it's certainly a wise idea that it's not a continuing trend---just that particular model. I really like the Trail Master---I'd hate to see it lost because Lynn lost ALL of his business sense.

:D
 
Hey Mike:

did you put the Laredo (SK-5) through any hard use? I did a search and saw you mention it. Just wondering what you did specifically.
 
Rolando,

I've mentioned many times in many threads that yes, I put the SK-5 through some hard use tests and it passed with flying colors. Good bargain. PM or email me - might have a deal for you, and/or a Carbon V.
 
I picked up two of these at SWKW and they came in today. Definitely not as nice looking as the Carbon V model I used to have. Still, an excellent deal for 50 bucks each.
 
I picked up two of these at SWKW and they came in today. Definitely not as nice looking as the Carbon V model I used to have. Still, an excellent deal for 50 bucks each.

Not as nice looking in what way? Your Carbon V is a coated knife? Regardless, one hell of a lot of knife for 50 bucks. ;)
 
I bought a couple of CS Laredo's (I've always wanted these, even when they first came out), because I'm anticipating them phasing these out in SK-5 as well.

The Laredo is a wicked double-duty tool. And for under $100, it's a true bargain.

Mike:

PM on its way.
 
Wow! The three Cold steel knives came and darn they are wicked!!!! The best deal at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) that I have gotten to date. Every once in a while SMKW sells at or below wholesale prices. I do have their website under favorites. Funny, they never even listed them as on sale or clearance, but the knives were. I had gotten the tip on another website. The $147.97 delivered was great. I checked today and it says “Temporarily out of stock.” The next ones will be from Taiwan and much more $$$. These prices will be gone for good. I should have ordered two of everything, but I did not want to get greedy.

These three China made Cold Steel knives will "Never" :Dbe my favorites, but they are great user knives. The painted on cold steel name is tacky :grumpy:and cheap. The Bowie is not as good as an Ontario Bagwell Bowie.

Cold Steel® Trail Master®, $49.99
Cold Steel® Recon Scout®, $39.99
Cold Steel® Laredo Bowie, $59.99
 
Wow! The three Cold steel knives came and darn they are wicked!!!! The best deal at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) that I have gotten to date. Every once in a while SMKW sells at or below wholesale prices. I do have their website under favorites. Funny, they never even listed them as on sale or clearance, but the knives were. I had gotten the tip on another website. The $147.97 delivered was great. I checked today and it says “Temporarily out of stock.” The next ones will be from Taiwan and much more $$$. These prices will be gone for good. I should have ordered two of everything, but I did not want to get greedy.

These three China made Cold Steel knives will "Never" :Dbe my favorites, but they are great user knives. The painted on cold steel name is tacky :grumpy:and cheap. The Bowie is not as good as an Ontario Bagwell Bowie.

Cold Steel® Trail Master®, $49.99
Cold Steel® Recon Scout®, $39.99
Cold Steel® Laredo Bowie, $59.99
 
Without a doubt, the most knife for the money ever commercially built! In terms of sharpness, edge holding and strength, it will out perform—by a wide margin—any factory made knife we know of and 99% of all hand forged knives as well!

The above description of the new Trail Master taken from the Cold Steel website is the kind of BS that makes it hard for me to take the company seriously. I would love to see where they have tested the Trail Master against all other production knives and 99% of all hand forged forged knives. Could someone point me to where Cold Steel has published those tests?

The Carbon V Trail Master was an excellent knife, and the new one may be as well, but that kind of marketing turns me right off.
 
I search the forums, pick and choose which knives have been tested and done well, see if they suit my needs, then I decide to purchase (or not).

No company or company owner is perfect. Unless a company is doing something illegal, I'll purchase a knife based on my needs. Nothing more than that. :)
 
Not as nice looking in what way? Your Carbon V is a coated knife? Regardless, one hell of a lot of knife for 50 bucks. ;)

My Carbon V version had the uncoated blade which was nicely polished, plus a brass guard instead of the painted black. Etched logo, as well.
 
My Carbon V version had the uncoated blade which was nicely polished, plus a brass guard instead of the painted black. Etched logo, as well.

Yeah, had one just like it that was stolen. I don't know about the later Carbon V Trail Master, but the coated Carbon V Recon Scout (don't know about the SK5 Made in China) was brass guard underneath the coating. I took the coating off the guard and blade, polished all up. Came out great. I want to do the same to my new Trail Master, but I've written to Cold Steel to see if the Chinese Trail Master is a brass guard under the coating, but have so far gotten a runaround.
 
Yeah, had one just like it that was stolen. I don't know about the later Carbon V Trail Master, but the coated Carbon V Recon Scout (don't know about the SK5 Made in China) was brass guard underneath the coating. I took the coating off the guard and blade, polished all up. Came out great. I want to do the same to my new Trail Master, but I've written to Cold Steel to see if the Chinese Trail Master is a brass guard under the coating, but have so far gotten a runaround.

Yes. I just picked up a Chinese Recon Scout, and was thinking of doing that very thing. Keep us posted on what you find out. Thanks.
 
Without a doubt, the most knife for the money ever commercially built! In terms of sharpness, edge holding and strength, it will out perform—by a wide margin—any factory made knife we know of and 99% of all hand forged knives as well!

The above description of the new Trail Master taken from the Cold Steel website is the kind of BS that makes it hard for me to take the company seriously. I would love to see where they have tested the Trail Master against all other production knives and 99% of all hand forged forged knives. Could someone point me to where Cold Steel has published those tests?

The Carbon V Trail Master was an excellent knife, and the new one may be as well, but that kind of marketing turns me right off.


If memory serves, many years ago the (now discontinued) Busse Basic 9 was named as a direct challenger to CS's Trailmaster claim.

Cold Steel had an article up on their site on how they would test + publish the results, but strangely they never did. I wonder why ;)
 
If memory serves, many years ago the (now discontinued) Busse Basic 9 was named as a direct challenger to CS's Trailmaster claim.

Cold Steel had an article up on their site on how they would test + publish the results, but strangely they never did. I wonder why ;)

Some of that stuff you have to be 7th dan or higher in mall ninjitsu to hear about. Keep training! ;)
 
SMKW's shows out of stock on both and won't let me place a backorder....I take it I'm too late and SOL....anyone know another place offering that smokin of a deal....
 
That deal was pretty smokin'. If you can get it for under $100 on ebay, go for it.

I've seen my share of production bowies. The Ontario Hell's belle which went for about $180 is a great fighter, but forget doing any utilitarian work with it. Steel was 440A.

Trailmaster has always been great, but has no false edge, so it's closer to a utility knife.

Camillus OVB was a limited edition. No false edge. So its collector status put it in the safe. Lack of false edge limits it as a fighter also. Those went for about $350.

The Laredo is made of good carbon steel, has a crazy false edge, and has been proven on the field (just youtube it, and you'll see guys chopping saplings and branches with no problem with them). So it's a fighter AND a utility tool.

For under $100. Hard to beat.
 
Back
Top