Cold Steel SK-5 Trail Master has been DISCONTINUED

Originally Posted by ichor View Post
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.


raindog101 said:
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.
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Well, I don't think I was getting a runaround, the guy just misunderstood my question. His answer (below), gives us another indication why the China made version was so much more inexpensive:


Quote from Cold Steel customer service: I am sorry too, I did not clearly mention that the guard on the China Trailmaster is NOT brass it is the same steel used on the blade which is the SK5 steel. The steel is made in Japan. The entire knife minus the Kraton handle is made of SK5 Japanese steel.

I don't know whether I want to deal with a carbon steel, uncoated guard, unless I put some sort of urethane coating on it..... or something. I was hoping for brass (or stainless steel). I may just leave it as is, as I'm still not unhappy, considering the price. Just goes to show what they will do to extend their profit margin:rolleyes:
 
Not surprised that SMKW is out of them at those prices. They were significantly below dealer price and even distributor price. Distributors had "blow out" prices trying to get rid of "China" stock. The Laredos, Trailmasters, and Recons in the SK-5 are all good knives as many USERS have attested to in different threads on these forums. The new Laredos, Trailmasters, and Recons will be made with the same Japanese SK-5, only difference is going to be where they are made and the price you pay. Those that got the "China Dolls" got a hell of a bargain in a user. When they're gone, those prices are gone for good too.
 
Mike Sastre said:
Not surprised that SMKW is out of them at those prices. They were significantly below dealer price and even distributor price. Distributors had "blow out" prices trying to get rid of "China" stock. The Laredos, Trailmasters, and Recons in the SK-5 are all good knives as many USERS have attested to in different threads on these forums. The new Laredos, Trailmasters, and Recons will be made with the same Japanese SK-5, only difference is going to be where they are made and the price you pay. Those that got the "China Dolls" got a hell of a bargain in a user. When they're gone, those prices are gone for good too.
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As I indicated, Mike...I agree with you. Still a helluva bargain. I may buy a couple more. ;)
 
Mike Sastre said:
The Laredos, Trailmasters, and Recons in the SK-5 are all good knives as many USERS have attested to in different threads on these forums.
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My Carbon V Trailmasters and RS's are still some of my favorites, and some of the best deals I've ever come across. I now have a Laredo in SK5 that I'm currently abusing, so far, so good!
 
sodak said:
My Carbon V Trailmasters and RS's are still some of my favorites, and some of the best deals I've ever come across. I now have a Laredo in SK5 that I'm currently abusing, so far, so good!
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How are you abusing yours, out of curiousity?
 
Definitely not trying to start anything, but the other side of the coin to "Just goes to show what they will do to extend their profit margin" is making a great knife more affordable to more people. Obviously that little experiment in global economics didn't work out so well, but the new Trailmasters are back to an uncoated blade and what looks like a brass guard, to go along with the price increase.

Rolando,

Hadn't seen that video clip, but that is Andrew Demko who designed the CS Triad Lock, the Rajah and the Espada series. The Espadas will remind you of the Navaja and James Loriega. Perfect for the techniques he taught at BOB.
 
Mike Sastre said:
Definitely not trying to start anything, but the other side of the coin to "Just goes to show what they will do to extend their profit margin" is making a great knife more affordable to more people.

.
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Again, I agree. I'm still pleased to have gotten a decent knife for very little money. Just the same, putting a carbon steel guard on a knife for which CS makes so many extravagant claims, simply because it's going to be coated and no one will see it is, in my book, fairly lame. Where else did they cut costs that we can't see? The Trail Master (and, I presume, Recon Scout) formerly had a couple chunks of metal spot welded beneath the formerly brass guard, to firmly secure the guard to the knife. How many of you think those little chunks of metal are still there? ;) In addition, a well used knife will eventually have the coating worn/chipped away, then you'd have to worry about it rusting. Carbon steel just isn't, IMHO, a proper material for the guard on an outdoor knife. In short, tho' I reiterate that this knife was a good buy, and I don't regret buying it....this method of cutting costs goes a long ways toward making this a not so "great" knife, but simply an adequate knife for the money. YMMV
 
4 Ranges said:
How are you abusing yours, out of curiousity?
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A lot of heavy wood chopping and batoning to make sure the handle isn't a weak point. So far, so good. When I'm satisfied, it will get a real good sharpening and edge thinning, and join my collection of camping knives. Gotta make it earn it's place, though!
 
ichor said:
Originally Posted by ichor View Post
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.




Well, I don't think I was getting a runaround, the guy just misunderstood my question. His answer (below), gives us another indication why the China made version was so much more inexpensive:


Quote from Cold Steel customer service: I am sorry too, I did not clearly mention that the guard on the China Trailmaster is NOT brass it is the same steel used on the blade which is the SK5 steel. The steel is made in Japan. The entire knife minus the Kraton handle is made of SK5 Japanese steel.

I don't know whether I want to deal with a carbon steel, uncoated guard, unless I put some sort of urethane coating on it..... or something. I was hoping for brass (or stainless steel). I may just leave it as is, as I'm still not unhappy, considering the price. Just goes to show what they will do to extend their profit margin:rolleyes:
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Well, I still really like my Recon Scout, I think I'll keep it as is. Haven't yet tested it outdoors (been busy), but I'm looking forward to it. I satisfied my desire for a brass guard by just picking up a discounted Laredo Bowie. I was torn between it and the Trailmaster, but couldn't get the $ to pick up both. I'm thinking the Laredo will do quite nicely in the big knife category. Can't wait to see how it stacks up to my Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie.
 
raindog101 said:
Well, I still really like my Recon Scout, I think I'll keep it as is. Haven't yet tested it outdoors (been busy), but I'm looking forward to it. I satisfied my desire for a brass guard by just picking up a discounted Laredo Bowie. I was torn between it and the Trailmaster, but couldn't get the $ to pick up both. I'm thinking the Laredo will do quite nicely in the big knife category. Can't wait to see how it stacks up to my Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie.
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Yes, well, as I've stated more than once, I think it is a good knife for the money, and will use it as is. It was fun to remove the coating from the Carbon V Recon Scout and polishing up the blade/guard. It looks SO much better that the monotone black. And once you use the coated blade and scratch it...it becomes...umm...ugly. :( I also am considering an SK-5 Laredo, before the good prices are gone...but I have always seen it as less a "chopping", work knife, and more of a fighter. I've often wondered if the handle on the Laredo is slippery?
 
got my sk-5 trailmaster just before x-mas for 100$ canadian (last one in stock) glad I did.

Sk-5 has always worked for me, anyone got good or bad to say about it compared to other carbon steels.
 
Brad "the butcher";6435342 said:
got my sk-5 trailmaster just before x-mas for 100$ canadian (last one in stock) glad I did.

Sk-5 has always worked for me, anyone got good or bad to say about it compared to other carbon steels.
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I just cut up a bunch of cardboard with my Recon Scout. Afterwards, the edge needed only a light stropping to return to shaving sharp. Edge-holding seems about as good as my carbon Moras, and pretty close to the old Carbon V from Camillus, IMO.
 
The handle is fine. Feels a "bit" like linen micarta, but not as "grainy."

I've moved around with them, and there's little chance they'll slip, because of the handle design. Narrow near the guard, swells out towards the end.

The knife handles BETTER, IMHO, than the Ontario Hell's Belles. It's ridiculous that such a good, carbon blade performs as well as it does (based on members' feedback and video) and be so affordable at the same time.

It's VERY fast in the hands, and considering how well the Laredos did in that youtube video, I'm impressed that such a quick moving fighter could do so well as a camp knife.
 
Rolando,

Agree that the Laredo feels and moves very well as a fighter. Hits a little harder than an Ontario Bagwell, but the OHB will move a little faster. Made a response to your video post, but it apparently got lost in cyberspace. Anyway, that's Andrew Demko (white shirt) who designed the Triad Lock, the Rajah, and the Espada series. The Espadas are basially folding Bowies - think Navaja - and work well with the techniques we got from James Loriega, which also translate to the big Bowies. Demko had told me they were going to post a vid on the Laredo at a show we did together. Conclusion we came to - SK-5 is very good steel for the Bowies.
 
The CS Laredo steel is most likely a harder steel (not being 440), but the Ontario Bagwell Bowie handle is a better grip and not as slippery. The CS Laredo is very slippery in my hands.
 
IIRC that someone posted an x-ray of the trailmaster tang some while back. Does anyone still have it, and if so, would you please post it again? Thanks
 
Rolando,

You should be. Like I said, handling one "will put a smile on your face".
 
fudo said:
IIRC that someone posted an x-ray of the trailmaster tang some while back. Does anyone still have it, and if so, would you please post it again? Thanks
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Fudo,
Earlier in this thread Ichor posted a link to a mod someone did over on British Blades. It shows the naked:eek: tang of the Trail Master during the handle mod. This would probably give you the information you need. Here's the link:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...ad.php?t=40844

On a side note, I'm thinking about rehandling (or rather, having it rehandled for me) the Laredo Bowie when it gets here. I have a feeling I won't be crazy about faux cocobolo, whatever that is. I was thinking desert ironwood would look nice. Anyone got a recommendation on who does good work with bowie handles?
 
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