Cold Steel Trail Master Aficionados Thread

[GrinderMcgee]

yerscattergun, listen up.

This is a thread about the Cold Steel Trailmaster. There are times and places for threads about other knives, even trailmaster-shaped other knives. This isn't it. Take it somewhere else.

Tough love, I like it. I wouldn't trade my TM for any other knife, it is invaluable to me in the woods. My son has a bed that is race-car shaped but he won't be racing in the 500 next year.

 

[fmajor007]

I know this is an OLD thread and i am new here, but is this knife really as good as so many people say it is?

I want to buy one, but the prices have gone up quite a bit and i don't have alot of $ to just throw away on Cold Steel's excellent marketing.

BTW, i've read there are many variations on this knife AFAIK i've heard of 4 different models

1 - Carbon V satin finish/brass hilt
2 - Carbon V black finish
3 - SK5 satin finish/brass hilt
4 - SanMai III satin finish

Are there others? Which should i buy? How much should i spend? My price cap is maxed at about $150 so that's pretty limiting....

Thanks,

fmajor007

 

[wildmike]

fmajor007.

If I were you I would keep checking the exchange here on the forum (For sale Production Knives...individual). I would keep saving your dough till you find one that is Carbon V. preferably the satin finish with the convex grind, usualy a brass guard.

The older ones (I just can't speak to the new ones) are above average for a production knife. Maybe even way above average.

My only gripe with them is the Kraton handle which I have never fallen in love with.

 

[GrinderMcgee]

There were 8 standard models, one stag run, and one limited "Flight of the Intruder" run that I know of. That makes ten. If there are more I do not know of, I would like to know of them. Best all-around big knife being made, IMO.

 

[philwar]

fmajor007.

If I were you I would keep checking the exchange here on the forum (For sale Production Knives...individual). I would keep saving your dough till you find one that is Carbon V. preferably the satin finish with the convex grind, usualy a brass guard.

I've never used a Carbon V TM, but I've extensively used (and still use) a San Mai III TM, and it's just an awesome knife. When I first used it I was a bit worried it might chip because some of my VG-1 Cold Steels do chip sometimes, but the TM hasn't so far.

Knives with a full convex zero edge grind are rare. But when chopping with it, you immediately notice the advantage, it bites way beyond its weight.
Just a great knife.

 

[Ankerson]

VERY old (15 yo)SM III TM with the newest on the bottom.

 

[fmajor007]

Thanks guys! I'll keep stashing away my penny's...

Great pics Ankerson! Are both SM III?

Also, in my vast ignorance, i *thought* SM III blades did/do not have brass guards?

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[Ankerson]

Thanks guys! I'll keep stashing away my penny's...

Great pics Ankerson! Are both SM III?

Also, in my vast ignorance, i *thought* SM III blades did/do not have brass guards?

No, the SM III's have stainless guards.

 

[Ankerson]

Here is a video I just put up of my old 15 year old SM III TM chopping.

The old ones are heavier than the new ones are, this old one weighs 18.3 ounces.

These old ones will really move some wood.

[youtube]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2uovyw6mR00&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2uovyw6mR00&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]

 

[Big Chris]

I have had three TM's. The first two were stolen. They were old convex grinds I got in the mid 90's. My current one was one of the first with the blade coating. The brass guard was still used. I have abused the knife terribly, but it has held up. Batoning and heavy chopping are the norm. I reprofiled the edge a couple years ago, and feel as though that was the best decision I have ever made concerning that TM. It is always strapped to my fourwheeler when riding and has never let me down. Wonderful knife, my favorite knife with greater than six inch blade.

 

[fmajor007]

Thanks Jim/Chris (bummer on the 2 stolen TM's..... stinks that does) -

I've started watching these youtube video's and wow! the TM's do chop some wood!!! I noticed in one of Jims videos that the Trail Master chopped as well as one of his Busse knives (can't remember which one though...).

Anyway, why spend the huge increase in cash for such a small percentage gain? Not for my money....especially when much of the differences disappear when you're tired and suffering from goofy arm...

I didn't realize CS has been making the San Mai III for so long?

What do you mean when you "re-profile" a blade? Do you take it to a machine shop for this? Do it yourself? How?

 

[d762nato]

Here is a video I just put up of my old 15 year old SM III TM chopping.

The old ones are heavier than the new ones are, this old one weighs 18.3 ounces.

These old ones will really move some wood.

[youtube]<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2uovyw6mR00&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2uovyw6mR00&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>[/youtube]

Nice video Ankerson, :thumbup: That looks like a pretty light knife by the looks of your chopping video. Still looks like a neat knife though.
More of a dual purpose fighting, camping, all arounder.

 

[Ankerson]

Nice video Ankerson, :thumbup: That looks like a pretty light knife by the looks of your chopping video. Still looks like a neat knife though.
More of a dual purpose fighting, camping, all arounder.

It's 18.3 ounces, it was made back when the TM was THE field blade back in 1995.

Full convex grind with convex zero edge.

It will out chop the BWM easy.

 

[fmajor007]

So, would you buy a *new* TM now?

 

[Ankerson]

So, would you buy a *new* TM now?

I have had 2 of the new SK-5's.

The New SM III is on my list as it's close to my old one, the old one is worth too much money to really use and getting harder to find all the time.

Mine still looks new even after I used it this one time, back in the safe it went.

I only made the video to prove a few points.

 

[GrinderMcgee]

A couple recent photos.

 

[d762nato]

Looks like you did some major chopping there Magee. The TM keeps on going.
So what the difference between the old and the new Tm's besides the steel? Are they dimensionally the same or different grinds.

 

[Ankerson]

Looks like you did some major chopping there Magee. The TM keeps on going.
So what the difference between the old and the new Tm's besides the steel? Are they dimensionally the same or different grinds.

The grind etc is still the same, the only difference is that CS replaced the AUS8 core with VG-1.

So yes it's still a full convex grind down to a zero edge like the old one.

Magee said his new VG-1 SM III weighs the same as my old one at 18.3 ounces.

Two Photos I took after I did the video and cleaned it up, you can see the grind better here.

 

[Buffalohump]