Cold Steel Trail Master in SK-5 Question

G

gryps

Joined
Dec 28, 2005
Messages
6
Hello, has anyone used a SK-5 Trail Master in the field yet? If so, how did it perform? Thanks!
 
I've a laredo coming in sk-5 should be here on tues and i'll put it through it's paces see if it's anything as good as carbon V
 
Cold Steel claims that SK-5 is the Japanese version of American 1080. I did a little research and found that it has a Rc rating of 58-63. They claim it is Rc 65 but I find this hard to believe. At Rc 65, these knives would be almost impossible to sharpen and would probably chip easily.

I just received a new Recon Scout and I'm looking forward to putting it through it's paces also. It weights a pound, has a metal hilt (some of the "black FB series" have a Kraton hilt), nice sheath, etc. I like the CS "black series" of fixed blades. I also have the tanto and the ODA in carbon V and they are great preformers. I am expecting the same from the Recon Scout in SK-5.

But Rc 65??? That just doesn't seem right. Read for yourself. Look for "What is SK-5 High Carbon Steel?".

http://www.coldsteel.com/faqs.html#SK-5%20High%20Carbon

Regards
 
bladeprince said:
Cold Steel claims that SK-5 is the Japanese version of American 1080. I did a little research and found that it has a Rc rating of 58-63. They claim it is Rc 65 but I find this hard to believe. At Rc 65, these knives would be almost impossible to sharpen and would probably chip easily.

I just received a new Recon Scout and I'm looking forward to putting it through it's paces also. It weights a pound, has a metal hilt (some of the "black FB series" have a Kraton hilt), nice sheath, etc. I like the CS "black series" of fixed blades. I also have the tanto and the ODA in carbon V and they are great preformers. I am expecting the same from the Recon Scout in SK-5.

But Rc 65??? That just doesn't seem right. Read for yourself. Look for "What is SK-5 High Carbon Steel?".

http://www.coldsteel.com/faqs.html#SK-5 High Carbon

Regards
Click to expand...

Yah but it says "the as quenched hardness". That's before they temper the stuff. They don't sell it with a hardness of 65 I'll betcha. They gotta temper it, which will reduce the hardness and give it the required toughness.

You were expecting less than misleading advertising from Cold Steel were you ??? My aren't we the optimist.:D
 
that pretty clearly states as-quenched...

SOG's used SK5 for years in their fixed blades.
 
hardheart said:
that pretty clearly states as-quenched...
quote]

Yes, but what knife user cares what the as quenched hardness is. Only the final hardness is of significance to him. I consider that to cite the as quenched hardness without citing the finished hardness is misleading advertising. It's easy to miss the as quenched delimiter and assume that that is the final hardness, just as bladeprince did.
Click to expand...
 
The SK-5 in my SOG tigershark ( made in seki Japan) is an excellent performer. If the PRC company doing the heat treating gets it right it should be a knife comparable to the carbon V in quality. Considering it's made in PRC, the street cost of the SK-5 trailmaster ( 85 to 88$) is pretty high. I'll probably buy one to test it out though. Compare it to my old tigershark in some non destructive testing. Joe
 
knarfeng said:
Yah but it says "the as quenched hardness". That's before they temper the stuff. They don't sell it with a hardness of 65 I'll betcha. They gotta temper it, which will reduce the hardness and give it the required toughness.

You were expecting less than misleading advertising from Cold Steel were you ??? My aren't we the optimist.:D
Click to expand...

What is the purpose of advertising quenched hardness? Assuming they are not trying to mislead customers.
 
PatriotDan said:
What is the purpose of advertising quenched hardness? Assuming they are not trying to mislead customers.
Click to expand...

Well I sure can't think of any.

I don't have a problem with the Cold Steel products, only with their advertising.
 
Pootsythesamurai and Bladeprince, let us know how the knives perform, handle, etc. Thanks!
 
As quenched just produced a big number, it will sell to some people as 65 > 60 . The as quenched hardness of most steels is ~65 HRC.

-Cliff
 
I have a chance to buy used recon scout in carbon V (near same price, just 30 evros less than new in SK-5) and I feel it's a better deal than buying new recon in SK-5.

What is your opinion?
 
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