Cold Steel Trail Master SMIII Review Part 2

GrinderMcgee

GrinderMcgee

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Jun 23, 2008
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Back in April I invested in a Trail Master in SMIII. Thanks to the BF members I learned how useful a bowie can be outdoors for chopping work and there was no looking back. Check out pt 1 here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=654296

Specifications:
Blade: 9 1/2"
Overall: 14 3/4"
Weight: 18.3
Thick: 5/16"
Steel: San Mai III®(VG-1 420 clad)Stainless

Eyesore of a dead tree.
HPIM2490.jpg



Almost there...Notice tree size in comparison to blade.
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And, there you go. Solamente el Trail Master!!
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Ok, so of course a knife is not the "best" tool for the job on a full size freakin' tree trunk but it did do it. Normally I have either a folding saw or bow saw to help out on bigger stuff but what fun is that? Total swing time - approx 15 min. Got some good work done earlier and decided this needed to be the finale.

Now lets take a look at the edge. The TM holds up very well to this type of work, especially considering it has been sub freezing temp every night this week. No real flat spots or chips to speak of.

Top part of the felled tree limbed out real easy one swing on stick up to 1 1/2.
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Still cuttin' clean on this paper, there was a tiny little snag about 4" back from the tip.
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Snack time!
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Chopped up three bushes and a tree and this orange was no match. Pretty impressive edge retention.

So, some updates from my initial test earlier this year.

I talk this model up quite a bit but there are some minor annoyances to speak of. First, the textured kraton is very grippy, but it gets caught in my layers and is a bit thin so I will be upgrading this one to a micarta handle with a palm swell when the time comes. Also, while the factory edge is holding up very nicely with just some regular stropping maintenance, VG-1 is stainless so contact with nails, rocks, etc. will produce chips from the edge rather than dings or edge rolling like a high carbon steel. I have gotten a couple users with some serious chipping damage in previous months and this is a major turn-off for some users.

I do own and use some other great bowie-type choppers right now, but overall the Trail Master is my favorite compromise of weight, blade length and clip pt style. Take it for what it is, just one persons opinion. Wanted to share it with you BF guys since I know there are some real wood-chipping maniacs out there!
 
Nice review. My only addition would be that the upper guard is in the way and hurts the hand when doing close up carving work. A little rounding of the edges may help. All in all a super knife and lots of fun. Thanks for the review.
 
Nice review.

Cold Steel seems to have gotten the Trailmaster design about as "right" as most people could want.

I still have mine after over a decade (well, two decades, actually).
 
I'm one who actually likes the Kraton handle. No doubt Micarta would be an improvement, but it works for me. I've had mine well over 10 years also, with a LOT of heavy chopping and cutting, and it's been a great knife. I'm glad you still like yours.
 
The handle could be a bit longer, but when the Kraton (rubber) handle finally bites the dust on mine I'll put on a longer micarta handle with a end swell to make make chopping easier.
 
If you have one over ten years old, it isn't the same steel. Carbon V maybe? Love to see the users if you got a picture to share.
 
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Mine is Carbon V.

I look at the Trailmaster as being a good design and I don't think Cold Steel has offered the knife in any "bad" steels. Some steels seem better finished or theoretically tougher, better wearing, etc., but so far I think all of the steels are more than serviceable.

I need to get a camera, though at this point I have had so many things not remembered by photo it seems supercilious.
 
Sweet, yes it is. I have a few of the Carbon V but for some silly reason, I prefer the Japanese stainless models. Although I use them all. The Kraton grip is not terrible, especially with a pair of rubber dot gloves. It just bugs me to have it cling to my clothes because I carry it concealed for the most part.
 
Great write up:thumbup:

I personally don't own any cold steel knives but I've been considering some knives of there's mainly the Bushman, pocket bushmen or large voyager, and the finn bear.
 
I have used my sk-5 trailmaster for 4 years and is one of the best 90$ deals I have ever had.

Gave mine a convexed edge a little thinner than what comes with the sanmai model and it is a limbing machine.

Does anyone know the rockwell difference between carbonv, sk-5 and san mai

thinking of cutting off the top guard to make it more bushfriendly, easiest way with basic tools would be appreciated.
 
Power tools - angle grinder. Hand tools - hacksaw. Follow up with a file, good luck!
 
Brad you convexed it thinner than the SM model? I need to have you do my knives then. This one came sharp enough to whittle a rolling paper. A lot of guys think they are too thin on the edge side. The SK5 does benefit from a convex though.

Gotta share that mod if you get it done too.
 
Speaking of Recon Scouts and mods, here is a mod by Justin of Ranger knives that I recently finished a sheath for. From what I can see he kept the original guard. This is the Carbon V model.

HPIM2389.jpg
 
Nice review of one my favourites. I have both SM III and the SK-5 version (early coated version).

I personally don't have an issue with the handle. It just fits my hands real well. I have a CS Mini-Kukri in Carbon V that has done a LOT of work in the garden and its still going strong a few years down the river now.

Those handles hold up just fine, unless you're someone who is out there chopping down trees every day, rain or shine.

In which case I would suggest you buy an axe. :p
 
Thanks for the review. I'd say the edge retention was pretty damn good to be slicing up some paper like that after chopping down a tree. I suspected the VG-1 probably wasn't best choice due to chipping on nails, etc. I would be interested to know how it compare to the SK-5 or the Carbon V Trailmasters. The Recon Scout mod is beautiful:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the excellent performance review. There's a lot of folks who put down the San Mai III as not being a good performer. Looks like they are wrong.
 
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