Cold Steel Trail Master which one?

Here is the last 2.5-3" of the points. BWM on the left, VG-1 SMIII TM on the right.
HPIM2942-1.jpg


One thing I definitely agree with you on is that the oldest examples of Trail master had the beefiest points. Every version since then has thinned out incrementally. Till the newest SK-5 Taiwan made version which more drastically leaning toward the "warrior" side of bowies. It is most unneeded in its role as camp/sport knife IMHO considering they already make so many "fighting" knives.
 
Also, despite the fact that we are all of course seasoned and accomplished knife fighters who will notice the tenths of a gram of difference in the new tip, how much more dangerous would life really be for us if the TM was more tip heavy? ;)
 
GrinderMcgee said:
Here is the last 2.5-3" of the points. BWM on the left, VG-1 SMIII TM on the right.
HPIM2942-1.jpg


One thing I definitely agree with you on is that the oldest examples of Trail master had the beefiest points. Every version since then has thinned out incrementally. Till the newest SK-5 Taiwan made version which more drastically leaning toward the "warrior" side of bowies. It is most unneeded in its role as camp/sport knife IMHO considering they already make so many "fighting" knives.
Click to expand...

I posted that a few times over on the CS forums too. :D



philwar said:
Also, despite the fact that we are all of course seasoned and accomplished knife fighters who will notice the tenths of a gram of difference in the new tip, how much more dangerous would life really be for us if the TM was more tip heavy? ;)
Click to expand...

Oh I know, since we all live in the Cyborg era world you know and get into knife fights at least 3 times a day. LOL ;) :rolleyes:
 
Why stop there?

TM Carbon V. Old choil.

HPIM2864.jpg


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Solid Japanese AUS 8 reprofiled.

HPIM2876.jpg


HPIM2877.jpg


Vintage SMIII knife.

HPIM2870.jpg


HPIM2872.jpg


I do remember having the TM morphology conversation on the CS boards Ankerson. It makes me scratch my head.
 
philwar said:
You can get a brand new TM SM3 for around $250. The BWM in its plainest shape is a hundred bucks more. Hardly the same price.

I own them both, but have not yet had the opportunity to use the BWM for real. I do know that the TM is an amazing chopper, hardly less effective than the FBMLE I also own (which is a lot heavier). The TM's length, weight, grind and factory edge make it an awesome knife.
I'm sure Ankerson could tell you more, but I would not be surprised if the TM outchops the BWM.
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No disrespect to Cold Steel, or philwar, and I still love my TM, but Busse beats it to hell as a chopper. That's why I switched. Is it worth the extra money? That's personal, but it was for me.
As a "fighter", though, the TM is much faster in the hand, IMHO.
 
HJK said:
No disrespect to Cold Steel, or philwar, and I still love my TM, but Busse beats it to hell as a chopper. That's why I switched. Is it worth the extra money? That's personal, but it was for me.
As a "fighter", though, the TM is much faster in the hand, IMHO.
Click to expand...

a chopper or self defense mall/ninja............:p
 
how would the grayman mega pounder 9" compare to the SMIII? The gramyan has handle choices and is about the same price at 235 before options.
 
GrinderMcgee said:
This was fun. You must keep me updated on the findings Ankerson.

HJK, which Busse?
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I got two at the same time, both old straight handled: Steelheart II and BattleMistress. The BM is a bit large, especially if you're sitting in a canoe or scrambling/climbing. The SH chops almost as well as the bigger Busse but is still not as fast as a TM.
I started looking for a replacement for my Carbon V after a tough trip to the Northwest Territories where my CS got wet and actually started pitting and
screwed up my hand a bit because of that damn handle. It's still a fabulous knife, [ I love every knife that helped me stay warm, dry and alive ] but there are better, at least for me.
 
I have a Carbon V TM but I can't really comment as to how tough it is as I've never given it a real work-out. However I would like to say that it's refreshing to read a Cold Steel thread without the usual vitriol.
In another vein, does anybody know of someone who makes a kydex sheath for the TM? I know Riverworks makes one for the Laredo Bowie [ which I also have] but I don't think Ive seen anything about the TM on that website.
 
HJK said:
No disrespect to Cold Steel, or philwar, and I still love my TM, but Busse beats it to hell as a chopper. That's why I switched. Is it worth the extra money? That's personal, but it was for me.
As a "fighter", though, the TM is much faster in the hand, IMHO.
Click to expand...

"Busse beats it to hell"? I assume you mean the larger models, primarily the mistresses? You have no argument with me there. You are arguing a point I never made.
My post was to a member who claimed that the TM SM3 was about the same price as a BWM. This is just not the case.
 
philwar said:
"Busse beats it to hell"? I assume you mean the larger models, primarily the mistresses? You have no argument with me there. You are arguing a point I never made.
My post was to a member who claimed that the TM SM3 was about the same price as a BWM. This is just not the case.
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I'm not trying to argue with you or claim you said something you didn't. I'm just trying to make sure I don't offend you.
Generally I try to know someone first before I offend them :)

Generally, all things being equal, the bigger the blade the better it chops: just simple physics. ( the rule isn't inflexible ( forgive the pun) and some edges will distort and even roll, like stellite)

BTW, I didn't know Holland and Portugal shared a border ;)
 
There seems to be a lot of trail master knowledge in this thread.

I just bought this off a guy on ebay and now I'm thinking it could be a fake.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370310945461

A few things that set off my spidey sense, when comparing the knife pictured (which does look just like the one I got) to the sk5 trail master on cold steels website:

1) The "cold steel" and "trail master" text is horizontal to the guard, as opposed to perpendicular to the guard.
2) I don't know the technical term, but where the blade transitions from edged to flat just before it goes into the handle is a much more exaggerated swoop.
3) The brass guard appears to be wider.
 
Ankerson said:
One I took awhile back, BWM on top with SK-5 TM on bottom.

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Actually, the one I got looks exactly like the TM shown above. So either its just minor manufacturing variations, I'm imagining things, or Ankerson got the exact same fake. ;)
 
Dagw00d said:
Actually, the one I got looks exactly like the TM shown above. So either its just minor manufacturing variations, I'm imagining things, or Ankerson got the exact same fake. ;)
Click to expand...

Mine is real, I got it from Cold Steel. ;)
 
Interesting thread on a great blade....

As to the OP's question, its all a question of how much you want to spend.

The Carbon V version will do what the SM version does but personally I feel the SM is just a nicer object to own all round.

Carbon V is good stuff to be sure. I have a mini-Kukri in that steel and it is strong stuff. Flexes nicely. I've worked it hard and no probs yet.

In fact, if you want a serious chopper, the LTC in San Mai may well be the ultimate in the CS line up.
 
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