Cold Steel Trail Master?

Hairlesstwinkie

Hairlesstwinkie

Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Messages
1,562
I happened to stumble on a used Cold Steel Trail Master in Carbon V steel and USA made at the flea market for $40. It sounds too good to be true right? Well, I had actually just handled a real Trail Master the other night, so lucky me right? I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask you guys to verify. Unfortunately it doesn't have a sheath.

Two things that had me concerned was the guard is loose up and down not front and back so I don't think it's a real issue, but I want to double check with you guys. The other issue is that the edge is not sharp at all, it was actually flat. Does Cold Steel do a "spa treatement"?

Here are some pictures:

Untitled by Hairlesstwinkie, on Flickr

Untitled by Hairlesstwinkie, on Flickr

Untitled by Hairlesstwinkie, on Flickr

Untitled by Hairlesstwinkie, on Flickr
 
Looks real to me. You got a wicked deal. Call Cold Steel about fixing the edge and guard, they'll hook you up. I've never sent a knife in for a spa treatment, but I expect good things from Cold Steel.

One of the awesome sheath makers here can craft you a sheath worthy of such a blade.
 
I've already contacted CS, hopefully they'll reply soon. I haven't owned enough CS products to use their customer service, so it'll be an interesting experience.

I couldn't believe the guy when he opened his mouth and said $40. I was half expecting $80 or something.
 
I picked up a trailmaster in SanMai years ago for $150. The dealer (where a friend worked) stopped stocking that model, and when they stopped stocking them, I got the one with the price sticker on it. At a huge discount.




$40 for a carbon V, even really well used seems like a great deal to me.
 
Call customer service instead of using email. Works much, much better if you need to contact Cold Steel.
 
It's a great score!
IMO A stag handle makes it look much better.
Let us know how it works out for you.
 
Ouch,
I didn't know you could use clr on metal because of the corrosive agents in it...I've only used it on glass.
I use WD40 or gun oil to clean my carbon blades.
 
Don't EVER use CLR on Carbon 5...

I guess you already get that now...

go from 600 to 1000 or more wet or dry autobody sandpaper on a sanding block to keep corners sharp.

Use water or WD40 to lube.

RenWax for long term storage.

Ballistol or EEZOX and #0000 steel wool for carry/camp etc. Stag and Nickel Silver fix-up, (WOW!!).

Kydex or a really heavy leather sheath made from 1/4 oak sole stock and snaps and rivets, sewn (no velcro).

Factory Re-sharpen, or find somebody thats really good w/ a Wicked Edge system.

1000 grit edge bevel polish is enough IMHO.

Now, if I just had my dream workshop, and the upgrade materials, I could do that for you :)
 
Last edited:
tikkidaddy said:
Don't EVER use CLR on Carbon 5...

I guess you already get that now...

go from 600 to 1000 or more wet or dry autobody sandpaper on a sanding block to keep corners sharp.

Use water or WD40 to lube.

RenWax for long term storage.

Ballistol or EEZOX and #0000 steel wool for carry/camp etc. Stag and Nickel Silver fix-up, (WOW!!).

Kydex or a really heavy leather sheath made from 1/4 oak sole stock and snaps and rivets, sewn (no velcro).

Factory Re-sharpen, or find somebody thats really good w/ a Wicked Edge system.

1000 grit edge bevel polish is enough IMHO.

Now, if I just had my dream workshop, and the upgrade materials, I could do that for you :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. Well when you get your dream workshop let me know. I'll send some money your way :D
 
'Ya probably messed up any collector value it had, and an older TM has a bit, so, maybe you should have tried something like Flitz or Metal Glo, would go a long way to preserving the value and cleans well. It is a real TM, a bit older, '90's probably, possibly, possibly '80's. Man, why do I never find a TM for $40?? All I get is a whole lot of free stinkeye.
 
I have a TM just like this one, brother, the more I think about that stag/nickel silver rehandle mod, it just makes me wanna cry. I would also add a flat, mirror polished Nickel silver butt cap about 1/4 in. thick, or less depending on your preference, to protect that expensive stag handle, thats a buttload of handlework but worth the effort IMHO.

If the new 01 TMs were made in USA, I would buy two, just so I COULD sexy one up like 'dat!

Maybe thats why I dont have that dream shop, Lynn Thompson got all the money LOL!

My "user" TM is an older one circa 1986, it used to have the name "Hoffritz" engraved in the blade. I sent her to CS for a new Krayton handle and factory resharpen, still goin' strong.

You will find that unless you STAY on her, w/ EEZOX, or RenWax---she will PIT on you---I mean little black holes, not any of that fancy red rust stuff.
 
I'm glad I'm keeping it for the sake of collecting. This TM will save me $200 because I don't have to lust over a Syco 911 anymore. I've always wanted a bigger knife for chopping but couldn't dish out the money because of the limited use.
 
Dude, IMHO, unless you really wanna put your wallet on the Slimfast diet plan from hell, you just got ahold of probably the BEST all around heavy duty knife, PERIOD. **AT THAT PRICE POINT**, and Id love to have a SYKO, if I didn't have to pay $100 for a sheath to carry it in.

Now, you could look up Himalayan Imports on this forum site, and Im sure Aunty Yangdu can come across w/ a khukuri from Hades at about $200-250, maybe alot less if you "shark" a "blem". The only knife I can think of that would give a CSGK a solid run for its money is the HIMIMP 18in CAK.

Damned thing is nigh-indestructible. I would LOVE to see a HIMIMP 18in. CAK go up against a CSGK in SK-5, or 01, in a "blow by blow" re-creation of the CS PROOF videos. Not to start a feud, its just the knifehog in me thats all :).

Barring all that, you really got some excellent "raw material" to customize, no matter what you do w/ it.
 
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