cold steel vs. kabar (fixed blades)

zerobyte, you really are spouting nonsense about these three steels being practically identical. 440a and 440c are somewhat close (both air hardening high chromium content stainless), but 1095 is a plain carbon steel that is water/oil hardening with almost no alloying elements. These three steels behave very differently as far as rust resistance, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance. Yes, all steels have an "optimum" heat treat for a given task, but 1095 and 440c are two very different steels.
 
K-Bars are good knifes and there is no getting around it. l just think that the recon scout is a much better knife. lt is made from carbon V which is a high Carbon steel. it is tough and it has a full tang handle. The K- Bar is a knife that is also made of high Carbon steel but the tang is a hidden one that is thin and is prone to breaking when used hard like soldiers tend to do to knives. When a hidden tang knife is made by a blade Smith they keep the tang in the blue range of heat and that makes it tough like a car spring. They also keep the shoulders where the blade goes into the tang rounded and not square like in manufactured knives like the K- bar. When it is rounded and differentially tempered it is almost indestructable but with factory made knives that is not the case. They tend to break at the shoulder. So therefore go for the full tang knife allways when you buy a factory made knife. Cold Steel make hard working honest knives.
 
I have heard it said that Carbon V is a trade name for 1095...

But I do not guess CS is talking about it....

Shane
 
stevomiller: i did not know carbon v was identical to 1095. sorry about that. from what i had read, it was supposed to be 440c with a slightly lower amount of cr. my bad.

00h
 
I would also go with the Recon Scout. It is my go to big knife. Not too expensive, excellent performance.
Over the years, I have noticed that the edge is ground at different angles one knife to the next. Some are thinner, and take a great edge, and some are blunt. Mine, thankfully is a good one, as most I have seen, but there are some out there that would need quite a bit of reprofiling. Just take a look at the edge before you buy.

Some of the knives you are considering are quite expensive. Are you stuck on those two brands? There are a lot of top notch knives out there for the price of a Trailmaster or Laredo....

Jim
 
If you can name a good knife for the price of a trail master that is like a trail master but better, name away my good friend.
 
I have both recon scout and the k-bar bowie. both have a good feel and are very strong, but for the money I would stick with the recon scout. When you pick it up you know you have a serious piece of steel in your hands.
 
zerobyte said:
stevomiller: i did not know carbon v was identical to 1095. sorry about that. from what i had read, it was supposed to be 440c with a slightly lower amount of cr. my bad.

00h
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Carbon V is most likely NOT 1095. Read Joe Talmadge's "Steel FAQ", it'll do you a world of good. Also, Carbon V and 1095 are not even remotely the same or akin to "440C". Carbon V and 1095 are CARBON STEELS, while 440C (and 440A, 440B, ATS-34, 154CM, the AUS series, VG10, S30V, S60V, and S90V) is a STAINLESS STEEL. Huge difference! End of lesson.

Best wishes,
3Guardsmen
 
forrest long said:
I have both recon scout and the k-bar bowie. both have a good feel and are very strong, but for the money I would stick with the recon scout. When you pick it up you know you have a serious piece of steel in your hands.
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I understand the trailmaster and recon scout have had some quality control issues.

Specifically, the trailmaster's handle has been less than secure under heavy use, and the the securement strap on the recon scouts sheath is less than the ideal length.

That being said Cold Steel makes some very good knives at higher price levels, and some junk. Kabar has a much more limited selection, but in my view all their knives are very good quality and well thought out tools.

I have never had a bad kabar, or one that failed to perform. I've had a couple of cold steel branded products that ended up in the trash can in short order.

Therefore I suppose you could say I'm partial to Kabar products. Especially in the production big knife category. This is due solely to my experience with both brands.

As far as price, Kabar's quality, design, and attention to detail can't be beat.
 
Its is going to be tough to find a better knife then the Cold Steel Trailmaster.
IMO the best knife money can buy. The knife will match most high end knives.
A big knife can do a small knives job but a small knife can't do a big knives job.

Cheers,

André

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Never said it was or wasn't(Carbon V = 1095)...just heard that was the word...never doubted or wondered...

I carry the scars from carrrying a CS knife...so I did my time...earned my dues....and have gone beyond it.

I could not care less for CS...and all their bastard step children...

....and their little dogs too....:yawn:

Shane
 
440C used to be the "only" stainless. Every knife a while back seemed to be 440C. I gather it got hard to get in large volumes, and that it doesn't really move knives any more, but I have always been pleased with it.
 
I have a Recon Tanto that I have taken to Ensenada for the last 12 years and it has done it's job very well. The Carbon V blade stays sharp and the Kraton handle stays tacky, even soaking in salt water. This is definitely a work knife and used as such.
 
First post on this forum.

However, I reccomend staying away from Ka-Bar's Impact series. Great knife, beautiful blade, one problem: The handle is way too small.

I purchased a Ka-Bar Impact Tanto off eBay, for use as a backpacking utility knife.

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I'm 5'8", and wear a medium glove size for hand comparison.

Is it just me, or are the handles on these knives inordinately small? Especially with the lack of a gaurd.

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Here is a Knife Steel FAQ

Carbon V
Carbon V is a trademarked term by Cold Steel, and as such is not necessarily one particular kind of steel; rather, it describes whatever steel Cold Steel happens to be using, and there is an indication they do change steels from time to time. Carbon V performs roughly between 1095-ish and O-1-ish, in my opinion, and rusts like O-1 as well. I've heard rumors that Carbon V is O-1 (which I think is unlikely) or 1095. Numerous industry insiders insist it is 0170-6. Some spark tests done by a rec.knives reader seem to point the finger at 50100-B. Since 50100-B and 0170-6 are the same steel (see below), this is likely the current Carbon V.


0170-6 - 50100-B
These are different designations for the same steel: 0170-6 is the steel makers classification, 50100-B is the AISI designation. A good chrome-vanadium steel that is somewhat similar to O-1, but much less expensive. The now-defunct Blackjack made several knives from O170-6, and Carbon V may be 0170-6. 50100 is basically 52100 with about 1/3 the chromium of 52100, and the B in 50100-B indicates that the steel has been modified with vanadium, making this a chrome-vanadium steel.
 
I have a laredo and it has been amazing, a little on the expensive side though. I do not regret buying it, however, I would've probably bought a trailmaster first.
 
Recon scout is a beast I would take that one from the list. if I lost mine that is. If the handle comes loose from hard use you can still manage in an emergency due to the full tang construction. unlike with a kabar.
 
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