Cold Steel

[Richard B]

Hi Again,

So I'm looking now at a trailmaster cold steel. Can anyone explain the 3 types oF steel use please. Carbon v, San Mai 111, Aus 6, I think. What's the differance.

Thanks
RB

 

[frank k]

Carbon V is a high carbon, low alloy cutlery steel much like 0170-6C. Carbon V is an excellent knife steel, but is not stainless and will rust easily.
AUS6 is a stainless steel, so it won't rust as near as easily as Carbon V, but you give up toughness and edge holding.
San Mai III is a laminated stainless steel with a hard stainless steel sandwhiched between two soft stainless layers.
Both the AUS6 and San Mai trailmasters have rolled (convex) edges.

Check out cold steel's site: www.coldsteel.com

Also take a look at Joe Talmadge's excellent Steel FAQ's: www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsteel.shtml

 

[calyth]

Depending on how you define tough... tough in Mr. Talmadge's FAQ is how resistent the steel is against breaking and instead take some damage (ie chipping and stuff). AUS6 is actually quite soft among most steel and probably would be damaged before it breaks.

 

[one45auto]

Richard,

I own a Carbon V Trailmaster Bowie, so I cannot comment on either the Stainless Steel or San Mai III models. However I've found the Carbon V Trailmaster to be an excellent knife. I've chopped wood with it, used it for an emergency tent stake, dug dirt, cut everything from fish to fishing line and even steel wire ~ hell, I even dropped it in salt water once! No signs of rust yet, though I'll confess to being rather fastidious about maintenance. I keep my blades dry and clean, and once a week they get a rubdown with WD-40 whether I've used them or not. The only complaint that I have is that the polymer handle seems to become somewhat pliant when exposed to hot and/or humid weather, as well as prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Maybe it's just my imagination, but it does seem to move a little under those conditions. Other than that it's a wonderful knife. It's easy to sharpen and holds an edge well.


Hope this helps.

 

[Jin]

Frankly, the difference is no where significant...

Carbon V is the strongest material amount the lots, but for the stainless versions of Trailmaster, they employ some convexity in their blade, i.e. thicker blade, more material, more strength...

One can say the Carbon V version cut better with which thinner blade. One may also say the San Mai III worth the money as it has more "work" involved . Some like the Stainless versions as they stain less... it really depends on what you are looking for.

 

[King Grinch]

What CS needs to do is drop the rubber handles and use wood. Get rid of AUS6 and San Mai III and use BG42 for the stainlees ver of the knife and a CPM steel for the really high end knife.

 

[andr]

Originally posted by King Grinch
What CS needs to do is drop the rubber handles and use wood.

It isn't rubber, it's Kraton. Rubber would be slippery and easy to destroy. But if you are hunting during cold winter season, then definetly you need wooden handles. It's an omission on CS side, but there're many hunting knives on the market anyways. Helle, for example, or many other custom/production Nordics.

But then, fishermen need stacked birch bark handles, so why not say "CS should use birch bark?" I guess, they do what they do the best, and they do it well.

 

[Mike G]

Originally posted by King Grinch
What CS needs to do is drop the rubber handles and use wood. Get rid of AUS6 and San Mai III and use BG42 for the stainlees ver of the knife and a CPM steel for the really high end knife.

I might consider owning a CS knife, if they did that!

Too much plastic, not enough 'high quality' steel, and too much hype for me.

Kraton is the epitome of 'cheesy'.:barf:

 

[Steven Roos]

I have a Cold Steel Recon Tanto, and I love it!

Very sharp, very tough knife! I like the way the handle feels, but I do worry that the hande might wear in the future.

I got mine for about $50, and for what I use it for it was a bargain!

 

[misque]

I've been getting a bit weary of the Kraton craze Cold Steel has been experiencing the last 10 years or so. They need to move on to a better handle material IMHO.
I pulled out my Recon Tanto the other day(it's been in storage) and lo and behold the Kraton was oozing this nasty-ass green gel-like substance from around the brass lanyard hole liner. Not only that, the whole handle has this damp sticky feel to it that rubs off onto your hands. The crap stains like Ritz dye to boot.
Now, I could understand this if it were sitting out in my hotter-than-nine-yards-of-Hell shop, but, it is being stored in an air conditioned room with controlled humidity.

WTF?!:grumpy:

I can see a retro-fit to wood or Micarta handles for my Cold Steel knives in the near future.

 

[one45auto]

misque,

I agree wholeheartedly. Cold Steel does need to move away from using polymer handles. Personally, I'm not much into wood but I'd eagerly welcome either a plastic resin or space age plastic polymer. Something along the lines of tupperware on steriods ~ something that doesn't soften, doesn't chip, and won't break. I've been fortunate in that my Trailmaster hasn't oozed any unknown fluids, but even my experience has likewise led me to consider replacing the handle. My only hesitation is the expense, not to mention the lack of a qualified professional to perform the work.

 

[King Grinch]

Originally posted by andr


It isn't rubber, it's Kraton. Rubber would be slippery and easy to destroy. But if you are hunting during cold winter season, then definetly you need wooden handles. It's an omission on CS side, but there're many hunting knives on the market anyways. Helle, for example, or many other custom/production Nordics.

But then, fishermen need stacked birch bark handles, so why not say "CS should use birch bark?" I guess, they do what they do the best, and they do it well.

What are you talking about? I wasn't talking about knives for specific users of CS knives. Fishermen probably use many types of knife handles. I was suggesting a cheap replacement for Kraton which many people think is cheap and has drawbacks in many types of environments.