Counterfeit knives

R

Richardo21

Joined
Feb 3, 2018
Messages
23
I received a Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie for Christmas. I did some research before telling my son what I wanted and where to buy. I stayed away from cost to low to be believed and unknown sites.
Knife was San Mai purchesed from Midway...there is some tooling marks on the edge, makes me wonder if it is Counterfeit, anyone ever find out if their knife was counterfeit ?
What tipped you off??
I don’t know if mine is or not yet.
 
I've gotten knives from midway a very long time ago, all mine were legit. That said if a customer purchased a knife from them and returned a fake, I doubt they would know it. They may then sell that knife to someone else.
That's why purchasing from bladeforums dealers is the only safe bet other than directly from manufacturer. Peace of mind for a tiny bit more in most cases.
 
In general, each counterfeit knife has some tells that will help ID it. In general some rough grinds are not by themselves a good indicator, though on a high dollar knife it would be a clue. Some photos so other owners can compare will help, closeups of areas like plunge lines, stamps/etchings, lanyard tubes, and sheaths will be where most of the clues will be found.
 
Could just be a bad bit of QC. If it's any comfort I don't recall ever seeing a fake trailmaster.
 
shinyedges said:
That's why purchasing from bladeforums dealers is the only safe bet other than directly from manufacturer. Peace of mind for a tiny bit more in most cases.
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I suppose you could add every authorized distributor to that list in all fairness. Just saying, cause that's what I'm doing, none of the euro dealers (as far I can tell) are BF Sponsors, but they are authorized dealers for several of the big brands. So they are safe to use as well, you can find them on the Knife Co websites usually. I'd happily use BF Sponsoring shops, but with import tax and very bad experience with my local customs office (the essentially tried to bring me to court for literally important war machinery IE Tanks/Explosives/Machine guns when I imported a part for an airsoft rifle from china because "Their expert was familiar with the items on a hobby level" :rolleyes::mad: ) so I try to avoid important anything those %!$§! $%$ (insert your own insults here) might deem unlawful/problematic/restricted and with one handed locking knives being illegal to carry, I feel like they'd try to jam me up again...
 
b00n said:
I suppose you could add every authorized distributor to that list in all fairness. Just saying, cause that's what I'm doing, none of the euro dealers (as far I can tell) are BF Sponsors, but they are authorized dealers for several of the big brands. So they are safe to use as well, you can find them on the Knife Co websites usually. I'd happily use BF Sponsoring shops, but with import tax and very bad experience with my local customs office (the essentially tried to bring me to court for literally important war machinery IE Tanks/Explosives/Machine guns when I imported a part for an airsoft rifle from china because "Their expert was familiar with the items on a hobby level" :rolleyes::mad: ) so I try to avoid important anything those %!$§! $%$ (insert your own insults here) might deem unlawful/problematic/restricted and with one handed locking knives being illegal to carry, I feel like they'd try to jam me up again...
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If you buy from a knife dealer that exclusively deals in knives and has employees knowledgeable about the knives they send out, the chance of slipping a counterfeit past them drops significantly.

Places like midway, ebay, amazon, walmart.com, and the other like them deal in so many items having expertise in each one is impossible. Much easier to return a fake and get away with it.

Some bladeforums dealers do ship over seas by the way.
 
I have seen fake Trail Masters but they were older and not SanMai versions. Is the knife in question a post 2007 VG1 core Sanmai TM? Please post photos of your knife with sheath as well.
 
shinyedges said:
If you buy from a knife dealer that exclusively deals in knives and has employees knowledgeable about the knives they send out, the chance of slipping a counterfeit past them drops significantly.

Places like midway, ebay, amazon, walmart.com, and the other like them deal in so many items having expertise in each one is impossible. Much easier to return a fake and get away with it.

Some bladeforums dealers do ship over seas by the way.
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I wasn't aware Ebay/Amazon & Co are authorized distributors/dealers? I meant of course authorized dealers who are dedicated knife stores. Sorry if that didn't come across that way. :thumbsup:
And yeah I'm aware that most BF Dealers ship internationally, but Tax and more so those a-hole customs officers make me wary to try that again. I'll PM you the story of my ordeal if you're curious.
 
b00n said:
I wasn't aware Ebay/Amazon & Co are authorized distributors/dealers? I meant of course authorized dealers who are dedicated knife stores. Sorry if that didn't come across that way. :thumbsup:
And yeah I'm aware that most BF Dealers ship internationally, but Tax and more so those a-hole customs officers make me wary to try that again. I'll PM you the story of my ordeal if you're curious.
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My was post was more of a general overview of why it's safer to purchase from knife only dealers. I usually recommend bladeforums dealers because they have excellent customer service and most have active people on the forum. But I agree, purchasing from authorized dealers anywhere is better than the major retailers online.
 
Richardo21 said:
I received a Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie for Christmas. I did some research before telling my son what I wanted and where to buy. I stayed away from cost to low to be believed and unknown sites.
Knife was San Mai purchesed from Midway...there is some tooling marks on the edge, makes me wonder if it is Counterfeit, anyone ever find out if their knife was counterfeit ?
What tipped you off??
I don’t know if mine is or not yet.
Click to expand...

Go to this link and read post number eleven for how to post pics.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/whats-with-please-email-for-pictures.1539365/
 
I will try a photo
Side note, I have TrailMastet in carbon steel also (Chinese)
One of the best knives I own
 
Richardo21 said:
I received a Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie for Christmas. I did some research before telling my son what I wanted and where to buy. I stayed away from cost to low to be believed and unknown sites.
Knife was San Mai purchesed from Midway...there is some tooling marks on the edge, makes me wonder if it is Counterfeit, anyone ever find out if their knife was counterfeit ?
What tipped you off??
I don’t know if mine is or not yet.
Click to expand...
 
Richardo21, unfortunately there are very few Cold Steel models these days that haven't been counterfeited. See my thread here if you're looking for examples:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/counterfeit-anyone.1399763/


That said, as Ken mentioned above, I haven't seen any counterfeit San Mai Trail Masters personally. It doesn't mean they aren't out there, but I haven't run across them.

Also, if you're buying directly from MidwayUSA, you did not receive a counterfeit knife (unless it was a scam return, as others suggested). Except for surplus, MidwayUSA only sells brand new merchandise, usually direct from the manufacturer. If you received a knife that doesn't look new and legitimate, send it back with an explanation.


-Steve
 
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Here are some photos
Top photo, notice the pitting
It’s slight but makes you go hmm!
 
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