CS trail master SK5 report ???

S

sharp-k

Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Messages
185
Hi folks ,

I'm looking for a big battle blade, any opinion on the CS trail master (sk5) ?

Thanks in advance
 
SK-5 Trailmaster should be fine, but I'd prefer the Laredo for a Battle Blade because of extra length and sharpened false edge. In the process of seeing how the SK-5 version compares to the Carbon V version. SK-5 retail price is half of retail price of the Carbon V, and I seriously doubt that it only performs half as well. Preliminary testing is showing that you are getting a lot of knife for half the price.
 
I have not handled this knife, but I really like the Trailmaster in Carbon V, and I really love the Cold Steel Bushman, which has always been made from SK5. I would imagine that it should be a great knife for the price.
 
dear mike , thanks for your answer, I've also considered the laredo but many treads on this forum are talking about a poor handle construction for the laredo ...
 
I got a Gurka Kukri in SK-5 from CS. The Kraton is harder and the edge retention and level of sharpness isn't as good as Carbon V.
 
I wouldn't expect SK-5 to perform exactly as well as Carbon V. All the Carbon V blades I've used (have used them for as long as they been made) have performed superbly. That's why they are at a premium now. SK-5 doesn't have to perform up to Carbon V standards to still perform well. I had a Trailmaster that used to live in my truck and was used to clear put-in and take-out trails at local kayaking workout/play spots. Great opportunity for practicing snap cuts, as well as cleaving cuts. That knife wound up in NO after Katrina with a friend of mine doing rescue/security duty. Hes aid the at it has tales to tell. Anyway, I'm making a Southern Comfort for an SK-5 Laredo and it'll go live in my truck for the same purpose as the Trailmaster did. I'm very interested in seeing how it performs if needed as a weapon. As for the threads on the handles....... Did anyone have a handle break during normal usage, or was it a case of someone taking it apart (breaking) and then just not liking what they found? Bill Bagwell cleaved an 18" 2x12 end to end with one hit with a Laredo (Carbon V) (see Battle Blades article in SOF), no problem with handle there. I've done hard hits against a pell; again, no problems. I don't exspect any with the new versions. Next time I get with Bill (should be in Oct at the Ohio Classic Knife Show), I'll see if we can do that same test with an SK-5 and get it on video. We've already done that with a Custom Hell's Belle, a Vidalia Maiden (another Bagwell Bowie), and an Ontario HB.
 
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