Does anything beat the Cold Steel Trail Master ?

I really do like the Trailmaster and I need to buy a new one. My first "expensive" knife was a TM I bought when I got out of college. I was starting a new job and was living at my mom's for a few months while I collected my first checks. When I left school I closed out my checking account and had just enough for the $110-120 I think they cost back in 2003.

The handle on mine got damaged so I have the Carbon V blade somewhere. I keep thinking I might find it and mount it in a nice piece of antler or something.

In the meantime, I do want another. Not the heaviest chopper but balanced and all business.
 
For reasonable ly priced or affordable suggestions"
Take a look at the iconic Ka-Bar or any of its clones.

Medford has several stouts work-a-day interpretations of the Ka-Bar. Another premium maker would be Chris Reeve. I'd look at the CRK Pcific or Greenn Beret. You might also consider the Randall Made "#16 Diver's Knife".
 
ILFreemason said:
I’ve owned a lot of large knives and Bowies. I have yet to find another that will best the Trail Master. I just find the shape and construction wonderful at all tasks.

Thoughts?

Frank
ILFreemason
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There are tons of knives that will best a Trailmaster. That doesnt mean its not a good knife. Pretty much any scrapyard or swamprat product will beat it. Not to mention anything Busse. Work tough, Falkniven, Hattori also best a trailmaster. Then there is Esee who just because of the handles is better. I would trust esee heat treat over cold steel non japan made knives any day. And I know I am forgetting many more knives.
 
I recently saw the stainless Trailmaster advertised for $299 online. That would be my choice for a Bowie, since it would be spending most of the time outdoors.
 
ILFreemason said:
I’ve owned a lot of large knives and Bowies. I have yet to find another that will best the Trail Master. I just find the shape and construction wonderful at all tasks.

Thoughts?

Frank
ILFreemason
Click to expand...

From a travelling brother who's been to the East . . .

I really liked my 1980s elk-handled Carbon V Trailmaster, but I sold it, uncarried and unused, back in 2000. If I had it now I'd probably sell it again, but in the intervening years I'd have used the heck out of it. The TM represents a design tradition that predates today's full-tang-tanks that give even Joe X a run for his money. Mine was straight out of Jeremiah Johnson, brass bolstered and pommelled and sheathed in leather. It had been my late brother's, but it was merely a safe queen for him, I had a student who loved it, and I had other knives I wanted more.

The TM is still one of my favorites. You won't go wrong with it!
 
Cobalt said:
There are tons of knives that will best a Trailmaster. That doesnt mean its not a good knife.
Click to expand...

I concur with this sentiment. The Trail Master is not the best chopper, slicer, or sticker on the market. But, it will chop and slice and stick better than most others on the market at the same relative price point. If you like Bowie styled knives, which I do, then it is a perfectly reasonable choice and serves well as a jack-of-all-trades.
 
I currently have the majority of my Bowie collection for sale. I have a Svord coffin Bowie , 2 new pre gsm Laredo’s , and a 3 v trail master. All in New unused condition. I really want to acquire an antique Sabre
 
My most used knives are the large folders from c/s. XL voyager, hold out , espada. Most used fixed blade trail master. I have one of their 12” magnum tanto’s in San Mai that the guard came loose on while chopping through a 3” green limb. It has been returned to gsm.
 
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