Fallkniven Thor vs Cold Steel TrailMaster San Mai III

Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
26
Hi!

I am very indecisive in the choice of which one I will purchase. Could anyone tell me your opinion about which one of them I should get?

Would be very appreciated!

The price difference is not any problems...
 
i prefer the traimaster since i have no experience with fallkniven. I would go with the carbon v trailmaster since it is cheaper and is 2 + pts higher on the rockwell hardness scale
 
Cold Steel is EVIL and must be avoided at all costs.:D

The Fallkniven looks really cool, I'd love to have one if I wasn't franticly searching for Beckers and spending all my money on them.
 
IIRC the steel core of the CS is not that good a steel [couldn't find it on their website] and certainly not as good as the VG-10 core of the Fallkniven. I don't think it's worth the price.Fallkniven knives are very well made of very fine materials .
 
Cold Steel Knives are not that great IMHO. Buy at your own risk & please don't cry about it here later! JMO
 
I'd buy the Fallkniven! I've got the FREJ and it is a beautiful knive. Extremely well made!
 
I don't have the Thor, but I have half a dozen other Fallknivens. They are well made, and Peter stands behind them all the way. The Carbon V trailmaster is a good knife, but I have no experience with the San Mai version. My vote is for the Thor, if I didn't already have multiple other huge choppers, I would be owning one of them myself.
 
I'm not going to say anything against the Cold Steel because, quite frankly, I don't know enough about them to comment. I will say that, for my money, I'd tend to go with the Fallkniven. Fallkniven makes some damn fine knives, from all I've read, and that Thor sure looks like a beauty.

My first "big" fixed-blade was a Fallkniven A1. I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet, but I will say this: Fit, finish and feel are all fantastic. So is the leather sheath that came with it.

You might wish to check out Cliff Stamp's reviews on the Cold Steel Trailmaster (tho he did the Carbon V model) and the four Fallkniven's he reviewed: Reviews of knives, sharpening equipment and related products. The A1 review has a link to a less formal, but interesting nontheless, IMO, review and a page where Fallkniven does some blade torture tests on some of their knives.
 
If you go with Cold Steel, get the Carbon V blade. The general consensus here is that CS San Mai is low quality steel (relative to what's out there at comparable prices). I used to have the Recon Scout and I agree with most people that the handle was a little on the thin side. I wrapped mine to make it more comfortable.

Personally, I'd go with Fallkniven. the only downside would be price. If that isn't much of a factor, I'd go with the Thor. For a cheaper and still comparable knife, you can go with the A2.
 
Thanks guys!
I was leaning on the Thor, because I don´t really know anything about the San Mai III steel. But I know that the VG-10 is really good! I own a couple of Fallkniven already, so I know they are making some very nice knives!
One thing I was thinking though, is the handle guard on Thor, I have checked and I think it´s a bit small, it could have been a bit bigger. But that´s not a thing that´s going to be decisive in this case!
 
Cornelis Böhms;4133518 said:
I see that so often on this site; a brand is all bad or is all holy.
This black or white thinking:thumbdn: :thumbdn:

Did you bother to think that the reason you "see that so often on this site" is because it is the general consensus of a group of very discriminating, well informed knife enthusiasts? If not, perhaps it is a case of "black or white thinking" on your part.;)

Regards,
3G
 
thats why i cant justify the extreme high price of san mai III, its simply laminated aus-8 or stronger aus-8.i'd rather have vg10,or carbon v.......
 
You do realize fallknivens are also laminated with a VG10 core?
The Kronor series, the U1, U2, P1/3G, H1/3G and WM/3G are laminated 3G steel (VG2/SGPS/VG2)

Maybe they schould also call it San mai.

Fallkniven is clearly the better brand.
 
OK now I remember Blondie. AUS-8 is a good steel I've used the CS Master Hunter for years and it's a fine knife. However if you're going to the trouble and expense of making a laminated blade you should use a better steel like VG-10.
 
If you went with cold steel, I'd go with the carbon V trailmaster. It is an all around better knife than the San Mai III, all costs aside. On the other hand, I have heard really good things about the fallkniven thor. Either way, you won't be making a mistake.
 
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