Handle change on Cold Steel Trailmaster

S

satterfield

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
6
I would like to change the handle on my Cold Steel Trailmaster to something like Micarta.

Any recommendations on who to contact would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack
 
How come you don't do it yourself? Most of the pride comes when you are able to show your buddies the finished product and then tell them that you did it! Check the Search on the forum, there have been enough guys over time that have asked for the same thing. Materials are readily available and previous posts have walked folks through the process. Try it, it may be the beginning stages of eventually making your own.
 
Reworking a finished knife can be a difficult task. Whether it's a custom/handmade or commercially produced knife. You never know what you're going to get into. I've taken apart a few commercial knives and was very surprised with what I found. Or, maybe embarrassed is a better word. The handle will in most cases have to be destroyed in order to be removed. If it was cast in place it really compounds problems. Messy.

My advice to you is to sell the trailmaster and buy a custom/handmade knife with all of your desires in the finished blade. And be happy with it. The trailmaster probably has a good resale value because of it's reputation as a real work horse. That's just my advice. You might want to get a second and third opinion.
 
Cutting off the rubber handle won't be that difficult. I've done that to a couple of Cold Steel knives in anticipation of making new handles for them. I don't know if the guard is secured in any fashion. Cold Steel tangs are long and stout. The shoulders are not well finished however. Making a new handle won't be that difficult. I plan on using pakkawood with a rabbit tang construction.
 
Is it a full or hidden tang? Full tang would be much easier with micarta than a hidden tang.Both can be done, but if you were going to do it yourself for the first time you would probably want to try something other than micarta for a hidden tang.
There are several places you can send the knife to be customized.Alot of them are into really dressing stuff up though , so you might have to go on a waiting list for awhile while they work on some projects that will make them a little more money. I'm sure you'll find someone to do it. Maybe even one of the part timers here would be interested.
 
I have cut the rubber handles off both a Trailmaster and a Recon Scout, but have not yet rehandled them. It looks to me that some sort of mortis tang construction is going to be what I am going to use. The tangs are pretty long and wide, but not wide enough for a true full tang. I am either going to go with micarta or some kind of killer looking wood like ironwood. I definitely will not be using brass for the guard though. Either nickel silver or stainless.
 
Danbo,

Thanks for the reply.....I was hoping one of the knife makers in this group would see my request and contact me.

Let me know how the project turns out.

Thanks,

Jack
 
Danbo, have you thought about using a steel framed handle like the one in Bruce's tutorials?
 
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