Help with Trailmaster

[rustinxcohle]

So, I want an old Cold Steel Trailmaster. I found one in nib condition. It appears to be the second gen Carbon V version made in the US. It comes with a nylon sheath, so according to the history thread it should have been produced in between 1993-1998.

My question is, did these TMs have the 90° transition from blade to tang or did they have the smoother transition to avoid the stress riser under the guard. Hope anyoe can help!

 

[Benjamin Liu]

IIRC the switch to a smoother transition to avoid the stress riser came as a response to posts on Bladeforums, and occurred in the early 2000s.

 

[rustinxcohle]

IIRC the switch to a smoother transition to avoid the stress riser came as a response to posts on Bladeforums, and occurred in the early 2000s.

Man, thank you so much. In this case I gonna pass on this one.

 

[jdk1]

Man, thank you so much. In this case I gonna pass on this one.

I don't believe it was much of a problem. You have to remember that some of the guys here are merciless on their knives, and a lemon can slip through every now and again. A 5/16" slab of Carbon V isn't likely to break, even under extreme abuse. But, if a blade had a slight flaw, batonning it through a cord of wood might cause it to give out The CS rep at the time said they didn't get many returns and I don't doubt that info. If the deal is good, I wouldn't pass it up! Carbon V Trailmasters don't stay for sale very long!

 

[rhino]

I don't believe it was much of a problem. You have to remember that some of the guys here are merciless on their knives, and a lemon can slip through every now and again. A 5/16" slab of Carbon V isn't likely to break, even under extreme abuse. But, if a blade had a slight flaw, batonning it through a cord of wood might cause it to give out The CS rep at the time said they didn't get many returns and I don't doubt that info. If the deal is good, I wouldn't pass it up! Carbon V Trailmasters don't stay for sale very long!

I didn't realize they were that thick! I thought the thickness of the stock at the spine was 1/4 inch, which is thick, but 5/16 inch is THICK.

 

[rustinxcohle]

I don't believe it was much of a problem. You have to remember that some of the guys here are merciless on their knives, and a lemon can slip through every now and again. A 5/16" slab of Carbon V isn't likely to break, even under extreme abuse. But, if a blade had a slight flaw, batonning it through a cord of wood might cause it to give out The CS rep at the time said they didn't get many returns and I don't doubt that info. If the deal is good, I wouldn't pass it up! Carbon V Trailmasters don't stay for sale very long!

Thank you for the reply! You maybe right, but I tend to use my big knives in relentless fasion from chopping to batoning and that beeing said, I have to rely on them. The price one this carbon v tm is high, and the fear of breaking it batoning is already there. At home I use an axe or hatchet for would splitting, but on multi day trips I carry only one large knife that can do it all. So far the vtb bowie, recon scout o1 and the cs wild west bowie are the knives I can trust.

That beeig said, a 3v or san mai tm might be in my future.