I want your comments on the Cold Steel Recon Scout and Trail Master

TantoMaster

TantoMaster

Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
11
I have been looking for sometime at the CS Trail Master. I just keep getting back to the same conclusion: It's just to large for my practical uses. Now The Recon Scout looks as though it may fill that nitch. I just wanted some advice from people who own or have handled one. Do you recommend the Recon Scout or should I just go for the Trail Master? How about the Trail Master with San Mai III steel? Is it worth the extra bread?

I also see listed in the 2nds section of the last Special Prodjects they have a knife called a Bush Ranger. It's only listed in the 2nd's so I assume that it is discontinued. At $50 it looks like a steal. The only real difference I see in it and the Recon Scout is the blade thickness.

Thanks for any help or advice.
 
Hello!

I can only comment on the Bush Ranger, as I had one for a while. That knife is awesome. The handle shape is very ergonomic and the blade is a super cutter. The flat ground 3/16" blade is awesome for slicing, as is the generous curve to the edge. For the price, get it!

Now, as far as deciding between a Trailmaster (I'd love one) or a RS or a BM, ask yourself what you need your knife to do. If you want to keep the size down, but need somethign that can cut, chop and pry, the RS is your knife. If you need something for chopping and prying and don't want any compromise, then the larger trailmaster is your knife. If you won't do much chopping and you want pure cutting performance, the Bushmaster is your knife.

As far as stainless vs carbon, that is really up to you. The Carbon trailmaster will probably be easier to sharpen, but will require more care. I don't know how well the stainless one performs at all, sorry.
By the way, I saw trailmaster seconds in a Spec. Projects catalog once. Those look like a great deal, because the blade is coated. Maybe call Cold Steel and ask if they have one of those available.
 
I have a bush ranger its a steal for that price a good pice of steel
and I like the size mine was a second . a lot of my everyday blades
are seconds and they work fine for that purpose.
 
The factory 2nds are a great way to go. I have both in factory seconds, and they are great. They hold an edge well, are reasonably priced, and are very strong knives.

The Recon Scout is great, if you want an all around camp knife without too much weight, that's a good choice.

The TM is a MUCH better chopper. Those extra 2 inches make a world of difference. So it depends on your needs.

I wouldn't buy the San Mai. I very much doubt that it will ever hold an edge like a good high carbon steel. If you are concerned about rust, both knives now come in a black finish, so the edge is the only exposed steel.

Good luck!
 
While the Bush Ranger and the Recon Scout are both great knives, they are very different in styles and useage. The Recon Scout is a knife that I would pick if I wanted a do-all knife that could stand up to anything, since it is 5/16" thick. The Trailmaster chops better, but the Recon Scout should do OK also. Now, the Bush Ranger is one of the best knives Cold Steel makes for all around general purposes. Light weight, since it is much thinner steel stock. It cuts and slices even better due to the thinner steel. Not sure if I would use it to do a lot of chopping, but you should use an axe if you are going to chop anyway.
 
TM,

I agree with Danbo, and would add one observation. I did not comprehend how THICK 5/16" was until I handled a Trailmaster for myself. It felt like a hybrid between an axe and a bowie. Waaay too thick for my purposes (I will carry an axe or hatchet). IMO, if you want a prybar, get a good one.

my $.02. Happy cutting!
 
I've seen some unbelievably low prices on Trailmasters recently. One internet dealer had them for under $100. That is alot less than I paid for my factory second Trailmaster.

I had trouble deciding between the Recon Scout and the Trailmaster myself. The solution - I got both!
 
I handled both the TM and the Recon Scout. I bought the RS. For me, it handles better and is practically bulletproof. It came verrry sharp too (good job, Will)
 
held a 9" TM. it's a machete for a little guy like me. i like the wedge feel when chopping hard objects. i don't like the handle though.
 
I have both. I have a Recon Scout and a Stainless Trailmaster. I love the look of the Trailmaster the stainless model has a silver hand guard which I think looks better than the brass one found on the Carbon V model. The stainless also has a round edge which is hard to explain but it looks cool. Plus I needed a rust resistant blade.

That said, my Recon Scout is my favorite fixed blade. It is short enough that it carries well on your belt. Thick enough to make a good chopper and it takes a wicked edge.
 
i have small hands and the TM carbon V handle seemed to suite me well. but when my friend invited me to punish his TM in the bush, i guess i was over-zealous. yes, i hacked and chopped my way through it all. at the end of the morning, i was starting to experience tennis elbow, my fingers had numbed and frozen around the handle. when i finally pried my fingers off, tiny bits of kraton were imbedded in my palms. but i could have sworn the kraton felt comfy at the beginning!
 
I have 2 Carbon V TM's; one 15 yrs old that has seen
"hellnjezuz" abuse and is getting ready to make the old
return trip to Calif. for a makeover. A handle job and
resharpen/cleanup...that is. I also have a newer TM.
Needless to say..If youre gonna buy any PRODUCTION
"high end"blade; I say CS all the way. They make a
good companion for a G21;20;23;27...oh well. when your
gun is as tuff as your knife the talk never ends.

I dont have a RS yet or a BM but Im in the market.
 
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