Is the Cold Steel Trail Master still made by Hattori in Japan? Update, received my specimen...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
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I just ordered a new Trail Master in VG-1 San Mai III

Anyhow, it's listed as still being Japanese made, but wondering what the likelihood is that it's still made by Hattori?

I have seen their prices go up, but... it's another CS item that I see likely being discontinued. So, I felt it was another "it's now or never" purchase for me. I don't think you can get hurt on it's current price because... If it does get discontinued, their prices will shoot up, especially it being Japan made. They've been a huge part of Cold Steel's legacy. The San Mai versions out of Japan have been a big part of that legacy.
That said, it's still the most I've ever paid for a knife having such a basic kraton type handle. Up until this purchase, I've never paid more than one hundred dollars for a knife having such a handle.
Still, it should be a nice addition to my collection, especially if it's as nice as I hope it will be 😊
I know that I may not be able to verify if this incoming Trail Master is in fact a Hattori made product, but I sure do hope that it is 🤞
Hattori is very highly regarded in the knife world 👍

PS.
Okay, so I went to Cold Steel' website and took another look at their 2021 catalog... Well, I didn't see the Trail Master in San Mai being offered in it, only a mono steel version.
So, unless there was some sort of mistake in the catalog's printing, it seems that the Japanese made Trail Master may actually already be a discontinued model. The remaining specimens being sold out there by vendors, could simply be the last runs of the knives that were made to fulfill the last Cold Steel contract for them. Hmmm?! Well, if this indeed is the case, then now may be the best chance for whoever has wanted one, but has held off on purchasing one, to go ahead and take the plunge. That's where I was at, and I think I made the right decision... I say "think" because, until I receive it, I won't know how well executed or not it is. I do have high expectations, and I'm kind'a stoked!🤞


Update...
Oops! I was totally incorrect in believing that the VG1 San Mai Trail Master was no longer listed in the latest Cold Steel 2021 catalog.
I had not realized that they had placed it separately from the 3V version. They have the San Mai TM version on a page that shows it and their other San Mai offerings.
I am sorry for that incorrect information about that.

So, it seems totally, at least at this point in time, to still be a part of Cold Steel' product line.
 
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I attempted to purchase a San Mai Trailmaster earlier this year, and had a pretty bad string of luck.

1st knife I received had badly uneven grinds, enough that I couldn't overlook it and exchanged it for another.
2nd knife I received had good grinds, but the San Mai layer was horribly done, I measured and the San Mai line was double the width on the one side versus the other.

Frustrated, I just returned it for a refund. I still want a Trailmaster, but the last experience soured my mouth a bit.

Again, maybe it was just bad luck. Here's to hoping the sample you receive is a good one. Make sure to report back to us on what you receive.
 
DayofReckoning said:
I attempted to purchase a San Mai Trailmaster earlier this year, and had a pretty bad string of luck.

1st knife I received had badly uneven grinds, enough that I couldn't overlook it and exchanged it for another.
2nd knife I received had good grinds, but the San Mai layer was horribly done, I measured and the San Mai line was double the width on the one side versus the other.

Frustrated, I just returned it for a refund. I still want a Trailmaster, but the last experience soured my mouth a bit.

Again, maybe it was just bad luck. Here's to hoping the sample you receive is a good one. Make sure to report back to us on what you receive.
Click to expand...
Eeeek!... That would be a real bummer.
I guess I just have to wait and see. I will definitely be returning it if it isn't acceptable to me.

Btw, I placed my order through Knifecenter, and with them being a very stand up vendor, I at least won't have to deal with GSM.
Ain't that something, if somehow I would have purchased it directly from GSM's Cold Steel website, I would likely have to worry about returning it to them if something turns out not right about it, (based on folks here on this forum not being happy with GSM customer service).
But, coming to me from Knifecenter, it not only costs much less than getting it direct from CS, but also no worries about a possible need to return it 👍
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I just ordered a new Trail Master in VG-1 San Mai III

Anyhow, it's listed as still being Japanese made, but wondering what the likelihood is that it's still made by Hattori?

I have seen their prices go up, but... it's another CS item that I see likely being discontinued. So, I felt it was another "it's now or never" purchase for me. I don't think you can get hurt on it's current price because... If it does get discontinued, their prices will shoot up, especially it being Japan made. They've been a huge part of Cold Steel's legacy. The San Mai versions out of Japan have been a big part of that legacy.
That said, it's still the most I've ever paid for a knife having such a basic kraton type handle. Up until this purchase, I've never paid more than one hundred dollars for a knife having such a handle.
Still, it should be a nice addition to my collection, especially if it's as nice as I hope it will be 😊
I know that I may not be able to verify if this incoming Trail Master is in fact a Hattori made product, but I sure do hope that it is 🤞
Hattori is very highly regarded in the knife world 👍

PS.
Okay, so I went to Cold Steel' website and took another look at their 2021 catalog... Well, I didn't see the Trail Master in San Mai being offered in it, only a mono steel version.
So, unless there was some sort of mistake in the catalog's printing, it seems that the Japanese made Trail Master may actually already be a discontinued model. The remaining specimens being sold out there by vendors, could simply be the last runs of the knives that were made to fulfill the last Cold Steel contract for them. Hmmm?! Well, if this indeed is the case, then now may be the best chance for whoever has wanted one, but has held off on purchasing one, to go ahead and take the plunge. That's where I was at, and I think I made the right decision... I say "think" because, until I receive it, I won't know how well executed or not it is. I do have high expectations, and I'm kind'a stoked!🤞
Click to expand...

Congrats! 😃

Considering the size of the knives you show in this forum (I still haven't forgot the Cinquedea), I must say I consider your nick "PocketKnifeJimmy" a bit ironical. 😛

Last week I did a "simulation" in a reputable USA store. The price was good, but because of the very high shipping costs (not mentioning the taxes), a San Mai Trail Master would cost me $800. Considering everything, I perhaps could pay the MSRP... But $800? No way.

(BTW, for someone in the USA to receive a bad sample is something unpleasant, but for someone in Latin America it would be a nightmare.)

You can't always get what you want... But I'm glad with myself, both because I'm genuinely happy with your purchase and because I can easily fool myself looking at my SRK as a "pocket" Trail Master. :)
 
tess_lawrie_fan said:
Congrats! 😃

Considering the size of the knives you show in this forum (I still haven't forgot the Cinquedea), I must say I consider your nick "PocketKnifeJimmy" a bit ironical. 😛

Last week I did a "simulation" in a reputable USA store. The price was good, but because of the very high shipping costs (not mentioning the taxes), a San Mai Trail Master would cost me $800. Considering everything, I perhaps could pay the MSRP... But $800? No way.

(BTW, for someone in the USA to receive a bad sample is something unpleasant, but for someone in Latin America it would be a nightmare.)

You can't always get what you want... But I'm glad with myself, both because I'm genuinely happy with your purchase and because I can easily fool myself looking at my SRK as a "pocket" Trail Master. :)
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Wow, $800!... Ouch!
I imagine that with you living in Latin America, you probably speak the lingo... If so... Ay Dios, mijo, ese precio si esta demasiado! Bueno, si fuera hecho de oro! 😆
And... Thank you, sir! 😊
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Wow, $800!... Ouch!
I imagine that with you living in Latin America, you probably speak the lingo... If so... Ay Dios, mijo, ese precio si esta demasiado! Bueno, si fuera hecho de oro! 😆
And... Thank you, sir! 😊
Click to expand...

Actually I speak Portuguese, not Spanish, 😆 but I understood what you've said. I even noticed a Mexican accent, but of course I may be wrong. 😄

Now what would I do with a $800 knife? Store it in a safe? Not funny! Y mi mujer haría una huelga! 🤣
 
tess_lawrie_fan said:
Actually I speak Portuguese, not Spanish, 😆 but I understood what you've said. I even noticed a Mexican accent, but of course I may be wrong. 😄

Now what would I do with a $800 knife? Store it in a safe? Not funny! Y mi mujer haría una huelga! 🤣
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Hahaha!

And, you know something, I thought to myself... Latin America? Well, except for Brazil that was colonized by Portugal, the rest would be ex colonies of Spain. With those odds, I guessed probably anything but Brazil... And so, it seems I guessed wrong! 😆
And, no, not of Mexican descent... My parents were both Boricua, (they were born in PR).

I am sometimes amazed at how high prices are to get certain things elsewhere in the world. Just so many variables, taxes being that one that can really cause crazy pricing.

As for your wife... What she doesn't know... Well, you know! 😆
 
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I currently own/have a "Trail Master like" Bowie knife in my collection, that being a Boker Arbolito El Gigante. It was made in Boker's Argentina knife factory. The price was $225 plus s/h & tax.
It's about the same overall size as the Trail Master.
The blade is made of N690 Bohler stainless steel, the handle being genuine Stag. It has a full tang and that tang is a tapered one 👍





 
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KenHash said:
Yes. But probably for not much longer.
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Thanks for answering that.
I am surprised about the fellow poster above that had the bad grind issues and such. I say that because I have always heard that the Hattori operation in Japan is very meticulous in their work, a pride thing with them.
I don't expect any issues when I receive my specimen, but now I am a wee bit more worried about the possibility of one.
But again... 🤞🤞
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Thanks for answering that.
I am surprised about the fellow poster above that had the bad grind issues and such. I say that because I have always heard that the Hattori operation in Japan is very meticulous in their work, a pride thing with them.
I don't expect any issues when I receive my specimen, but now I am a wee bit more worried about the possibility of one.
But again... 🤞🤞
Click to expand...

I personally have never had any issues and the above post is the first I've read, but there's no reason why they wouldn't occur even if rarely. Bear in mind these are his OEM factory models, not his own expensive hand made knives.
Having owned and sold 4 Trail Masters in my lifetime Carbon V, Aus6, 0-1, San Mai III I just had to grab another San Mai III before exinction.
Arrived last week:

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I noticed that the latest Cold Steel Trail Master in mono steel form, (using 3V), has a full MSRP of something like 530'ish dollars. And yet, the going street price is way into the mid to upper 400'ish dollar range. So, the street price is not much lower than the actual full MSRP.
The origin of these latest 3V TM knives is Italy, and maybe that has a lot to do with it... Dunno.
In any case, the Japanese VG1 San Mai Trail Master is being listed with a slightly lower MSRP, (500'ish price range), but is street priced much lower, ($260 to $320 range). That's a pretty huge savings over it's MSRP.
Not sure what to make of that big difference in the street prices between these two offerings, especially when one considers the actual similar price range of their listed MSRP's?
Someone on this forum had mentioned that they were scratching their head as to what the possible Cold Steel reasoning was in them deciding to go Italian for the 3V version, since it would seem that Taiwan has been doing great work for them, (maybe even more consistent than what they may get from their Italy source), and likely be able to get the product from Taiwan at a lower cost to boot, (since it's most likely that the labor costs are higher in Italy than in Taiwan).
That too makes me scratch my head. In any case, the 3V Trail Master is being priced/sold at almost full MSRP... Ouch!
 
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Btw, folks... I was totally incorrect in believing that the VG1 San Mai Trail Master was no longer listed in the latest Cold Steel 2021 catalog.
I had not realized that they did not place it on the same page as the 3V version, but rather on a page strictly showing their San Mai offerings.
I am sorry for that incorrect information about that.

So, it seems totally, at least at this point in time, to still be a part of Cold Steel' product line.
Whether or not it still remains so in 2022... Well, that is a big mystery with many items now with CS being under the new GSM ownership.

But again, I'm sorry for my incorrect info.
 
The following info was on the Hattori collector's page. It was updated in 2018, but may still reflect the current day situation on the matter...

UPDATE 2018:

In 2015 Cold Steel ended most of their VG1 Core Sanmai model manufacturing in Seki Japan. While it has been renewed to some extent in early 2018 under Taiwan manufacture, the VG1 Sanmai Trail Master remains the only Cold Steel knife still manufactured by Hattori, Seki Japan.
 
tess_lawrie_fan said:
Considering the size of the knives you show in this forum (I still haven't forgot the Cinquedea), I must say I consider your nick "PocketKnifeJimmy" a bit ironical. 😛
Click to expand...
By the way, yes, with my handle on this forum being "PocketKnifeJimmy", one would expect me to at least have an interest in such things... And I actually do!

But, I must say that my interest in fixed blade knives has surpassed my interest in folding pocket knives.
My very eclectic collection hobby has ventured into all sorts of other things as well, (besides just knives)... And my latest description title for my hobby is, 'My Interesting Objects Collection'.

Here's just one picture showing one of my display cases that houses both fixed and folding knives...

 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
By the way, yes, with my handle on this forum being "PocketKnifeJimmy", one would expect me to at least have an interest in such things... And I actually do!

But, I must say that my interest in fixed blade knives has surpassed my interest in folding pocket knives.
My very eclectic collection hobby has ventured into all sorts of other things as well, (besides just knives)... And my latest description title for my hobby is, 'My Interesting Objects Collection'.

Here's just one picture showing one of my display cases that houses both fixed and folding knives...

Click to expand...

It was never my intention to deny your interest in pocket knives!

And I totally understand this kind of passion. I don't consider myself a collector, but still, I have way more pocket knives than I "need". They are wonderful objects.

But I also know what you did what you have upon your walls... or at least a sample of what you have... Mr. "PocketKnife"! 😛

Jokes apart, and talking about "interesting objects", I like old books and have some. Just like knives, they're not only beautiful, but also useful. 🙂
 
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