Just Got Back my Cold Steel "San Mai"

R

rarefishfinder

Joined
Jul 16, 2005
Messages
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any body got any Info on this knife? I bought it in a pawn shop about 10 years ago for a $100 bucks, It was cool for a bit until it lost its edge I tried to sharpen it with just about every method and could From Old spit on a wt stone to a metal backed diamond Type, I could never get a edge back on it. so I started to use it as a utility knife for just about everything and this blade hasnt chiped or gotten anydeep scratchs at all. I have stuck this knife 7 times throw a car roof. I sent it off for $6 bucks to get sharpened and buffed it has come back looking better then it ever has, even has a edge ( not as sharp as BM, but a edge .

The Blade says,"Front Side" Cold Steel, San Mai "Back Side" Ventura California, Made In Japan
 
Is that the San Mai Trailmaster Bowie ? A friend has one that he claims is all but impossible to sharpen properly on the rare occasions it actually needs doing. Last few times he has wanted it done he has handed it over to me for the night and I get it shaving sharp in no time with a combination of diamond hones and a strop.

I like the feel of his knife in my hand so much I'm seriously thinking about treating myself to the Carbon V version before long. (Don't feel I can justify the cost of the San Mai at present unless someone can tell me where to get a super-duper deal on one??)
 
No this is a Katono style Lock blade I seached goggle and It game up with nonthing , This knife has rubber grips if that helps any its a folder that locks openen and is about 4 inch blade lenght
 
rarefishfinder said:
No this is a Katono style Lock blade
Click to expand...

I don't recall the name but that design was available in the early nineties. It was the only folder Cold Steel sold with San Mai steel. It came in three sizes, and it also had a nail nick to aid in opening the blade.

Most of the current line of folders from CS have thumb studs to help in opening the blade, with certain few exceptions like the Twistmaster, their version of the the Opinel knife, or the Archangel, their balisong.

CS folder steels are now made from AUS 8, which is actually pretty good, to 420, which is...ok.

Others may correct me if I'm wrong here, but middle portion of the San Mai "sandwich" was also AUS 8, so I'm not totally clear how the knife would perform better than another make completely of AUS 8. Perhaps the heat treat for the AUS 8 in San Mai steel was different to harden it more?

Edited to add: ...just noticed CS is now making some folder blades w/San Mai again.
 
I just give this knife a real good look over and saw it still has its tip, now thats the bomb considering what its been thru countless throwing attemts " It Dosent throw well at all" I used it to pry, work on the house, cars ect,

thats nice didnt really think of it that way.

The blade still has what look like lead marks on the blade when you move it side to side but for 6 bucks what ever ! just need a bit more and it will be sweet!
 
rarefishfinder said:
No this is a Katono style Lock blade I seached goggle and It game up with nonthing , This knife has rubber grips if that helps any its a folder that locks openen and is about 4 inch blade lenght
Click to expand...
Do you mean "katana", the Japanese sword? Cold Steel calls these short Japanese-derived blades "tanto".

"San Mai" refers to "three layers". It may be AUS-8A at the core, with a layer of 420 on each side.

Your folder is one of the "Shinobu" series. A search on that should bring you a few fairly recent threads.
 
I bought one - in the 80"s IIRC. "Shinobu Tanto." Larger of two sizes. Locks up like a tank. Came dead dull and toughest knife to sharpen I have even owned.
 
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