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Mistress vs Cold Steel Trailmaster
- Thread starter David E
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- Thanks..I'm very much relieved. :thumbup:
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We should just take a BM and a Trail Master and run the "Cold Steel Proof" tests side-by-side. Problem may be finding a trail master on this forum.
I do have an old Satin Carbon V Trailmaster. I was thinking of putting it up on the Exchange or eBay.
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We should just take a BM and a Trail Master and run the "Cold Steel Proof" tests side-by-side.
THAT is what I'm hoping to find !!!
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Got this from the Turber test link:
The Basic line by Busse is their first attempt at marketing a factory/production knife. It uses a modifed version of their now famous INFI steel. Basically the modified version of INFI uses less Cobalt which affects its performance nominally according to Busse.
Somehow, just before midnight EDT, that struck me as pretty funny.
Actually, I have both, and like them both. The TM is a little better chopper as it has a stick tang, and the weight distribution is further forward. The BM E, however, is INFI, and that's a big advantage, even over Carbon V, which is a good steel for me.
A couple of years ago, I had to get rid of a 30 ft. aspen tree. I cut it down, then bucked and limbed it, and got all of it into a (small) pickup bed. I used a saw for bucking the sections close to the ground as the tree was about 12 - 14 inches in diameter. About half way up, I used the knives for bucking, and used them both for all the limbing. They both did very well, this was about a 2 - 3 hour job once the tree was on the ground. The TM needed some touch up on a diamond hone, the BM E needed a couple of licks on a ceramic rod and it was back to very sharp.
They were both fun to use, but the BM E definitely won in keeping it's edge, and it definitely had a more musical tone when popping off limbs around 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Right around a middle C. Ting!
A couple of years ago, I had to get rid of a 30 ft. aspen tree. I cut it down, then bucked and limbed it, and got all of it into a (small) pickup bed. I used a saw for bucking the sections close to the ground as the tree was about 12 - 14 inches in diameter. About half way up, I used the knives for bucking, and used them both for all the limbing. They both did very well, this was about a 2 - 3 hour job once the tree was on the ground. The TM needed some touch up on a diamond hone, the BM E needed a couple of licks on a ceramic rod and it was back to very sharp.
They were both fun to use, but the BM E definitely won in keeping it's edge, and it definitely had a more musical tone when popping off limbs around 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. Right around a middle C. Ting!
Cobalt
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Why didn't he just talk to Jerry?
For YEARS, Jerry has had a standing offer to do LIVE side by side testing of any other makers knife in front of an audience at whatever blade show both happened to be at.
Not secret behind the shop testing, but in the open with whoever wanted to watch. Did LT miss this offer?
To date, no one has taken Jerry up on the challenge.
Rob
Cobalt
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considering that Jerry is at every Blade East every year and you can't miss him, it is a wonder that no one takes him up on that challange. Makes me wonder if Jerry doesn't bring something special with him just n case:thumbup:
I know that the custom shop SHBM I got this year was razor sharp.
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I can post the text of the 1999 catalog challenge if you wish, but that wasn't my intent.
Besides, I gotta think by 2007, this issue has long since been addressed.
I am hoping to find direct comparisons between the two, preferably with pics or video.
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David E-I started out with a Trailmaster and in fact had a conversation with Jerry about it when he was developing the Battle Mistress. I do not use my knives nearly as hard or as prolonged as some of the guys here. I used my Trailmaster to cut down some trees that were in the way of my deer stand and to cut through two 2x4s to compare them to some light hunting hatchets. I was perfectly content with my trailmaster until I read a thread about the kraton handles turning or coming off. I said "BS" and went to look at mine. Sure enough the handle would turn partially on the tang and it was no longer what I would call secure. I had had it for 10 years and did not believe warranty would cover it. I put it up for sale on ebay during the "oh no, no more carbon V stampede". I bought a Battle Mistress but it was too heavy for what I needed really. I have settled on a Scrapyard Dog Father for the perfect blend of "lighter" weight and chopping. The res c handle has not moved and after talking with people I respect I do not expect it ever will. My .02 cents worth. Ask to see your friend's trailmaster and then see if you can twist the handle. If it has been used much i bet you can, then offer him the same with your BM.
Lynn isn't going to take the challenge. He's making far too much cash on a daily basis by marketing his knives. His dvd products do sell many of them no matter what the detractors mention about him or his cutlery. I doubt seriously that he'd want anything to do with Jerry or that he cares for that matter. He owns a large firm and can produce more product.
When the TM first came out, I bought two of the knives. They cut like a laser on most of the materials that I put in front of them while holding a decent edge in the process. The touch up was no problem but I did some minor chipping closer to the tang during a hunting trip in Idaho. Edge profile was fairly thin on both knives and they would take a razor edge if prompted.
Basically, one knife was a user and the other stayed in the drawer. The user has been used and abused and left out in the camper. I loaned it out to another pal who used it to clean fish and of course he did not bother to clean the blade, so the stains are more evident now. Last season I used the TM to process deer meat, and it held up great. I really have few complaints but I would be inclined to see a side-by-side comparison of the original TM vs the BM or DF. Honestly, I don't think there will be a huge amount of difference in the performance. The 5/16th stock isn't going to yield easily.
CS also made a knife called the ATC chopper which featured a massive kuk style 12 inch blade of carbon V. They were somewhat hard to come by and had 1/4 inch stock of some great grinding work. The original all terrain chopper was a beast and was better than my basic 9 at most chores. Of course, CS is no longer producing such a neat knife or else I'd be in line to snag one.
When the TM first came out, I bought two of the knives. They cut like a laser on most of the materials that I put in front of them while holding a decent edge in the process. The touch up was no problem but I did some minor chipping closer to the tang during a hunting trip in Idaho. Edge profile was fairly thin on both knives and they would take a razor edge if prompted.
Basically, one knife was a user and the other stayed in the drawer. The user has been used and abused and left out in the camper. I loaned it out to another pal who used it to clean fish and of course he did not bother to clean the blade, so the stains are more evident now. Last season I used the TM to process deer meat, and it held up great. I really have few complaints but I would be inclined to see a side-by-side comparison of the original TM vs the BM or DF. Honestly, I don't think there will be a huge amount of difference in the performance. The 5/16th stock isn't going to yield easily.
CS also made a knife called the ATC chopper which featured a massive kuk style 12 inch blade of carbon V. They were somewhat hard to come by and had 1/4 inch stock of some great grinding work. The original all terrain chopper was a beast and was better than my basic 9 at most chores. Of course, CS is no longer producing such a neat knife or else I'd be in line to snag one.
Cobalt
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No it was never addressed because Lynn Thompson avoided the issue. I remember it all when it was happening. I even spoke to Lynn at a show and he asked if I had an SHBM, and I told him I had one on order but was not about to resell it. I also told him that he could order one himself. He then said that he had a few people place orders for him since he did not think Busse would sell to him. I told him that I am sure Busse could care less who he sells to. But Lynn did have access to SHBM's so the fact that he did not test means that he did his own private little test and found his stuff wanting.
The Basic 9 was more of an apples to apples test. And Mike Turber did do that test and it is in one of the links I posted. You need to do some research, this topic has been discussed so much it's not even funny. Look at all the links I posted and then do a search under Trailmaster and battlemistress and see what comes up.
there is the occasional person that hypes CS and says how great they are and this always goes against the grain of those who have actually used them.
Cliff also tested a trailmaster and recon scout that I got from Lynn Thompson, you can ask his opinion on how they compare. I think that the CS's are broken while the SHBM is still kicken 10 years later.
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Cobalt,
I did do a search, but was unable to find any video of a Busse being tested to the extreme.
As I already posted, it would be great to find a video directly comparing the two.
I appreciate your Mike Turber link very much, as it has pictures. I did not find that one, so thanks for posting it.
Thanks to all that posted !!
I did do a search, but was unable to find any video of a Busse being tested to the extreme.
As I already posted, it would be great to find a video directly comparing the two.
I appreciate your Mike Turber link very much, as it has pictures. I did not find that one, so thanks for posting it.
Thanks to all that posted !!
Cobalt
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Videos? No you won't find any on either side. Those were the days before videos on the net where popular my friend. 28.8k and 56k modems are not conducive to videos unless you like watching 5 frames a minute for 20 seconds before your computer locks up. I remember those days quite well.
It's unfortunate that the stuff that has been done to Busses over the last 10 years has not been video'd as I know how badly SHBM's and SHSH's have been treated and if there had ever been videos of all this, these things would be going for $5k on the aftermarket.
If you happen to find any videos please share them.
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I'm not after a video from 1999, I'm hoping to find one that's been done within the last year or so.
While I don't care for his "testing protocol," Noss4 is putting up current videos, but the FBM, while on his "to do" list, isn't done yet.
I thought his videos were one of the prompting elements for Jerry to put together a current video for permanent site posting.
Amy-0 says "two weeks"..............I, for one, can't wait !!
While I don't care for his "testing protocol," Noss4 is putting up current videos, but the FBM, while on his "to do" list, isn't done yet.
I thought his videos were one of the prompting elements for Jerry to put together a current video for permanent site posting.
Amy-0 says "two weeks"..............I, for one, can't wait !!
Cobalt
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I'm not after a video from 1999, I'm hoping to find one that's been done within the last year or so.
While I don't care for his "testing protocol," Noss4 is putting up current videos, but the FBM, while on his "to do" list, isn't done yet.
I thought his videos were one of the prompting elements for Jerry to put together a current video for permanent site posting.
Amy-0 says "two weeks"..............I, for one, can't wait !!
David, if you have one, go out with your buddy throughout the year and start cutting up lumber and make it a point to baton through knotts a lot. It will not take much batoning before he has a folding trailmaster. You have the knife just use it along with his and show him.
I do not understand why so many people are so afraid of using their knives. You want some videos. Do you want me to send you some videos of the stuff I do? The problem is I don't have any trailmasters left to compare too. I use to have many trailmasters, several were satin Carbon V, a few were san mai and one was aus8 I think. They were all shaving sharp and until the advent of the swamprats, they were the best for the money.
Here is the other thing. Even if you prove to your buddy that the BM is better he will come back and say that it costs 4 times more so it should be. So I think you should be comparing a Dogfather against his Trailmaster. That would be apples to apples.
But since you have an FBM you should do yor own comparo with him and his blade. Pound them both into a log 2 inches deep and pry them out. See what happens next.
Better yet, have your buddy do the stuff I do below. throw it into a log and then with about 2 inches stuck in the wood pry it out sideways everytime. My main user has done this same thing thousands of times. Lets see how long his Trailmaster can do this before it's missing 2 inches of blade
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