New handle material pattern on Trail Master? Or a fake?

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bluemax_1

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I just bought a new O1 Cold Steel Trail Master on Amazon (sold by and shipped from Amazon, not a 3rd party seller). First thing that I noticed when I got the knife is that the handle material seems different from the Kraton on my 20 year old Cold Steel Magnum Tanto II. The older knife handle (which doesn't feel like it's changed in 20 years) feels like rubber and is very grippy. The new TM handle feels quite a bit harder.

When I tried a thumbnail indent test, the MT2 handle bounced right back showing no visible marks. Doing the same thing on the TM handle left a slight indent that's still there the next day.

In addition, while the old handle (AND every single Trail Master photo or video I looked at on the 'net) show a diamond checkered pattern on the handle flats, the new TM has a pattern of tiny hexagonal dimples.

Anyone know if it's an official change or if I somehow got a fake from Amazon?


Max
 
My newer Trailmaster in SanMai III has the same grip on it. Not sure when they changed but the newer ones do have a different pattern on them.
 
Thanks for the reply. I wonder why they did it? My 20 year old Magnum Tanto II's handle has held up just fine, and it's grippier than the new material.


Max
 
As my trailmaster aged (a made in japan San Mai III version I bought about 14 years ago), the handle got softer, which I did not like.

I have to say, the new version in 01 is tempting me.
 
CS's official site has a pic of the new TMs at the top (the pics that change every few seconds) that shows the new handle checkering pattern. They're using the same pattern on several other knives, too, including the Outdoorsman Lite I bought last year. :thumbup:
 
Kraton (or at least older formulations of it) can sometimes get goo-ey and soft as it ages. I have three 20 year old knives with kraton that went like that. An ancient well worn CS Ready edge, A SOG Desert Dagger and a Spyderco Kitchen knife. While i generally prefer wood/micarta/G10 grips Kraton can be very comfortable. Didn't stop me from buying a Trailmaster and a Recon Scout couple of years ago. If they go soft 20 years from now i'll just rehandle them! Kinda want a new Trailmaster now though as i love 01 steel!
 
they changed the material from Kraton to their own polymer. I like it much more. I have the Trailmaster San Mai III
 
Thanks for the replies folks. Cold Steel also confirmed from photos I sent them that it IS how the newer model is.


Max
 
I really prefer the new material over the old Kraton. It seems like it will last much longer. However, I will soon have an O-1 Trail Master with a custom Micarta handle. I can't wait to get my handles on it.
 
UCPOPO said:
I really prefer the new material over the old Kraton. It seems like it will last much longer. However, I will soon have an O-1 Trail Master with a custom Micarta handle. I can't wait to get my handles on it.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess time will tell with the new handle material. My 20 year old Magnum Tanto II's Kraton handle is still fine.


Max
 
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