New San Mai from Cold Steel. What is the difference?

J

Jraptor

Joined
Jun 13, 2009
Messages
43
I always wanted a Taipan dagger from Cold Steel. I finally found a drop on Knife Center of the Internet and ordered one of the San Mai blades.
When it got here, I noticed it now only says “San Mai”, instead of “San Mai” III, and that the blade was no longer labeled specifically labeled “Japan”.
This worries me. Did I get scammed? I expected what I detailed above, having followed this knife since it first came out, but I did not get it.
Mine just says “San Mai” and seems to be from Taiwan. It matches the picture on the Cold Steel website but I want to know the difference if there is one from the original.
I do not believe it is a fake but I am confused at the blade labeling. I know San Mai just means 3, or so I was told, but I expected the traditional markings.
Did I get scammed?
 
Production shifted from Japan to Taiwan because of lower manufacturing costs. I have the 3V Taipan, also made in Taiwan and it's very nice.
 
Yep, it was announced a while back that they were moving San Mai production to Taiwan to reduce cost, except for the San Mai TrailMaster, which is still being produced in Japan (for now). If you look at the 2018 catalog, you can see that the "III" has been dropped from the "San Mai" logo, and that all of the San Mai models except the TM are listed as New.
 
Jraptor said:
I always wanted a Taipan dagger from Cold Steel. I finally found a drop on Knife Center of the Internet and ordered one of the San Mai blades.
When it got here, I noticed it now only says “San Mai”, instead of “San Mai” III, and that the blade was no longer labeled specifically labeled “Japan”.
This worries me. Did I get scammed? I expected what I detailed above, having followed this knife since it first came out, but I did not get it.
Mine just says “San Mai” and seems to be from Taiwan. It matches the picture on the Cold Steel website but I want to know the difference if there is one from the original.
I do not believe it is a fake but I am confused at the blade labeling. I know San Mai just means 3, or so I was told, but I expected the traditional markings.
Did I get scammed?
Click to expand...

So how does it look quality wise, I take it you have seen the Japan ones.
 
Jraptor said:
I always wanted a Taipan dagger from Cold Steel. I finally found a drop on Knife Center of the Internet and ordered one of the San Mai blades.
When it got here, I noticed it now only says “San Mai”, instead of “San Mai” III, and that the blade was no longer labeled specifically labeled “Japan”.
This worries me. Did I get scammed? I expected what I detailed above, having followed this knife since it first came out, but I did not get it.
Mine just says “San Mai” and seems to be from Taiwan. It matches the picture on the Cold Steel website but I want to know the difference if there is one from the original.
I do not believe it is a fake but I am confused at the blade labeling. I know San Mai just means 3, or so I was told, but I expected the traditional markings.
Did I get scammed?
Click to expand...

you did not get scammed. you have the genuine article. anyway, i bought two on pre-order early this year. a tai pan and master tanto. i was disappointed to see that they were taiwan and not japan, but the quality was a pleasant surprise. maybe i just got one of the good ones, but both of mine are on par in quality with their japanese counterparts. as a bonus, the ricasso is shorter on the newer models, so more blade real estate
 
Thank you for the quick response. I have one of the older San Mai III, the Black Sable, still in its case and never used. It seems I can see the separation between the layers better on that blade at the edge. My TaiPan was a Christmas present so my wife snatched it away and wrapped it before I could get too close a look, but I didn’t see as noticeable line at the edge. I will look it over better after Christmas and check back here, lol.
I am glad I didn’t get a counterfeit but I kind of wish it was the older Japan model.
 
I am glad I didn’t get a counterfeit but I kind of wish it was the older Japan model.[/QUOTE]

Not if you saw what they are going for, been looking for quite while for one reasonable(?). I did snag a AUS8 Japanese version though, might sell it to buy the newer San Mai if it is good(which it seems to be by the few accounts I have seen).
 
nephron said:
Not if you saw what they are going for, been looking for quite while for one reasonable(?). I did snag a AUS8 Japanese version though, might sell it to buy the newer San Mai if it is good(which it seems to be by the few accounts I have seen).
Click to expand...
Nephron, let me know if you want actual pictures so you don't have to rely on stock photos. I can email you some so you can get a good look
 
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I had a trail master in San Mai III

The like was not super visible. But that knife had a full height convex to zero edge grind.

On some of the newer ones, the line seems .ore visible.
 
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