Question about CS Trail Master steel type

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Kepp52

Joined
Dec 4, 2020
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I have two CS trail masters and was wondering if there was a difference between the markings on them? One is marked "O1 Taiwan", which I'm guessing is one of the older trail masters. The other is marked "O1 High Carbon". I am guessing they are the same as far as O1 steel, right?

I was also wondered if they both have radiused shoulders near the tang? I'm a little paranoid about the 90 degree tang junction defect on the older Trail Masters and the breaking issues. Thanks if you guys can help.
 
Kepp52 said:
I have two CS trail masters and was wondering if there was a difference between the markings on them? One is marked "O1 Taiwan", which I'm guessing is one of the older trail masters. The other is marked "O1 High Carbon". I am guessing they are the same as far as O1 steel, right?

I was also wondered if they both have radiused shoulders near the tang? I'm a little paranoid about the 90 degree tang junction defect on the older Trail Masters and the breaking issues. Thanks if you guys can help.
Click to expand...
I cannot give an actual answer, sorry.

I believe this 'defect" is grossly overstated. At worst, in any version, the Trailmaster is a 5/16th bar of great steel. Cold Steel has been making these knives for decades and they have an incredible reputation. A couple youtubers managing to break them means nothing to me.
 
Kepp52 said:
I have two CS trail masters and was wondering if there was a difference between the markings on them? One is marked "O1 Taiwan", which I'm guessing is one of the older trail masters. The other is marked "O1 High Carbon". I am guessing they are the same as far as O1 steel, right?

I was also wondered if they both have radiused shoulders near the tang? I'm a little paranoid about the 90 degree tang junction defect on the older Trail Masters and the breaking issues. Thanks if you guys can help.
Click to expand...
Is there any difference in the Cold Steel logo? That could indicate age. Regardless, the steel should be the same. Unlike the SK-5 models, which started out "regular" and then changed to MAR-tempered, the O1's were MAR-tempered from the start, so should all be the same.

Believe they either started radiusing the tang at the end of the SK-5 run, or with the introduction of O1, so you should be good.
 
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