Review request for BlackJack Trailguide 3

[Mongo]

Greetings all, I'm intrigued about the current rebirth of BlackJack and the Trailguide 3 in particular. This knife was recently featured in Tactical Knives in an article by Mr. Jerry VanCook. He gave it a decent review. This knive is a small Bowie styled blade with a sharpened false edge and a double guard. I know the steel is 52100, but does it still have a convex grind and edge? Also, a fellow forumite expressed concern about the quality of their sheathes. I am assuming that this is about the previous incarnation of BlackJack. I am interested in the ambidextrous sheath. The knives can be viewed at www.knifeware.com
Thank you in advance for your answers and replies.
Mongo

 

[Bastid]

Hi Mongo,
I have been using a Trailguide III for a little over a year now. I used to have an original TG and find the III to be a better tool mainly due to the use of 52100 vs A2.

The edge is convex ground and is one of the few factory knives in which I was pleased with the edge geometry right out of the box. I have one of the first runs and the ambidexterous sheath is well suited for the knife (if not a little over suited so I am curious as to the concern. Mine is of very high quality in comparison to other factory leather sheaths. I would have no concerns taking a tumble with it and I would have major concerns over the majority of factory leather I have seen). From the pics on the link the sheaths they are now using do not look as heavy duty as the one that came with mine which is very close to 1/2 an inch thick at the edges. I will have to check but I think mine (the sheath) was made by Steven Rapp (one of the top shealf sheath makers). (I will have to check on the maker when I get home.)

As with any 52100 blade it is going to show some "character" with use, but minimal care has kept the rust away.

The knife has been used for vine and brush clearing in my woodsey back yard and minor camp chores. It is capable of work that would be abuse to many factory knives of it's size. I have kept it sharp using sandpaper and a strop (with paste). I would also take a look at the Busse line especially if the knife is going to see some harder core abuse. For normal semi heavy use the TG III should please you.