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SAK Trailmaster - 1 hand v regular

J

jsun

Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Messages
251
Does anyone have both the one-handed opening Trailmaster & the regular version? Care to compare them for me?

Do they use the same lock mechanism?

Does the one-hand Trailmaster only come with a serrated main blade?

Which do you prefer?

Thanks :)
 
I have handled both and far prefer the regular trailmaster for 2 reasons:

1.) in order to make the one-hander easy to open, they've taken big liberties with how tightly the liner lock engages the blade. 3 separate one-handers that I handled had very significant vertical blade play. The regular trailmaster that I have locks up totally tight, with no play at all, even after a couple of years of heavy use including baton work...

2.) like others have stated, I prefer a plain edge rather than serrated.

I really wanted to like the one-hander, but the blade play really turned me off.
 
I have got to go with No.3 the play is a downer. I had to go to hell and back to get one in the UK and was shocked that victorinox compromised their good name with such a sub standard job.I e-mailed them about the play and got a ****** responce saying it was ment for military issue only?????. If they got rid of the play and the serrations I would buy ten of them. My one hander sits at the bottom of my day sac as a back up's back up.:(
 
I guess I'm in the minority. I bought two when they first came on the market and gave one to a friend.
We are both very happy. True it has serrations but they are at the end of the blade (where I think they belong). The lockup on ours is as good as the regulat SAK (maybe we got lucky). We have used ours extensively on several trips with the Boy Scouts.
I would get one again in a heart beat.
 
i have three of them, one came with a sloppy lockup, the other two are as solid as one would expect, as good as my fireman model. i returned the one for exchange and recieve a good knife.

alex
 
I only have the one-handed Trailmaster so I can't offer comparisons against the regular opener. However, I can say that I like my one-hander (even though I would prefer a plain-edged main blade). The main blade locks up nice and tight with no evident play vertically nor horizontally. Maybe I was lucky. Potential buyers should handle the knife at a dealer before buying or have an internet dealer personally inspect the ordered knife for this "problem" before shipping. (Also, check out their return policy).

All other things being equal, I would think a one-handed opening option gives the knife more versatility. Think of situations where you personally have to hold onto something and deploy the blade simultaneously--if the potential situations are numerous, you might want to get the one-hander; if not, the regular opener should be adequate.
 
I used to carry a trailmaster and now frequently carry the one handed version. I liked it well enough that when I thought I lost the first one-hander I bought another. Then I found the first so now I have two until I lose one again.

I never noticed any difference in blade play. I just went to check my two one-handers and they each have a small amount of play, but nothing I had noticed before I looked carefully for it. I no longer have the regular trailmaster so I don't know if the blade play is equivalent in that model.

I did dremmel some ridges in the back of the blade hump on the one hander to provide some burchace for my thumb when cutting with the open knife.
 
I have had my one handed for about a year and hadn't noticed any blade play. Guess I was lucky as well. It is a bit big for carry in the bottom of my pocket and wondered about getting a belt case for it.

How do you other owners carry yours?
 
Originally posted by numberthree
I have handled both and far prefer the regular trailmaster for 2 reasons:

1.) in order to make the one-hander easy to open, they've taken big liberties with how tightly the liner lock engages the blade. 3 separate one-handers that I handled had very significant vertical blade play. The regular trailmaster that I have locks up totally tight, with no play at all, even after a couple of years of heavy use including baton work...

2.) like others have stated, I prefer a plain edge rather than serrated.

I really wanted to like the one-hander, but the blade play really turned me off.
Click to expand...

'Ditto. Except I didn't notice extra blade paly - I just like the more tradional folder...
 
I received mine and I like it. What do you expect from SAK. This knife is not meant for self defense and the liner does lock up. It's going to take one heck of a whack for it to come unlocked. I personally like the combo edge my self. It's very handy to carry around and it beats the heck out of those bulky multi pliers I also own a SAK Parachutist as it has two seperate blades which to me makes no sense because I'm fond of partially serrated blades. There will be situations in which the one handed opening will come in handy.

IF WAR IS HELL, TAKE A BETTER PITCHFORK THAN THE DEVIL
 
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