San mai or 3v trail master

Guys do yous know what steel is used in my old school trailmaster is im struggling to identify if it’s aus8 or vg-1 ive been searching and searching apparently if it’s aus8 it’s normally marked on the blade where as my blade just says San mai made in Japan could yous try and find out for me please
 
KIRKHILLS86 said:
Guys do yous know what steel is used in my old school trailmaster is im struggling to identify if it’s aus8 or vg-1 ive been searching and searching apparently if it’s aus8 it’s normally marked on the blade where as my blade just says San mai made in Japan could yous try and find out for me please
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OG San Mai III has AUS8A core. The later VG-1 stuff is marked VG-1, and the current San Mai from Taiwan (which doesn't include the "III" in the logo) has VG-10 core.
 
Hi mate kind of confused because the aus8 version comes with a brown leather sheath with a Viking logo then it was changed to black leather where as mine comes with a black cordura sheath and is stamped San mai 111 made in Japan but that would make mine a 2007 model the box states 16jsm it’s just I was lead to believe mine was from the mid 1990s thats all lol
 
Yes, the Cold Steel Trail Master with the model number 16JSM from the 1990s does feature a VG-1 San Mai III blade. This knife is a fixed blade, clip point Bowie, with a Kray-Ex handle and a Cor-Ex sheath. The 16JSM designation identifies this specific model of the Trail Master, which was made in Japan.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
16JSM: This is the model number specifically associated with the Cold Steel Trail Master featuring the VG-1 San Mai III blade.
VG-1 San Mai III: This refers to the type of steel used in the blade. It's a three-layer laminate steel with a VG-1 core, known for its strength and toughness.
1990s: The 16JSM Trail Master with VG-1 San Mai III steel was produced during the 1990s in Japan.
Fixed Blade, Clip Point Bowie: This describes the knife's design: a full tang, fixed blade with a clip point Bowie blade shape.
Kray-Ex Handles: The handle material is Kray-Ex, a durable and grippy synthetic material.
Cor-Ex Sheath: The knife comes with a Cor-Ex sheath, a type of polymer sheath.

Thats all I can find lol it’s got my head spinning just it’s very conflicting as it states they were not introduced till 2006 but this information states different
 
KIRKHILLS86 said:
Hi mate kind of confused because the aus8 version comes with a brown leather sheath with a Viking logo then it was changed to black leather where as mine comes with a black cordura sheath and is stamped San mai 111 made in Japan but that would make mine a 2007 model the box states 16jsm it’s just I was lead to believe mine was from the mid 1990s thats all lol
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The only Trail Masters that came with brown leather sheaths were the stag handled ones in Carbon V.

Trust me, if it's marked "San Mai III", it has an AUS8A core. If it was VG-1 core, it would say "VG-1 San Mai III".

Have you looked thru this? https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...masters-and-recon-scout.1567738/post-17980084
 
The other post that the guy has set up has stated thats there is 2 versions that he Knows of and hes put mine as vg1 now im really confused as the blade is identical to mine there’s 2 versions of the trailmaster in vg1 one actually says vg1 and the other states San mai 111 i wished I never asked hahaha sorry guys im off to sleep with a head full of San mais im going to email hattori lofl

Ps no one can complain about the newest San mai trailmaster from Taiwan it’s special and it’s razor sharp thr fit and finish the lamination line and the grind is just perfect honestly just beautiful
 
Kirk, it's pretty simple, not sure why you're having such a hard time with it. They used the same model number for both versions. The originals were marked "San Mai III" and have AUS8A core. Then in 2006 they switched the core to VG-1, and those are marked as "VG-1 San Mai III" to distinguish them. That's it. There's no mystery. Yours is AUS8A core, period. If it was VG-1 it would be marked as such.
 
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KIRKHILLS86 said:
The other post that the guy has set up has stated thats there is 2 versions that he Knows of and hes put mine as vg1 now im really confused as the blade is identical to mine there’s 2 versions of the trailmaster in vg1 one actually says vg1 and the other states San mai 111 i wished I never asked hahaha sorry guys im off to sleep with a head full of San mais im going to email hattori lofl

Ps no one can complain about the newest San mai trailmaster from Taiwan it’s special and it’s razor sharp thr fit and finish the lamination line and the grind is just perfect honestly just beautiful
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listen to jlauffer, he knows his stuff on these cold steel knives.
 
jlauffer said:
Kirk, it's pretty simple, not sure why you're having such a hard time with it. They used the same model number for both versions. The originals were marked "San Mai III" and have AUS8A core. Then in 2006 they switched the core to VG-1, and those are marked as "VG-1 San Mai III" to distinguish them. That's it. There's no mystery. Yours is AUS8A core, period. If it was VG-1 it would be marked as such.
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Forgive me mate im terribly sorry im new to cold steel especially the older ones I feel terrible now for keep going on about it from now on I’ll pay close attention to what you say
 
KIRKHILLS86 said:
Forgive me mate im terribly sorry im new to cold steel especially the older ones I feel terrible now for keep going on about it from now on I’ll pay close attention to what you say
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To make it easier, just forget it's a Trail Master. Cold steel had specific steels it used during different time periods and called them by different names. So, San Mai III has the same specific steels, no matter which knife its in.

The internet has so much BS. You will read In many places that Carbon V was whatever steel Cold Steel could get and they just kept calling it Carbon V. Total BS! We have had the actual metallurgist who worked on it explain that Carbon V was a very specific steel with a very specific heat treat, so we know exactly what it is. Yet, ignorant people still post bad information. We understand it can be extremely confusing. This sub forum is the absolute best place to get correct information thanks to the work of people like jlauffer jlauffer and others. You're welcome to ask all the questions you want! We want this sub forum to stay an active place. We lost the Cold Steel representative years ago, but thankfully Bladeforums has allowed this forum to remain and its been a Godsend for all us Cold Steel fans!
 
Appreciated and it’s a good way of putting it I think to deep into it where I should just be happy that I’ve managed to get this particular model im very happy to know I can ask things regarding cold steel ive become obsessed with all the older models im trying my best to find a carbon v stag handle model it’s special to me that one a bit like your Kukri I’d love to purchase it from you but I understand I live a long way away lol but I’d purchase it from you in a heartbeat ive not seen one of those og Kukris anywhere for sale it looks incredible i do have the old 0-1 tool steel Kukri from back in 2012 think I got it ive had it all this time it’s still perfect
 
No worries! We love to deep dive in minutiae here 😁 feel free too ask away, we just want to help you understand, that's all. It can be very confusing. Also, we've all gone crazy buying knives, at times, like a shark smelling blood!
 
jdk1 said:
No worries! We love to deep dive in minutiae here 😁 feel free too ask away, we just want to help you understand, that's all. It can be very confusing. Also, we've all gone crazy buying knives, at times, like a shark smelling blood!
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Hello mate I hope your well I was talking to a guy on a auction forum across your side of the globe and he didn’t even know that they made the Trailmaster is aus8a I had to to show him stuff off the hatorri collection and stuff that yous guys have told me lol ive must of emailed him 5 times bet he thinks im a complete duck egg haha yous guys sure do know your stuff i would be stuck if not for yous I tell you what hes got a mint collection hes got the stag handle Trailmaster im going to try and buy it from him! along with the carbon-v Kukri it still has the cosmoline on it thats super rare to see i dont care that im going to have to pay daft tax money to get it hear I just need it for my collection lol im winning the bid atm im going to be broke for the rest of this month I just know it haha
 
KIRKHILLS86 said:
Ive changed my mind me lads im going to buy the Kukri plus in cpm 3-v 😂 total rip off price over hear bloody £550
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Much as I love Cold Steel , I wouldn't pay anywhere near that much . :(

Edit : No really , that's ~$750USD ! You could have a great custom built for that money . Don't know if he ships "over there " David Mary David Mary ?

Unless you are just mad for CS and got the bread ? ;)
 
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