Show me your Trail Masters!

M

mastiffhound

Joined
Dec 27, 2013
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I just ordered a new Trail Master in O1 and and would like to see some examples of any that have been used or at the least seen a little action. Also, how have the Kray-Ex handles held up compared to the older Krayton versions? Any and all pics of the TM are appreciated!
 
Are Kraton and KrayEx actually different, or did they just change the name for some reason?
 
jlauffer said:
Are Kraton and KrayEx actually different, or did they just change the name for some reason?
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The Kraton name belongs to Kraton Performance Polymers, Incorporated, and the Kray-Ex name is trademarked by Cold Steel, so Cold Steel would not simply have used the same material but changed the name. It would be the equivalent of re-boxing Kleenex tissues and re-branding them Klear-Tex, while going to the trouble of trademarking the Klear-Tex name. What would be the point in that, particularly if you're not a manufacturer of tissues?

I suspect that Kray-Ex, like Carbon V, is Cold Steel's proprietary variation on/enhancement of a preexisting material. Since Cold Steel pioneered the use of Kraton as a knife handle material, through the decades they must have felt that it could stand some improvement, thus the creation of Kray-Ex. I'm guessing that Kray-Ex probably has better resistance to heat and chemicals (such as DEET), both of which were drawbacks of Kraton (though performance improvements were also made to Kraton over the years).

Here you go, mastiffhound: A rare, entirely sterile, American-made Trail Master in Carbon V, brass, and Kraton, purchased directly from Cold Steel as a Second many years ago (fault is a very slight deformation of the guard, barely noticable and wholly insignificant for performance).

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-Steve
 
The Whip said:
The Kraton name belongs to Kraton Performance Polymers, Incorporated, and the Kray-Ex name is trademarked by Cold Steel, so Cold Steel would not simply have used the same material but changed the name. It would be the equivalent of re-boxing Kleenex tissues and re-branding them Klear-Tex, while going to the trouble of trademarking the Klear-Tex name. What would be the point in that, particularly if you're not a manufacturer of tissues?

I suspect that Kray-Ex, like Carbon V, is Cold Steel's proprietary variation on/enhancement of a preexisting material. Since Cold Steel pioneered the use of Kraton as a knife handle material, through the decades they must have felt that it could stand some improvement, thus the creation of Kray-Ex. I'm guessing that Kray-Ex probably has better resistance to heat and chemicals (such as DEET), both of which were drawbacks of Kraton (though performance improvements were also made to Kraton over the years).

Here you go, mastiffhound: A rare, entirely sterile, American-made Trail Master in Carbon V, brass, and Kraton, purchased directly from Cold Steel as a Second many years ago (fault is a very slight deformation of the guard, barely noticable and wholly insignificant for performance).

image.jpg1_zpsyak9opcr.jpg


image.jpg2_zpsukvlwu1a.jpg



-Steve
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MTech.
 
Oh, for what it's worth, my own experience has revealed Kraton to be slightly softer and tackier, while Kray-Ex feels denser and possesses a slightly oily sheen (at least initially). Of the two, I prefer Kraton, though the differences are probably negligible in actual use.

-Steve
 
Got lucky and found this for $65.00 shipped, I prefer the shiny blade with the brass guard. Some staining on the blade(as expected with a non stainless blade) but no pitting etc.It is a keeper for sure.
 

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Knew about the sterile Recon Scouts, but never seen a sterile TM. Wonder if that was also a reason for it being a 2nd?
 
jlauffer said:
Knew about the sterile Recon Scouts, but never seen a sterile TM. Wonder if that was also a reason for it being a 2nd?
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I wouldn't have guessed that I could pull out one you'd never seen, John! I've been collecting most of my life, though, so I'm bound to have a few rarities. I'm not positive, but I believe it was probably the other way around. After the coating was applied, why bother going to the expense of engraving a Second?

-Steve
 
slickpete said:
Old school carbon 5 convex.
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That's really old school! It's first generation. Those first Trail Masters changed the face of the American production bowie knife forever, setting new standards of materials and performance that remain even today. I don't care how many companies copied it, none has ever come close to surpassing the Trail Master.

-Steve
 
I think the trailmaster could use an update, especially the handle.Bbut i still think its a good knife that handles as a bowie should.
 
The Whip said:
The Kraton name belongs to Kraton Performance Polymers, Incorporated, and the Kray-Ex name is trademarked by Cold Steel, so Cold Steel would not simply have used the same material but changed the name. It would be the equivalent of re-boxing Kleenex tissues and re-branding them Klear-Tex, while going to the trouble of trademarking the Klear-Tex name. What would be the point in that, particularly if you're not a manufacturer of tissues?

I suspect that Kray-Ex, like Carbon V, is Cold Steel's proprietary variation on/enhancement of a preexisting material. Since Cold Steel pioneered the use of Kraton as a knife handle material, through the decades they must have felt that it could stand some improvement, thus the creation of Kray-Ex. I'm guessing that Kray-Ex probably has better resistance to heat and chemicals (such as DEET), both of which were drawbacks of Kraton (though performance improvements were also made to Kraton over the years).

-Steve
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Thanks...have wondered about that since they started using the "Kray-Ex" name. They had already been using "Secure-Ex" for their sheaths, and then started using "Tuff-Ex" for the blade coating, so I thought maybe "Kray-Ex" was just for consistency.
 
M31943 said:
Got lucky and found this for $65.00 shipped, I prefer the shiny blade with the brass guard. Some staining on the blade(as expected with a non stainless blade) but no pitting etc.It is a keeper for sure.
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I don't recall ever seeing a Trail Master with blade markings like that. Are you sure it is not a fake? Looks fake to me, especially at that price.
 
Mike Sastre said:
I don't recall ever seeing a Trail Master with blade markings like that. Are you sure it is not a fake? Looks fake to me, especially at that price.
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Hard to tell what it says under Cold Steel on that side of the blade, but on those style TMs (2nd gen ricasso design) I have seen 2 variations..."CARBON V MADE IN U.S.A." and "CARBON V MADE IN THE USA". In my TM history thread on the CS forum, I have a pic of one that says CARBON V MADE IN U.S.A.
 
Definitely not a fake, I know the previous owner, unless Cold Steel was selling fakes in the past.He bought it at their store.
 

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So much TM sweetness, thanks to all that have posted! I really like seeing the older models, it just proves the point that if something is good it will keep on selling. The TM is almost 30, all those years basically unchanged except different steels and maybe a coating. Any manufacturers would be proud to have something they sell last as long on the market as the TM. Thanks for history link Whip, I do enjoy reading backstories and knowing the slight changes over the years.:thumbup:
 
Glad it is real. I just had not seen any with the name on the blade that boldly. TM is a classic production Bowie.
 
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