Tell me about your Big Fixed Blades. Cold Steel?

[coote]

When working a trap line, or doing other things in the bush, I often need some sort of a chopping tool.

I have found a golok to be great as a chopper and club, but it is fairly inadequate for some 'knife' jobs. If my dog caught a pig, for instance, I could not stick it with my golok.

A khukuri has also served me well, and while it is not as good a club as the golok for despatching animals, it is a better 'knife' and an excellent chopper.

A hatchet chops pretty well, but it is a clumsy club (too heavy and slow to weild) and a pretty poor 'knife'.

I was thinking about getting something like a Cold Steel Trailmaster. I could still chop and lever with the blade to a certain extent, and I could definitely despatch a wild hog with it.

I'm thinking Cold Steel because I've had a wonderful run from the Bushman and the Medium Voyager Folder that I've got. I don't want to pay big money for a big name knife that probably isn't a whole lot better than the Trailmaster for what I need.

Carrying a big knife is a real nuisance at times. My most recent addition, the BRKT Gameskeeper that was lovingly sent to me from the US, is a great all-purpose knife and a very good chopper for its size. It is certainly easier to carry than a golok or khukuri, but it doesn't do the bigger chopping jobs quickly enough. If I had to take just one knife, the Gameskeeper would be my current choice. Beautiful and practical.

So.... please advise me. What is the best buy in this class of knife, and what is the best way to carry it?

Are other big Cold Steel knives just as good for my purposes as the carbon steel Trailmaster? I want a 'pointy' knife that is heavy enough to chop and which can be used for light levering.

I'd consider a second-hand knife. I'd also love to learn about the best places to buy one from (but maybe it isn't politically correct to ask that here.... so don't feel pressured to answer that one).

I'm going through a big knife phase again. Please help me out here.

Thanks in advance.... Coote.

PS. The knife I most frequently carry nowadays is a small Eka Compact. This has a non-locking blade less than 2.5" long.

 

[raylaconico]

coote, I like the trailmaster. I owned one many years ago. If I were in the market for a big knife, that would be my choice. You should go ahead and get one. I think you will like it. Go for the carbon steel model. It costs less too.

 

[sherlockbonez]

I have my recon scout for a few years. Serves well for what it is, a beater knife that is both inexpensive and sharp out of the box. Can't complain.

 

[oldcamper]

I have a older BK-7 that seems to work very well. I also Have a SOG Jungle Fusion. It chops pretty well and is a bit lighter to carry.

 

[dawsonbob]

I think the Becker BK-9 would do all that you're asking. It's a good chopper, would make a good club for dispatching small animals, performs knife tasks fairly well (and comes with a smaller BK-13 for smaller tasks) and would make a great "pig sticker."

 

[kgd]

I'll second the bk-9. From my quick perusal its half the price (~$70 USD) of the trail master and IMO a better blade. You may also consider the Kabar heavy bowie ($45-50 USD) or marbles trail maker (~$100) as low cost alternative big blades. Lot of people give very favorable reports to the Kabar heavy bowie in highly demanding uses (e.g. gardening etc).

 

[raindog101]

The BK9 and the Trailmaster are excellent options. Having had both, I prefer the Trailmaster. It has a better feel in the hand, more nimble but still has some heft. My only nitpick with it is the full guard. Limits certain hand positions/grips. The kraton grips are comfortable, but I know they're not popular with some. And the SK-5 steel takes and holds a very nice edge. All that being said, you might also consider the Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie (the 9" version) as a bargain-basement option. I had one a while back, and thought it did well for the price, but it didn't chop like the Trailmaster (too light), and I felt the handle was too big and bulky. So, to sum up, if you have the cash, get the Trailmaster. If you're on a budget, look in to the BK9, and if you can't spend over $50, get the Kabar.
ETA: Damn, kgd basically summed up my post. Too slow on the keyboard!

 

[August West]

Coote,
I haven't been around in a while, used to go by runningboar, nice to see your still around. :thumbup:

I just ordered a Cold steel 12" barong, haven't gotten it yet, but looking at the pics and reading the reviews sounds like it may be perfect for what your looking for, looks like a pig sticker for sure. Best of all, 21 bucks delivered to my door. I'll let you know what I think when I get it, this will be my first CS knife. Chris

 

[evbouret]

Our knives in Hawai'i must primarily serve as trail clearers since we aren't blessed with the fairly open terrain that you NZ guys got.A trail knife in Hawai'i must clear our trails, stick hogs and perform various butchering tasks. As well as make shelter/prepare fire wood etc... that all large knives should perform.

Some of my friends here in Hawai'i use the Dexter Russell Fish Splitters as their "trail knives". If you would knock the "butcher knife lump" near the tip it is mean for blading pigs too.

Another option I've pondered buying is the Knives of Alaska Bushmaster. I've read its a good chopper and would be absolutely lethal on any kind of animal.

Working traplines: I take it you're trapping or 1080'ing possums? If I understand correctly you don't want to make a hole in the pelt so wack em instead? Why not get a wood club to carry around? You could chop a new one whenever you needed it. Then the bludgeoning factor wouldn't come into play.

 

[coote]

Thanks for all the encouraging comments. Seems like there are a few options.

I have generally been setting snares for possums. I do generally carry a wooden club when seriously trapping, but when I'm doing a small line or prospecting around for good territory, it is good to carry one less thing. We often pluck the fur from the possums, so a damaged skin doesn't matter. But if the pelt looks particularly good, then all care is taken to not harm it as the whole skin is (or was when I last checked) quite valuable to some people.

Here's a possum:

That fish splitter knife would do the job.... even with the lumpy point. I'd rather keep the lump to maximise the forward weight. I guess I'd have to make my own sturdy sheath.

Geez August West..... does the new, more gentle, name signify other changes in your life I wonder? Will we still see you jump into a debate with enthusiasm?

More thoughts welcomed as I savour this part of the knife-buying process.

Much appreciated, Coote.

 

[warrigal]

Coote I would suggest from my own experiance with Dogging a Trailmaster might be a little heavy and unwieldy for pigs. Not saying it wouldn't work but just my opinion.
I have used all these a some point or another. My hands down fav' is the Swedish Bayonet far right a B%gger to sharpen the first time but it does keep an edge. Steel Scabbard so if you go wheels up you won't break the blade and send it into your leg. Spring clip retention so you don't have to fumble with a clip while you have the muck flying.
Most seem to be single edged although I have seen false and double edged. If you buy retail ( from a disposals) ask to see all the stock because I have had some come through heavily used and worn and others almost mint ( I work in a camping shop/disposals outside Brisbane)

If your relying on your sticker to also be a trail clearer, a thought. I have a mate who broke an Aitor oso blanco in a pig ( it was replaced under warranty but that didn't help him the rest of that week end) and then also had a Gerber BMF get stuck and the pig do the bolt and disappear ( I was laughing to hard too give chase.) I would hate for my extraction tool to be lost or broken because I was doing something else heavy with it.
I haven't been to Hawaii or NZ but I think some of the foliage in NZ can be a bit heavier than the tropical stuff Either around Tully ( here in Oz where I have spent quiet a bit of time) or Hawaii. I wouldn't take a Butchers thickness blade to double as a machete to Cradle mountain. For example.
Carl

 

[August West]

Geez August West..... does the new, more gentle, name signify other changes in your life I wonder? Will we still see you jump into a debate with enthusiasm?

More thoughts welcomed as I savour this part of the knife-buying process.

Much appreciated, Coote.

No promises, I love a good debate, not a flaming match, but true debate. Chris

EDT: I am getting old though, so I might be gentler.

 

[evbouret]

What about Svord knives? They have a 12" bush machete. That is nice looking. And you'd be keeping your money in country.

Those fish splitters are pretty awesome though. My friends use custom firehose sheaths. They're waaaay thicker than the normal butcher knives. Not even comparable. I bought a normal 10" butcher thinking that was what my friends used and it lasted about 7 minutes of chopping guava. Now it looks like a serrated sawblade

 

[oldcamper]

I have two of those Swedish Mauser Bayonets. They do take and hold a excellent edge. Excellent steel, not sure what it is though.

 

[Gossman Knives]

Can't go wrong with a Trailmaster. Take a look at the Browning Crowell/Barker competetion knife also.
Scott

 

[coote]

Svord knives are high quality and might be a good choice. I should take another look at their site. But I've had a long-standing affair with the idea of a Trailmaster so they are entering the contest with a bit of a handicap.

Good pig stories thanks! The current quest is not primarily for pig hunting.... more for knocking a few scrubby branches out of the way around a trap set, maybe cutting a 2" pole for a pole snare set..... and maybe for despatching a bigger animal that I may happen to catch. Call me a poofter, but I mostly shoot pigs. The knife might also get used to 'cleave' chops off the backbone when butchering. Plus it is nice to own something that looks good as well as being functional.

I've posted this before, but here is a pig taken with Cold Steel.

 

[evbouret]

Nice work, did you have a dog to bail it? Or did you set a trap? Get a Trailmaster if that's what you want. I'm sure it'd go down there. Not the most ideal chopper though. I like a combo of a 12" machete and a smaller skinning/utility blade anyways.

Here's another one to consider. Ontario RTAK. My friend used to use it to chop trail and blade pigs but he lost it on a grass road chasing after the dogs one day. We searched for it but it was back to the earth.

1095 Steel, That photo doesn't give a real good scale for size. But its a pretty hefty knife...

 

[sodak]

The TM will be a good knife for what you are looking for. The BK9 is also good, but is wider, and has a wider tip, so it won't be as good for "sticking". But still a good knife.

 

[keithcarter]

Cheaper Than Dirt (.com) Has three styles of bigger knives they call "rough use knives". They are similar to the Cold Steel knives pictured above. But they retail for $10 (thats TEN dollars).

"Can't be any good" the guys that pay $100 for a knife say. WRONG! And here's the unvarnished proof. Go to U-Tube and look under knife tests videos. Some knife guy actually shows what he did to those knives. Unbelieveable what they took and came back for more. He was cutting up concrete blocks with them!

And plain old carbon steel will take a nice edge. Look them up. You might be surprised.

 

[PayetteRucker]

RAT has a 10 incher coming out, i think 9-10 inches would be about right. Carbon takes an awesome edge, you just can't grind it to bits with daimond stones like you do with RC-65 stainless steels... try using a softer stone to finish like an arkansas or even wet and dry sandpaper.