The stag trailmaster is awesome

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Oct 9, 2014
Messages
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I finally got the chance to buy one of the fabled trailmasters with the stag handle. This thing is badass! I honestly like it more than my Randall 12-9 stag :eek:. Would highly recommend buying one if you get the opportunity.

 
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I remember them retailing for $300 in the early - mid 90's, and depending on the dealer sometimes they'd get knocked down to $200-250. I also remember them having a decent price jump after the stag embargos, somehow a jump to a $400ish retail toward the end of their run is what I seem to remember. Yours has nice stag, some of the handles on these could be hit or miss.

Here's an interesting tidbit also, at one point Ontario must've had or tried for the US contract on these, because these "Trail Bowies" sometimes have shown up over the years - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ontario-trail-bowie-knife-stag-cold-1909157123 .
 
Great score! Always wondered - how does the stag feel in hand? Sort of a pistol grip/curve with stag handle on the TM's. Regardless, I want one now! Congrats!
 
I remember them retailing for $300 in the early - mid 90's, and depending on the dealer sometimes they'd get knocked down to $200-250. I also remember them having a decent price jump after the stag embargos, somehow a jump to a $400ish retail toward the end of their run is what I seem to remember. Yours has nice stag, some of the handles on these could be hit or miss.

Here's an interesting tidbit also, at one point Ontario must've had or tried for the US contract on these, because these "Trail Bowies" sometimes have shown up over the years - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ontario-trail-bowie-knife-stag-cold-1909157123 .

Thank you for the information, I could not find that Info anywhere on the internet.
 
Great score! Always wondered - how does the stag feel in hand? Sort of a pistol grip/curve with stag handle on the TM's. Regardless, I want one now! Congrats!

The handle ergonomics on this particular one are amazing. Just grippy enough to not be worried about it flying out of your hand and no hotspots of concern. It honestly is better than the stag on Randall's Ive owned in the past as far as comfort goes, and I think it looks great too.

 
I remember them retailing for $300 in the early - mid 90's, and depending on the dealer sometimes they'd get knocked down to $200-250. I also remember them having a decent price jump after the stag embargos, somehow a jump to a $400ish retail toward the end of their run is what I seem to remember. Yours has nice stag, some of the handles on these could be hit or miss.

Here's an interesting tidbit also, at one point Ontario must've had or tried for the US contract on these, because these "Trail Bowies" sometimes have shown up over the years - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ontario-trail-bowie-knife-stag-cold-1909157123 .
I've got one of the Ontario Bowies.
 
I remember them retailing for $300 in the early - mid 90's, and depending on the dealer sometimes they'd get knocked down to $200-250. I also remember them having a decent price jump after the stag embargos, somehow a jump to a $400ish retail toward the end of their run is what I seem to remember. Yours has nice stag, some of the handles on these could be hit or miss.

Here's an interesting tidbit also, at one point Ontario must've had or tried for the US contract on these, because these "Trail Bowies" sometimes have shown up over the years - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ontario-trail-bowie-knife-stag-cold-1909157123 .
That is very interesting, tltt! Thank you for this information, as I'd never seen that Ontario model before.

Regarding the premise that Ontario was one of the suppliers of the Trail Master, I think the existence of the Trail Bowie sure makes it likely. We may never know the truth, but the differences in the Trail Master sheaths and between the first-generation blade design and subsequent generations have led me to believe that there were multiple contractors supplying Carbon V Trail Masters in the early days.


-Steve
 
Had this one, sold it here years ago.

Still, overall it was probably my favorite Cold Steel fixed blade.

The stag they used was gorgeous and I never liked the cheap Kraton/rubber handles used on so many of their other fixed blades.

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