Trailmaster SK-5 VS Battle Mistress

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
6,184
Hey y'all,

Well I thought I would have some fun with two of my choppers. I recently liberated a couple of tree branch sections from a work crew who were taking down this termite infested tree. These are nice fat sections, great for chopping on.

They were quite wet at first but we're in the middle of winter and the wood has dried out and got nice and hard.

I started with the Trailmaster SK-5. Now I got this for around $100 from NGK before they went to a polished version. That's a pretty good deal for a knife of this size.

Anyhoo, the SK-5 did moderately well against the wood, it lacks the weight of the BM but it has a sharper edge profile that bites well.

I thought the edge would take quite a hammering but it actually held up quite well and managed to slice through paper after I'd whaled on the log for a bit.

It lost a bit of coating after the action but not too much.

The Battle Mistress was of course in a different league. This thing just guzzled wood. Chips were flying in all directions.

The edge also help up pretty well and was also able to slice paper after the work-out. The coating held up real well. Bear in mind this is hard wood, not pine.

I guess this turned out pretty much as expected, with the Trailmaster doing real good for a $100 knife.

The Battle Mistress is about what you would expect for a top of the line chopper. Its just a chainsaw minus the chain really.

Nothing really scientific here, just my opinion!

Choppers004.jpg


Choppers012.jpg
 
You didn't tell us how the $40 hatchet beat both of them.:p

Hmmm, maybe I will buy a Cold Steel someday....

Thanks for whacking!
 
Last edited:
I have a Gransfors Buks Small Forest Axe and that is indeed a wicked chopper.

I can add another chapter tomorrow if there is enough interest...... ;)
 
Did you try splitting some wood by batoning the blades? Chopping is one thing, but splitting wood is another. Both are needed for wood gathering and fire preparation. I would be interested to hear how each performed in that regard. Thanks
 
Naw, I got lazy and called it a day.... :D

I have no doubt each blade will do the job without any trouble. ;)
 
The reason I ask is because there was a thread here a few years ago where an SK-5 (IIRC) broke at the tang during a batoning exercise. I figured that was probably just an anomoly and that particular knife had a manufacturing defect. I never heard of it happening again.
 
Yeah I have both the FBMCG and CS Trail Masters and they are really in different leagues. I have used Trail Masters for a long time in the field and they really do hold up very well and batten though wood great.

But the Busse is in a League by itself so if you ever get a chance to get one don't pass it up. :D

Here is my FBMCG:

 
Last edited:
Great Pic!

I also gave the Gransfors Small Forest Axe a workout on the log.

These axes cut like nobody's business. They are harder work though because they bite into the wood and then you have to yank it loose to get another swing in.

But when you start attacking from either side, large chunks of wood go flying!

Its a satisfying process, but you have to be careful. If you miss and the thing makes contact with your leg instead, you can bet that's gonna hurt!

SFA003.jpg
 
Buffalohump said:
Hey y'all,


I guess this turned out pretty much as expected, with the Trailmaster doing real good for a $100 knife.

The Battle Mistress is about what you would expect for a top of the line chopper. Its just a chainsaw minus the chain really.
Click to expand...


Looking at the size difference between the 2 knives did you really think the Trail Master had a chance?

Photo below for size comparison, my FBMCG and San Mai III Trail Mater:

 
Ankerson I have to agree, the CGFBM and other BM's are broader and heavier than the Trailmaster. It really isnt in the same class, its a nice knife but wont outchop a BM at least from all my use with both.
 
barrabas74 said:
Ankerson I have to agree, the CGFBM and other BM's are broader and heavier than the Trailmaster. It really isnt in the same class, its a nice knife but wont outchop a BM at least from all my use with both.
Click to expand...

The Trail Masters are good knives no doubt, I have had 3 of them, great in the field but when compared to a FBM they are just outclassed by a fair amount. The TM is a lot lighter than the FBM so it doesn't bite as deep and the handle configuration of the FBM is a lot better than the TM IMO.

But then we are talking about two different price points also, worlds apart really. The TM is better than anything at it's price point and some what above IMO.
 
I wasn't seriously intending it to be a face off between the two knives. I guess the title is a bit mis-leading.

I just wanted to compare a budget chopper with a high end chopper.

Each knife performed pretty much as expected although I was particularly impressed with the Trailmaster SK-5's performance - given its price point.

It is a lot of knife for the dough if you can pick one up for around $100, which is what I paid for mine, new.
 
I have a number of Trail Masters as well and for an all around monster survival knife it is extremely sharp and versatile. I use a stainless version for brush clearing and limbing/pruning quite often and the slightly forward balance of it makes the 18 oz go a long way. The Mistress just outweighs it by too much to compare the two really.

Thanks for the pics Buffalo.
 
Buffalohump said:
I wasn't seriously intending it to be a face off between the two knives. I guess the title is a bit mis-leading.

I just wanted to compare a budget chopper with a high end chopper.

Each knife performed pretty much as expected although I was particularly impressed with the Trailmaster SK-5's performance - given its price point.

It is a lot of knife for the dough if you can pick one up for around $100, which is what I paid for mine, new.
Click to expand...


I really didn't think you were doing that either.

But yeah for $100 the TM is one heck of a knife.

The new shinny blade SK-5 MAR Tempered ones are like $150.
 
I got my Trailmaster San Mai out for a bit of a workout as well....... I tend to baby it a bit because its so nice and shiny but what the hell....

It did pretty good too. Definitely has a bit more heft than the SK-5 version (well, it feels heavier anyway) and the convex grind bites nicely.

I really find the kraton grips are a benefit when you're swinging hard. Although they might not be forever, the tacky surface definitely helps. The rectangular shape of the handle also helps to keep the blade moving in the right direction.

Of course the stainless surface, makes it a lot easier to get the knife back to a gleaming condition after the workout.

I use Flitz and a rag and it really gives it a good lustre. Little scratches come out pretty easily.

I find the convex edge a bit of a challenge to sharpen, so I just free-handed it with a Sharpmaker rod. It came up pretty quick. Probably not the world's best sharpening job, but it works for me...

LT is a figure of fun around here and I guess he's only got himself to blame for that, but he knocked it out of the park with the Trailmaster IMO.

Its just got a real nice feel to it. Its a clean design, the guard is small and doesn't get in the way, and the handle is just the right size and diameter, for my average size hands.

The new price might be a bit steep but if you can find one used, don't hesitate....

TMSMIII002.jpg


TMSMIII005.jpg
 
I really baby my San Mai III TM too, I really don't use it that much because I had a Carbon V vers I used until I gave it to a fellow camper. I do have the new SK-5 MARTEMP vers on order though as a beater.

I agree the TM is one heck of a knife anyway you look at it. :)
 
Don't you guys know that you can't say anything positive about Cold Steel
on this board? All of you will be receiving demerits shortly. :D

Seriously, I don't think there is another knife in this category(price wise)
that can touch it. Okay, maybe a Dogfather(but they are over 200 bones).
 
yerscattergun said:
Don't you guys know that you can't say anything positive about Cold Steel
on this board? All of you will be receiving demerits shortly. :D

Seriously, I don't think there is another knife in this category(price wise)
that can touch it. Okay, maybe a Dogfather(but they are over 200 bones).
Click to expand...

I like CS knives personally and always have. :thumbup:

I don't really care what other people think because they make some great knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top