Trailmaster steel question

S

sickboy666

Joined
Aug 14, 2007
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First off hello all, my first post having joined a while ago, loads of good info etc. :thumbup:
Anyway, i fancy purchasing a coldsteel trailmaster for use as a camp chopper as i love bowies in general but need something more as a work horse rather than a stunner to look at and polish.
Problem being i'm unsure as to which model to go for, is the San mai version worth the extra cost over the current carbon steel model available?
Triple the cost is pretty painfull at rrp, but the san mai version can be found for £70 more than the carbon steel model on evilbay, which brings it into the possible list.
Any ideas/thoughts gratefully recieved :)
 
If you are looking for a serious chopper, it's maybe better to buy an axe or a saw, You will obtein better result with less effort ... If I have to choose only a knife for what you ask, it will be a Fallkniven A1 or A2 ... ;)
 
As the owner of an older, '80's vintage Trailmaster, I'd have to agree with sharp-k's general assessment that there are better choppers out there.

But for general use, if I were to buy another Trailmaster, I'd stick with the plain-Jane version over the san-mai. I'd look for a used older-version to save on cost, also.

As far as other knives to consider, there is a plethora out there. A place to start might be the member noss4 site. He really tests these things.

Suprisingly, my most recent camp chopper to impress me on the cost/performance ratio is a surplus kukri. Doesn't hold a fine edge as long as I'd like, but it is quite the chopper.

As far as bowies, or the like, go, have you looked at the recent Browning offerings? Supposedly they are pretty good for the real-world cost. Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, I guess it is called. Not quite a bowie, though.
 
I prefer Honda over Toyota. :rolleyes:


To address your question, I have the base carbon steel version. I can't see how the San-Mai version is worth the cost. The blade shape, length and weight are the same, so performance should be the same.

My beef with the TM is the handle. In lengthy chopping sessions, I found I needed to wear a glove, something that never happened to me before with any knife -- or axe.

You will have to be very circumspect in using such a knife in BPS Land. :D
 
I have the regular carbon recon scout. i find my handle worn smooth from use, blade coat and edge still in great shape.
 
The handle shape on Trailmaster sucks rocks. Ka-Bar bowie is a better alternative.
 
I picked up a San Mai one for a good price. I just love shiny steel. I sit and polish it with a rag when I've watching TV. Lord it looks good in the light. I've done a bit of chopping with it and it was fine.

If I want to do heavy duty chopping I use my Gransfors SFA. I think its a lovely knife but I guess there are many other options out there that will cost you less. People speak highly of the Becker and Ranger stuff as well./

P1010019.jpg
 
I like my Carbon V Trailmaster.

The only thing is, everytime I get it out to use it I inevitably think, "Gee, I wish it had a different handle."
 
How about the handle on this one here?

CSBowie3.jpg


CSBowie1.jpg


As for steel quality this was the old carbon v and it took a bullet!

ReconScout3.jpg


ReconScout2.jpg


ReconScout1.jpg


The recon is just a small trailmaster. I am not real big on the CS knives but this one had a great story behind it and the pimping on it was so choice!
 
I would go for the regular carbon steel. I've had both the Recon Scout and Trailmaster for 10 - 15 years, and after a lot of heavy usage, they both have held up great, handles and all. I like the handles, they fit me very well.
 
"A place to start might be the member noss4 site."

Could someone let me know what it is. Thanks.
 
sickboy666 said:
First off hello all, my first post having joined a while ago, loads of good info etc. :thumbup:
Anyway, i fancy purchasing a coldsteel trailmaster for use as a camp chopper as i love bowies in general but need something more as a work horse rather than a stunner to look at and polish.
Problem being i'm unsure as to which model to go for, is the San mai version worth the extra cost over the current carbon steel model available?
Triple the cost is pretty painfull at rrp, but the san mai version can be found for £70 more than the carbon steel model on evilbay, which brings it into the possible list.
Any ideas/thoughts gratefully recieved :)
Click to expand...

The San Mai III will outperform SK5 in corrosion resistance and general shininess. It may outperform the SK-5 blade in edge retention as well, but not in toughness. But the design of the Trail Master is one that I would think one needs toughness, not edge retention. And your proposed usages do as well.

The SK-5 blades that Cold Steel sells today are similar to 1080 carbon steel in Carbon content and toughness. SK-5 is actually an alloy steel, meaning that there is more than just carbon and iron in it. And it would probably outperform 1080 if you tested them side by side.

If it were I, I would go with the SK-5 blade.


ADD:
Shaolin, Noss4 publishes his knife tests here,
www.knifetests.com

Many folks place value in his tests. I'm not one, but YMMV
 
About the only thing original on my blade is the steel. Other than that everything has been modded and customized.
 
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