What other knife is equivilent to the CS Trailmaster?

M

mafiachap4523

Joined
Jul 12, 2002
Messages
16
Are there any for around the same money? But the key question is are they as good as they say the Trailmaster is? Please help me out guys I dont know what to get !!!!!!!!!! iI need it to be as big as the trailmaster but really no larger. It has to be able to cut branches and still do more delicate things. I think the Trailmaster is my best bet but please tell me if im wrong!!!!! lol


Dennis
 
If you can find one of those Gerber bowies with the rubber, coffin shaped handle, you might consider that. Or a Marble's of similar size. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the Cold Steel.
 
I'd take a long look at the camillus becker combat bowie,about the same size,probably exactly the same steel(camillus made many of cold steel's carbon V knives)excellent company that backs their products,no hype and $60 online.

edited to add that if you can afford it and like the Busse offerings they're worth the money,I'd try to get one on the forums here though,maybe save a few bucks and Busse seems to have a long wait whether they tell you that up front or not.
 
[QUOTE....camillus made many of cold steel's carbon V knives.... [/B][/QUOTE]

it is truth?
which ones? I didn't know anythihg about this:eek: !!!
 
I should probably qualify that statement,I've heard from enough people far more knowledgable than I to believe that many knives were made for cold steel by camillus,also that carbon V has been several different steels over the years,the best of which was probably the same steel used in the becker line.Regardless,carbon V is good steel,just not the "wondersteel" it's been made out to be by some.
 
The trailmaster in carbon V was my main heavy duty knife for years until I replaced it with a Busse Steelheart II. The CS is excellent but it rusts very badly and the handle isn't very good for most people. The busse is a better knife in every respectexcept price, speed and perhaps balance for tactical purposes. The less expensive Busses probably are a good choice, but I haven't used any Busses except the full infi models like the NO , the BM and, of course, the SH II. I personally think the Busses are worth the extra money, but if you won't be doing heavy duty chopping and rust isn't likely to be a problem, the CS is a suprb knife.
 
I think Cold Steel has addressed the rust issue on the Trailmaster. Last time I was at Ruff's I saw a black coated Trailmaster in CarbonV. Cheaper than the satin finished version too.
CarbonV is a great user steel IMO. It doesn't beat Busse's INFI steel in edge retention and toughness but it does have above average performance from my experience.
I've heard it said time and again that the Trailmaster is the better fighter type Bowie and the Busse is the better utility type Bowie. I tend to agree with that. The Busse has a drop point blade and the Trailmaster has a clip point.
Handle material for the two: Resiprene C on the Busse and Kraton on the Trailmaster.

You also might want to check out the Swamp Rat line. It looks and sounds like a promising and cost effective Super Bowie. I'll be getting one of these after the furor cools a bit.;)
 
Look around for an old Busse Basic 9. You can still find one in new or very good condition for around $200 on the forums, if you watch for them. Modified INFI steel, good comfortable grip. Will not let you down.

-w
 
You also might want to do a little research on Khukuris if you want a big blade. Himalayan Imports has the very best Khukuris made. They use 5160 steel at 59-60 rc and have a soft back for toughness. If you are going to be chopping you just can't beat a good khukuri. I have used my 18 inch Ang khola to chop through live branches close to 4 inches thick at an angle in one stroak! Really neat knives.:)
 
If you like the grip/handle of the Trailmaster, you are on the right track. Some people dont like the handle. I dont mind it myself, but dont care for the rubber handle. I recently had mine rehandled by one of our good forumites(Craig Camerer), and am very pleased with the results. The blade on my Trailmaster is awesome. I havent done much testing on my new Busse Battle Mistress, but I can tell you the Trailmaster of mine has held up superbly. Before I had it rehandled, I simply threw it in my truck to carry around for general purposes. Well, those general purposes included some heavy throwing into a pellet gun target made of oak. This knife hit point first, sideways, handle first, edge first, you name it. It hit the ground around the target, and stuck into the dirt. The blade held up great, the guard never loosened; heck, it barely dulled the knife. The brass thonghole eventually started to come out of the rubber handle, but I was really chucking the knife hard. Considering that a plain jane Trailmaster can be found for about a hundred dollars, I consider them a bargain. I just got an email the other day from www.gpknives.com and they had the black coated Trailmasters for under $100. Go for it.
 
Depending on where you pricepoint is and what features you are looking for, you may find a superior blade from a custom bladesmith.

A CS Trailmaster is a good knife but, there are better and less hyped knives out there. Cold Steel has a lot of market penetration and name recognition because of the hype. This doesn't mean they don't make a good knife at their pricepoint but, they are not the only manufacturere making a good knife.

Personally, I like a flat ground knife with bead blast Micarta grip knife in that size class. A knife that cuts better will get more use. Yes, you give up some blade weight so, using your knife like an axe is more difficult. I have a hatchet so, felling a tree with a knife is not my primary mission. All that extra blade weight gets old when you are tromping through the fields so, you are more apt to leave it behind and find yourself in a thicket of brush, down a creek bank, etc. and not have your knife with you. A lighter weight knife can also be used as a kitchen knife when you are at a campsite - remembering here that that purpose is to cut the tomatoe with a sharp edge not smash it with an over thick edge and blade profile.

AllenBlade makes a good knife that is price competitive with the ColdSteel and other production lines. And, since he makes them one at a time, he can tailor it to your needs. I'm sure there are others who do similar work at similar prices as well.

In the $100 to $200 range, you have a world of choices in good knives. Read a lot, study some, and then make your decision to ensure you get the RIGHT knife for you real needs at a good price.

A promising knife that I haven't received yet is the Ontario RTAK. It will be cheaper then the CS Trailmaster, competitive with Becker line and, a knife that is bound to be in very high demand and very popular once it hits the streets.
 
I've owned a LOT of knives and one that has stayed by me through all the various knives has been my Trailmaster, Carbon V, I like the rubber grips and figure that if they ever did go bad, I'd do as Danbo did and just get them replaced!
I've chopped branches off that other knives just hesitated and wouldn't get through at all and the Trailmaster did it with ease and you can also even sharpen a pencil with it, some of the larger sharpened prybars out there have trouble doing that simple chore because of the thick edge and steep bevels, if you can get one for a good price, used even, can't go too far wrong!

G2
 
I think this has been discussed in a previous thread, but it hasn't been pointed out here. The Trailmaster's design makes it suitable for self-defense, whereas the Busse knives and Becker BK-9 are designed as utility knives (despite the bellicose sounding names). I see the Trailmaster as a dual purpose knife, capable of both self-defense and utility, while the others, lacking double guards and having wide tips, lean heavily toward the utility role. Certainly one could use a Battle Rat or BK-9 for self-defense, but I don't think they would make good stabbers.
 
Things have changed dramatically in past 1 or 2 years, before you needed to look at much more expensive knifes to find competitor to CS Trailmaster, now however many users' experience indicate better alternatives. As mentioned, at slightly hgiher price point is new Swamp Rat, at significantly lower price point is becker Combat Bowie- both in same class as CS Trailmaster yet offering better proven performance in nearly every area. Even sheathes are better on both Swamp Rats and Beckers than CS. Check them out before going with a Trailmaster-
Martin
 
I think Martin J is right in his recommendation of the Swamp Rat or Becker knives as superior - for utility purposes. Based upon the reputation of Busse, I would expect the Swamp Rat to be the next best thing to a Battle Mistress. I don't like the handle on the Beckers, but I have read that micarta replacement scales are available.

Nevertheless, if self-defense is a consideration, then I think the Trailmaster would be better in that role.
 
Just to add..

to generalize a bit, if you do a lot of work with the point of your large knife, then the pointier Trailmaster would be the better buy. If you don't do much work at all with the poibt, the rounder Busse/Swamp Rat geometries would be good for the added strength. I remember a pic of Jeff Randall (or a team member of his) piercing the belly of a gator with a knife. Jeff described gator belly skin as being armor-like, and I'd want something pointy do do that job. if you use your big knife just for chopping and edge work, then the point of the trailmaster may not be for you.
 
Check www.swampratknives.com .

They just hit the market. I've got a Camp Tramp and love it! In fact, I just ordered a second one.

Busse quality and value in a more affordable package. Especially if you check the web site's Rat Chat forum. Check out the concrete block chop thread. Awesome! No damage to the knife!

Ed
 
I have quite a few knives - from Randalls to big name Damascus bladesmiths. But - the most durable? The one that will take the absolute most abuse? A knife that - if you could only have one - and had to bet your life on it - which would it be?

That's easy.

An HKR from Newt Livesay - Wicked Knife Company! I have several of his knives, and have carried them everywhere from the Florida glades to the deserts of Arizona. Pryed with them - abused them - in unimaginable ways. Zero damage. One of Newt's tests is to drive the tip of a knife through a quarter with a large hammer, and then shave with it. I wouldn't have believed it - but I watched him do it with a little knife in a neck sheath, with less than 1/8" blade thickness. The HKR is 1/4" thick.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - and it is admittedly very basic in it's design. But it does work. Every time.

Check them out at
http://64.227.169.223/newt_livesay_hkr.htm
 
There are some large Spanish bowies advertised by Camelot Enterprises. The Aitor brand claims to use a steel which is an improvement over 440C. However, I have never found any test report on an Aitor knife, so I don't know if their knives live up to the advertising.
 
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