Where do you see the Trail Master San Mai III being in the near future?

PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I noticed that Cold Steel's premium level priced Natchez and Laredo are now in the premium 3V steel. I also notice that their basic budget friendly offerings for these two models are now in the 4034 steel.

Now, one also sees that the new premium level priced Cold Steel Trail Master is in the 3V, but I have not seen or heard any mention of a budget friendly Trail Master being done in the 4034.

So, for at least how it now stands, the Japanese made VG-1 San Mai Trail Master IS their budget friendly version of the Trail Master.

Who'd a thunk that the once premium level priced Trail Master would someday become the "budget friendly" model 😱

The street price difference, (once everything settles), between the TM in 3V and the TM in VG-1 San Mai, will likely not be much different, with the 3V probably being no more than $50 more.
So, that further gives some weight to the "speculation" that the Japanese made version will be replaced by a more budget friendly version that will be considerably less than the 3V version of the TM.

If this becomes fact, then I wonder which way Cold Steel will go?...
Will they also go with the 4034 budget steel, as they have chosen for the budget Natchez and Laredo?...
Or...
Will they maybe go to their current Taiwan source that makes their Cold Steel V-10 core San Mai knives? I would imagine if the Taiwan source becomes the pick, the change will in fact be that they go to the VG-10 core San Mai (rather than the VG-1), and use a flat grind (rather than convexed). That would still keep the "budget" friendly Trail Master model as a pretty desirable one, but not so much if they went the 4034 route.
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When CS ended their Seki contracts and the VG10 San Mai knives made in Taiwan started to appear, I expected the San Mai TM to follow.
But from what I have been told, that convex grind and edge can only be done by hand. And while the 4 top Seki factories have all produced San Mai convex knives in the past, I can not recall any coming out of Taiwan. If it does, it will be a surprise.
 
KenHash said:
When CS ended their Seki contracts and the VG10 San Mai knives made in Taiwan started to appear, I expected the San Mai TM to follow.
But from what I have been told, that convex grind and edge can only be done by hand. And while the 4 top Seki factories have all produced San Mai convex knives in the past, I can not recall any coming out of Taiwan. If it does, it will be a surprise.
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Yeah, I would think that if they go to Taiwan for making the Trail Master in the VG-10 core san mai, they'll make them as a flat grind blade.
 
I noticed today that just about every vendor is out of the SM III TMs and the bay is showing asking prices $400-500 now. Hard to tell if this it it for this model, or of this is just another production gap until 2022 sometime.
 
KenHash said:
I noticed today that just about every vendor is out of the SM III TMs and the bay is showing asking prices $400-500 now. Hard to tell if this it it for this model, or of this is just another production gap until 2022 sometime.
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My money is on them being discontinued, they must cost a lot to produce in Japan. And I am thinking that GSM being a big conglomerate the bean counters rule. Not to mention if the Japanese even want to keep up the production, it can't be the easiest of knives to produce.
 
nephron said:
My money is on them being discontinued, they must cost a lot to produce in Japan. And I am thinking that GSM being a big conglomerate the bean counters rule. Not to mention if the Japanese even want to keep up the production, it can't be the easiest of knives to produce.
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I totally agree. With Cold Steel having transferred all of their previous San Mai blades away from Hattori in Japan, (except the Trail Master), to whatever Taiwan source they are currently using, I can't see the Hattori firm feeling a need for any loyalty to Cold Steel.
On the other hand, Fallkniven continues to offer more and more models that Hattori makes for them, and I imagine that Hattori has Fallkniven at a high level of loyalty, knowing that they keep coming back for more, not less from them.
Hattori obviously knows that the Trail Master San Mai VG-1 model that they produce for Cold Steel is likely on the CS chopping block, so they are more likely going to focus on supplying the company that seems to more consistently offer them the contract work, (that being Fallkniven).
Yup, I would be surprised if the CS Trail Master from Japan survives another round of being in the upcoming 2022 Cold Steel catalog.
I can't wait to see what that new catalog will have and not have, my not so much intrigued by any new offerings they may have, but more curious about what may go DoDo Bird.
 
KenHash said:
I noticed today that just about every vendor is out of the SM III TMs and the bay is showing asking prices $400-500 now. Hard to tell if this it it for this model, or of this is just another production gap until 2022 sometime.
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Just out of curiosity, I had checked one online source yesterday morning that I knew had a decent quantity of them earlier this month. Yesterday they still listed having 4 in stock, but this morning they now list them as out of stock. They had them for just under $280, which is a fair price... But, with them drying up fast now, I can see that $400 to $500 price becoming the new norm, until new inventories pop up, (if they do at all). I got a feeling Cold Steel will have at least one more incoming shipment of them, even if they don't make it into next years line-up. I say this because there are still quite a few online vendors taking backorders for them.
 
I finally broke down and ordered one. It’s a back order but, why not? Supposedly “typically ships 7-10 days” which, I absolutely doubt will be that fast. Still, I can always cancel if it runs long, or return if I don’t like it. $285 OTD. Now, I wait…
 
XJ-linux said:
I finally broke down and ordered one. It’s a back order but, why not? Supposedly “typically ships 7-10 days” which, I absolutely doubt will be that fast. Still, I can always cancel if it runs long, or return if I don’t like it. $285 OTD. Now, I wait…
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Its a win/win for the dealers, they either take a really low deposit or don't charge your credit card until shipped. Its easy to cancel if it is to long and you can't blame them, blame the manufacturer.
Fingers crossed for you, it is a terrific knife I think, it is a bit harder to produce compared to a lot of other knives I believe.
 
XJ-linux said:
I finally broke down and ordered one. It’s a back order but, why not? Supposedly “typically ships 7-10 days” which, I absolutely doubt will be that fast. Still, I can always cancel if it runs long, or return if I don’t like it. $285 OTD. Now, I wait…
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Although I still believe they will be discontinued, and maybe already are, I also believe there will be at least one more incoming shipment of them.
Just my hunch, but I think you will be receiving your TM 🤞😊🤞
 
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MolokaiRider said:
I am kicking myself not buying a few of these in San Mai and O1 back when they were readily available.
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I am feeling sorry for not getting San Mai 3 Trail Master,I got O1 tool steel only for about 160bucks ,,, happy with it but it's not Convex and it's prone to rust on blade and oxidation on brass guard in comparison to SAN MAI version...

Also I am not fan of CS Kydex Secure X sheaths - they usually doesn't retain knife at all , they dull the blade,,,it's appearance is very cheap,,,would far better welcome CS Trail Master San Mai Cordura Sheath or leather sheath option...

Perhaps Trail Master will not dissappear i hope...at least I hope it will be out for sale but it wasn't for long time and still isn't on most sites ... sad to see great products being discontinued for no reason imo
 
In my minds eye, I see a container ship off the coast of Cali stalled by COVID port delays, chocked full of Hatori San Mai, just waiting for permission to finally dock… A guy can dream.
 
XJ-linux said:
In my minds eye, I see a container ship off the coast of Cali stalled by COVID port delays, chocked full of Hatori San Mai, just waiting for permission to finally dock… A guy can dream.
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Yes, but now those container ships will be docking in Port Houston or the Port of Louisiana since Cold Steel has moved to Irving,TX.

* After checking maps, it probably does dock in California then transport by truck to the final destination!
 
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I think one of them may have docked. I'm seeing a bunch of San Mai III Trailmasters 16JSM on a popular online buy/sell website that were not there earlier this week - I've been searching! Unfortunately, all the photos are stock photos with no "real" photos of knives for sale with Japan, Taiwan, etc... lasered on the blade. The sellers all look legit though and have "more than 10 available". Maybe they are starting to show up again in a bit more volume?
ETA: some on other popular online retailers now as well.
 
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XJ-linux said:
I think one of them may have docked. I'm seeing a bunch of San Mai III Trailmasters 16JSM on a popular online buy/sell website that were not there earlier this week - I've been searching! Unfortunately, all the photos are stock photos with no "real" photos of knives for sale with Japan, Taiwan, etc... lasered on the blade. The sellers all look legit though and have "more than 10 available". Maybe they are starting to show up again in a bit more volume?
ETA: some on other popular online retailers now as well.
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None of the well known online knife shops have any yet, just still pre-order. I know the ones you are talking about, there are several vendors that have them with good feedback, not sure where they got them. It would be interesting to find out, maybe they pick them up in out of the way places and then resell for a profit??
 
$300 - $320 range is what I’m seeing, so far at least.

ETA: found a reputable large knife seller selling them (not on their own site) for $260 + shipping + tax = $297 OTD. I had $75 in Christmas gift cards for that site, so at $222 ordered one and cancelled my earlier order. Now the wait begins... say it gets here on the 12th or 13th. :)
 
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XJ-linux said:
$300 - $320 range is what I’m seeing, so far at least.

ETA: found a reputable large knife seller selling them (not on their own site) for $260 + shipping + tax = $297 OTD. I had $75 in Christmas gift cards for that site, so at $222 ordered one and cancelled my earlier order. Now the wait begins... say it gets here on the 12th or 13th. :)
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I found your source, and it seems there are a few other vendors selling them there now. About a week or so ago, they had no vendors left selling them, so I believe these must have all been a part of a recently received shipment to Cold Steel, which were then sent out to some vendors that had previously put orders in for them.
I see the Cold Steel website still has them listed as being out of stock.
I guess the new 2022 catalog is still the best source to check and see if they are to be continued or not.

Btw, imo, you getting your hands on a CS Japanese made San Mai Trail Master for under $300, I'd say was a really solid purchase 👍
As a matter of fact, I believe all of the other sellers on there were selling theirs for over $300.
 
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XJ-linux said:
Well, it arrived today. VG-1 San Mai III, still marked Japan, with cheapo nylon sheath. Exactly what I wanted. Very happy I snagged one and I have this thread on BF to thank! 🤘
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Very cool. Does it have the old pre-2015 Cold Steel logo?
 
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