COLD STEEL Trail Master

Short version: Buy this one. It's good. You won't be sorry. Seriously, stop reading this and buy the knife.Considerably less short version: I bought a Trailmaster Bowie in Carbon V when they first came out and were still made in the USA. I cold blued the blade and carried it on my web gear for years. As one might expect, it took quite a beating over the years, but it did everything I asked it to do, and it always sharpened up shaving-sharp. Wonderful piece of American steel, still have it.This new one is forged from CPM 3V , and this is what the Google AI summary has to say about CPM 3V vs Carbon V:"CPM 3V steel is generally considered significantly better than carbon 5 steel, particularly in terms of toughness and resistance to chipping, while still offering good edge retention, making it a preferred choice for applications requiring high durability and impact resistance, especially in knives, where carbon 5 steel might be more prone to breaking or chipping due to its higher carbon content and lower toughness.Key differences:*Toughness:CPM 3V is significantly tougher than carbon 5 steel, meaning it can withstand more impact without chipping or breaking.*Edge Retention:While CPM 3V has good edge retention, carbon 5 steel, with its higher carbon content, might hold an edge slightly better but at the cost of reduced toughness.*Corrosion Resistance:CPM 3V is typically considered more corrosion resistant than carbon 5 steel due to its alloy composition."The new one has one or two slight differences from the original, the most notable of which is a steel crossguard instead of the original's brass - but that's just my esthetic preference. It comes with the new Secure-Ex composite sheath, which I like much more than the original leather sheath and the first model ballistic nylon sheath (which is the one I had on my web gear.) Other raters have complained that the Secure-Ex sheath is just that bit too tight and it can dull the belly of the blade. Time will tell, and I'll update as appropriate.The Original Carbon V was $80.00 US back in the mid 1980s; as of 26 JAN 2025, this new CPM 3V was $280.00 US, and it came out of the box razor-frickin'-sharp!Do I need this one? No probably not; my 40+ years old original is still going strong, but boy howdy, I sure did WANT this one. My opinion - money well spent. I'm very pleased. Highly recommend!

This is a large slab of 3V. Compared to my other 3V blades, this one holds an edge really well, sharpens pretty easily, and it's very comfortable. The sheath is the only downside as these glass-filled cold steel sheaths will 100% dull your edge. The sheath on mine will make the belly of the blade pretty dull. I'd recommend buying an aftermarket sheath. But the knife itself is great.

I was a bit hesitant to buy this after having it in my cart for several weeks.That was due to the negative reviews I’ve read on here about quality control issues specific to the 3V model.All I can say is mine came flawless and I’m hooked on so many Cold Steel blades.Cold steel has replaced in my service my Spydercos, Ontarios, and some other brands.I can’t suggest this more and if you want something sturdier than the San Mai version buy this one.0 regrets even though it’s rough on the wallet (for me at least)

My Knife has a gap between the ricasso and the guard. It is large enough that a spray lubricant will go down into the handle. This could be a problem if water goes down and causes the tang to rust. Tried to return it for a replacement but Amazon says "it can only be returned" even though the product page says "return OR replace".Update: This knife, too, follows cold steel's practice of stating a blade length that includes the ricasso, and not just the cutting edge. For instance, the specs say the blade is 9.5 inches. I measure the CUTTING edge at exactly 9.0 inches and the other half inch is the ricasso. Of course the ricasso has no cutting edge. Deceptive? You decide. But be aware of this practice before you purchase.

It’s more than I expected. It came really sharp and feels really nice in the hand. I can’t wait to take it camping.

This thing cost too much cash for it to be so sloppy. I will take pictures of the bad grinding and returning the thing after. The spine isn't nearly as thick as it should be, way too much material is ground off both sides of the blade.Granted it's not nearly as bad as other Trailmasters I've seen, but this isn't the norm. The spine is supposed to be consistent, the false edge is lopsided, the tip is lopsided also.GSM quality control at its finest for a $300 dollar knife.

Bought two times from this excellent seller, and both times received original top-notch A1 quality products! My go to... Buy with this seller and avoid fake knock offs as I had the misfortune to have done before. No more. Trust this seller for AUTHENTIC Original Cold Steel..NO Flaws!..

Love it as expected but man the sheaths are irritating since they scratch the knife at this price point so easily. Why of why cant Cold Steel just go to a kydex sheath, ugh. I bought an after market kydex one already so a great combo now!