I am learning not to let personal issues get between me and a knife I want...while I think 98% of their products are crap...they have a few I like....such as the older TrailMaster....great chopper and helluva blade. I want to try a San Mai version if I can find one for the right price....not the 400ish CS retail crap.
Same with Strider...I hate the fella on a personal level, but [censored], he makes a few....very few mind you knives that I think are outstanding. Like a RC...shameless wanted plug.
Buy it, try it...if you don't like it sell it, don't trash it. These companies don't stay in business by selling only trash.
I have the Cold Steel Trail Master in San Mai. It seems like a great knife to me...... But, I agree with HD - Swamp Rat and Scrap Yard have made the TrailMaster obsolete. I still think it is a nice knife... But, it has been bested.
I also have the Fallkniven Thor (or "Tor"). The Thor is nicer than the TrailMaster and a little bit larger - maybe 1/2" longer and a little heavier as well. The Thor is laminated very much like the Trail Master - effectively San Mai, has a very nice stacked leather handle and a very nice/well made (albiet it tad orange) leather sheath. The Thor is actually quite impressive, but it is expensive. I bought it before I knew about Swamp Rat and long before Scrap Yard existed.
The problem with the Trail Master San Mai and the Thor is they cost too much compared to .... Oh... Say .... A Dog Father!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />
The Dog Father is a better chopper than the Trail Master and the Thor as a chopper.
I also have a Cold Steel Master Tanto San Mai 12" blade. I think it is very nice and I was able to make a great purchase on it for a little over $100.00. That was a Great buy. But, those buys don't come often.
I also have a Master Hunter. The Master Hunter comes in different types of steel. The one I have is actually pretty nice for a cheaper blade. I think they can be had via ebay for around $50 or so. But, I have so many other knives from Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard, Bark River and others that are much nicer and better knives (Even if more expensive), so I am going to sell my Master Hunter.
I could make the same arguement to justify selling my TrailMaster and Thor, but I will hold them for now. Those will be my only two Cold Steel knives - until I pick up some of those cheap, but effective looking machetes Vic has been showing us.
I have some other Fallkniven knives. Fallkniven appears to be a great company, run by good people making a good product.
I have the Thor along with the A1, an S1 custom micarta and an F1 custom micarta. All are great knives. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
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