I really feel that the 1/4" blade is an excellent size for strength, weight, and chopping/splitting duties. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> If you get too thick, you may as well carry a log-splitting wedge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Having said that, I still love my Fallkniven Thor, Gerber Bowie, and Cold Steel TrailMaster, all thicker than 1/4". Just my humble opinion. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I think anymore than 5/16 is probably overkill for general use. The .275 of the Scrappers strikes as a great compromise between such exotic monsters and .25 which to me has always been the gold standard for 'heavy metal'... I always loved the Trailmaster and would have bought a stainless one but for the fact they discontinued the 'AUS' one and made the warranty a meagre 5 years...

BLASPHEMER!! A blade can never be too thick!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A 3/8" blade would make the Scrapyard Bowie the Ultimate Zombie Chopper, or UZC for short. It would be the pinnacle of chopping goodness.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I would hold out at 3/8 thick, anything thicker and I would just suggest geeting a steel rod!

Perhaps Dan could do a 3/8 thick (special order) 'SE' bowie for you ultra heavy metal fans! You could always ask, beg etc!

Or perhaps he could make a standard 1/4" thick for you more "sensitive" types. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I remember reading in an encyclopedia somewhere that proper men need at least a 5/16" thick large chopping blade. Anyone else remember reading this? I think it was in grade school when I first came across this requirement. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I heard it is something the BCAA also supports...5/16 thick Bowies and the like!

Yup, and I believe the Founding Fathers had originally included it in the Bill of Rights, but it did'nt make the final proof. I think it went something like this,

"Every able bodied man, with proper testicular fortitude, should have within his possession and on his immediate person a Bowie style blade of no less than 10" in length and no less than 5/16" at the spine, made from a properly heat treated high impact carbon steel with preferably a full flat grind and respirene C handles. These will be a necessity to help repel the zombie hordes that will surely challenge our young nation in the future. Men that lack testosterone or have innapropriately delicate wrists are recommended to carry a smaller mudder handled blade made from a proprietary blade steel known as...."

The rest of the text is covered in muddy hoof prints and is unreadable. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Well as a member of the BCAA I wish it to be known I whole heartedly endorse 5/16 (I did mention earlier I liked C.S Trailmasters!). Having said that when 'we' (U.S. and us Brits normally tag along to your wars) fight the zombie hoards can a have a SPAS 12 and lots of ammo please??

I wanted to try out a trailmaster, never could bring myself to pull the trigger on one though....too many options on 1 knife...which one to get to be the basis for my decission?

I have a CS Recon Scout. It's just like a trailmaster, but a little shorter. It's the knife that led me to the Swamp. I think it's an older one. It doesn't have a coating on it, it's bare steel, and sterile. Also it's a factory second. I got it on eBay for like $40-$50.

Andy - I don't know for sure, but your knife may be worth a little more as a collectable. My first Cold Steel knife was a sterile Recon Scout, a little more rare than all the marked ones on the market. I have never seen an uncoated Recon Scout. I DO have the older model Carbon V bladed Trailmaster which is uncoated. Tom <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />