At long last .............

[FRJ]

A couple years back there was a thread on wilderness knives and Gunstock Jack presented his Cold Steel Trail Master.
I was pretty impressed with that knife even though I never handled one. I did a little research as to dimensions and weight and price.
The size and weight didn't bother me, but the price did. Also, it needed to be carbon and made in the United States of America.
So ........ one poped up on e-bay and I snagged it for less than quite a bit, including shipping.
This knife is beautifully designed. It has the perfect amount of weight and bulk in front of the handle.
I'm so glad I own it.
Thanks.

[313 Mike]

Great score Joe! That Cold Steel Carbon V is darn good stuff.
Are you going to give it some woods time and put it to the test?

Mike

[MITCH RAPP]

I think you snagged yourself a Good One! You would be surprised how many fake ones I see from time to time on Flebay.

http://www.coldsteel.com/Fake-Trail-Master.aspx

[Miller Bro's]

How long is the blade Joe?

[FRJ]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Mike, I'm afraid to go in the woods around here. We are infested with deer ticks and at my age (or any time really) I don't want to get Lyme disease. I don't even tramp streams anymore like I used to. I have to put my edge on it and see how it performs. I'm glad to hear more good things about the carbon V.

Mitch, I was nervous about picking up a clunker. Thanks.

Dimitri, the blade is 9 1/2" and 14 1/2" over all. I've got chef knives bigger than this, but none are near as formidable.
This thing is a piece of work.

Thanks again.

[glennbad]

That thing is a beast, Joe.

Nice score!

[FRJ]

Your right Glenn, it sure is. Thanks

[oldblinddog]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Mike, I'm afraid to go in the woods around here. We are infested with deer ticks and at my age (or any time really) I don't want to get Lyme disease. ...

Get the vaccination and use deep woods off (it has deet). And go have some fun!

[Quick Steel]

FRJ

CS has a gift for Bowies. No less an authority on Bowies than Bill Bagwell mentions CS products including the Trailmaster in his book: Bowies, Big Knives and the best of Battle Blades.

There is no doubt that the Trailmaster is a highly practical and all around superb trail/camping knife. A fighting Bowie would have some design differences: longer, thinner, faster in the hand. I enjoy collecting Bowies but, fortunately, never encouter fighting opportunities.

The Carbon V you acquired enjoys great respect; has sort of a cult following. Perhaps more than the steel itself, the treatment brought out the best in it. But I am no expert on that kind of thing. I read somewhere that Carbon V is actually the same that was used by Camillus. That would make sense as the steel supplier went out of business about the same time I understand.

You are now the owner of one of the very best production Bowies ever made. Congratulations!

[sasquatch]

I have been after the Gerber with about the same dimensions. The Gerber was made with wood, rubber and stag. Had a stag nib that someone wanted more than me. Been looking for the rubber one as a user. Nice knife.

[FRJ]

Thanks, guys.

oldblinddog, I used that deep woods stuff when I built an enclosed garden amongst some tall weeds/grass for some folks a few years ago. I guess it helped, but I still got lots of bites. Three that I thought were tick bites and a lot of spider bites and who knows what all.
I could never warm up to vaccinations of any kind.
Thank you.


Quick Steel, I sure like hearing good things about this knife, thanks.

sasquatch, I'm not familiar with the Gerber. I'll have to research that. Thanks.