• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). Now open to the forums as a whole. If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges. If there are customs issues? On you.

    User Name
    Serial number request

fallkniven vs. cold steel

S

seth2915

Joined
Feb 13, 2007
Messages
97
Hey, folks,

Just kind of curious about performance differences between the Fallkniven Northern Lights Series (Thor, Oden, et.al.) and the Cold Steel San Mai III Trailmaster. Anybody have experience with both and opinions as to which performs better?

I'm looking at handle comfort and durability, edge retention, chopping performance, cutting performance, everything really.

I am thinking of one or the other. CS is cheaper, so I want to know what kind of performance difference there is.
 
The CS San Mai III Trail Master is going to be the top performer. :)

It's one heck of a field blade for the money with videos to prove it, I also have one on YT.
 
I have used neither so i cant really say much about the performance but Fallkniven appeals more to me than cold steel. I also haven't heard many bad things about Fallkniven's VG10 laminated steel. Bear in mind that Fallkniven's are convexed and i think cold steel is probably a V grind so your sharpening techniques will be different.
 
Well I think that a Fallkniven Thor and a San-mai III CS Trailmaster are two VERY similar knives, and make for a good comparison.

The Trailmaster is a bit more affordable, and they both have very nice fully convexed blades, but In my opinion the Fallkniven Thor is the better knife for a few reasons:

1- they are both laminated steel, but I personally think VG-10 is a slight step above CS's VG-1. At least as far as edge retension.

2- Fallkniven uses nice stacked ox hide leather handles that are both more comfortable, and better looking IMHO.

3- although they are nearly identical in shape, the Thors blade is a half inch longer than the TM's. which = more cutting edge and better chopping.

....But I think that they are both great knives, and I'd be happy using either one! :thumbup: The difference between the overall performance of the two will be somewhat small. But I would definately give the edge to the Fallkniven, pluss I just think it's a little better looking, and has better fit and finish than any CS knives I've seen.

Here's a pic of my Thor next to my CS Larado Bowie, just for fun....:D
various2008-2009158.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ankerson said:
The CS San Mai III Trail Master is going to be the top performer. :)

It's one heck of a field blade for the money with videos to prove it, I also have one on YT.
Click to expand...

Ankerson, I would like to see the video of a Trailmaster out-cutting/chopping a Thor.

-Could you post a link???
 
I have the Fallkniven A2. I doubt it chops as well as the Trail Master because it's shorter. But I love the design. It imparts a lot of confidence. I'd call it the ultimate "survival" knife. And it does chop well enough. I love mine.
 
The CS TM in San Mai has a convexed edge from factory. The steels are made in the same plant. VG-1 core tougher, VG-10 core more abrasion resistant.
 
BryFry said:
Ankerson, I would like to see the video of a Trailmaster out-cutting/chopping a Thor.

-Could you post a link???
Click to expand...

They are out there, not in the same video though. ;)

If I still had access to one I would do a direct comparison.

They look almost like the same knife to me....... Interesting since the TM came out 1st as in years before the Thor.....

Hmmmmm...........
 
Last edited:
Ankerson said:
They are out there, not in the same video though. ;)

If I still had access to one I would do a direct comparison.

They look almost like the same knife to me....... Interesting since the TM came out 1st.

Hmmmmm...........
Click to expand...

....Just wondering how, or why you believe the Trailmaster will out perform the Thor?

I'm not trying to start anything, I would just like to hear your thoughts on this so that I may better understand where you are comming from. :)

I don't have anything against CS, I think they sell some great knives and the TM is one of my favorites. I just think that Fallkniven Thor is a bit better, for the reasons I have preveously stated.:thumbup:
 
BryFry said:
....Just wondering how, or why you believe the Trailmaster will out perform the Thor?

I'm not trying to start anything, I would just like to hear your thoughts on this so that I may better understand where you are comming from. :)

I don't have anything against CS, I think they sell some great knives and the TM is one of my favorites. I just think that Fallkniven Thor is a bit better, for the reasons I have preveously stated.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

It's the balance of the knives, I have held both, the Old SM III TM is more blade heavy. ;)

I have been in contact with CS and Falkniven used to be a CS distributor until they cut off CS and came out with a number of almost exact copies of their following knives.

CS Trail Master
CS Recon Scout
CS SRK
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top