Review: Trail Guide, Large Clip Point, Cold Steel 3 3/4 Inches

From the Cold Steel Website ( http://www.coldsteel.com/trailguides.html ):

TRAIL GUIDE LG. DROP POINT

Specifications: Weight: 3.8 oz. Thick: 1/10' Blade: 3 3/4' Handle: 5' Valox Steel: Carbon V Overall: 8 3/4' Stainless Pocket/Belt Clip

My comments: This is a $39.95 folding pocket knife, with an average internet price of $24.95. I purchased this from Knifecenter of the Internet (www.knifecenter.com) because it is an uncommon item and in my past experience Knifecenter has good stock and good service, although slightly higher prices than some others.

The main interest of this knife to me were (1) use of true carbon steel, as opposed to 'stainless' (old fashioned high carbon steel is now a 'retro exotic'; and (2) its low price for a made in America knife. I'd like to know how Lynn Thompson is running Cold Steel these days; I find it odd that he is able to produce this made in America knife for a lower sale price than his current main catalog of knives, which are now made in Taiwan instead of Japan. I also have a Ti-Lite from Cold Steel and the workmanship is excellent, up to the Japanese standards if not better. This knife is not as well finished, but it is stout, highly functional, and value priced. Plus I am fascinated with the old high carbon steels of my ill-spent youth. I think a lot of current exotic steels are still chasing what good old rusty steel could already do years ago.

The handle is stout, probably making up most of this knife's weight, since the blade is relatively thin - more of a 'utility' or 'working' knife thickness, than the overly thick blades on so-called 'tactical' folders. The blade is, however, quite wide, much wider than the blade on a Buck 110, and from a design standpoint (does it add extra strength?) I don't see why. On the other hand, I suppose the wide blade is part of the 'funky' design look of this knife. It looks not quite like any other current design. Almost like it is from another era. Or parallel universe.

There are only two features missing, that I would like to see on this lockback: an adjustable pivot pin, instead of a rivet (but the rivet is backed by a metal disk, and I have been told that at least rivets don't drift out of adjustment); and a lanyard hole.

The pocket clip on this one is the same length as on the much smaller medium sized version of this knife, and seems a little short in proportion.

I now have two mediums - one in each blade style - and this new large one, in the clip point. It reminds me of a Buck 110, but lighter due to the plastic handle. It holds well, due to the finger grooves on the handle, and the thin blade cuts, instead of splitting, apples. I am not sure whether I will use mineral oil to preserve the blade, phosphoric acid (Coca Cola) treat it (ugly as heck), or just accept incidental staining and clean with scouring powder as needed. I relubricated the pivot area with White Lightning.

I will take it on a camping trip next week and let you know how it whittles and feels in the field. (Although I am much more a collector than a user.) I am a little leery of the weight - almost 4 ounces, about half the weight of my camera (but about half the weight of a Buck).

By the way, the slight blade wobble I noticed on both the mediums I got is absent on this large model. That may just be a production line (?) variation.

I got the medium. I have never used it got if off the net. It does not suit my hand. I don't think it has wobble. I got it just because it has a thin carbon steel flat ground blade and can open one handed. My brick and mortar store did not have it. If any one would like it I will sell it for $15 + postage. Its NIB not used just opened. For me the most important thing is ergonomics and this one just does not have it, but everybody has different hands. Makes it hard to recommend knives to other people.