I'm surprised that Cold Steel decided to even use VG10 for a Trailmaster. With kitchen knives, VG10 has been known to be a bit brittle and chippy. You even hear of Spyderco knives sometimes having chipping problems with VG-10. Neat video. I may just pick up a MTech just for giggles and grins. Years ago I had a nice Recon Scout, the shorter TM in their Carbon V steel and really liked how that blade performed. Lately, I'm playing with Khukuris from Nepal. Now, that will wack a deer's leg with its tough spring steel, especially those tempered with oil.
I bought 3 of the M-Tech knives when they first came on the market, I guess around 10 or 12 years ago. At the time they were going for about $16.00 and used one and put the other 2 away. The user is still doing great.
Good vid. The only difference that matters between the two knives is the price tags. I will never understand people who purchase an expensive knife to chop things with. There are thousands of other inexpensive tools available to do that work with. Basically, its insane.
I understand your point from a quality of materials and fit and finish standpoint, but "much better" when chopping into hard materials...the clone wins hands down.
You got that MTech looking good especially with that false edge. I rapped my 151 MTech handle with paracord food ant tight on the rubber material and it really comfortable in the hand. The 151 MTech have been the poor man Trailmaster for a long time now and are a great bargain buy for hard users and even beginners because of the cost.
Great video guys. If I may suggest, for 25 bucks, you guys should check out Rough Riders Black handled Bowie, exclusively at Smokey Mountain Knife Works! Thick, tough, you might like it! GREAT VIDEO here as usual too!!!
Josh Carter recommend re gluing the handle of the MTech 151 with better epoxy because of that issue and adding a better lanyard tube. You correct about the runner. 💰⚔️💰
I've had the 151 for years. I bought another one last year $19 from smoky mountain just because. I've chopped everything with it. I don't understand why they get a bad rap. Anyone that thinks they are bad look up Cliff stamp he did loads of test on them. Understand I'm not saying all mtech are good just my experience with this model has been very good. I saw your handle move just get some epoxy and fill the handle up. Problem solved.
Just to clarify - the TM shown in the video; is this the same knife after grinding out the chip? Just looking at the shape and dimensions, it is hard to see that it has been ground back so much. It looks like a standard sized knife. Can you give exact dimensions of the chip (width/depth)? Also, why were you actually chopping directly onto the bone rather than at the joint where one can enter the joint more efficiently? Also, ever think of using the spine of the knife to crack the bone like a hammer? Sorry, I'm always looking for more efficiency. Personally, I would never even think of bashing my TM into a solid leg bone like that, as I see no logical reason for doing it. The whole idea behind the hard edge is for the cutting process, and one needs to be clever in deciding what to cut with a knife and what to cut with other tools, like a saw, or to smash, with something solid. Even in the field, if the TM was the only tool I had with me, I'd rather devise other ways of dressing the carcass, even if it means leaving parts of limbs behind, rather than risking damage to my primary tool. Cutting through rib bones on the other hand is well within its capabilities. That difference in thicknesses of the blade is pretty significant. It might explain why the MTECH sliced so well despite being coated. [That folder is a joke in that company!] 16:18 Now it's clear why the knife is priced at that point!
The mtech is a decent knife, but the sheath does not hold up if you sharpen it up. The sharp edge will quickly split the sheath. I wrapped mine with Gorilla Tape afterwards and although it looks ghetto, it has held up better than the factory sheath.
The MTech should be at least 440A if not 440C. All my MTechs are 440 but all my MTechs are liner locks. 440A is like 1060 or 1065 but with chromium to make it stainless. It's also comparable to AUS-6. 440B is like 1075 and 440C is like 1095-but, again, with 13% chromium. 440C is comparable to AUS-8. 440A is actually a lot more ductile than 440C so for a big chopper, I'd prefer it. 420, unless it's modified, is only 0.15% carbon. It won't hold an edge at all. It's worse than 3cr13 and almost as bad as the 316 stainless they use to make butter knives, spoons and forks. From what I'm seeing here, I might need one of these MTech bowies but I'd make a more respectable handle for it out of walnut or something.
420 SS sucks for a knife! Holds an edge for like 2 secs before needing sharpened again. Gas station knife blades are made out of that cause it's cheap. 420 HC (per Buck) is better than regular 420, but otherwise it's junk. Loose guard as well? You can keep the M-Techs...🤣
IDK if anybody remembers the good old days with Cliff Stamp, his using the absolute hound soup out of the "M TechMaster" , did some adjustment sharpening on it, and the knife performed quite well. Considering the junk that CS has offered at big box stores as of late, hey this HAS to be better. Pretty much anything is😂, if its not its not heartbreaking because its MTECH
I'm surprised that Cold Steel decided to even use VG10 for a Trailmaster. With kitchen knives, VG10 has been known to be a bit brittle and chippy. You even hear of Spyderco knives sometimes having chipping problems with VG-10. Neat video. I may just pick up a MTech just for giggles and grins. Years ago I had a nice Recon Scout, the shorter TM in their Carbon V steel and really liked how that blade performed. Lately, I'm playing with Khukuris from Nepal. Now, that will wack a deer's leg with its tough spring steel, especially those tempered with oil.
I bought 3 of the M-Tech knives when they first came on the market, I guess around 10 or 12 years ago. At the time they were going for about $16.00 and used one and put the other 2 away. The user is still doing great.
I have 4 of them myself and I use one and put the other 3 away because they are becoming collectable and people want them now
Good vid. The only difference that matters between the two knives is the price tags.
I will never understand people who purchase an expensive knife to chop things with. There are thousands of other inexpensive tools available to do that work with. Basically, its insane.
One is “much” better than the other. But for $25 it’s hard to go wrong with the clone.
I understand your point from a quality of materials and fit and finish standpoint, but "much better" when chopping into hard materials...the clone wins hands down.
@@Greenmachine305I disagree. I've had plenty of cheap tools fail on me.
Id much rather pay more for something made in the USA.
Cheaper each time you buy another cheap tool! 🤣 No chips on my Cold Steel Trailmaster thus far.
Good job brother I'd love to see a comparison on chomping small sticks and batoning with both of them! Very nice video overall!
Amen to that !
For a cheap but well-made knife for the price check into the Szco western bowie available in carbon or stainless those things can take a beating
Got that Carbon version and yup it's unbelievable for the bargain price. 🎱⚔️🎱
You got that MTech looking good especially with that false edge.
I rapped my 151 MTech handle with paracord food ant tight on the rubber material and it really comfortable in the hand.
The 151 MTech have been the poor man Trailmaster for a long time now and are a great bargain buy for hard users and even beginners because of the cost.
Safety goggles and gloves are a must! A flying pumpkin seed is as dangerous as
a bullet!
Good comparison video. I can see the merits of a cheaper CS Trailmaster design. Btw, at about 6:28 I noticed your fly is down bro.
I have 2 of these and they are amazing. I have batoned the hell out of it.
Great video guys. If I may suggest, for 25 bucks, you guys should check out Rough Riders Black handled Bowie, exclusively at Smokey Mountain Knife Works! Thick, tough, you might like it! GREAT VIDEO here as usual too!!!
Josh Carter recommend re gluing the handle of the MTech 151 with better epoxy because of that issue and adding a better lanyard tube.
You correct about the runner. 💰⚔️💰
Like the idea of the dive knife.
2024 where can i buy mtech 151?
I've had the 151 for years. I bought another one last year $19 from smoky mountain just because. I've chopped everything with it. I don't understand why they get a bad rap.
Anyone that thinks they are bad look up Cliff stamp he did loads of test on them.
Understand I'm not saying all mtech are good just my experience with this model has been very good.
I saw your handle move just get some epoxy and fill the handle up. Problem solved.
Awesome review. Thank you!
I had a turkey that seemed to have legs of steel. Chipped out my carbon 5 trail master, Ontario kukri and a hatchet.
Are you sure it was a turkey? Maybe it was an alien robot, spying on you.
@@Greenmachine305 I mean it didn’t taste metallic with a hint of hydraulic fluid😂 so hopefully ai hasn’t gotten to the birds yet haha.
@@krisrhebergen Im a mechanic that works on hydraulics, so I know the taste.
I wish I could have got one or two of the mtechs before they discontinued them it's not great but it's a fun beater knife
Just to clarify - the TM shown in the video; is this the same knife after grinding out the chip?
Just looking at the shape and dimensions, it is hard to see that it has been ground back so much. It looks like a standard sized knife. Can you give exact dimensions of the chip (width/depth)? Also, why were you actually chopping directly onto the bone rather than at the joint where one can enter the joint more efficiently? Also, ever think of using the spine of the knife to crack the bone like a hammer?
Sorry, I'm always looking for more efficiency. Personally, I would never even think of bashing my TM into a solid leg bone like that, as I see no logical reason for doing it. The whole idea behind the hard edge is for the cutting process, and one needs to be clever in deciding what to cut with a knife and what to cut with other tools, like a saw, or to smash, with something solid. Even in the field, if the TM was the only tool I had with me, I'd rather devise other ways of dressing the carcass, even if it means leaving parts of limbs behind, rather than risking damage to my primary tool. Cutting through rib bones on the other hand is well within its capabilities.
That difference in thicknesses of the blade is pretty significant. It might explain why the MTECH sliced so well despite being coated. [That folder is a joke in that company!]
16:18 Now it's clear why the knife is priced at that point!
How thick is the spine on that mtrch
21:34 hmmm 440C🤔?
I'm thinking it's probably 440A or 440B 👍.
If it were 440C at $25.00 that would be a heck of a deal
“uSa dESiGn”
The mtech is a decent knife, but the sheath does not hold up if you sharpen it up. The sharp edge will quickly split the sheath. I wrapped mine with Gorilla Tape afterwards and although it looks ghetto, it has held up better than the factory sheath.
Kydex sheath maybe
The MTech should be at least 440A if not 440C. All my MTechs are 440 but all my MTechs are liner locks. 440A is like 1060 or 1065 but with chromium to make it stainless. It's also comparable to AUS-6. 440B is like 1075 and 440C is like 1095-but, again, with 13% chromium. 440C is comparable to AUS-8. 440A is actually a lot more ductile than 440C so for a big chopper, I'd prefer it. 420, unless it's modified, is only 0.15% carbon. It won't hold an edge at all. It's worse than 3cr13 and almost as bad as the 316 stainless they use to make butter knives, spoons and forks. From what I'm seeing here, I might need one of these MTech bowies but I'd make a more respectable handle for it out of walnut or something.
You never touched that knife to a deer!!!
Don't used the San Mai version a deer leg.
I used mine on several deer legs and an elk leg, no chips so far. Used it to chop through some pork ribs as well.🤣
9:24 😂HAHAHAHA🤣‼️
Your Flies are undone.
You didnt use Trailmaster O1 steel..beacuse that you fail with San mai steel
an clone tested vs an clone !!
420 SS sucks for a knife! Holds an edge for like 2 secs before needing sharpened again. Gas station knife blades are made out of that cause it's cheap. 420 HC (per Buck) is better than regular 420, but otherwise it's junk. Loose guard as well? You can keep the M-Techs...🤣
Really hard can be brittle.
Sorry miltech
First
IDK if anybody remembers the good old days with Cliff Stamp, his using the absolute hound soup out of the "M TechMaster" , did some adjustment sharpening on it, and the knife performed quite well. Considering the junk that CS has offered at big box stores as of late, hey this HAS to be better. Pretty much anything is😂, if its not its not heartbreaking because its MTECH
Right!?
Dude.... Next time before recording a video please make sure your fly is closed
Good catch. I don’t own the pants anymore…. They had that issue.