CS Laredo Bowie

[Puncha]

I recently bought the san mai III version of the CS laredo bowie. How does the performance of this more expensive version compare to the more economical SK-5 version?

Can the san mai III version be expected to be able to replicate all the feats shown in the official cold steel video?

 

[Puncha]

okay then what about san mai III vs the older carbon V laredo bowie?

somebody here must have at least ONE opinion......

Does the san mai III version hold up to any torture testing?

 

[hso]

Puncha,

You're not likely to get a definitive answer since torture testing an expensive CS product isn't something I see many people trying.

Properly made, the san mai should do as well as the Carbon V.

A quick look at cutleryscience and other sources doesn't reveal a useful review.

 

[Joe Demko]

I have the less expensive version of the Laredo. I don't know how it compares to the san mai version because I don't have one of those. The one I have is overall a very good knife. Yours probably is too.

 

[Slamfire]

I have the San Mai and the Carbon V version.

I have not viewed the video.

There is no dimensional differences between the two. I really doubt the tensile and ultimate are all that different between the steels.
Both knives are sharp as heck. Both will make a deep cut in meat.

Cold Steel's VG-1 is a winner, the felt edge is sharper than the older AUS6/AUS8 laminated steels. Carbon V was always good. The SK-5 steel in my Chinese trailmaster is excellent. Takes a good edge and seems to be holding it.

Carbon steel blades rust. The VG-1 knives are very expensive.

Based on what I saw on other videos, I am not going to bash bricks, stab cars, with my knives.

 

[PA Freedom]

I have an American made, carbon V Trailmaster Bowie. Very easy to sharpen on a bench size Arkansas stone. I wouldn't hesitate to depend on this knife in a life threarening situation. If I understand correctly, they are no longer USA made, or made with carbon V steel. Happy I got mine when I did!

 

[Puncha]

Moving slightly off topic here but if one were to compare the CS trailmaster with the CS laredo bowie, which would make a better...

1) fighter?
2) Wilderness knife?

 

[Todd A]

They are both so similar it is a tie in both. IMHO.

Both will be good fighters if you are able to lug them around.

As a wilderness knife it would seem that both would make decent choppers. But both would also be handicapped for the other chores a wilderness knife needs to do.(I would hate to have to use either for precise detail work).

 

[Slamfire]

Moving slightly off topic here but if one were to compare the CS trailmaster with the CS laredo bowie, which would make a better...

1) fighter?
2) Wilderness knife

?

I am not a knife fighter. Talking to guys who were really good, at some level of expertise, they are lethal, and a knife is a knife.

As a wilderness knife. The Trailmaster is a better chopper in my opinion because it has a really strong point. I also like the rubber grips on the Trailmaster, as the grips on the laredo are slick when wet. The grips on a Stag Trailmaster are really excellent in wet conditions.

The sharpened false edge on the Laredo is troublesome when you choke up on the blade.

Both knifes have such thick blades that they are not practical for slicing vegetables.