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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 17:46:23 GMT
Hello all! I thought about posting this in the manufacturers and vendors section as it is really a question towards our fine bladesmiths in the community, but then just figured I'd toss it in general. Anyways. I camp a lot and hike a lot and generally love the great outdoors. I want a tough-as-nails machete for use while out and about, but being a sword aficionado I, of course, don't want just any old machete I want something modeled after the Greek Kopis like this one sold at Valiantco.com's website: I love the beauty of the Buffalo horn, but from what I've read about them they're basically hot-burned and epoxied onto the tang and for some reason that just doesn't seem safe for a heavy workhorse cutting tool. I purchased a hanwei banshee blade too and after giving it a belt sander treatment was able to slice through thick bamboo like butter... But the overall profile of the Banshee makes it a little unwieldy for lugging around on your hip through the forest, and the lack of a guard scares me especially with how sharp I have it now. I'm not looking for anything as fancifully carved as the valiantco's Kopis and I'm also not looking to break the bank with this. My requirements are simple. Kopis-style blade. Tough design (something I wouldn't be afraid to hack at 3" saplings with.) Aesthetically pleasing guard/hilt/pommel. I'm looking to spend around 150 US$ I COULD go a little higher, but that's my target range anyways. I'd like to stay as close to it as possible Edit: Editted to fix spelling errors
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 18:10:54 GMT
Scorpionbows and knives (Chris Palmer).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 18:34:25 GMT
You stole my answer chenessfan
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 19:15:32 GMT
Thanks for the suggestion and from the looks of the site he could very well be who I turn to. However, the more I stare at that Greek Kopis, the more I love it. Would it be possible to carefully drill through the horn and tang and pin it? Would that make it secure enough for heavy use?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 21:24:13 GMT
No. If the tang's not suitable for heavy use a pin will make things only worse. I don't know this company, do they advertise their blades as 'battle ready' or have you seen and cutting vids, pics of a tang, etc? In short, don't try it. Too risky. Get it for its looks and buy a scorpionblade for use.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 22:05:17 GMT
I don't think it's a question of the tang being unsuitable as much as how it is affixed to the handle, but I do see your point. There was a recent review of a short asian sword from this company which sparked my interest and when I saw that Greek Kopis I fell in love XD
Unfortunately I just bought a new car so my sword budget is rather limited atm.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 22:14:00 GMT
Only one way to find out ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 0:48:43 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 1:19:31 GMT
I've worked a bit with buffalo horn, although I've not used it for sword/knife hilts, and I think drilling and pinning would only weaken it unnecessarily. My oppinion- which is largely guesswork, so be warned!- is if the tang's burned in and epoxied, I'd think it's as strong as it would need to be for light camp duties. I wouldn't try to chop down a tree with it, and I wouldn't use it for chopping firewood. Imho too much sideways torque will risk spliting the horn- it doesn't have grain like wood, but it does have layers like an onion, and I just wouldn't risk it. I'd go the Himalayan route, like unclered suggested, if you want a heavy-duty chopper. The Ganga Ram Special looks like you could chop a tank in half with it! Cheers Marc E
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 4:06:50 GMT
Thanks for that insight, Poohze! Makes me want the valiantco's kopis even more now lol. The problem with the vendor that unclered posted is that he seems to sell only Khukri's (with a few others thrown in for variety). Despite being similar, they're not the same.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 4:22:28 GMT
Well I did a review of their products and I owned one of their horn handled pieces and I would trust them to be quite strong. I believe that this is affixed the same way as the blade I bought, the tang is burnt into the handle and epoxied making it very strong and useable. However you will find that that particular kopis is sold out and I am kicking myself for not purchasing one. I might email suwandi and find out if they are planning to restock it. You don't need to drill through and pin the tang, the blade isn't going anywhere. I think people who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't make assumptions. No they don't advertise it as "battle-ready" because these days that puts people off more than it interests them. Horn is a great handle material and the people who make these weapons know what they are doing and have been doing it for hundreds of years. I agree that it is a light cutting weapon, if you want a heavy work tool go for one of their goloks or their large bolo camp knife. Some of these are designed as fighting knives and some are designed as workhorses and some aren't. If you aren't sure email suwandi he is very good and very prompt in his responses.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 7:01:57 GMT
I have to say those Kopis look like light cutters at best. While admiring the nice workmanship on the Kopis in the ad, seems a shame to go beat it about. I'd go with a khukri from HI or Khukri house ltd. Tough as nails and priced right, especially from KH if you just want a brush clearing tool.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 17:36:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 2:32:37 GMT
Those are some beautiful blades. I especially like the ceremonial knives. Tempting, tempting, tempting...
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Mar 22, 2010 2:38:46 GMT
VS:
I like 'em too----just going on pictures and romanticism. We've got a couple of reviews in the review section that leave one with a positive impression as well. (I almost said "a good taste in your mouth" but I didn't, because I didn't want people to think I was weird or anything.)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 19:55:13 GMT
Wow, I never saw so many kinds of Filipino blades in one place I really like the Panabas, maybe someday
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 22:49:01 GMT
VS: I like 'em too----just going on pictures and romanticism. We've got a couple of reviews in the review section that leave one with a positive impression as well. (I almost said "a good taste in your mouth" but I didn't, because I didn't want people to think I was weird or anything.) It's way too late for that KC ;D
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Mar 23, 2010 0:16:33 GMT
VS: I like 'em too----just going on pictures and romanticism. We've got a couple of reviews in the review section that leave one with a positive impression as well. (I almost said "a good taste in your mouth" but I didn't, because I didn't want people to think I was weird or anything.) It's way too late for that KC ;D I resemble that accusation!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2010 18:15:24 GMT
Okay so yeah. I started off wanting a simple machette... but... got to thinking about it and now that I've held a fable blade (Nyere) my Kopis design took on a life of its own XD
/index.cgi?board=designs&action=display&thread=15466
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2010 0:38:42 GMT
Cool, I can't wait to see the finished piece. Nice to meet another Lovecraft nut as well.
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